Some of the ranges are better than other bits (Thomas the Tank Engine Toys)

Member Name: Gretta

Product:	Thomas the Tank Engine Toys
Date:	06/01/01 (764 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Usually good quality and educational

Disadvantages: Some of the ranges not so well thought out

My two year old has finally moved on from Teletubbies to Thomas, and I am so grateful. Although I can still remember all the stories from my own childhood, they haven't got that annoying repetitiveness about them that makes the Teletubbies cries of "again, again" so annoying. We have spent the past year or so looking at the Thomas toys available, so here is an overview of a few of the brands you may like to look into.

TOMY TOMICA RANGE.
This is a range consisting of blue plastic track with various attachments such as stations, bridges, and turntables. The engines are motorised, however unlike many toys the wheels still rotate without the batteries, so you can use them for push along play. You can buy this in sets, which start at the giant set, for (gasp) one hundred pounds. This includes a Thomas big enough to sit on (although I don't think this is the intended use) which has a tunnel running through it, that doubles as a storage box. This is almost a separate toy in itself as it has moving eyes and a whistle. The set includes 11whole metres of track, which can be set out to have raised levels. Also in the set are James, Duck and Diesel, although surprisingly no Thomas. Thomas is though included in other sets, or can be bought separately. The next set down is half the price, but in my opinion, is just as good. This was the first set we bought Christian, and when it arrived he squealed like a teenage girl at a Westlife concert. Firstly you get nearly 6 metres of train track complete with bridge, station, and points. The station has a leaver you can use to make Thomas stop or go. On top of the station is the helicopter, attached to the roof by a thin rotating metal pole which makes it fly. Two options, flies just when Thomas is in the station or flies all the time. A grey road track for Bertie the Bus is also included. This also has points so you can direct his route round the figure of eight track. Thomas with Annie a
nd Clarabelle, Bertie, trees, signal, a fat controller, driver and mate are also included. The train and bus are battery operated, and when batteries are installed Thomas makes a chugging noise as he goes round. Only three batteries needed to operate all five characters. Very versatile, can be enlarged or downscaled. Slightly annoying is the fact that you need three different battery types, AA, AAA and C. There are also smaller sets, such as £40 set that has a tunnel and bus track that goes over the rail track, quite good if your little one is into the 'great race' story. The starter set is a simple oval with one engine, and costs just £15. You can buy separate trains for the Tomica track. These come in a wide variety, from familiar friends like James to more obscure engines like Duck. These cost around £15, although the smaller tank engines are only £10. All the trains are motorised. The track is compatible with the Tomica road and rail range, so when your little one grows out of Thomas (yes, they will one day, sniff sniff) you don't have to buy a whole new track. Most come with a video, which contains a lot of promotional rubbish, but does have some nice sing-a-long stuff, as well as road and train safety advice. Tomy also do a 'Big Loader' which has Thomas the Tank Engine chuffing around the track picking up loads with Percy and Terence. This set isn't compatible with the Tomica range. They also do a Push and Go range for about £7. My son was given this at five months when he learnt how to sit up and it's still a firm favourite two years later. Push down the chunky toy driver's head and off goes the train. Easy to clean and durable, one of those toys that will come out time and again. You can get most of Thomas' friends in this range. Tomy also do a Melody Thomas, you turn Thomas' funnel which opens his eyes and makes him start chuffing around. You can slide one of the four discs into the slot in his ro
of and he plays one of ten tunes including the Thomas theme tune. It has volume (the parents' friend!) and direction control.



BRIO
Brio also produces a Thomas range. It is suitable for use with their normal wooden range, so you can mix it with any other Brio you already have. The main set I have seen is the fifty-pound set that consists of a 16 piece wooden track with a viaduct bridge, Thomas and a truck, the fat controller and a tree. A good quality wooden set, like all Brio, but I didn't think my son would appreciate the extra quality and I found the Tomica range to be better value and to include more of the gimmick type extras that young kids enjoy. For example the flying Harold. An alternative to the Brio range, also in wood, is Flair. I think this is better value for money, and includes the 'clickity' track that makes a (sort of) train noise. Both Brio and Flair sell individual trains for about £15, these are simple wooden trains, not the funky motorised ones that Tomica do.

GOLDEN BEAR
These specialise in Thomas toys for younger children. Although Christian was only 2 when he got his first set we avoided this range, as it seemed very limited, and expensive. The track is plastic, but unlike Tomica comes in variety of colours, which I think an older child might find too unrealistic, as it's in vivid primary colours. Golden Bear have an interactive engine range, which some young Thomas fans may appreciate. The trains cost around £15 pounds and are designed for young hands. If you buy more than one they 'talk' to each other.


RACING CHAMPIONS
This set is a different size to the other sets, so don't try to mix with a different brand. It has a lot of newer characters from the 'Magic Railway' film. It's a good value set.

POP UP TENTS
There are a selection of 'popup' style tents, designed to look like the engines. These cost around fi
fty pounds, and are good if you don't have a lot of space as they fold down very easily. Dekkar do a tent that is a lot cheaper at just £17, but has a steel pole structure, so is harder to assemble.

ERTEL REMOTE CONTROL WALK ALONG TRAIN
A large chunky Thomas, that costs about £15, which operates through a remote control with two buttons, forward and reverse (what, no left and right ). The remote is attached to the engine with a thin wire about a metre and a half long. Great toy, which taught Christian a lot, as it is quite a challenge for a tiny tot to walk and press the remote at the same time. However batteries run out quickly and wire can cause tripping and frustration, the buttons are not the easiest for tiny fingers.

FUZZY FELT
About £5 in Early Learning Centre. A traditional favourite, just what you remember from your childhood (felt shapes that can be stuck to a fuzzy board to create a picture, then removed and re-used), except with Thomas theme. About 60 pieces, including all the main characters, bridges, tunnels, clouds, fields, people etc. Great fun, comes out time and time again.

RAVENSBURGER
This company produce a range of puzzles and games for Thomas fans. We have the picture card game which contains giant size cards showing Thomas and his friends. You can use these to play many card games, or just to talk about, with a toddler learning new vocabulary. We also have a jigsaw, which is a bit too hard for my toddler to do without help, but he still enjoys it.


Two final tips. Firstly, because Thomas has been around so long you find masses of stuff second hand. Christian has a book collection of about 40 Thomas books, ranging from board books, to annuals, to the traditional small hardbacks I remember as a child which must have cost me between about £4 and £9 to collect in total. All where brought from local charity shops and jumble sales, where they usually cost about 15p. Se
condly, the www.mailorderexpress.com website has tons of Thomas stuff, everything I have mentioned, and more, well worth a look.

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