Over the past 10-15 years it seems to me that the small type of snap-together wooden train has come back into vogue for the wee ones. I mean the first workable-by-finger train set for kids of about 4 - 6 yrs old. (Alas, I got my own li’l snap-together starter in 1960, the year they went to plastic.) Can anyone recommend a good set of that type at a non-extortionate price? Price is somewhat of an object, space in recipients’ bedrooms isn’t; nonetheless I’d like a good deal, and prefer the basic oval if that is still the norm as a starter. Just an engine, 2 - 3 cars. and [if it’s still done] caboose is fine; or a vaguely “old-timey” passenger set if that is the norm.
I notice for example that IKEA has a classic-looking wooden set of the kind I’m interested in, but alas the price for it is quite Scandinavian except for the 2 - 3 days a year it’s on sale, when I’m least prepared to fight the crowds.) Here are several questions if I may (and if this is not the correct post, pls steer me accordingly):
– These simple little wooden snap-together sets, are they more or less the same gauge and scale among themselves (I’m interested in compatibility in case the set grows)?
– Is there a reasonable price between IKEA’s sale-price-only of less than $15 and what I’ve seen at the indy toy shop of the kind found in the Rouse-type of civic mall-on-the-water (or Vegas obligatory walk-thru mall), in my experience $65+??
–Do you know of any online sellers who offer such sets and/or could you steer me toward a shopping bot or good search engine term for s
Brio, Thomas, Maxim, Whittle. All compatible wooden trains sets. I don’t see any real deals on these. Whittle is made in the US (if that matters). Did you try eBay?
Al,
I’ve seen these sets at Toys-R-Us in both Brio (Thomas) and an off-brand. I haven’t priced them since I don’t have anyone to buy the for. [:(] Our oldest niece has out-grown these sets and now wants to play with my Lionel setup when she comes by, and our other niece is more into FP Little People than trains (although she WILL sit and watch the Lionel stuff for hours when she is over), and my friends back in Pittsburgh simply do not have the room for any more kid stuff since they have 3 (and already have most, if not all of the Thomas stuff).
I did some research for a co-worker about 1.5 years ago for a table set for her son. She ended up with the off-brand table from Toys-R-Us and buying a boat load and a half of add-on stuff for her son (and the table set came with quite a bit of accessories too).
This is a link to all the wooden train stuff sold by T-R-U. I don’t see the wooden tables I referred to above, but IMHO these prices aren’t outlandish.
Edit: Do a search on T-R-U and you get a whole different section [banghead]
The Learning Express has wooden sets made in the USA. Right here in Massachusetts as a matter of fact. That becomes even more of a benefit when you consider the lead paint scare on toys made in China. The USA made sets won’t have lead paint.