Toy trains for 5+
Discussion
Our soon to be 5yo loves the Brio train track and trains, building different tracks and then operating them for a tiny amount ed time before dismantling and starting again. 
00 gauge is the obvious choice but is there enough flexibility in the track possibilities without it costing too much and taking up too much space? He's great with his hands but may still be too young for this.
Are there any similarly scaled Lego trains? The only ones I've seen are wide tracks and really slow, noisy engines.
Any other options we should look at? We could stick with Brio for another year but he would love something with flexibility to build tracks along with good controllable trains.
00 gauge is the obvious choice but is there enough flexibility in the track possibilities without it costing too much and taking up too much space? He's great with his hands but may still be too young for this.
Are there any similarly scaled Lego trains? The only ones I've seen are wide tracks and really slow, noisy engines.
Any other options we should look at? We could stick with Brio for another year but he would love something with flexibility to build tracks along with good controllable trains.
ScotHill said:
Thanks had never heard of that. To be fair the Brio tracks currently take up most of the f
king living room, but it is sturdy to accidentally tread on, and a standard circle of curves is only about 40cm diameter, I'd imagine 00 is a lot more?
1st radius is about double - 37cm radiusking living room, but it is sturdy to accidentally tread on, and a standard circle of curves is only about 40cm diameter, I'd imagine 00 is a lot more?That's the minimum modest OO models will manage.
If it's lots of changes the youth is after then how about a load of 2nd hand Triang stuff. Lots of points & track can be had for not much on the internet purchase site of your choice.
I moved on from O gauge clockwork to electric OO at not much older...
...in the middle '60s!
jet_noise said:
1st radius is about double - 37cm radius
That's the minimum modest OO models will manage.
If it's lots of changes the youth is after then how about a load of 2nd hand Triang stuff. Lots of points & track can be had for not much on the internet purchase site of your choice.
I moved on from O gauge clockwork to electric OO at not much older...
...in the middle '60s!
Thanks, the TriAng track does look chunky compared to the old Hornby OO I remember. Some versions of it seem compatible with modern Hornby track and vehicles too? Will have a look on some rail forums, there seems to be a bit of discussion around this.That's the minimum modest OO models will manage.
If it's lots of changes the youth is after then how about a load of 2nd hand Triang stuff. Lots of points & track can be had for not much on the internet purchase site of your choice.
I moved on from O gauge clockwork to electric OO at not much older...
...in the middle '60s!
If your boy likes to build things, the Lego ones are fantastic. Mine (now 6yrs old, but has had them from 5) loves his.
They are a good bit bigger than 00 scale. They're effectively Lego City scale, so go with other non-train Lego kits.
The latest ones go pretty quickly and the speed controllers go up in smallish increments and are easily controlled. I think you need about 60cm for a basic circle. Noise is, I guess, commensurate with size, speed and it being made from Lego
The cargo train's a fab set with loads of things they can play with.
An obvious advantage with these is that they're part of the Lego "universe", so the possibilities beyond just trains are endless. The downside (over size/noise/etc) is that they're not especially cheap.
They are a good bit bigger than 00 scale. They're effectively Lego City scale, so go with other non-train Lego kits.
The latest ones go pretty quickly and the speed controllers go up in smallish increments and are easily controlled. I think you need about 60cm for a basic circle. Noise is, I guess, commensurate with size, speed and it being made from Lego
The cargo train's a fab set with loads of things they can play with.
An obvious advantage with these is that they're part of the Lego "universe", so the possibilities beyond just trains are endless. The downside (over size/noise/etc) is that they're not especially cheap.
ScotHill said:
<snip>Some versions of it seem compatible with modern Hornby track and vehicles too? Will have a look on some rail forums, there seems to be a bit of discussion around this.
Not sure about forwards compatibilities of older track (or backwards compatibility of modern stock ). As you say there are copious fora to mine. Various detail dimensions of wheels and points form do evolve with "toy" trains. Older tends to be chunkier.Lego the genuine brand for track is not cheap ..look at the Copy stuff my grandson has both and is compatible .Lego is not a cheap product but has the sets to build up in the City range .try www.yourwobb.com I but a lot from them in the Tecnic range as 1/3 of the price and great service from owner Loy Chen
I bought a OO way back in the 70s for my 2yr old son
it was cheap them and had a 8x4 board with 4 train workings and a mirror back panel it looked huge sold it for peanuts in the 90s would be worth a fortune now seen engines at £200
I bought a OO way back in the 70s for my 2yr old son
it was cheap them and had a 8x4 board with 4 train workings and a mirror back panel it looked huge sold it for peanuts in the 90s would be worth a fortune now seen engines at £200 woodysnr said:
Lego the genuine brand for track is not cheap ..look at the Copy stuff my grandson has both and is compatible .Lego is not a cheap product but has the sets to build up in the City range .try www.yourwobb.com I but a lot from them in the Tecnic range as 1/3 of the price and great service from owner Loy Chen
Interesting - I always feel weird ordering direct from China, but I guess all I do otherwise is order from someone in the UK who ordered direct from China. What kind of import fees do you get hit with?Main thing I'm getting is that none of this stuff is cheap - we do have a big Skyrail marble run set in the back of the wardrobe so he may well get that this year and we'll deal with trains when he gets a bit older!
I know nothing abut kids but 5 is a little young for real OO stuff, I'm not familiar with the Hornby childrens stuff but Hornby prices have rocketed recently.
I would definitely go with lego now and 00 in a couple of years, and then I would be looking way beyond Hornby for modelling.
Sams Trains is a brilliant YouTube channel.
I would definitely go with lego now and 00 in a couple of years, and then I would be looking way beyond Hornby for modelling.
Sams Trains is a brilliant YouTube channel.
Edited by Largechris on Monday 28th February 12:50
ScotHill said:
I think Mrs Hill would have a heart attack if I came home with the cargo set, 1200 pieces! I'll have a look at it but we'd have to get tons of track and go easy on the vehicles to make it work for him. Could try second hand, at least with Lego if it looks okay it generally is okay.
It's easy to stage the build and stretch it out over time. Though our youngest did the vast majority himself. As Lego goes, the cargo set is good value IMO. It also comes with enough track to give plenty of play options.
(Marble runs - neither of my kids persevered with them for more than 5mins. Dull, generally. And take up a lot of space for what they are).
I would avoid going for a 00 model trainset unless they express an interest.
My son had the Tomica Toys system when he was young and loved it. I later built an 8x4 00 layout which he hardly every used.
The difference was the former is a toy he could get out himself and play with, including his other toys. The latter was a model railway rather than a toy.
I think I built it more for me as always wanted a model railway as a kid. Now I'm building my own but in 009 scale (OO scale narrow gauge)
My son had the Tomica Toys system when he was young and loved it. I later built an 8x4 00 layout which he hardly every used.
The difference was the former is a toy he could get out himself and play with, including his other toys. The latter was a model railway rather than a toy.
I think I built it more for me as always wanted a model railway as a kid. Now I'm building my own but in 009 scale (OO scale narrow gauge)
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