[shy_bear]

Ok, in therapy the other day we figured out that A. loves trains. So I started looking at ALL the Thomas The Train stuff; I don't even know where to start!!!! Can anyone suggest a good site or store to start stocking up? From what I have seen the toys seem expensive and there is SO much of it!

[startedover]

Wal Mart carries each train individually (they all have names you know). Also we have a train station about an hour away that has the real "train painted like thomas".

[zxczxcasdasd]

Thomas the Train is very expensive and Little J also LOVES trains. What we did was buy the Thomas books and DVDs, but for the toys went with the more reasonably priced Geotrax by Fisher Price (I think?).

[Linny]

I've had more than one boy who was crazy about Thomas the Train; and we live very modestly. What we've found around here---and we live in a very rural area....is oftentimes, Thomas the Train and friends are sold at rummage sales, and especially at Second Hand stores. I suspect they hold up well enough, those who are 'done' with them, figure they'll get some of their $$ back in a second hand/consignment shop, KWIM?

At any rate, we have purchased some 'new'.....but the majority of them have been purchased at the second hand store!!!

Hope this helps in some way...

Sincerely,

Linny

[emtb79]

I found some on ebay, Toysrus, and Target. There are 2 different lines of trains plastic and wood.

[DPline]

My older son was totally obsessed with Thomas from the time he was about 20 months until age 6 or 7. It was ALL he played with. Even at age 10 he is still very attached to all his Thomas stuff even if he doesn't play with it. (DS#2 now plays with it.) At one point we had every engine out and more wooden track than any ten kids needed. We started out with the figure eight track and Thomas, Annie, and Clarabel and then just kept adding from there. Personally I would start there. A simple circle or figure eight of wooden track and Thomas. Most ToysRUs seem to have train tables set up you could take him to play with and see what he likes. Some book stores too.

You can get some deals on Ebay but you can also pay more than retail for trains on there, so definetly know the prices. It has been a few years, but I used to get some good deals on THE TRAIN CELLAR

[tanmansmom]

Try Craigslist. I got a table, tracks and over 20 different trains for $125. It was a great deal.

[Jo Ellen]

My son is now 15 but when he was young he loved Thomas trains. We started him out with just the individal trains.... plastic and wooden .... and he played with them all. Then when we saw how interested he was in them we invested in a table top with the train board and added the track to his collection. He started collecting the trains when he was 2 years old and continued to play with the set until about age 7. IMO it was worth the investment. Oh and he had a collection of videos as well as watched the show on TV daily. Enjoy your children at every stage they are in.... it just all chages so quickly.

[BZmom7]

Our son was introduced to Thomas via his OT. He's LOVED them ever since (5yrs.. now). We have a HUGE tote full of every Thomas and his friends you can think of. And, btw, he knows ALL of them by name!

We have about 1/2 that are plastic and then the rest are more metal. There a little smaller, and hook together by magnets. He seems to like those best. The bigger plastic ones are sometimes harder to hook together, and use batteries. We were constantly taking them apart to put more batteries in them. Not to mention the number of times, while tucking him into bed, I could hear one of the "friends" still running and someplace burried in the toy tote! So we've found the smaller metal ones are a better match (well, for mommy anyway..hehehe).

Yes, these trains can cost, but i've found myself spending more money on other toys that don't seem to hold up as long. These trains seem to hold up to just about anything a child can do to them. So, I feel, the money is well spent. Not to mention, that it really has brought my sons imagination to life.

Myabe someday, when he outgrows these trains, I can sell ALL these trains and buy me a vacation home on the Islands. Or at least pay for his college! LOL

[MamaS]

If you have a Michael's (craft store) nearby, they carry Thomas. Or try Ebay - sometimes you can get deals on those. Word of warning: Many of the red items (James, etc.) were painted with lead paint and were recalled. If you buy off eBay or Craig's List you won't know if the red item is a new exchange or the old one with lead. Since kids chew everything, I would suggest only buying red items NIB.

[mandirenee]

Craigslist, Ebay, and search internet for clearance.

I recommend the wood trains (vs the plastic or metal)

You can purchase other wood tracks and the Thomas trains will work (vs purchasing the Thomas Brand tracks).

We purchased a set from Toysrus. Imaginarium set with tracks, and table for $99 and then purchased Thomas Trains. We started with Thomas and then on special occasions would purchase a new one. (or if we found a clearance)

[Nevada Jen]

We are full on in obsessed mode at our house. As far as I can tell there are two lines. The Wooden Railway and the Take and Carry (or something like that). My son does not have any tracks for them and does not seem to care. he loves collecting the trains though! You want to choose a one of the two lines and stick with that line because the trains are not interchangeable across the lines. Also, the packages they come in have a trading card for the train. We always pulled the trading cards out and used them separately for a reward system. Toys R Us usually has one train on sale every week. I try to pick that up at the sale price whenever I am there.