Choosing the Best Toy Train Set

Train sets are some of the most celebrated toys across generations for their mental and creative stimulation in young children. Playing with locomotives, building tracks, and creating little towns around their railroads improves motor skills and hand-eye coordination and encourages imagination. As toddlers become kids, train sets continue to invoke playful creativity with fun noises, smoke, and increased detail. Invest in a time-tested favorite for development and play with a fun toy train set. Here are some great toy train sets that we recommend.

Purchasing a Toy Train Set

Keep these things in mind when searching for the perfect toy train set:

• Tracks: For very young children, tracks may be frustrating to understand and to play with. Parents may consider looking for a flat mat that has illustrated tracks rather than physical ones. Wooden or plastic tracks with simple attachment construction are best for children with more advanced motor skills.
• Features: Colorful trains and accessories help to stimulate developing minds, so look for train sets that feature figurines, buildings, and train attachments. Older kids will enjoy trains that can blow real smoke, make noises, or be remotely controlled.
• Versatility: Creative kids will want to build tracks with different twists and turns. Consider train sets with curved pieces, split tracks, and bridges. These additional pieces will allow children to construct multiple pathways for their trains to follow.

Best for Toddlers: LEGO DUPLO My First Number Train

Combine the fun of interactive train sets with the challenge of counting through this Lego Duplo playset. Connect with your child by building the locomotive and three wagons. This set’s creation is a way of improving their motor skills and problem-solving while enjoying time with you. Once built, your toddler can pick up the toy figures and blocks as the train set glides across the floor. The set comes with numbers 0 through 9 to help your child take their first steps into counting.

Best for Kids: 100-Piece Orbrium Toys Triple-Loop Wooden Train

Kids can create endless configurations with this 100-piece train set that includes locomotives, cars, buildings, figurines, and train tracks. It also includes two extra-large three-way tracks to allow several paths for kids to push their train along. These pieces are also compatible with most major train set brands, so you can add this to your current collection of train sets without a problem. And if you need any ideas for assembly, this set comes with 11 different layout plans to help you and your child get creative.

Most Realistic: Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer LionChief Freight Set

Step into the world of locomotives with this detailed train set that mimics the railways of Pennsylvania. What makes this train set special, besides the intricate construction, is its ability to produce smoke and sounds when connecting your mobile device via Bluetooth. The train features metal handrails, opening doors on the boxcar, and ladders for an ultra-realistic look. The FasTrack includes eight curved tracks, two straight tracks, and a terminal to create your perfect track.

Best for Multiple Kids: KidKraft Ride Around Train Set and Table

 

Whether you have multiple kids running around the house or your kid loves playdates, this table train set is ideal for sharing. This 100-piece set features a construction area with working cranes, an airport, a bridge, and tons of accessories. Kids can take their train through a series of twists and turns in order to create their own little world. The raised table keeps toys off the floor for a cleaner room and kids at eye level with all the details.