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17 Best Thomas the Train Toys: Reviewed for 2024

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Are you on the hunt for Thomas the Train toys? We know how difficult it can be trying to find the best options for these types of toys due to the sheer number of them that are available.

However, that’s why we’ve researched and reviewed what the top options have to offer. We’ve taken care of the hard part to make things a lot easier for you. All you need to do is have a read of the Thomas toys reviewed below and select the one that you think your child would enjoy most.

There’s also a buying guide section available at the end that includes further information on how to go about choosing a great Thomas the Train toy.

Our List of the Top Thomas and Friends Toys

1

Fisher Price Thomas & Friends Super Station

Summary

This Thomas & Friends Super Station by Fisher Price features more than 35 feet of track. Therefore, if you have a large enough space, you can be sure that kids will have a blast playing with such a big track. However, we also liked how they’ve made it compatible with smaller spaces too. You can simply remove various parts to reduce the overall size and make it into a Thomas the Train mini track.

The set comes with different characters that kids will recognize. They include Harold, James, Percy, and of course, Thomas. This inspires children to use these toys and play with them in more imaginative ways. This is an effective way to improve their creative thinking skills.

Kids are also able to use this set with TrackMaster, MINIS, and even wooden railway engines. So, children are given the freedom to combine this set with their other train sets and have a blast.

Pros
  • Adjustable size feature
  • Encourages creativity
  • Can be used with other train sets
Cons
  • Takes up more spaces than some were expecting
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

We liked how this set gives you the option to use it at its largest size of over 35 feet, or to reduce the size and make it appropriate for the size of the room.

2

Fisher Price Thomas & Friends MINIS 20-Pack

Summary

Fisher Price’s Thomas & Friends MINIS Pack comes with a total of 20 toys. This is plenty to keep kids entertained for hours of play. We liked how it inspires children to use their imagination more to come up with fun pretend play scenarios. It’s awesome for their creative thinking skills.

There are more than 80 MINIS available to collect from Fisher Price. Therefore, kids can add to their collection over time.We liked how they’ve designed the toys to look just like the characters from the movies. In addition to this, they have also incorporated some newer styles to keep things exciting too.

Due to the smaller size of these toys, they work best on the MINI playsets which have been specifically created to be played together. Moreover, kids love playing with all these toys with some company, which could improve their social skills.

Pros
  • Promotes creativity
  • Improves social skills
  • Fantastic design
Cons
  • Smaller than some were hoping for
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

With 20 toys available to play with, you can be sure that your child has plenty of pieces to play with a lot of imagination.

3

Thomas Track Master Boat & Sea Set

Summary

The Thomas and Friends TrackMaster, Boat & Sea Set by Fisher Price comes with a rolling boat, toy train, tracks, pretend water tracks, and docks. Children have a lot of fun playing with all of these different elements and it keeps them busy for hours.

We liked how they’ve used a motorized feature to make the toys move around. The Thomas train is motorized and works to move the rolling ship on the pretend water tracks which takes it between the different docks. Kids have a blast playing with the motorized feature and they love including it in their games, which is great for their creative thinking skills.

We also liked how the boat toy has a function where it rocks back and forth while the Thomas train is pushing it. This gives it the effect of a real boat on the ocean, which makes the playing experience more immersive.

Pros
  • Fun motorized feature
  • Encourages creativity
  • Immersive playtime
Cons
  • The track is a little shorter than some would prefer
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 7 years

What makes this option stand out?

We were impressed with the motorized features that are available with this set. They enable kids to play with their Thomas train toys in a unique way, which is exciting for them.

4

Fisher Price Adventures, Around the World Set

Summary

Fisher Price’s Thomas & Friends Adventures, Around the World Set comes with a number of characters which kids love from watching the shows and movies. They include Thomas, Victor, Ivan, Yong Bao, Percy, and more. We liked how these train toys have been made using a die-cast metal material. It works to keep them durable so that kids can play with them for years to come.

There are connectors available which are made out of plastic. This enables children to attach various cargo pieces to their toys to play in more imaginative ways. Therefore, they can be useful in helping kids to think more creatively. They also allow them the opportunity to add new pieces to their set over time.

This set works with the various Thomas & Friends Adventure train tracks that are available. Furthermore, children are able to develop their motor skills and hand-eye coordination while playing with this set.

Pros
  • Develop motor skills & coordination
  • Inspires creative play
  • Durable die-cast metal construction
Cons
  • Hook system may be tricky for kids to use at the start
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

Kids have a blast playing with this set and being able to be imaginative, while also developing their coordination and motor skills.

5

Thomas & Percy’s Railway Race Set

Summary

This Thomas & Percy Railway Race Set by Fisher Price has been designed around the movieThe Great Race.It’s a Thomas the Tank Engine movie that involves Thomas and Percy racing against each other. Therefore, it’s a great set for kids who have seen the movie.

We liked how they’ve used a unique design to create the Percy and Thomas characters. They have a racing theme, which looks spectacular. we were also impressed with how they’ve implemented a motorized feature into both of the trains.

This is a lot of fun as kids can watch how their toys race against each other. The track is 6 feet in length and has 2 tracks which are right next to each other. This enables children to observe a fair race.

Pros
  • Excellent design
  • Awesome motorized feature
  • Exciting race theme
Cons
  • Instructions could be better
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

Children love how they can watch their Thomas and Percy toys race against one another. The racing theme that’s been used to design them is awesome!

6

Step2 Thomas the Tank Engine

Summary

The Step2 Thomas the Tank Engine Up and Down Roller Coaster enables kids to easily get on and off it as a result of the steps that are available on both sides. These steps have been made with anti-slip materials to ensure they’re safe for kids.

We were impressed with the design of this toy as it looks just like the Thomas the Tank Engine character that kids love. They’ve incorporated a number high-quality decals that are very detailed.

Inside, there’s a high seat back, root rests, and a coaster hand-rail for kids to hold onto. There is a total of 9 feet of railway track available for kids to play with. Therefore, you can be sure that they’ll be entertained for hours. Children also have a lot of fun playing with this set along with friends, which is great for their social skills.

Pros
  • Can improve social skills
  • Safe for kids
  • Fun railway roller coaster design
Cons
  • Instructions could be clearer
What age is this recommended for?

24 months – 5 years

What makes this option stand out?

Children have a blast riding in this mini roller coaster set with their friends. It’s incredibly exciting and great for their social skills.

7

Thomas Toy MINIS

Summary

Fisher Prices’ MINIS set comes with 8 character in total. Fans of the shows and movies will know every single one of these characters and they will have a lot of fun playing with them. There are also 70 mini toy engine toys to collect, which gives kids the opportunity to add to their collection over time.

Kids also love to get together and play with this mini toys. They often race them against one another and trade them. This kind of group play is a great chance for kids to improve on their social skills.

We also liked how this set encourages children to play with their toys in more imaginative ways. As a result, their creative thinking skills are able to develop.

Pros
  • Develops creativity
  • Improves social skills
  • Lots of mini toys to add to the collection
Cons
  • Smaller than some were expecting
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 15 years

What makes this option stand out?

This 8-pack set of Thomas & Friends toys encourages children to play with their friends more and improve their social skills, while helping them to think more imaginatively.

8

Fisher Price MINIS, Motorized Raceway

Summary

This Thomas & Friends MINIS Raceway set by Fisher Price features a James and Thomas toy. We were impressed with how they’ve designed the track to have curves, 360-degree loops, and a vertical drop. This makes it incredibly exciting for kids to play with and you can be sure that they’ll be occupied with the set for a while.

The toy trains come with a motorized features. This enables kids to watch how their toys move around the track and race each other. We also liked how this set is compatible with other MINIS. Therefore, if kids have been collecting them over time, they can race different characters against one another.

We found that children have a blast playing with this set with their friends. As a result, it can be great for their social skills. Moreover, the set encourages kids to use their creativity to come up with their own adventures and pretend play scenarios.

Pros
  • Encourages creative thinking
  • Improves social skills
  • Fantastic track design
Cons
  • Some find that the conveyor belt is prone to jamming at times
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

The design of this track is remarkably exciting and kids have fun racing their MINIS on it for hours.

9

Fisher Price My First –Remote Control Thomas

Summary

This comes with a Thomas the Tank Engine toy which has been created with a brightly colored design. Kids find this more exciting to play with and are able to improve their color recognition skills.

We liked how the size of the remote control is ideal for little hands. Therefore, you can be sure that your child will be able to have total control over their toy while being comfortable. The control enables the toy to move backwards and forwards, which is why it’s a fantastic first RC toy – especially for kids who are fans of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Children also love to control the toy in fun ways and implement it into their pretend play games. As a result, their ability to think more creatively is improved.

Pros
  • Develops creative thinking
  • Improves color recognition skills
  • Perfect sized controller
Cons
  • Some were disappointed that the toy can only move backwards & forwards
What age is this recommended for?

18 months – 5 years

What makes this option stand out?

Children love controlling their Thomas the Tank Engine toy by driving it around. They also have a blast using it in their games, which improves their creative thinking skills.

10

TrackMaster – Fiery Flynn

Summary

This Fisher Price Thomas & Friends TrackMaster, Fiery Flynn comes with a motorized feature as well as a cargo car. Therefore, kids find it incredibly exciting to play with and are entertained by it for hours on end.

All they need to do is hit a switch and they can watch how the toy moves around. We liked how this toy is compatible with most tracks that are made by TrackMaster. It enables kids to play with it in more imaginative ways, which is great for their creative thinking skills.

They can also add to their collection over time and include more of their favorite characters in their games.

Pros
  • Promotes creativity
  • Compatible with TrackMaster tracks
  • Fun motorized feature
Cons
  • Doesn’t stay on track as well as some were expecting
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

Kids have a lot of fun playing with the motorized feature that available with this toy. It also helps them to play with more imagination and develop their creative thinking skills.

11

Fisher Price My First – Railway Pals Rescue Tower

Summary

This Thomas train track set by Fisher Price, My First Railway Pals Rescue Tower, comes with a lot of interactive features for kids to play with. There is a Thomas train with a cargo car, 4 track activation points, various track pieces, a rescue tower, crossing gate, cargo bin, and archway. Therefore, kids have plenty to play with and be entertained for hours.

We were impressed with how there are sounds, music, and educational phrases available when kids roll their toy over the activation points. The music and sound effects are a lot of fun and stimulate your child’s audible learning skills.

The educational phrases that are available are effective at teaching kids about different colors, numbers, and letters. Kids have also been loving how they can twist the searchlight, which is located at the top of the tower, and watch how the cargo piece drops.

Pros
  • Teaches kids about numbers, letters, & colors
  • Fun sound effects & music
  • Fun interactive features available
Cons
  • Some find that storing the set is difficult due to the many different pieces
What age is this recommended for?

12 months old – 5 year olds

What makes this option stand out?

We liked how this set enables children to have a lot of fun, while also learning more about different numbers, colors, and letters.

12

TrackMaster – Motorized Gordon Engine

Summary

This Gordon Engine toy by Fisher Price is part of their Thomas & Friends TrackMaster set. We liked how it comes with a motorized feature as children have a lot of fun playing with it. The motor inside the toy allows it to travel at fast speeds, which is exciting for kids to play with.

The toy can be used with the majority of tracks that are made by TrackMaster. As a result, kids are able to add to their collection over time and race their different toys against each other. This is awesome for their imaginative play abilities.

Children also have a blast using this toy to play with their friends. This is an awesome opportunity for children to develop their social skills.

Pros
  • Can improve social skills
  • Encourages creative thinking
  • Fun motorized feature
Cons
  • Doesn’t work with old track styles
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

Kids have a blast with the motorized feature that’s available with this toy as they find it exciting to watch how it can zoom off.

13

TrackMaster – Motorized James Engine

Summary

Fisher Price’s Thomas & Friends James Engine toy is compatible with most of the tracks that are made by TrackMaster. Therefore, kids are able to add to their collection of toys that can be used on these tracks to come up with more imaginative play scenarios. This is great for their social skills.

The motorized feature that’s available with these toys is also fantastic. Kids have a blast watching how their toys are able to zoom off. They also love racing them against each other, which can be a lot of fun to do in groups with friends. This could be an effective way to improve your child’s social skills.

Pros
  • Can improve social skills
  • Promotes creative play
  • Excellent motorized function
Cons
  • A little smaller than some were hoping for
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

Kids love being able to race their toys against each other and play with a lot of imagination. Their social skills are also given a chance to improve too.

14

Fisher Price My First Thomas The Train Pullback Puffer

Summary

This Fisher Price My First Thomas The Train Pullback Puffer Thomas toy is a lot of fun for toddlers. This is because they can simply pull the toy back and release to watch how it races forwards. It’s an interactive experience which they’ll be entertained by for hours.

We also liked how it’s an excellent way to improve your child’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This is due to the more hands-on approach that’s required to play with this toy.

While the toy moves forward, the steam cloud on top moves up and down. This is a fantastic little detail which makes it more exciting for children to play with.

Pros
  • Develops motor skills & coordination
  • Fun pull-back feature
  • Great attention to detail with the moving steam cloud
Cons
  • Smaller than some were expecting
What age is this recommended for?

18 months – 3 years

What makes this option stand out?

This is one of the best Thomas the train toys for toddlersdue to how they’re able to pull it back and watch how it moves forwards while the steam cloud moves up and down. Their coordination and motor skills are also improved as a result.

15

Fisher Price Thomas Toy Adventures – Nia

Summary

This Nia tank engine Thomas & Friends Adventures by Fisher Price toy has been constructed with a die-cast metal material. It’s incredibly strong and ensures that kids are able to play with the toy for years to come.

We liked how it comes with connectors that are made out of plastic. These can be used to help kids attach various accessory items, such as cargo pieces, onto the back of the Nia toy. These pieces are sold separately, but it could be a great opportunity for kids to play with more imagination, which improves their creative thinking skills.

Furthermore, this toy provides kids with the opportunity to develop their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. It can also be used on various Thomas & Friends Adventure train tracks by Fisher Price.

Pros
  • Durable die-cast metal construction
  • Encourages creative thinking
  • Develops motor skills & coordination
Cons
  • People have nothing bad to say about this one!
What age is this recommended for?

36 months – 6 years

What makes this option stand out?

This Nia toy is a lot of fun for kids to play with an incorporate into their games, which is awesome for their creative thinking skills. It can also help to develop their creative thinking skills too.

16

Count with Me Thomas the Train Toy

Summary

Fisher Price’s My First Thomas & Friends Count With Me Thomas toy comes with a toy train that can be pushed along, as well as 1- coins. Kid have a lot of fun with the simplicity of this push toy as it enables them to think of more creative ways to play.

The coins that are available have number 1-10 on them. This provides kids with a fantastic opportunity to improve their ability to count to 10. We also liked how each of these coins has a Thomas the Tank Engine character on the side that’s opposite to the numbers. It can be an encouraging way for children to learn how to count better.

In addition to this, the toy features a range of more than 20 phrase, sounds, and songs. This makes it incredibly exciting for kids to play with and stimulates their audible learning skills.

Pros
  • Improves counting skills
  • Develops audible learning senses
  • Encourages creativity
Cons
  • Getting all the coins out can be a little tricky!
What age is this recommended for?

12 months – 4 years

What makes this option stand out?

Kids have a lot of fun using this toy set to learn how to count, while also being able to play with it in imaginative ways.

17

Rainbow Thomas the Tank Engine Adventures Limited Edition Toy

Summary

This Thomas & Friends Rainbow Thomas the Tank engine Adventures Limited Edition toy has been constructed out of a die-cast metal material. Therefore, you can expect it to be durable and last your child for years of play.

We also liked how they’ve taken a unique approach to the design of this toy. They’ve created it with a rainbow design, which looks fantastic. It’s also an effective way to develop your child’s color recognition skills.

There are plastic connector parts available which kids can use to connect a range of other accessory items, such as cargo cars. These accessory parts are available separately but can allow children to play with more creativity. Their hand-eye coordination and motor skills also benefit greatly from this set.

Pros
  • Promotes imaginative play
  • Develops motor skills & coordination
  • Awesome rainbow design
Cons
  • Smaller than some were expecting
What age is this recommended for?

4 month old and over

What makes this option stand out?

We were impressed with the rainbow design of this toy as it’s exciting and helps kids to improve their color recognition skills. Your child’s ability to think creatively is also enhanced while playing with this toy as well.

Buying Guide on Thomas the Tank Engine Toys

Now that you have a better idea of what some of the best Thomas train sets have to offer, you may be looking for a little more guidance on how to go about picking the ones that you think your child would enjoy the most.

If so, you’ll want to take a look through the buying guide selection below. By the end, you’ll be feeling more confident about your decision.

Types of Thomas Train Sets

After reading through the various Thomas toys mentioned in this review, you will have noticed that there are a variety of different kinds of toys. If you’re interested in learning more about these toys and what makes them different from one another, take a look at this section.

Wooden Train Sets

Thomas & Friends wood train sets are popular among kids and adults because the materials tend to be made out of high-quality materials which are durable and safe for kids. They also enable kids to be highly creative with how they construct their railways.

Electric Train Sets

The electric train sets in this review include the ones that are powered by a motor. Kids have a lot of fun with these motorized Thomas train toys because they love watching how fast they can move around the track.

These Electric Thomas the Train sets are also a ton of fun to race. There are sets that include 2 tracks, side-by-side, so that you can watch as 2 train toys race against each other.

Magnetic Trains

We recommend the Thomas magnetic trains mostly for younger children. This is simply because magnets allow them to have an easier time with connecting the various parts together. As a result, they’re given the means to be more imaginative with how they play.

These train toys are also excellent for helping kids to develop their hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

Plastic Train Sets

The plastic train sets in this review are the ones that include connector parts made out of plastic. These connector parts provide kids with the opportunity to add to their toy collection by attaching accessory items. This enables them to be highly creative and have even more fun.

Popular Types of Thomas and Friends Toys

We have discussed a number of different Thomas and Friends Trains in this review. To gain a better understanding of what the various types available are and how to easily distinguish between them, take a look below.

Ride on Toys

We’ve included one Thomas ride on toy in this review which is the Step2 Thomas the Tank Engine Up and Down Roller Coaster. It comes with a track that can be extended or shortened, depending on how much space you have.

Getting on and off this roller coaster is safe and easy for kids. They love being able to travel up and down the tracks, over and over again.

Engine Toys

Thomas the Tank Engine Toys are a more classic kind of set that children still adore. They usually just involve the toys themselves, which is plenty for kids to start playing with. Children are able to use all the different characters in the set to come up with pretend play scenarios, which is excellent for their creative thinking skills.

TrackMaster Sets

There are numerous Thomas TrackMaster sets in this review due to how popular they are. Their sets never fail to be exciting for children. However, we have been impressed with how compatible these sets are with different Thomas toys.

This lets kids use a range of different characters on the tracks at the same time. Their ability to think up more imaginative stories and games benefits greatly because of the compatibility feature.

Minis

Thomas the Train Minis are great little toy sets that younger children love to play. This is largely because the smaller size of the toys is easier for them to handle as they are designed for little hands.

Therefore, younger kids are able to play with their toys easier and develop their motor skills and coordination without any hassle.

Remote Control Toys

Remote control Thomas Trains are a super fun toy for children to play with. They have an absolute blast being able to control their toy and move it around however they like. The size of the remote control in the RC Thomas toy that we’ve reviewed here is perfect for smaller hands.

Train Cars

Thomas the Train Cars are the ones that can be rolled around on the floor as they have wheels on the bottom. They may also have pull-back feature, which is super exciting for kids to play with.

These toys are fun for kids to play with in small groups with friends. It can be a great opportunity for them to improve their social skills. Not to mention, kids love thinking of imaginative play scenarios that involve their Thomas the train cars, which is awesome for their creative thinking skills.

Train Tracks

Thomas the Train Tracks enable kids to put their toys on the track and push them around. There is a track in this review that enables Thomas and Friends to race against one another as a result of the double-track design.

There are also train track sets, such as the Boat and Sea set, that provide kids with the chance to play with more imagination.

Full Thomas Sets

Thomas and Friends Sets are among the most sought out Thomas toys because of how they come with children’s favorite characters. These sets are a lot of fun for kids to play with and be super imaginative.

We also liked how kids can have a blast playing with these sets along with friends. This is a result of the multiple toys that are available. So, your child can improve their social skills with Thomas and Friends sets.

Take and Play Sets

Thomas the Train Take and Play sets are an ideal choice if you’re looking for something that you can easily take with you on the go. They come with some kind of storage box or small container that’s hassle-free to put in a bag and carry around to pull out any time your child wants to play with it.

Toy Box

Thomas toy boxes can be great if you’re looking for something that enables kids to play with a wide variety of different toys. The benefit of them being available in a toy box is that you can easily clear them away afterward and put them into storage for another day.

Final Thoughts on the Best Thomas the Train Toys

So, that’s the end of our review on the top Thomas the Train toys that are currently available. Everything you need to know about these kinds of toys can be found, right here. Be sure to read through the main features of each toy, as well as the pros, cons, age recommendation, and what makes each toy stand out.

We’ve created this review to provide you with a complete look at what the toys have to offer, as well as the criteria you need to decide on the one that’s best for your child.

Our buying guide section contains some excellent information that will help you feel great about the final choice that you pick!

About Sheryl Jackson

Sheryl is a wife, mother and grandmother who has 3 adult children, many grandchildren and a large family with many nieces and nephews. Over the decades Sheryl has purchased countless toys and gifts for her children, grandchildren, foster children, nieces and nephews. Sheryl has an M.A. in communications and creative writing and loves using her experience as a parent and grandparent to share her picks of the best toys and gift ideas for children, teenagers and young adults.

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