Train sets are classic toys that provide hours of entertainment for kids. Not only are they fun, but they also help develop important skills like problem-solving, creativity, and fine motor skills. Additionally, playing with train sets can teach kids about physics, engineering, and geography.
However, when choosing a train set for your child, it’s important to consider factors such as safety features, room size, and your child’s skills. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the best train sets for kids, taking into account features like dependability, price, and kid-friendliness.
Our Top Picks
- Best Beginner Train Set: Brio My First Railway
- Best Train Set For Toddlers: VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station Playset
- Best Wooden Train Set: Bigjigs Rail Fairy Town Train Set
- Best Ride-On Train Set: Power Wheels Thomas and Friends Track
- Best LEGO Train Set: LEGO City Freight Train Toy Set
- Best Electric Train Set For Kids: TEMI Electric Classical Train Set
- Best Portable Train Set: Melissa & Doug Wooden Take-Along Tabletop Train Set
- Best Cartoon Train Set: Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends Extra Large Train Set
- Best Train Set With Remote Control: Mini Tudou Christmas Electric Train Set
- Best Train Set And Table: KidKraft Ride Around Town Wooden Train Set and Table
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Train Sets For Kids Picks
Brio My First Railway – Best Beginner Train Set
- The track slots together easily for adults and not too easily for your child, this means the track doesn’t dislodge accidentally should your child unintentionally bump into it
- Brightly colored these are easy to find and visually appealing
- The train and carriage wheels move freely and fit in the grooves of the track easily
- The wood is planed/sanded to a very smooth finish and without splinters
- The train tracks are not painted and come in plain smooth wood
With colorful graphics and specially designed features, this train set is perfect for young children to play with and explore without getting frustrated. The trains always connect easily thanks to the reversible magnet connections, and the ramp tracks make it simple for kids to load the trains onto the tracks.
As your child plays with this toy, they’ll be introduced to the exciting world of BRIO wooden railways. And the best part is, these toys are completely compatible with the BRIO World rail network, so your child can continue to build and expand their collection over time.
- Age range: 18 months to 4 years
VTech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Train Station Playset – Best Train Set For Toddlers
- Bright pieces are attractive to toddlers and easy to find when strewn throughout the house
- Most of the pieces don’t hurt when you step on them
- Pieces are mostly easy to put together
- Lots of ways to put them together, especially with multiple sets
- Takes up a lot of space
Step right up to the Go! Go! VTech Smart Wheels Train Station Playset, where your little conductor can take charge of the railway! Turn the hand crank and watch the train ride up the conveyor belt, or see it chug through the station and under the bridge. But that’s not all, the toy train set is also a great learning tool for your child! Press the light-up star on the train to learn the letter “T” and hear fun sing-along songs, noises, and phrases. Attach the cargo car with its own SmartPoint for even more fun.
The playset is multi-lingual, teaching children colors and introducing the concept of time through amusing phrases and flashes that follow the noises. With multiple track layouts, your child can improve their motor skills while also stimulating their creativity.
- Age range: 1-5 years
Bigjigs Rail Fairy Town Train Set – Best Wooden Train Set
- Comes with a map of how to use build the track using all the pieces
- Set is very cute
- Very girlie
- Built to last
- A little bit of assembly is required for the bridge and station
This 75-piece wooden train set is perfect for kids who love trains, fairies, and all things magical. With a pink bridge, colorful engine shed, and rainbow of accessories, the Fairy Town Pink Train Set is sure to ignite your child’s imagination.
Your child can design their own train set, creating a fantastical world full of adventure and wonder. Made from responsibly harvested wood and painted with non-toxic paints and lacquers, this train set meets EN71 Toy Safety Standards, ensuring your child can play safely while unleashing their creativity.
- Age range: 3-8 years
Power Wheels Thomas and Friends Track – Best Ride-On Train Set
- It’s big and does not tip over (easily)
- Easy to assemble
- Controls are easy for a toddler to understand and operate
- Makes fun sounds
- Long charging time
This ride-on train toy is perfect for young children with its easy-to-use push-button controls, comfortable seat, and fun Thomas the Tank Engine phrases and sounds. Even toddlers as young as 12 months old can ride on the included track before they’re ready to “drive” on their own.
With sturdy tires that work on and off the track, kids can enjoy indoor playtime for hours. And with a top speed of 1 mph on-track and 2 mph off-track, this ride-on toy is both fun and safe.
- Age range: 1-3 years
LEGO City Freight Train Toy Set – Best LEGO Train Set
- The set is broken down into 5 smaller builds, each with its own numbered bags and instruction manual
- Very fun to play
- The electronic features with the remote can give a lot of fun sending the train back and forth on the track
- The Minifigure selection is nice
- The power feature in the train takes 6 AAA batteries and the remote takes another 4
This set includes a locomotive with LEGO Powered Up technology, realistic cars and containers, track pieces, and even Minifigures to make your child’s train-themed playtime come to life.
With easy-to-follow building instructions, kids 7 and up can build individually or with friends and family for a fun group experience. LEGO City playsets allow children to learn and explore the world around them while having fun with feature-rich structures and engaging characters.
- Age range: 7+ years
TEMI Electric Classical Train Set – Best Electric Train Set For Kids
- Easy to set up
- The smoke works pretty well
- Good for the price
- Train noses are loud
- Use a small amount of tape where the tracks connect to prevent them from coming apart
This electric train set comes with a classic steam engine and tender, a three-passenger coach, a coal car, a freight truck, 10 curves, 8 straights, 5 crosses, traffic signals, and more, so your kids can create their own unique train layout.
Additionally, this electric train replica also features realistic noises and LED lighting to bring your train experience to life. And if you pour water into the top of the water receiver after picking up the cap, you’ll even see actual smoke coming out of the locomotive!
Rest assured that the materials used to make this train set are environmentally safe and non-toxic, meeting CPSIA and ASTM tests for US toys.
- Age range: 3-12 years
Melissa & Doug Wooden Take-Along Tabletop Train Set – Best Portable Train Set
- Ease of use
- Durable and sturdy construction
- Great for travel since the track doubles as a case holding the train cars and scenery
- Buildings/decor painted on both sides
- The built-in track could be deeper
The portable train set unfolds to reveal a vibrant landscape with built-in railway and road tracks for three wooden-wheeled trains and a park ranger vehicle. Kids can set up a gondola that glides over a bridge and through a mountain tunnel, complete with wooden play pieces like structures, creatures, trees, and a railroad crossing sign to enhance their storytelling. Cleanup and transport are easy with the fold-up container and convenient carrying handle.
- Age range: 3-6 years
Fisher-Price Thomas and Friends Extra Large Train Set – Best Cartoon Train Set
- Amazing and long-lasting built quality with a great finish
- Very large set with many different combinations available
- Different sizes of trains
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Takes up a lot of space
This multi-system track package includes Thomas, Percy, James, and Harold with three play levels that can fit any area in the house and allows the usage of the majority of Thomas engines. It accommodates over 100 engines and has more than 35 feet of track with various floor play components, cargo pieces, and adapter pieces to connect to other playsets.
The package also includes fun features like Cranky the Crane with a cargo lift, turntable, tunnels, and facilities for storing freight. It’s an excellent choice for young engineers who want to embark on adventures with their favorite engines and cargo pieces.
- Age range: 3-7 years
Mini Tudou Christmas Electric Train Set – Best Train Set With Remote Control
- Easy to work with
- Lightweight
- Looks very nice and festive
- Lots of features like smoke and lights
- The battery does not last long
With this train set, your kids can steer the train to a stop, speed up, slow down, or even reverse using the remote control. Plus, they can switch on or off the sound while it’s running. This train set is designed to be just like the real thing with great attention paid to every detail, from the wheels to the chimney, and is made of high-quality, kid-friendly ABS material with no toxins, burrs, or BPA.
Thanks to the modular rail train track, kids can easily and securely create their own railroad layout. The train engine, coal cars, passenger cars, and freight cars all run smoothly on the track.
- Age range: 3-8 years
KidKraft Ride Around Town Wooden Train Set and Table – Best Train Set And Table
- Easy to clean, melamine surface, plastic trim, and the painted top is clear-coated
- The track is easy to break down and remodel however you want
- Comes with plenty of set pieces for imaginative kids
- The two under-the-table storage buckets have enough space for all the pieces and some extra if you add on
- The tracks are only one-sided
The KidKraft Ride Around Town Train Table Set is a fantastic toy for imaginative play with 4 unique scenes. The train travels through a farm, a construction site, an airport, and a little town. The set comes with 100 pieces, including an aircraft and a helicopter, which all neatly fold up into detachable storage bins.
This set promotes imaginative play with various colorful parts, such as hand-painted wooden figurines of farmers, construction workers, and physicians, and populating the terrain with signposts, trees, and farm animals.
- Age range: 6 months to 6 years
How To Choose The Best Train Set For Kids?
- Age-Appropriate: Typically, wooden trains are made for young children. They can withstand the occasional skillful tosses that toddlers make since they are heavier and more robust (1). Young children respond better to battery-operated trains because of their automated movement, lights, and music. These trains are typically composed of kid-safe, high-quality ABS plastic. For older children, electric trains can provide excellent learning tools and enjoyable family activities. If they are cared for, they will often last a lifetime. Younger children may get hurt by the larger weight and metal construction of the locomotives.
- Theme: To increase the thrill, choose a toy train that matches your child’s most recent interest. Some themes include Mickey Mouse, Thomas & Friends, and others. Additional subjects include farming, landscapes, travel, and construction labor.
- Safety: Additionally, tiny components and accessories should be avoided by parents since they provide a choking risk. Another thing to watch out for is smoke fluid, a transparent, frequently odorless liquid used to produce smoke but which should not be consumed.
- Size: What size space do you have for your train set? Size might not be a concern if you have a huge playroom, but if you just have a tiny space to work with, you might prefer one that’s on the smaller side. Also, think about how simple it will be to disassemble and how much space you’ll need to keep it when it’s not in use.
- Skill Level: Age may simply be a marker when it comes to train sets. Children who are gifted could have an easier time concentrating on minor projects and making objects. Additionally, certain sets could be more difficult than others for kids who have trouble with fine motor abilities. It’s critical to think about your child’s development and potential before buying a train system.
What Age Is Best For A Train Set?
In general, most experts recommend that children be exposed to simple train sets around age 2 or 3. As they get older, they can be introduced to more complex sets with additional features and accessories like battery-operated sets or remote-controlled trains.
Are Train Sets Good For Kids?
Some of the things you may want to consider include your child’s age, interests, and ability to follow instructions. If your child is very young, they may be more interested in playing with the individual pieces of the train set rather than putting them together to create a functioning model. Older kids, on the other hand, may be more capable of following the instructions and assembling the train set. But no doubt about it, it aids in the early development of crucial abilities, including problem-solving and fine motor skills.
How Long Does A Toy Train Set Last?
Train sets are built to last longer than most other toys. Wooden train sets in particular can last for many years and be passed down to future generations. Even plastic train sets, while not as durable as wooden ones, can withstand a lot of wear and tear. Therefore, if you take good care of your train set, you shouldn’t need to replace it.
How Fast Does An Electric Toy Train Set Travel?
Some electric toy train sets can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour right out of the box. This is quite quick for a miniature train! A toy train engineer can alter the train to move even more quickly if they wish.
Electric toy trains can travel quite fast – up to 15 miles per hour or more with a few adjustments. Toy train designers can make their trains go as quickly as they like by boosting the motor’s power, changing the gearing, or adding a speed controller. This allows for a wide range of speeds, from slow and steady for younger kids, to fast and exciting for older kids and adults.
What’s The Best Way To Set Up Toy Train Tracks?
There’s no one “best” way to set up toy train tracks. It depends on the specific track set and the layout you want to create. However, there are some general tips you can follow to get started. First, make sure you have all the pieces you need.
Most track sets will come with a track plan, which can be helpful in figuring out what pieces you need. Once you have all the pieces, you can start assembling the track. Start by placing the larger pieces first, such as the straights and curves. Then, add in the smaller pieces, like switches and crossing gates. Pay attention to the track plan to make sure you’re putting the pieces in the right place.
Once the track is assembled, you can start adding scenery. This can include trees, houses, people, and other accessories. Again, there is no one “right” way to do this. Just have fun and be creative!
