Please help the Thomas newbie!

[McQ]

I've read all, well atleast a lot, of the train threads so I have a pretty good understanding of what trains/sets to get but I have some questions on how all this stuff works together. Here goes...

Can you use more than one figure 8 set together? Or do you just get one figure 8 and buy extra tracks? I don't even know if what I'm asking makes any sense.

And are the Thomas tracks interchangeable with the Brio tracks or do I need to stick to one brand?

And what's wacky or bumpy tracks?

Thanks!

Allison
~ mama to Declan 3.24.03 and Meghan 8.26.04

[JElaineB]

Allison,

Do you have a store nearby that sells Thomas and/or Brio wooden train stuff? If so they might have a little catalog (the Thomas one is called the Yearbook) that has all of the currently available wooden railway items. Studying my books has helped me figure out a few things!

You can put pretty much any track together. Both Brio and Thomas wooden railway track are compatible. I have decided to stick with Thomas track because I like the look of it. The straight pieces for Thomas also reverse to roadway rather than track, I'm not sure if Brio track does or not. I have been tempted by a few Brio sets though, I will admit!

As for 2 Figure 8 sets, I'm sure you could use them together to make some larger configuration, but I don't think it would be the most interesting configuration. The Figure 8 set has lots of curved pieces of all the same size and just a few straight pieces in a couple of sizes. The expansion packs should allow you to make more interesting configurations (in the Thomas yearbook they show you what some of those configurations are).

Wacky track is Thomas track that is extra bendy, so you can make interesting curves. Bumpy track is Thomas track that is bumpy when the train goes over it. Here's a page with both on it:

http://www.creativetrains.com/thomtanenspe1.html

Here are a few online sites I have used to figure out a lot of stuff. I have stuck with Thomas stuff but I think at least of couple of them have Brio also. For Thomas stuff, make sure to look for "wooden railway" or "wooden trains" as there are several types available and they aren't all compatible or the same quality.

http://www.learningcurve.com/ourProducts/thomas.asp
http://www.creativetrains.com
http://www.trainsgalore.com
http://www.happyhentoys.com
http://www.tracksideimaginationstation.com
http://www.mytoybox.com

Jennifer
mom to Jacob 9/27/02