john lewis wooden train set brio compatible?

wallofbeans

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a wooden train set for my neice... I've heard great things about the brio range but looking in John Lewis I sw they had a set twice the size for the same price (£20)..

They look pretty similar but does anyone know if they are compatible and if the john lewis ones are any good?

Thanks!

annie02blue

Hi we bought a wooden train set for our sons and have been adding to it over the last couple of years. We have various bits of wooden track from Early Learning Centre, Brio, Tesco, Thomas etc and they all fit the same trains! Only difference we have found is that the more expensive set from ELC had slightly more detail. We have found from our boys that more is best when it comes to train track!

annie02blue

annie02blue wrote: »

Hi we bought a wooden train set for our sons and have been adding to it over the last couple of years. We have various bits of wooden track from Early Learning Centre, Brio, Tesco, Thomas etc and they all fit the same trains! Only difference we have found is that the more expensive set from ELC had slightly more detail. We have found from our boys that more is best when it comes to train track!

Should also have mentioned that all of the add-ons i.e. level crossings etc, all fit on to any of the track too!

happybargainhunter2008

I bought the John Lewis track for my son a while ago, and it is definitely worth the money for the 'extra' bits like the engine shed, bridge and rail crossing ( we have one near our house, so he loves that). I had bought an Ikea set for him a while back and as he got older and more able to put it together himself, we needed extra pieces. Both the Ikea and John Lewis set go together, although slightly different shades. The Ikea one is good for basic pieces, but the John Lewis set is better for older kids. Thomas trains (the wooden ones) can also be used on these tracks. To be honest, I think the Brio ones are quite expensive, although you often find them reduced in TKMaxx. In my experience, little boys like lots of tracks and track pieces, and aren't too bothered about details and things like that. I think you would be better off buying a cheaper track set and splurging on his favourite Thomas train, if he likes them.

wallofbeans

annie02blue wrote: »

Hi we bought a wooden train set for our sons and have been adding to it over the last couple of years. We have various bits of wooden track from Early Learning Centre, Brio, Tesco, Thomas etc and they all fit the same trains! Only difference we have found is that the more expensive set from ELC had slightly more detail. We have found from our boys that more is best when it comes to train track!

so you bought the john lewis one originally?

Need_a_break

If you have a home bargains near you, they were selling brio sets with the horse?? for about £8. Not much track but lots of extra bits for them to play with, my ds2 and dd love it. Also at that price you could geta few, hth

Poppy9

I bought the ELC set for my DD when she was younger. She was more interested in the engines than the track and making the trains go around. Not sure if it's a girl thing but she had to completely dismantle it after playing with it and put it away (which was a pain setting back up). We passed it on to a friend and she says her boys have it constantly out and she adds bits to it even now (we bought it 12-13 years ago) whenever she sees wooden train sets cheap.

Look in charity shops as that's where it would have been heading if it hadn't gone to a friend.

annie02blue

wallofbeans wrote: »

so you bought the john lewis one originally?

Sorry didn't make that clear - didn't buy it originally but it has since been added to the collection!

wallofbeans

Need_a_break wrote: »

If you have a home bargains near you, they were selling brio sets with the horse?? for about £8. Not much track but lots of extra bits for them to play with, my ds2 and dd love it. Also at that price you could geta few, hth

never heard of home bargains and just googled to find the nearest store is 50 miles away so no good for me im afraid... thanks though!

WestonDave

Just one word of warning - we have a load of Brio,Tesco, ELC mixed track but were also given a set as a present we think from Sainsbury's. Although this looked compatible the track connection bits (the key and keyhole type bits) were slightly shorter with the result that it wouldn't fit with the other stuff. Its the only set I've ever come across that doesn't join up but just to warn that there is some non compatible stuff out there. The same trains run on both - its just that the track doesn't join.

wallofbeans

WestonDave wrote: »

Just one word of warning - we have a load of Brio,Tesco, ELC mixed track but were also given a set as a present we think from Sainsbury's. Although this looked compatible the track connection bits (the key and keyhole type bits) were slightly shorter with the result that it wouldn't fit with the other stuff. Its the only set I've ever come across that doesn't join up but just to warn that there is some non compatible stuff out there. The same trains run on both - its just that the track doesn't join.

thanks for that - good to know! is it definitely from sainsbury's?