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Of all the Thomas
sets on the market, the Wooden Railway is my favourite.
It is so versatile, much like a big jigsaw puzzle,
except you can place the pieces where you want them.
In a nutshell, the Wooden Railway encourages creative
playtime, for both small and big kids alike. Being
a big kid, and a fan of the James Bond movie series, it
was only a matter of time before I started flying Harold
through Knapford Station, rather than above it.
The railway is also
compatible with other wooden sets, which means even
more destinations, and trains can be added. These
alternative sets include BRIO, WOODEN WORLD, and a price
competitive system sold by IKEA.
After a busy day at
the office, it is comforting to know that battery
powered trains are also available for the Thomas Wooden
Railway. If you are too tired, or even too posh to push,
let these powered engines do all the hard work for you.
Add a few Sodor Island destinations, and you'll have an
array of delightful railway sounds in your
lounge room. BRIO even offer a selection of
special track components, which make their engines stop,
or change speed.
Another aspect of
the Thomas system which is so appealing, is that each
train has it's own personality. Their round facial
expressions, are a window into the mind, and behaviour
of each character. You won't need a
psychology degree to work these guys out, though a
little background research is advisable.
The standard railway engines used by model enthusiasts,
do not impart that same warm, fuzzy feeling of the
Thomas system.
Can it get any
better? Flip the straight track over to reveal
special roadway, designed for the non-rail characters. Enough
said. |
