IKEA track (new all-wood style): I need to do more play testing with more brands, but the new all-wood IKEA tracks seem to be compatible with major brands. O-scale trains feature an approximate scale ratio of 1:48 or 1/48th of their actual size per train size.

It includes a one-button motorized engine (note that it only moves forwards), a freight car with a reel that spins as the train goes along, a raised section of track, and a buildable arch. Otherwise, we never have used it much with our trains…once in a while as a novelty, it’s been fun, but otherwise the floor is so much easier! In our experience, Brio, Thomas, Chuggington, Nuchi, Bigjigs, Jesse’s Toy Box, Orbium, Conductor Carl, Melissa and Doug, and Imaginarium track all work well together. You’ll notice that Thomas and Friends Wood does not appear on this list of wooden train brands I recommend, not even at the bottom with the ones I don’t really recommend.

I have wanted to get some of these gorgeous trains for my son for years, and thanks to Whittle Shortline Railroad, we finally have some!

Remembering your financial limits will allow you to find one that meets them without compromising quality or play value.Some Lillabo train sets are compatible with Brio, but there are differences in size and track compatibility. Wondering about Right Track sets as they are a bit less expensive than some of the others we’ve seen. I was particularly fond of their freight cars, which made great Troublesome Trucks with the addition of some Troublesome Truck face stickers. Both BigJigs and Brio train sets are made primarily of wood, which gives them their classic look and feel. We’ve only ever bought Brio track as part of a set as well, but they do offer different packs of track.

I’ve bought and played with a ridiculous, preposterous, completely-unbelievable number of wooden train sets. Let me introduce you to Hape, another fantastic toy company that produces wooden train sets like Brio. They also make some fun tracks, like their freely-curving Crazy Track (similar to the old Thomas-brand Wacky Track) and their Wavy Track.The level of detail on these trains is just amazing, and thanks to some specially designed wheels, even the longest of their large locomotives rolls neatly around the tightest curves of wooden track. If you get a table with a lot of room for expansion with more track, people, accessories and loose trains, the table might remain the primary play area.