Update:Train set/table? (pic in comments)

kgs0505

Anyone doing or have done a train set or table for their kids?  Any suggestions?  I'm looking at the Melissa and Doug set instead of Thomas sets.  The Thomas ones are just crazy expensive!  Any product recommendations or pointers?

FYI -

I want to do this for my son's 3rd birthday.

TiffanyBerry

We have Ikea sets.  A mildly ridiculous number of Ikea sets.

They are reasonably priced, which I love, though they don't have a whole lot of variety.  

law&order

We have a hand-me-down table and tracks with one Thomas train. The rest are Circo brand from Target or Melissa & Doug. Before we got the train table he just used the M&D set.

blondie10m

We have one of the kid craft ones. Love the plastic storage bins underneath as well.

Cherryblossoms07

We have the Kid Craft table as well. I love it! The kids play with it nearly every day. The table has turned into a multipurpose table - the kids like building large Lego structures on it, setting up their marble run on it, use it for a "patient" waiting room when they play dr........ I love that I can easily buy cheap replacement and additional cars and trains since the pieces were made to fit most other tables. I know one of the more expensive sets is not compatible with others, it may be Thomas, but I cannot recall for sure which. We have had our table for two years so it has been a while since I researched tables. Target has replacement cars and trains for our table quite often in their dollar spot.

sugarbear0524

We have this one: https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=22711866&cp=&parentPage=search

Maybe a bit expensive, but Thomas trains go on it, and my son already had some. It has provided hours of entertainment. He plays very well independently with his trains. The magnets between the trains make it easy for him to change trains in and out, which is great for creativity.

ncbelle

I'd second the IKEA sets although we love the Plan City stuff (just kinda pricey) - works with the IKEA tracks though!  I wouldn't get a table - it's much more fun to rebuild different track configurations (and better for the brain!).  We had a table to build on at one point but often just used the floor as we needed more space.

kgs0505

Thanks everyone

@sugarbear0524 That's actually quite a good deal, since it isn't just the table!  So many more expensive tables are only the table and include nothing else.

My husband decided to make the table himself.  Should be done today   I have the job of painting it.  Now to get a set - I'm leaning towards the M&D set.  If IKEA was closer, I'd run over there, but it's at least an hour away and I have no time to get down there before his birthday.  Which is too bad becasue it'd probably be the least expensve option.

@ncbelle - We don't have any hard floors except the kitchen, so a table will be necessary.  If we had our hardwood floors in (we've been talking about them since we moved in like 8 years ago!), then we'd be set, but I can't imagine carpet would work well with the tracks.

Xath

We don't have one yet, but I was advised to check Craigslist when we do take the plunge.  

prism207

Carpet works fine with the tracks.  And you can add to the sets later, most of them work together.  Occasionally a bridge is a wonky height but you can work around that too.  

Soon2BMrsN

We have an Imaginarium train table and tracks (it all came together) but all of our engines are the wooden Thomas & Friends ones. We've had the set for over two years and it is, hands down, the most played with toy we have.

eyenigh

sugarbear0524 said:

We have this one: https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=22711866&cp=&parentPage=search

Maybe a bit expensive, but Thomas trains go on it, and my son already had some. It has provided hours of entertainment. He plays very well independently with his trains. The magnets between the trains make it easy for him to change trains in and out, which is great for creativity.

We have that same one and he loves it. He plays with it every day and the tracks stay together quite well, too.

Wipz

**Duplicate

Wipz

eyenigh said:

sugarbear0524 said:

We have this one: https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=22711866&cp=&parentPage=search

Maybe a bit expensive, but Thomas trains go on it, and my son already had some. It has provided hours of entertainment. He plays very well independently with his trains. The magnets between the trains make it easy for him to change trains in and out, which is great for creativity.

We have that same one and he loves it. He plays with it every day and the tracks stay together quite well, too.

.....us too (except for the track comment lol .. he takes great pleasure in destroying the track in 30 seconds so we need to get some suretack clips ) and we bought the spiral track as an add on  and various trains to add on too.. some were only like $3 at target.

kgs0505

Well, I finished painting the table top. What do you ladies think? just needs shellac and finish painting the actual table and it'll all be done.