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[ChrisMTR]

I'm shopping for toy trains for my 2yr old son.  My options are a wooden train set or a die cast train set.  I want to get a few years use out of it and pass it on for another little one to play with but not spend a fortune in the process.  Wooden trains look like the way to go as far as durability but are pricey.  Does anyone have any experience with these train sets? Pro's and Cons of wooden vs die cast?  What brands are considered good? 

Thanks

[Anonymous]

My first train set was wooden Brio trains. I can not speak for the current quality or availability but when I was playing with them 20 years ago they were fairly durable. They were passed on to my youngest cousin 5 years ago when he was 3 or 4 (he has since added some new stuff of his own).

[fifedog]

I constructed a Thomas table some 18 years ago out of double-sided laminate.  My then 2 year old son logged a million miles with his Thomas wooden trains, and what started out as simple loop slowly grew to a 46" x 32" EMPIRE.  When he was through with them after 4-5 years, they were packed up, until my youngest daughter came along, and she had them for 2-3 years.  This year, we dug out that old Thomas layout.  It shows a lot of wear, but my first grandson loves logging miles along the Island of Sodor.

Yes, they are a little pricey, but I think the wooden railroad system has an heirloom quality to it, that can be loved over and over again.  Kinda like LIONEL trains...but that's another story.

[Phoebe Vet]

We have a wooden set that as been used and misused for about 5 years.  Not a single piece has failed.