Are toy trains safe, or is lead a concern?

Thomas trains were recalled in 2007 due to high amounts of lead, and in a California Watch article (where the photo at left comes from), a dad tests his son's Thomas trains for lead. Fortunately, the trains all tested to be safe -- although they did have trace amounts of lead in the paint.

It's a pretty interesting read if you've ever wondered how experts test for lead or if you're interested in toy safety in general.

GeoTrax coloring pages

If your train-loving kids also like to color, check out the GeoTrax coloring pages you can print out from the Fisher-Price Web site.

I can just picture an image gallery of colored pages decorating a child's bedroom walls!

The Lion of Sodor

There's a new Thomas & Friends movie out: The Lion of Sodor. It's been at certain cinemas around the United States since Oct. 2. I had heard of it but didn't realize it was a new movie; after all, the last movie (Misty Island Rescue) came out on DVD just last month!

The Lion of Sodor is playing at a theater about 20 minutes from my house, so I could take my train-obsessed son to go see it. I am still not sure if I will, but I have to say, for the price of tickets for him and myself, I could buy the Lion of Sodor DVD brand new when it comes out later on Dec. 7.

What do you think about seeing movies like this at the cinema?

Free Chuggington episode download -- and a review

The Chuggington Play Date at Toys R Us today was fun! My kids played with the Chuggington toys set out for 20 minutes before I tore them away. My younger son liked the roundhouse play set (which had been sold out at the store we went to), and my older son just like coupling and uncoupling all the Chuggington trains and pushing them along the tracks.

My first impression of the toys was OK. I like that they aren't expensive, compared to other train sets. However, the roundhouse kept coming apart, and little plastic pieces that stuck to it also came off easily. I had a hard time reattaching the roundhouse, so a Toys R Us employee put it back together. I think the magnetic method of coupling trains is easier for young children -- my preschooler could do it, but my toddler couldn't. The tracks have almost tongue-and-groove prongs that I don't think either of them could put together -- but maybe that means once a track is laid out, the kids also couldn't take it apart!

At the play date, I was surprised to receive not only a free DVD with two Chuggington episodes on it, but also a free Chuggington wall poster and coupons.

You can get the same free Chuggington episodes from iTunes from now through next Saturday ... maybe. I tried the link and got an iTunes error message: "The item you've requested is not currently available in the US store."

Chuggington has a "play date" at Toys R Us

Tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 16, Toys R Us stores will have a special Chuggington program, 12 pm - 2 pm.

New Chuggington toys will be available for the first time. Kids can participate in storytime, coloring and giveaways. They can even supposedly play with the Chuggers!

I hope to go with my children and if so, I'll post a review.

Playing with Hiro

Send your pictures of kids playing with trains to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com.

Imperfect track layout

Send your track layout pictures to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com.

How many train DVDs is too many?

My son has a large collection of Thomas DVDs -- and this isn't all of them. In addition, he has DVDs from the Kids Love Toy Trains series as well as train travelogues/documentaries that he loves to watch. What do your kids like watching?

A real, old train

This train is at the Gold Coast Railway Museum in Miami, Fla. Send your train pictures to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com.

Fallen Thomas

Got a kid who loves trains? Submit your photo to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com

Toy train sets make the "hot holiday toys" list

Trains are a hot toy this year! Toys R Us has listed its hot holiday toys for the year, and it includes three different train sets.

One hot train set is the Fisher-Price GeoTrax Christmas Train, for $129.99. Kids will enjoy the holiday theme of this set, which features a r/c train with Santa, street lights, clock tower and holiday tunes! There are also more than 20 pieces of track. Not available until November.

The MEGA Bloks Thomas Mountain Adventure lets kids build and rebuild the Island of Sodor however they want, with tunnels, water tower, bridge, elevator and more. There are 160 pieces, including Thomas and Percy trains. Then, fold it up and store it all away! It retails for $99.99.

The Tomica Mega Station Hypercity Set is a fun way to watch the traffic go by! Cars stop at the railroad crossing and the train stops at the station automatically -- or kids can play in manual mode too. This is the least expensive of the train sets at $79.99, and part of the cityscape that you can build with other Tomica Hypercity toys. Not available until October.

Which train set would your kids like the most? Which train set do you think will sell the best?

Happy 65th birthday, Thomas!

It's a number most children who play with Thomas can't imagine -- but Thomas the Tank Engine is 65 years old now.

Thomas began as a story told by Rev. Wilbert Awdry to his son Christopher (now 70 years old) when he was sick. Then Rev. Awdry eventually wrote down the stories, and they were first published in 1945, becoming a big hit in England.

The first Thomas and Friends TV show appeared in 1984, and even more children fell in love with the characters of the Island of Sodor.

Follow the link for more fascinating history about Thomas!

Mixed tracks

Send your track layout picture to kidswithtoytrains@gmail.com.

Real Housewives of the Island of Sodor?!

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OK, your kids won't get this -- in fact, this would likely confuse them -- but this silly post about some of the lesser-known characters on the Island of Sodor is hysterical! Click on the link for a good train parent wink-wink, nudge-nudge laugh.

Where to buy discount toy trains

No doubt you can spend a small fortune on train sets, whether a nice model train set or a plastic toy set. There are tracks, engines, cars and various accessories you need (need!) to get your dream railroad right.

Many parents turn to eBay, Craigslist, consignment shops or other places to get deals on toy trains. Just recently, I came across GeoTraxPrice.com.

Know of other places?

Chuggington toys available at Toys R Us Oct. 10

Traintastic news! Chuggington fans can easily buy trains, tracks and accessories at Toys R Us starting Oct. 10. You can also preorder Chuggington toys right now through the Toys R Us site and get free shipping.

Each Chuggington die-cast train looks to be priced from $6-9, and most track and play sets are $16-25, so this looks like an affordable way to give your child a train set for the holidays.

Build a train on Farmville

Ah, Farmville. That popular time-suck game on Facebook. If you are on Facebook, you probably have at least a handful of friends who play Farmville.

Turns out that you can now set up your own (virtual) train set on Farmville. Looks like the train station and engine will cost you some Farm Cash, but you can buy train cars and track with coins that you earn by playing the game.

I admit I play Farmville a little and my kids like watching what I'm doing, so I'm sure they'd love seeing a train on the farm! I don't know if I want to spend money to buy a virtual train engine, so I don't know if the train actually moves -- but that would be pretty cool.

Awesome GeoTrax layout

If you want to get ideas for a GeoTrax layout or just want to look at something amazing, check out this mom's GeoTrax layout for her son. I think it's great!

(Picture from the Fisher-Price Web site, not the mom's layout which is even cooler!)

Toy train recall

The Step2 Sand and Water Transportation Station play table set has been recalled because the train wheels can come off and become a choking hazard for young children.

If you have this toy, stop playing with it and contact Step2 at 800-347-8372 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Mixed train track layout

Send your track layout picture to kidswithtoytrains@gmail.com.

Switch tracks layout

Send your track layout picture to kidswithtoytrains@gmail.com.

Kids love real train rides, too

If you live in a metropolitan area, check out the transportation authority's site to see if it has a program for children. My local area's tri-county rail offers kids a free birthday package just for the asking. It comes with a coloring book and a round-trip ticket to ride the train. What kid wouldn't love that?

Yesterday was my son's birthday. I'm not sure when we're going for our train ride -- but he's going to love it!

Thomas & Friends Misty Island Rescue DVD out today

Thomas fans have been waiting for this day! Now they can have their own copy of Thomas' latest adventure.

Thomas & Friends producers HIT Entertainment describes Misty Island Rescue:

"Thomas and his engine friends embark on a thrilling new journey that takes them from the Island of Sodor to the mysterious Misty Island in the all-new, CG animated adventure Thomas & Friends™ Misty Island Rescue - The Movie available on DVD, Blu-ray Disc+DVD combo pack, Digital Download and On Demand.... This movie marks the first time Thomas is available on Blu-ray and will be part of a Combo Pack (which is also packaged with a standard DVD) for a great value of only $24.98. The engines are hard at work to build a new Search and Rescue Center. When Thomas helps a friend in need, he is rewarded with an exciting trip to the mainland. Along the way, he gets lost at sea and finds himself on the mysterious Misty Island, where he meets new friends Bash, Dash and Ferdinand. Together they discover the secrets of Misty Island and help Thomas find his way home. Will Sir Topham Hatt's search party ever find Thomas? Find out in this action-packed movie adventure the whole family will enjoy!"

The Blu-Ray/DVD bonus features include a game and karaoke music videos.

The DVD will retail for $19.98/Blu-ray with DVD Combo-pack $24.98.

Did anyone see this movie in the theaters? I looked for it several times, but maybe it just never came to my area.

Train track layout with bridges

Send your track layout picture to kidswithtoytrains@gmail.com.

Chuggington airing on Playhouse Disney

Playhouse Disney’s fall schedule starts on Tuesday, September 7! Chuggington will now air Monday through Friday at 6 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. EST and weekends at 6 a.m. EST. -- from the Chuggington Facebook page

Hotels with model trains

Even if you're going on a trip, you or your kids still might not ever want to take a vacation from playing with trains! The Washington Hotel in Japan has a room with a model train set installed, and guests can bring their own trains or rent them from the hotel. Fun!

It's not the same as having your own room with a train set, but the Walt Disney World Yacht Club resort has a detailed model train display in the lobby during the holidays.

Any other hotels that are perfect for train enthusiasts?

Simple wooden track layout

Send your track layout picture to kidswithtoytrains@gmail.com.

Thomas Tilt and Go app

Many train-obsessed kids always take a train or five wherever they go even if there's no track. (This is how some parents end up with trains in their vehicles and purses as well as spread all over the house.) Not to prevent favorite toys from coming along, but if your kids like Thomas & Friends, then you might try the Thomas Tilt and Go app. Most parents with an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad recognize it's a great toy for kids, so why not hand over the tech with a great train app on it? This is perfect for car rides or waiting in line or at a restaurant to give antsy children something to do.

Kids with trains

Got a kid who loves trains? Submit your photo to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com

GeoTrax North Pole Express

From the GeoTrax World forum, there is a new GeoTrax set out in Christmas colors called the GeoTrax North Pole Express. The Fisher-Price site (where you can buy the GeoTrax North Pole Express set) says it retails for $60.

Wooden track layout

Send your track layout picture to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com

Try Etsy for a unique train birthday party

A certain little train-loving boy is having a birthday soon, and just like last year, he wants another train-themed party. However, it can't be exactly the same as last year (um, right?), so I poked around and remembered Etsy. If you aren't familiar with Etsy, it's a place where you can buy handmade and vintage items of all kinds.

One Etsy seller has created an entire coordinated line for a beautiful train party, the picture on the left. Isn't it perfect? Other Etsy sellers let you personalize the train party decorations. Do a search at Etsy yourself and you'll find a lot of fun train-themed items for your parties.

You can also find lots of goodies at trainparty.com.

Kids with trains

Got a kid who loves trains? Submit your photo to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com

Put a train track near the ceiling for a fun bedroom!

Check out this awesome train bedroom! I have seen trains go around a room before -- even a whole house -- close to the ceiling, but I haven't seen this level of scenery and decoration up there.



I bet the kids love it!

Thomas & Friends magazine

The latest issue of Thomas & Friends magazine came out a couple weeks ago! I first noticed this magazine existed when I was at my local library. I knew it would be great for my son, and we now subscribe. We've gotten two issues in the mail so far, and each time he has been so excited to 1) get mail and 2) get mail related to Thomas!

Kids with trains

Got a kid who loves trains? Submit your photo to kidslovetoytrains@gmail.com