Brio World Battery-Operated Engine vs Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Thomas

Buy the Brio Battery-Operated Engine if you want a self-propelled locomotive with headlights and forward/reverse, and your child is 3 or older. Buy the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Thomas if you want a simple, durable push-along engine for a 2-year-old and you already own wooden track. The Brio does more on its own; the Thomas is tougher, simpler and works without batteries. Owners of both lines praise the wood build, but the Brio's plastic motor parts and battery hatch are the usual wear points, while the Thomas's paint and magnets hold up well.

• Choose the Brio Battery-Operated Engine if your child is 3 or up, wants a train that drives itself with lights, and you are building a BRIO World layout.
• Choose the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Thomas if you have a 2-year-old, want no batteries, and need a push-along engine that connects to standard wooden track.