“Playing with trains helps children with emotional regulation, creativity, and future planning,” says Nicole Clelland, a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist. “[When playing with trains] children are able to figure out how to set up tracks, which side of the magnetic trains match, and practice thinking about possibilities before making a choice.”  When choosing a train set, caregivers should pay attention to the manufacturer’s age recommendation as some trains (such as model trains) are meant for older kids. They should also consider the features a train set may have, such as a remote control or a variety of accessories, and whether the train requires batteries or electricity to run. A quality train set can cost anywhere from $24 to $370, so it’s important to consider your budget when picking a train set, too. To develop our list of recommended train sets, we consulted with Nicole Clelland, LMFT, RPT, and Willie Johnson, supervising engineer at Irvine Park Railroad, and reviewed dozens of train sets available on the market.  Here are the best train sets for kids. One of the best parts about this set is that the tracks can be configured in nine different ways. It’s also compatible with other wooden train sets, including Thomas the Train, Chuggington, and Brio.  Price at time of publication: $40 The tracks in this set are double sided, which allows the pieces to be used in multiple directions. This is especially helpful when creating twists and turns and other layouts for the track. The one downside is that, while the passenger car and hauler have magnets on both sides, the engine only has a magnet on one side, which limits its ability to connect with other trains. Price at time of publication: $24 The best part about this set is the train station. By pressing the button on top of the station, your child can record and play announcements and bring this toy to life. It’s also worth noting that there are no small pieces in this set, so it’s safe for little kids to play with, too.  Price at time of publication: $95 Certain commands, like cueing the smoke, can’t be done on the remote control and must be initiated through the app. And while this O-scale train is intended for kids age 14 years and older, it can be enjoyed by younger children as long as they have adult supervision.  Price at time of publication: $370 Throughout the track, VTech has installed its SmartPoint technology at 10 different locations. Whenever a train rolls over these particular spots, the track responds with songs as well as phrases and sounds that are authentic to trains. With its large, easy-to-connect tracks that offer many different configurations, your toddler will favor this toy for years to come.  Price at time of publication: $60 In addition to lots of play space, this table contains three large bins in which to store toys. The table itself is durable and has t-mold edges to protect the corners from chipping. However, it weighs nearly 47 pounds, so relocating it may be a challenge. Price at time of publication: $171 This set comes with 33 track pieces and tons of realistic accessories. It’s important to consider that you’ll need 10 AAA batteries to get this train set up and running. However, if you use the LEGO Powered Up app instead of the remote control, you’ll only need six batteries for the locomotive itself.  Price at time of publication: $200 When riding off the track, this train’s maximum speed is 2 mph. When attached to its track, it coasts along at 1 mph. It also has convenient footrests and a steering handle to keep your child’s hands and feet on the vehicle. While this train utilizes a rechargeable battery, the process of removing the seat to access it can be a bit tedious.  Price at time of publication: $165 Inside the foldable track, you’ll find 17 accessories, including three train cars and a park ranger vehicle. However, your child’s favorite part may be the gondola that moves back and forth over a bridge. And while this set may be compatible with other wooden trains, its tracks are relatively shallow, which can cause them to derail.  Price at time of publication: $38 You can easily combine this set with other Thomas & Friends kits to make the tracks even longer. The best part about this set is the sounds it makes; when Thomas and Percy pass each other on the tracks, they greet each other and say short, friendly phrases.  Price at time of publication: $55 There are multiple pathways throughout this track, which can be expanded even further with other Thomas & Friends tracks (except the wooden ones). Both Thomas and Carly are motorized and only require two AAA batteries to operate. This train offers a thrilling alternative to traditional sets and can be enjoyed by kids aged 3 years and older.  Price at time of publication: $50 This remote control train set comes with a diesel locomotive with an operating headlight and four additional train cars. However, it’s important to note that this train requires some maintenance; it may need a few hours to be broken in, and its wheels and track must be cleaned and lubricated regularly in order to work properly. Price at time of publication: $199 Its 32-piece track can be connected into a circle, rectangle, or oval shape. The train cars connect via knuckle couplers, which are quite strong and durable. However, there are no volume controls, so this train will continually make loud chugging sounds as long as it’s in use.  Price at time of publication: $115 It’s important to consider that handling a train set of this kind requires much more finesse than some of the other trains listed here. It also comes with a comprehensive set of instructions and requires regular cleaning to work properly.  Price at time of publication: $144 In addition to controlling the train’s speed, the remote cues the train to play whistle and bell sounds. Best of all, the train’s cars feature realistic details that will transport your kiddo to the magical world of Harry Potter.  Price at time of publication: $100 This colorful train set has various extra features, including cause-and-effect “action bricks” that play sounds or change the train’s direction. In total, this set comes with 105 pieces, including a boat, café, figurines, cargo wagons, cranes, and 24 track pieces.  Price at time of publication: $130 We also spoke to train enthusiast Wille Johnson, who currently works as the supervising engineer at Irvine Park Railroad. Johnson provided in-depth knowledge on the different types of trains that children can enjoy and informed us on the variety of features that parents should look for when purchasing a train set for their child.  After speaking with these experts, we spent two weeks researching the top train sets on the market today. In total, we examined nearly 30 different sets and selected those that have the best features and are safe to use. Additionally, we ensured that there are options for a variety of age groups, understanding that some trains are more fragile and complicated than others and are better suited for older kids. 

What to Look for in Train Sets for Kids

Train sets are nostalgic toys that children of all ages can enjoy. However, young toddlers and infants may need adult supervision as many train sets come with small accessories that can be choking hazards. Our best large train set pick, the LEGO DUPLO Town Cargo Train, is just one of many products on this list that are meant for younger kids. Its large, colorful pieces, along with its lights and sounds, are specifically designed to engage toddlers and can help strengthen their fine motor skills and encourage pretend play. The KidKraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set & Table is another great choice as it’s large enough for multiple children of a variety of ages to play with at once. In general, electric train sets are meant for children aged 14 years and older. This is because these types of trains tend to have delicate frames with intricate details or features, like operating smoke that would not be safe in the hands of a young child. Some of these trains may be collector’s items and must undergo regular maintenance and cleaning in order to work properly. If you’d like younger children to play with these sets, be sure to have an adult supervising them.

Safety 

When choosing a train set for their child, caregivers should first consider the manufacturer’s age recommendation. For example, our best ride-on pick, the Power Wheels Thomas & Friends Thomas Vehicle with Track, is safe for children as young as 12 months old, however, they should not ride it off its tracks until they are older and can confidently steer the vehicle.  Parents should also be on the lookout for small parts and accessories as these can be choking hazards. Smoke fluid, a clear, often odorless liquid used to create smoke, is another item to watch for, as it may resemble water but is not safe to ingest. Smoke fluid can be found in trains like our best vintage pick, the Bachmann Trains Chattanooga Ready To Run Electric Train Set.

Features

While train sets today often have a variety of extra features like lights and sounds, classic wooden trains leave something to the imagination. Our best overall pick, the Orbrium Toys Deluxe Wooden Train Set, comes in a colorfully painted box that doubles as a tunnel for the train to zoom through and contains a set of magnetic trains, wooden tracks, a bridge, and a variety of accessories to build a small village. This durable train set requires no batteries and is built to last.  If you’re looking to elevate your child’s train set experience, consider a collector’s item like our best holiday-themed pick, the Lionel The Polar Express Ready-to-Play Set. It has a working headlight and a remote control that cues a variety of sounds, including a bell, a whistle, and even announcements from the conductor. Our best LEGO pick, the LEGO City Freight Train, comes with more than 1,100 pieces and can be controlled by an app. 

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Why Trust VeryWell Family

Laura Lu is an experienced health writer who has a master of science degree in health communication. Her work has appeared in publications like The New York Times, Media Psychology, Brit+Co, and Parents.com, to name a few. She’s also a mother of two young children who have spent countless hours over the years playing with their wooden train set. After age two, children begin to explore with their hands (instead of their mouth) and by age four, most have completely given up the habit of putting toys in their mouth. While a variety of trains on our list are appropriate for kids aged three years and older, it’s always important for parents to check the manufacturer’s recommended age before introducing a train set to their child. Model train sets tend to be more expensive than those made for younger kids. Our best remote control pick, Lionel’s Pennsylvania Flyer LionChief, runs for $370 and is the most expensive train on our list.