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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Dec 11 2005 at 4:57am | IP Logged
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I know TTT has been discussed here lately as Christmas is coming. My ds (4yo) is receiving a set from Christmas that we got on line. But as I was doing some other shopping yesterday (I was in Target, Walmart and Meijers) EVERY Thomas set I saw was plastic. What's with that? The one I ordered is wood and very basic. Does anyone know if they are going to continue making the wooden sets? I was hoping to add on in the future but now I'm afraid I wont be able to get the wooden ones. I'm rather upset to see it change. It is such a high quality toy in wood.
Becky
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Mary G
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| Posted: Dec 11 2005 at 5:08am | IP Logged
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The TTT set you got is from Learning Curve -- yes, they still make it and have been adding to it too! You can get it online easily....almost all the toy stores carry them (check Creative Brainthey have some of the best prices on toys I've seen (and free shipping over $30!).
I think others have the plastic in-store because they're cheaper (and chintzier!) and Mattel or someone makes them so they're high visibility. I too was disappointed when I saw the plastic as I wanted to pick up a couple of the engines for my 3yos -- guess I'll just have to order online!
Hope this helps.....
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MaryG
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my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Rachel May
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I think the plastic one is a little bigger scale also. I accidentally bought a plastic battery operated engine for Charles last Christmas. It ran on the track but was too tall to fit under bridges. The wood is much nicer, imo.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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JennGM
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| Posted: Dec 11 2005 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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Yes, the plastic version is not compatible with the wooden. My sister had the plastic ones...not durable. This Christmas they are switching to the wood tracks and trains. The plastic components do not fit the wood tracks, and vice versa.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 6:39am | IP Logged
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Oh no. I bought 2 battery operated engines... I didn't check to see if they would be compatible or not. Oh man! I hate returning things. I guess it's better now than after Christmas though!
Becky
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Mary G
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| Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 6:58am | IP Logged
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Becky Parker wrote:
Oh no. I bought 2 battery operated engines... I didn't check to see if they would be compatible or not. Oh man! I hate returning things. I guess it's better now than after Christmas though!
Becky |
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...or worse, finding out that it doesn't work when your child is chompin' at the bit to get playing with it! Only thing worse is not having batteries to fit 
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MaryG
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~Rachel~
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| Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 8:22am | IP Logged
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Some of the battery operated ones do fit the wooden track... typically though you'd have to buy the ones that are actually sold where the wooden ones were-- there is a new line of them specifically for the wooden track. Target doesn't sell the wooden ones... I don't know why 
Barnes and Noble, all the hobby stores and Toys R Us all carry the wooden ones too...
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~Rachel~
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MEBarrett
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My Kevin is currently obsessed with Thomas and all things train. My cousin has a three year old with a similar affliction found this terrific website for Thomas and Polar Express stuff. The prices were great and I was able to pick up a cute t-shirt and bedroom slippers as well. The catalog that came with the order had a wide variety of wooden tracks (not the plastic Target kind) and all of the sets you could want.
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Mary Ellen
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JennGM
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MEBarrett wrote:
My Kevin is currently obsessed with Thomas and all things train. My cousin has a three year old with a similar affliction found this terrific website for Thomas and Polar Express stuff. The prices were great and I was able to pick up a cute t-shirt and bedroom slippers as well. The catalog that came with the order had a wide variety of wooden tracks (not the plastic Target kind) and all of the sets you could want.
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Nice site! I've requested a catalog! Since I'm just beginning our journey through this train world, I went the easy way out and bought this set from Costco. They had it at our local store, a little less in price because no shipping. I'm overwhelmed at all the choices, so this helped me a bit.
I also got a coloring book and a few other engines. I want to give some real story books on TTTE (books are important here!). Is the big collection cumbersome? Although it's nice to have all the books in one volume, the collections get heavy for my little one to pull off the shelf, and they also don't stay open well. And he can't curl up with the big ones. We have the Curious George and Beatrix Potter collections before I wised up!
And if in your opinion it's cumbersome, which titles are good to start off?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Mary G
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| Posted: Dec 12 2005 at 7:41pm | IP Logged
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Jenn,
My Thomas got the TTE Collection when he was 3 -- we brought it with us when we did our two-year adventure in Austria. That child had that book everywhere and I had to read a few stories mostly every day....
When we got back the binding was falling apart but he wouldn't part with it. I had it rebound at OfficeMax -- this time with a spiral binding. Thomas has since moved on to Star Wars and Knights, but John-Paul loves this book now just as much as Thomas did.....
It is cumbersome, but it makes for a good read-aloud book for quiet-time....
Hope this helps.
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Thomas the Tank Engine
