TrainDad

The Norfolk Southern Corporation is offering a free coloring book to anyone who asks. All you have to do is send an e-mail requesting one to contactus@nscorp.com. You can see the offer on their web page.

Toby the Train talks about trains and tracks arrives in an official-looking manila envelope with the NS logo. That’s a pretty exciting thing in itself! Toby the train takes you through pretty standard railroad PR:

• We do very important work
• Our workers are the best
• Stay safe around trains and tracks
• Don’t play on tracks
• Stop at crossings
• We’re a green company

But our three-year-old is oblivious to all that — he just knows it has pictures of trains, and crossing gates… excitement on every page!

While you are the Norfolk Southern site, it might be worth checking their company store. They have a good bit of NS-branded merchandise at very reasonable prices, such as a child’s engineer hat for $4.75.

With “grandparents” written all over it, the Thomas Track Rider set and accessories are about the best toys a Thomas fan could get. The ride-on battery-powered toy comes with a 6-foot circle of track. Of course, if you have $250 to spare for the train, you might as well spend a little extra to get things like the track expansion set, Annie and Clarabel add-on car, and the bridge and crossing expansion set. Oh, and another site sells a tunnel and track expansion set. Your little engineer drives the train by pushing a button — a problem for children that are too little, since it only drives as long as you hold it in. It also can’t hold up to very wiggly children, since they can tip it over or make it jump the tracks. I think it’s ideal for ages 3-5.

Not a big Thomas fan? That’s okay! The manufacturer, Peg Perego, has made a John Deere train — and it’s much cheaper, to boot — as well as a Santa Fe Express and another Santa Fe Express with caboose. These sets also have a figure-8 expansion track set available.

If that’s all too rich for your blood, you can always step back to the Thomas Pop-Up with Annie and Clarabel for $45 or, if that’s too pricey, just the Thomas Pop-Up by itself for $19.72.

TrackMaster products are hitting the shelves everywhere, and I’m excited at the changes. The product line is improving in numerous ways.

It’s all about track

You can never have too much track! HiT finally got it, and they are filling the need with the Backpack of Track and the Track Expansion Pack. Both are just packed full, lots and lots o’ track. Good stuff!

I noticed that the packaging says “requires assembly.” Well, duh!

One of the GeoTrax advantages is their fantastic system of elevated track, and TrackMaster is trying to compete. Every track set comes with a number of risers and elevated pieces. Unfortunately, these still use the same system as the old blue track. It’s not a stable or sturdy as GeoTrax and really doesn’t allow for complex multi-level designs. Similarly, they have continued to use the same bridge systems - wimpy. Overall, though, huge improvements here.

Remote control

The centerpiece of the TrackMaster makeover is Thomas at Tidmouth Sheds. This set even gets its own advertising video! It’s a beautiful roundhouse and turntable, and of course that remote control — they’ve learned something from GeoTrax. If this is the future of Thomas toys, I like where it is going.

More rolling stock, better detail

Numerous trucks and track sets are now available. I’m pleased to see both a focus on new rolling stock — these cars are what make up a real train, after all — and on much better detailing.

Lots of sets for the grandparents

And aunts, uncles, siblings… products like these are easy gift options, and always having “one more set” out there to add to the collection is good. TrackMaster hits the ground running. The product line has only been available for a few weeks, but look at what is already available:

• Thomas at Tidmouth Sheds
• Hard at Work at Brendham Docks
• Sodor Lumber Yard
• Thomas at the Station
• Sodor Copper Mine
• Birthday Celebration
• Sodor Adventure Set

More activities, better prices, and flexibility

Most of those sets contain a building or factory that is a good toy by itself; many have functioning parts that interesting. These are much more useful toys than the old Tomy sets! Sets can be had for as little as $15, which is better than past offers. And all sets come with adapters to connect them to the old blue track, so you aren’t abandoning your current system.

All things considered, HiT has made some huge steps to close up the gap with GeoTrax. They still have some weaknesses, such as the lousy coupling system, but overall this is a greatly improved line of products.