If your little one has recently gotten into trains, it can be a little overwhelming to figure out what the best wooden train set is for him or her. Once you’ve decided on wooden trains, there are a plethora of options ranging from leading brands, to the tried and true Thomas & Friends line, to random collections of trains you can find on your local online marketplace. However good these options are, arguably the best and most durable option of all wooden trains are none other than Brio trains. Here are the five best Brio trains we’ve tried ourselves and think your child will love.

1. Brio Old Steam Engine

$14.99 from Ravensburger

Little kids love trains, true. But they especially love steam engines. While there are plenty of cool looking diesel trains out there, too, it’s hard to beat the look and feel of a steam powered engine. Brio’s Old Steam Engine makes the perfect addition to any wooden train set, and as Brio is compatable with most other leading wooden train sets, you don’t need to worry if it’s not an exact match to whatever else your child has going on in the wooden train department.

What we especially love about this particular train is the cool looking spokes attached to the wheels that move as the train is pushed down the tracks.

The only potential downside of this awesome train is the fact that there is no magnet in the front to connect it to other trains. So it’s up to you whether or not your child will mind only using this train as the lead train.

Still, it’s our favorite Brio train right now, hands down.

2. Brio Safari Train

$24.99 from Ravensburger

We recently picked this train up during a visit to the California State Railroad Museum, and we couldn’t be happier with it. One thing you’ll find that’s great about Brio trains is that they feel incredibly durable. That’s what’s great about this one. It’s incredibly simple, but thanks to the added animal element, kids will love it.

You can slide the space at the top of the cars back and forth, allowing the animals to poke their heads out, or put them back when navigating lower tunnels and bridges. And the engine has a fun giraffe print to it that goes with the safari theme.

3. Brio Farm Train

$29.99 from Ravensburger

The next one on the list is the Brio World Farm Train Railway. It’s the natural next pick for this list given its similarity to the Safari Train. However, the main difference here is that you can actually take the animals out and put them back in, which makes for added fun especially if your little one enjoys imaginative play mixed-in with the usual train engineering madness!

4. Brio Mickey Mouse and Engine

$18.99 from Ravensburger

This red steam train with retro Disney-theme is ready to take Mickey Mouse on an exciting railway adventure. If your child likes incorporating characters into their train play, then this one is ideal for you. You can bend Mickey and put him in the driver’s seat of this engine, and then connect it to your other Brio trains (and a lot of other wooden trains that aren’t Brio, as well).

5. Mighty Red Action Action Locomotive

$36.99 from Ravensburger

The Mighty Red Action Locomotive lives up to its name in its incredible ability to pull a lot of other train cars.

With its two front lights fully lit, full speed ahead and the unmistakable choo-choo! sound, the Mighty Red Action Locomotive impresses even the most experienced young train driver. This toy train goes both forward and reverse with accompanying light and sound effects, and the switch on top allows free wheel movement for play without battery function. This durable, retro designed toy allows your child’s imagination to flow and helps improve their fine motor skills and spatial awareness.

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