Where's the best place to get a train track?

[NoTimer]

I know Thomas, Tesco and Ikea are all supposed to be compatible with brio - is this true? And does anyone know of a good starter pack? We've got none but the girls love playing with it at Granny's house - and she's got tonnes! I want a good amount to match it as a b'day present. But it's sooooo expensive. Ebay coming up pricey too. Obviously holds it's value.

Any rec's?

[Helski]

We started with a figure of 8 from Brio and have added from John Lewis and Toys R Us for birthdays and Christmasses.

I'm sure S-J was saying that she'd bought Thomas stuff as it was meant to be compatible but had found it wasn't? Or was it the Thomas train that wasn't compatible?

[claireh]

I think it pops up in TK Maxx. My MIL keeps buying sets for Mils from there. I think you can get pretty good deals on them (according to MIL anyway!).

[bluestar]

The Ikea stuff has plastic connectors which do fit but it's a struggle and not that great tbh. The trains are fine though.

We've got a mix of Brio, Tesco and John Lewis currently and just save the Ikea stuff for when they don't want to build a mammoth track !

I bought my nephew the John Lewis set last month for his 2nd birthday and it's a great little set, such good quality.

[Chicky Noops]

This (http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-4474.aspx) is an excellent starter pack!

We've bought add ons from Ikea (a bit awkward, yes), Toys R Us (great) and Brio (expensive) but 2 years on it is still Fin's favourite thing to play with. It's all over the floor as we speak!

[*SarahR*]

Big Jigs track/bits are also compatible with Brio and the wooden Thomas track, and I think there is a starter pack of it. Will have a look, we get it from our local toy shop but amazon and lots of garden centres (randomly) stock it. It is much cheaper than Thomas track, and you can get loads of cool bits and bobs- oil processing plants, engine washes, coal mines etc etc.

If you get Thomas engines make sure you get the wooden ones not the trackmaster or die cast cheaper ones as they don't fit on the wooden track. I think this was S-J's problem, but I could have made that up.

eta there are some sets here
http://www.playmerrilytoys.co.uk/section/105/1/complete-train-sets

[Chell]

www.knotjustjigs.co.uk - A Damsels website.

[peppa]

Aldi/Lidl have it in sometimes too. We have Brio, Sainsburys and Tesco and all goes together.

[Peony]

We have the Lidl one and it's great.

[IncyWincySpider]

We got some absolute bargains through looking at local paper classifieds and ebay local collection so it is worth keeping an eye out. I'd been looking for a wooden garage and also couldn't resist an airport in another ad, both sellers threw in big bags of track, road, vehicles etc.
We have a mixture of Ikea, Toys r us, Brio, Thomas and probably a few others and have never really had problems mixing them.

[violet wallop]

www.knotjustjigs.co.uk - A Damsels website.

I need that wooden cake set. I mean, I think Wallopette would like it!

[NoTimer]

Wow, that's really useful. I didn''t realise the Ikea had the connecting bits - MIL has a few of these in her box and they always get discarded. I think I'll avoid if possible - and Ikea were going to be my 1st hit! Peony and Peppa - I didn't even know Lidl did them and there's one round the corner from me - are they compatible with everything too?

NB - Thomas seems to work out the most expensive and I don't think my girls are bothered about him, so will avoid that too, especially if they are not a great fitting with the others.