KidKraft Bucket Top Mountain Train Set with 61 Pieces, Magnetic Train, Wooden Tracks and Storage, Gift for Ages 3+

Don't know where/when/why my older toddler became obsessed with trains, but it is a real, deep and interminable obsession. When I decided to invest in a set, I knew I didn't want to get the terrible twosome an electronic one - because... toddlers! Had they actually gotten their hands on an electric train - it would not have survived the day. Plus, they have enough electronic toys at their disposal. Besides, there is nothing better than having them use their imaginations! We weren't ready to commit to a train table (still hoping to avoid it), so this set fit the bill of all the required pieces, and more!PROS:- This set is so complete. And coming in under $40 - it is the best bang for the buck. It includes an airport (with control tower, plane and runway), a helipad and helicopter, trees, buildings, trains, road signs, etc.- The carrying case also becomes part of the track! And the wooden rails make for an endless variety of track layouts (which wouldn't be possible with an electric set).- Minimal setup. It is basically open and play. A screwdriver is needed to assemble the air control tower - but it's 3 screws (I think).- The magnetic-linked train cars work with the Thomas trains we had already begun collecting. So SCORE!There are no real CONS to this set. We do have to watch the younger around the two pieces that are curved to fit over the mountain. If the track setup of choice doesn't include it, the pieces still work - but are breakable if, say, someone who wasn't being invited to play, decided to step on the track... Not that that would happen...

The bucket holds all the pieces and has room to add extra trains and track from our other sets. The track is compatible with thomas sets, and is a good quality. The train track sets up best on a flat surface- thick carpets will make it tough to move a long train along the track evenly. There is a picture of the assembled track on the bucket, so you don't need to keep the instructions. There are also many ways you can assemble the track, so the reviewers that are complaining they cna't set it up may be missing the point of a creative/imagination based toy like a train set: you don't have to recreate the original track design to enjoy this!There are so many different types of pieces in this set that the toddlers who have played with it take lots of time to unpack the bucket and explore all the buildings, vehicles, and people inside. This has inspired hours and hours of quiet, creative play in our house.

Products were well made with smooth edges and work with other train sets. Colors are bright and layout is just complex enough for my five year old grandson to be challenged but not frustrated. He added some dinosaurs to hide behind the mountain and scare the train passengers, lol. Hours of self-guided fun play.

I bought this to go with a 24-piece Ikea set, and it's a great match. All the track for both sets fit easily within the storage bucket (although some of the accessory pieces have to go in another bag). The track itself is very good quality with smooth edges and a solid feel. All the pieces are reversible except the straight sections (which don't need to be). It connects just fine with the other set. But the best thing is that the pieces on this set are shorter and more varied than the Ikea pieces, including 5 different lengths of straight track and a precious female-female straight piece. The varied sizes and shapes makes the double set super flexible in terms of track design, much better than either set by itself.The mountain bucket top connects firmly to the two ascending pieces for a nice solid elevated track section. The bucket top is nice looking, with bright blue waterfalls molded into the design. It does feel a little flimsy, however. Not sure how well it would hold up if a toddler sat on it, for instance. The clips that hold the top in place are weak, so the top tends to pop off. And I was disappointed that there is no carrying handle. So the bucket is fine, but not quite as good as I was hoping.The rest of the set is nothing special, mostly 2D wooden pieces. The push train is cuter than I thought it would be, but the magnets are weak and the 3 cars come apart going up the track. The coal piece constantly fell off of the coal car, so we glued it in place. The airport is a cute idea that I think my grandsons will like, but cheaply executed. The plane is actually a nice 3D plastic toy, but the copter is just a wooden cut-out with a cheap twirly blade on top. There are too many tiny pieces that just seem to have been included to increase the total number of pieces in the listing but don't really add anything.But you aren't buying this set for the accessories. The real draw is the excellent track set, the storage bucket, and the mountain bucket top.

This was a perfect train set for our kids. They LOVE the mountain!It is your general wooden train set. If your kids love trains, they should love this.We have a few different sets, made a little differently, and they all connect well together.The one thing I would note about this set is the connectors are part of the track; each track is solid.Another set we acquired has tracks with removable connectors. The removable aspect allows you to make the track connect any direction you want. This allows more flexible track building, but it is a bit difficult to get some of them in and out. And the connectors get lost and knock around on the floor. Our KidKraft bucket was all solid track, which I really like better. I think they look better and the overall connection is smoother. It's been the perfect set!