Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)We received this Autostop and Start Engine as a gift from Brio when I wrote them about the lack of power/functionality from the Mighty Red locomotive we purchased (which I've also reviewed here at Amazon.com). Brio's customer service is outstanding. (Only Playmobil's is better, in my opinion.)
First, this Autostop engine is a classic toy design--very cute and works reasonably well in chug-chugging cars around the track. It can pull a decent load if all on a flat track without too many curves. Add a curvy track or hills and this little engine doesn't have the power nor traction to pull more than 2 or 3 cars. And, surprisingly, this does a better job pulling cars than the more expenive Mighty Red Locomotive.
We love the Start 'n' Go track feature, and for that I am less critical of this little engine. This engine does lack the charming sounds and elegant forward/reverse/stop buttons that grace the Mighty Red. The green Autostop engine also will not freewheel, which means your child can ruin the gears pushing this engine around.
However, we have gained much more satisfaction from Learning Curve's battery-operated Thomas and Great Railway Adventures engines. First, even the smallest Great Railways Adventures or Thomas engine has four wheel drive, which adds much to the ability to pull cars around. They still struggle--mostly because of a lack of traction on the wooden tracks--to pull cars up the hills, but nothing like the Brio engines. Great Railways Adventures, in particular, do have engines patterned after famous engines of the past, and this more "mature" styling has allowed them to age better with our 6 year old than the Thomas engines. (Thomas engines do have a cuteness factor that Brio can't compete with either.).
Great Railways/Thomas battery-operated engines "free wheel," making them less prone to damage caused by young kids unfamiliar with using the switch. That said, these switches are as clumsy as the Brio green Autostop engine. Not even Brio has duplicated the elegant design of their Mighty Red on any of their other toys, and Learning Curve hasn't copied them. They should.
Even still my recommendation is Learning Curve's Great Railway Adventures collection. Very similar cost, but with free-wheeling gear protection; four-wheel drive; die cast metal construction (engines only); more realistic styling; and charming sounds and actions available through a variety of battery-operated (and non-battery-operated) stock cars.
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