BRIO Autostop and Start Battery Engine

by Brio

Product Features

• Measures 3.6" long
• Works on all BRIO track
• Includes headlight
• For ages 3+ years

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 2 x 3.9 inches ; 3.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000IUP4
• Item model number: 33222
• Our recommended age: 36 months - 6 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up
• Batteries: 1 AAA batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,027 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

It's the little green powerhouse. BRIO's Battery Powered Engine barely scrapes the 3-inch mark on the ruler, but it can tow quite a number of cars in its wake: we coupled it with four boxcars and four full-size passenger cars and it still kept chugging along. It's perky green plastic, with a cowcatcher on the front, bright red wheels, and sporty trim paint in red, yellow, and black (BRIO doesn't use decals because they have a tendency to peel off). A shiny green smokestack acts as a foil for the battery compartment screw, so little fingers can't get to it. The securely attached magnetic coupling on the rear of the engine makes joining cars as easy as pie. It runs equally fast in both forward and reverse. And it has a real working headlight, so you (or your kids) can keep on chugging even after lights out. Requires one AAA battery (not included). --Julie Ubben

From the Manufacturer

Green battery op engine goes forward & reverse

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brio engines just not as powerful as others, December 4, 2002

By 

Bryan Jensen (Utah, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: BRIO Autostop and Start Battery Engine (Toy)

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.

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Used 8 batteries in 15 days, then stopped working, December 4, 2000

By 

Nisa Conway (Newcastle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: BRIO Autostop and Start Battery Engine (Toy)

We were one of the first to purchase this powerful little battery operated train. At first my two year old loved it and I was surprised how many trains it could pull behind it. The honeymoon soon ended, however, when two days later it needed a new battery. Eight batteries and fifteen days later, the train stopped working (except for the little light on the front) and my son was very sad. Great idea, but bad product. We also purchased the larger battery operated red locomotive train which still works great.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Has some unforeseen issues..., October 21, 2003

By 

Daniel L Edelen (Mt. Orab, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: BRIO Autostop and Start Battery Engine (Toy)

You know that is only a matter of time before your child will ask for a powered locomotive for his/her Brio train set. Brio offers a few powered options, this green engine being just one.

We were anticipating more fun out of this powered engine, but have been disappointed for a few reasons:

1. There is a cutoff switch on the bottom for use with the switch track (available separately or in combo with this engine), but it is placed in such a way that it comes perilously close to the ramp tracks when climbing hills, usually causing the engine to switch off whenever it climbs a hill. Moving that cutoff even a fraction of an inch closer to the rear of the engine would prevent this. Bad design.

2. Batteries are every parent's nightmare. We get around this by using NiMH rechargeable batteries in all our kid toys. This engine, though, does not work well with rechargeable batteries, insisting on alkalines - and the most expensive ones at that. Seeing how easy it is to leave it running, this can be an issue.

3. Read the instructions carefully before doing anything as it is possible that right out of the box this locomotive will not work unless you do. You have to be careful how you install the battery the first time or else the engine will not run, no matter what you do. And this is not simply a matter of getting the positive and negative ends swapped. It's possible to put the battery in the right orientation and still get no response. We futzed for a while before going back to the manual and "priming" the engine as directed.

4. If you do not have your track perfectly aligned, it will run off quite readily.

5. Almost requires the manually-operated switchable "Y" tracks in order to switch it onto a different track section. The fixed "Y" tracks will only work perfectly in one direction. If you let the engine decide which fork to take, it will usually run off the track. But if it comes down a fork into the merged section, it will work fine. Still, invest in the manually switched "Y" tracks.

Positives? It's durable. Has a little light up front that is fun. Adds another dimension to your train set. Kids enjoy it despite the deficiencies.

In short, though, it's not perfect and could be engineered in such a way to eliminate the problems noted, but hasn't been. Oh well.