This is part of a new line, so I did not have much advance feedback on the product. However, my daughter got it for a first birthday and she loves it. The animals are durable and fun to position (they sit, stand, etc. without tipping over). The train moves well when the smokestack is pushed, but this feature can be turned off and my daughter likes pushing the cars around. We even bought an extra animal (sold separately) she loved it so much.
I think its great even for an older child and a toddler neighbor loves it. It is a good toy for pretend play with the animals and the train cars are sturdy enough to hold other things (blocks, etc.)
Overall, a great toy at a time when it is hard to find toys that are safe, yet encourage active and creative play (that 12-24 months range).