Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Cranky the Crane

by Learning Curve

Product Features

• One crank turns Cranky's head left and right, the other raises and lowers the crane
• Magnetic crane raises and lifts magnetic cargo
• Realistic details
• Durable paint job
• Recommended Age Range 3 to 5 Years

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.5 x 11.8 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00000JICT
• Item model number: LC99327
• Manufacturer recommended age: 36 months - 5 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #5 in Toys & Games > Play Vehicles > Play Trains & Railway Sets > Train Sets
  • #8 in Toys & Games > Preschool > Pre-Kindergarten Toys > Activity > Trains & Train Sets
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends is an ensemble of lovable railroad characters that includes Cranky the Crane. Cranky is one of the add-ons to the award-winning Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway System. Straight out of the books by W. Awdry that made Thomas famous, Cranky has a fascinating history and a captivating personality. This crane comes with experience, a slightly testy temperament, and two large red handles for easy operation. Cranky's body attaches lickety-split to the crane tower. One handle pivots Cranky around; the other raises and lowers cargo for loading and unloading cars by magnetic power. Cranky the Crane comes with one piece of cargo, also durably built of wood. --Lynne Sampson

Product Description

Like all cranes, Cranky has a high and mighty attitude which often annoys the engines. Cranky knows that if he ever gets too big for his crane hook, the engines have ways of getting back at him. However, Cranky enjoys teasing them because, he says, it makes for good working relationships...but don't ask Percy if he agrees! One crank turns Cranky's head left and right, while a second crank lifts any available magnetic cargo. Cargo included. Measures 10.5 high."

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth it - They replace it every time it breaks!, August 23, 2002

By 

Bev Jergens (Troy, OH United States) - See all my reviews

= Durability:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Cranky the Crane (Toy)

My son loves this piece. Our first one broke and I called Learning Curve and they sent another one with no questions asked. The second one I noticed was made better. However, my son broke the string on it after a about a year. I called them again and they sent another one even knowing it was our 3rd with no questions asked. This makes me happy to spend this kind of money for a product when I know that if it breaks they will replace it. I say that if you think your child will enjoy it then buy it ...

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My son loves it!, November 5, 2004

By 

Andreas Bader (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Cranky the Crane (Toy)

My son received this 2 years ago for his 3rd birthday. His aunt gave it to him, as it was the first thing he asked for when she asked what he wanted for his birthday. My son loves playing with Cranky and he is fun to play with as long as you have several other Thomas trains that have cargo. The more the better!

As for Cranky losing his head...his head is meant to fall off and then can be fitted easily back on (break-away). It is not as big a deal as the last reviewer made it. It definitely didn't stop us from keeping him.

As for the 4 star rating...I think it is a little pricey for what you get.

Two years later and Cranky is still crankin' it out at Sodor Island at our house. I would recommend it for any Thomas fan!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not tough enough, November 8, 2006

By 

PghYinzer "more of myself after winter" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Thomas And Friends Wooden Railway - Cranky the Crane (Toy)

I know, I know... the Thomas stuff is listed for ages 3+. I'll let those of you who didn't buy a single solitary Thomas thing until your kids turned 3 cast the stones and... I'll bet I won't see a whole lot of stones.

We got this for my son when he was 2 1/2ish. My son is about to turn 3 in a week and Cranky is kind of in need of replacement. Not that I will be replacing him, since that is a lot of money to put out for one toy of such limited use and value to begin with. But at the time I bought it, Cranky was ten bucks off at TRU and seemed like a good toilet training incentive. (It was!)

Well, my son has had a lot of fun with Cranky. I don't know why he likes him so much, but he does. The problem is... Cranky's head comes off. Just like everyone is saying. It's not a huge deal, as it is easy enough for mom or dad to pop back on, but the neck and neck hole of the head are kind of D shaped, so the head has to be lined up just so, which makes it more of a challenge (and frustration) for a child. And it comes off ALL THE TIME, more and more easily as time goes by. That's the first problem... and maybe it's really not a HUGE problem, for all I know, if Cranky's head wasn't made to pop off, maybe it would have been BROKEN off by now. Who knows?

The other problem is, Cranky no longer cranks quite right. If you turn the knob... the magnet will lower about an inch and a half, two inches... then nothing will happen for a bit... then it will just drop down to the bottom. Then you can wind it up and it repeats.

I have taken Cranky apart and I can't seem to fix this.

Now, fortunately, my son doesn't seem to mind a whole lot, as he is content to carry Cranky around by his [severed] head while chanting "Cranky the CRANE. Cranky the CRANE." over and over. Then he will just sort of manually use the head/magnet to pick stuff up. So the fun is still there but... for the money, this toy really ought to hold up a little better. And for what it's worth, I have absolutely no reason whatsoever to think that, had I waited until November 16 to give Cranky to my son, there would be any possibility that Cranky would not be decapitated and poorly cranking 6 months later. This is just not a durable toy.

My son has fun with it, but it's just not all it's cracked (cranked?) up to be.

FWIW, though, you can get this great little tow truck with wooden shapes at IKEA - it's a great companion to Cranky. Cranky and the tow truck can both pick up the shapes. I think my son has had more fun playing with those items together, than just setting Cranky next to the track and using him as intended.

Also - if you have nothing Thomas related yet, consider going the "take along" route instead. The cars are more detailed and cost less. Cranky costs less in this line. Of course they made it so you can't use take-along Cranky with the wooden sets by affixing TA Cranky to a piece of TA track. Maybe you can just turn him around, I don't know. Just something to look into.