Learning Curve Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Battery - Powered James

by Learning Curve

Product Features

• Die-cast metal chassis and body
• Chunky rubber-lined tires grip track to prevent derailing
• Easy-to-operate start button
• Special magnet helps keep rolling stock on the track
• Recommended Age Range 3 to 5 Years

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.9 x 2.3 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (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: B0000630L4
• Item model number: LC99718
• Manufacturer recommended age: 36 months - 5 years
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #4,937 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)

  #74 in	Toys & Games > Preschool > Pre-Kindergarten Toys > Activity > Trains & Train Sets
  #66 in	Toys & Games > Play Vehicles > Trains & Railway Sets > Train Sets

• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The James die-cast battery-powered engine features powerful four-wheel drive, easy start button, auto shutdown feature, light, and realistic detail. Includes tender. Requires one AA battery (not included).

Product Description

The James die-cast battery-powered engine features powerful four-wheel drive, easy start button, auto shutdown feature, light, and realistic detail. Includes tender. Requires one AA battery (not included).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compatible with wood Thomas sets; More durable than plastic, September 29, 2003

By	H. David Peirce "Zossima" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Learning Curve Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Battery - Powered James (Toy)

This metal battery operated James engine and his metal battery operated companions (Thomas, Lady, etc.) are for use with the wooden track. There are larger plastic battery operated engines that fit both the wooden track and the blue plastic track by Tomy.

This is a great product. Very well-constructed. Very durable. It can be switched on, go forward or backward, and it can be pushed manually--another reviewer complained that it could not be pushed, but it can be pushed.

Purchasing recommendation:
* Wait until appropriate age: Our son started with Thomas when he was 18 months old, but we did not buy any battery engines until he was 3. We wanted for him to use his imagination in pushing and pulling for a while. Now he sometimes sits back and just watches the battery engines, while at other times he pushes them.

* The metal engines are more durable: The metal engines cost more than the larger plastic battery-operated engines, but they are far more durable. They feel solid in the hand. They go both forward and backwards, while the plastic engines only go forward. They pull the wooden cars that your child may already have. They're just a better fit!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James is amazing, May 22, 2005

By	T. Marks (CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Learning Curve Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Battery - Powered James (Toy)

James is amazing... he chugs around corners and up and down hills without a hitch (although he sometimes gets confused with y-splits and de-rails).

Adds an amazing element to your Thomas train set. My 3 year old loves him, and runs all around the track helping him out. Definitely a must buy.

James is the best battery operated train. The four wheeled trains (like Lady) have problem with the tight radiused corners (3" curves), and constantly derail on a track that James with his 6 wheels has no problems with. If Lady had been the first battery operated train I bought, I would not have bought anymore based upon the difficulty she has with the track. Fortunately, I bought James first.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well made, but only goes forward, not back, December 28, 2004

By	Stephen J - See all my reviews

This review is from: Learning Curve Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway - Battery - Powered James (Toy)

As are all the Thomas & Friends wooden train toys, this is a very solid toy, built-to-last, although the battery powered Engines aren't actually wood - James is made of die-cast metal and has a bit more heft than the wooden engine. Unlike the Brio powered trains, the Thomas & Friends battery powered trains only go forward, but so far our 3 1/2 and 2 year old kids don't seem to mind too much, and the large start/stop button is easier for young kids to use. They love the working headlamp and like to watch him come through tunnels. James has plenty of strength on flat sections of track to pull pretty much any length train, but does struggle a bit on hills, though will make it up and over without too many cars. James doesn't work well with the Thomas & Friends switching track (the kind that has a working red switch to make the train go straight or turn) - when set to turn, James always ends up going off the track. However, I think that is mostly a problem with the switching track design, and not the train.