GeoTrax Working Town Train Railway Playset
by Fisher Price
(Click here)
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Fisher PriceBrand: Fisher-Price
Model: H3464
Product features:
- Kids can push the train around by hand or use the remote control for sounds and action
- With the new GeoMotion feature, kids can drive their RC train to the windmill or factory to see them magically operate all on their own
- Set includes 30 pieces such as mountain ramps with a bridge, diesel-style engine with 2 attached cars, cargo pieces, signs
- GeoTrax Workin' Town Railway
- Age range 2 to 5 years
- Fifteen durable track pieces that easily snap together for many configurations
Toys and Games Reviews of GeoTrax Working Town Train Railway Playset
Customer Review: Quite Possibly the Best Toy Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
No joke! I bought this for my son for Hanukkah, and he was enthralled with it from the moment he laid eyes on it. A month later, it's still his favorite toy and comes out every single day. The box states that it's for ages 2 1/2+, but my son isn't even 1 1/2 yet, and it's perfectly appropriate for him (although he does need adult help connecting the tracks). With a little trial and error, he was able to figure out how to line up the cars on the track, connect the cars, and operate the remote control all by himself. My wife and I beam with pride at how well he does those things.
The physical quality of GeoTrax in general is very sturdy. It's pretty much all solid, heavy-duty plastic, and very few parts seem at all fragile (the windmill blades are thin, but they've survived so far). My son is in a throwing-stuff phase, but even the motorized locomotives have laughed off everything he's dished out. The stylized look of the gear is nice, too. The bright colors and chunky objects are great for very small children, but there's enough detail to appeal to older kids and adults as well. A GeoTrax set sprawling across our family room isn't so bad-looking.
Whoever came up with the track-connection system is a genius. The pieces are very easy to snap together and pull apart, although they stay perfectly connected during play, at least when the child isn't in Godzilla mode. (Tip: When connecting, hold the pieces level and slide the ends together. When disconnecting, bend them apart at the coupling.)
Another nice feature is that the battery-operated remote-controlled vehicles automatically switch to neutral gear when they're not moving. This means that they work as free-wheeling push toys or as remote-controlled toys, and there's no need to switch between modes. This is great for my 1-year-old, who might push a train around the track and then suddenly decide that he wants to play with the remote. The only thing you have to do is activate the locomotive by pushing a big red button on top of it to turn it on. (It will automatically turn off after a certain amount of time without moving, which saves the batteries.) A little LED on top of the loco signifies whether it's active or not. My son was able to figure out that if the light's out, then he needs to push the button in order to use the remote.
Here's the kicker, though -- my wife and I (we're in our 30s) are totally addicted to GeoTrax as well! We picked up some extra buildings, track packs, and vehicles, so we have a lot of flexibility in terms of track layouts. The tracks are so easy to connect and disconnect that experimentation is painless and lots of fun. Often times, my son will be running a train on one end of the track while my wife or I rearrange the other end of the track. He likes to rearrange the tracks too, although he still needs a little help snapping the pieces together. We've come up with all sorts of different combinations.
I can't emphasize this enough -- GeoTrax is lots of fun for a 1-year-old AND both of his parents. This makes for great family time. There aren't a lot of activities that truly involve both a toddler and an adult playing together, but this is one of them.
One caveat though: this set is very attractively priced compared to most other high-quality train sets, but there are a TON of available accessories, and if you're the collector type, prepare to become addicted. (I have adult friends with no kids who are intrigued by this toy!) On the plus side, many of the add-on vehicles and buildings are inexpensive (vehicles start under $5, and buildings start around $10, and nothing's much over $20), so you don't have to break the bank when you get in the mood to add something to your set.
[...] I can see us enjoying it for a very long time. Also, it's very clear that the designers put a lot of thought into the details (design of the track connectors, neutral gear and battery-saving features of the locos, general sturdiness, etc.). In terms of play value for the dollar, this is as good as it gets.
APRIL 2008 UPDATE: My son is almost 3 now and still plays with his Geotrax stuff pretty much every day!
Description of GeoTrax Working Town Train Railway Playset
Encourage your little engineer's learning with this extraordinary railroad empire. GeoTrax is for not-so-little-anymore hands, and it creates a wonderful scaled-down world for youngsters who love action and pretend play. Kids simply construct an intricate railway system and then control it either by hand or with a remote.With the GeoTrax Workin' Town Railway, aspiring builders can start small and add components to expand their imaginary world. Additional toy parts sold separately. Set comes with 30 pieces total, including mountain ramps with a bridge, Diesel-style engine with two attached cars, cargo pieces, signs and 15 durable track pieces. Requires 6 "AA" batteries (not included). Measures 24" x 4.24" x 16 ".
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