Category:Wooden trains

As of 2013, the Museum has some Brio-compatible sets of wooden trains and vehicles for active play and some Thomas the Tank Engine characters (along with some children's plastic Meccano). These are available on demand for school bookings and other relevant events.

Aims

These sets have been primarily selected for their relevance as child-friendly counterparts to the Hornby Series and Dinky Toys ranges (Dinky Toys originated partly as train set accessories for gauge 0 Hornby Trains), and for their play value in constructing railways, roadways, and complex combined systems.

Some of the pieces also have additional relevant educational value, for instance the locomotives that "Thomas" and "Neville" were based on were built alongside the Museum's site at the old Brighton Locomotive Works, and "Emily" is based on the "Stirling Single" locomotives, a large model of which greets visitors as soon as they pass through the Museum's "ticketholders only" barrier.

Funding

The funds to buy these play items were provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, as part of the Museum's Frank Hornby 150th Anniversary project.