TL;DR: If you’ve got a toddler or preschooler, trains are likely the center of your universe right now. For a calm, high-quality experience, stick to the Classic Thomas & Friends (the model era) or the original Railway Series books. If you need a break from Sodor, Ticket to Ride First Journey is a fantastic entry into strategy games, and Toca Train is a rare "no-stress" app for the little ones. Be wary of the Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go reboot if your kid is prone to overstimulation—it's much faster and louder than the original.

There is a specific brand of "toddler intensity" reserved for trains. It usually starts with a wooden Brio set and ends with you knowing the difference between a 4-6-2 Pacific steam engine and a diesel-electric hybrid.

Why do kids obsess over this? It’s about order and control. Trains stay on tracks. They have schedules. They have "jobs" to do. In a world where toddlers have zero control over what they eat or when they nap, the predictable world of Sodor or a backyard train set is incredibly grounding.

But as parents, we eventually hit a wall where we can't look at another wooden track piece without losing our minds. That’s when we turn to screens. And the train-themed digital landscape is a mixed bag of gentle storytelling, high-octane "brain rot" YouTube toy unboxings, and surprisingly complex engineering simulators.

If you grew up with Thomas, you remember the calm, slightly posh British narration (shoutout to Ringo Starr and George Carlin) and the physical model trains with the moving eyes. It was slow. It was methodical. It was, dare I say, peaceful.

Then came the CGI era, which was fine, but then came the 2021 reboot: Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go.

Let’s be real: this reboot is a fever dream. The engines now jump off the tracks, use their wheels like hands, and scream-sing every five minutes. If your kid is sensitive to fast-paced editing or you’re trying to keep "hyper" content to a minimum, you might want to steer them back to the Classic Thomas episodes. The lessons in the older episodes are often about being a "Really Useful Engine" (which is basically a 1940s British lesson in Protestant work ethic), while the new ones are more about "believing in yourself." Choose your fighter.

Ask our chatbot about the best episodes for toddlers

This is where train media gets dicey. If you search "Thomas" on YouTube, you aren't just getting the show. You’re getting thousands of hours of grown adults playing with toys.

Read our guide on navigating YouTube vs. YouTube Kids

If you want to branch out from Sodor, there are some genuinely great options that won't make you want to hide the remote.

Think of this as the "modern" Thomas. It’s more colorful and high-energy than the classic model Thomas, but it’s far more grounded than the new 2D Thomas. It focuses heavily on "trainees" learning the ropes, which resonates well with preschoolers who are learning new skills themselves.

Available on Netflix, this one is from the creators of PAW Patrol. It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s very much "merch-driven." If your kid is already a PAW Patrol addict, they will love this. If you are trying to avoid "the loud stuff," skip it.

If you want to move the "train obsession" into a family activity, this is the gold standard. It takes the complex mechanics of the adult Ticket to Ride and simplifies them for ages 5-8. It teaches geography, planning, and "how to lose without a meltdown."

For the iPad-curious toddler, this is a perfect first app. There are no high scores, no timers, and no "game over." You just drive the train, pick up passengers, and blow the whistle. It’s digital wellness in app form—no dopamine loops, just exploration.

Similar to the physical sets, this app lets kids build tracks and see how the trains interact. It’s a great way to let them "design" without taking up your entire living room floor.

Train media is the king of the "collectible" business model. Whether it’s the "TrackMaster" sets or the wooden railway, these shows are designed to make your kid want every single engine.

One way to handle this is to use the digital media as a "reward" or a way to learn about the engines they already have. If they have a Percy toy, watch an episode where Percy is the hero. It creates a bridge between the screen and physical play, which is always the goal.

Learn more about managing "toy-based" screen time

Train-themed media is generally some of the "safest" content for young kids, provided you stay away from the darker corners of YouTube. It promotes problem-solving, helpfulness, and a sense of routine.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Thomas content, remember that you don’t have to "keep up" with the new stuff. The old books and the original 80s/90s episodes are still the gold standard for a reason. They are quiet, they are kind, and they won't make your kid bounce off the walls.

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Check out our full list of recommended train games and shows