| A system of small trains that run on a wooden track | | | | famous wooden train manufacture in the world. |
| are called wooden toy trains. Toy trains and their | | | | The worlds most famous wooden train is Thomas. |
| wooden tracks are over one hundred years old. | | | | Thomas the Tank Engine was a character in a series |
| In 1884 the wooden Figure-8 Train Sets (by BRIO) | | | | of children's books called The Railway Series that first |
| were introduced. Brio are the largest wooden toy | | | | appeared in the United Kingdom in 1945. In 1984 |
| manufacturer in the world with more than 3.5 million | | | | Thomas made his acting debut on a TV program |
| trains, cars, and trucks coming off the assembly line. | | | | called Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the |
| The BRIO Corporation gets its name from the | | | | United Kingdom which was narrated by Ringo Starr |
| Brothers Ivarson of Osby. The three young brothers | | | | of The Beattles. The popularity of Thomas the Tank |
| began making high-quality wooden toys in Osby, | | | | was large enough that manufactures started selling |
| Sweden, but initially they started by making woven | | | | patterned sets which included most all of the other |
| basket-ware. BRIO makes good toys that are safe | | | | characters seen in Thomas The Tank Engine and |
| and durable and encourage open-ended play. There | | | | Friends series. |
| are many other companies throughout the world that | | | | Today's wooden toy trains have hardly changed |
| now make good quality wooden train sets and track. | | | | from years ago, but probably the most important |
| Due to the amount of toy train companies who | | | | change has been with its safety. Instead of the hook |
| make wooden trains and track, a standard that they | | | | (sharp) to couple the train and carriages there is now |
| have agreed to conform to is known as the | | | | magnets. |
| Vario-System. By sticking to this system wooden | | | | There are now numerous styles and designs of |
| train tracks made by one company will easily connect | | | | wooden toy trains, some with track and some |
| to a piece of track made by another company. Most | | | | without. There are types to sit on and types you |
| people refer to the Vario-system as the | | | | can push along the floor. There are rockers and pedal |
| Brio-compatible, after the Biro company. who as can | | | | types. But which ever type is chosen they will last |
| be seen with their production output are the most | | | | generations if they are looked after with care. |