From Learning Curve comes a fun, interactive train set that is sure to keep your train-loving children busy for hours. Thomas Farewell at the Dock Set is for ages 3 and up, retails for $99.99 and can be purchased online or exclusively at Toys 'R' Us stores.

The Farewell at the Docks Set in the Talking Railway Series is based on the DVD Hero of the Rails and features Thomas, Spencer, Cranky and Sir Topham Hatt as they celebrate the return of Hiro, a recently restored Japanese engine, to his homeland.

As each train chugs past Cranky, Sir Topham Hatt calls out to them with a custom greeting via a recognition system in the bottom of each train. There are at least 5 custom greetings for each train which helps to keep children interested and experienced parents will appreciate an optional low volume setting not normally found in cheaper toys.

Younger children who are inexperienced with "Thomas" train sets will have a little difficulty assembling the train set but after a few times they should be able to correctly assemble the pieces without too much help from parents or older siblings. Of course, it's OK if they put it together any way they choose although there are only a few configurations that will make a complete loop with the track.

One thing I noticed was that the trains tend to derail after coming down the hill in this set. I think this is due to the fact that the curves are a little too tight and the hill may be too steep. The locomotives themselves don't derail but if they're attached to their cars then they derail without fail. When I asked my 5 year old to let a train go down the hill, he said, "It'll crash." Other than this slight negative, my children had only positive things to say about this set.

When I opened the box, 6 of my children immediately wanted to start playing with it. I had to enforce taking turns, and not one of them wanted to give up their turn. Even now when they see one child playing with it they want to immediately jump in and play too. All of them from ages 2 to 10 found something that kept their interest.

There isn't much here not to like. Except for the trains derailing everything else about this set exhibits the great quality and fun you'd expect from a Thomas the Tank Engine toy.