intelino Smart Train Starter Set: Award-Winning Robot Toy Train; App-Based + Screen-Free Drive Modes; 3 Free Apps for Playing and Learning; Programmable with Color Tiles, Scratch & Python; for Ages 3+

I am absolutely thrilled with this product. I was trying to decide between this and going up to a Lionel kind of system. This is very much in between the original wooden rails that I’m using and Lionel. My six-year-old isn’t quite ready for the full blown Lionel experience. This one not only teaches him coding, but it’s an absolute ball to use and is the perfect step before we go any further.

I bought the J-1 train set for my son who LOVES trains and as such, he has dozens of toys that are of course... Trains. He is 5 and autism and he finds this set particularly interesting. This is not just another toy train, you can turn it on and set up within 5 minutes but the fun hardly starts until you play with the colored tiles, each of which triggers something to happen. There are so many configurations and more than enough to keep kids thinking. Very good for the senses and if you don't want to play with the tiles at all, go ahead and download the App to control even more. All in all it is possible to control the train's speed, stop, reverse, color of the train LED lights, sounf effects and more. Pros- Easy to set up and use. Numerous configurations. Applies to a very large age group. Helps to learn pattern recognition. Cons- I really don't have one bad thing.

The Intelino train is well packed in a surprisingly compact box that holds the locomotive, a passenger car, track, stickers and quick-start instructions. Those instructions are intuitive and easy to follow. It takes about 20 minutes or so to charge the locomotive via a USB cable. There is an easy to use Android/iPad app that will control the locomotive, and also colored tabs that can be placed on the track that tells the locomotive when to start, stop, decouple its car, and use a switch to veer to a spur line. This will be a great toy for a youngster, teaching them the basics of computing apps, and surprisingly addictive to us older folks who remember the train sets of our youth. (But they never had this level of technology before.) I only wish there were more cars and accessories available, but I’m sure they’ll be coming along in time. I recommend that adults open the Intelino at night, while kids are asleep because you will want to play with it for longer than you think. And once the kids get their hands on it, you’ll be left out of the fun.

I have mixed feelings about this train set. For starters, it's more of a laboratory for teaching kids to program. The kids get to see a train move, and react, according to the instructions they provide to it. This is a great idea but honestly, it could've easily been so much more! Let us discuss. The track fits together easily although with the base kit there isn't much of it. I suggest buying the track extension pack when you order this set. Also note, you get one locomotive and one carriage. That's not a very exciting amount of rolling stock! Annoyingly, if you want to buy more trains, you are effectively obliged to buy a complete set. Of course this also means the trains look identical (beyond customization with stickers). It would've been fantastic if they offered a variety of locomotive and carriages for separate purchase. I don't think the manufacturers really thought this through... Control. You can general control instructions by creating graphical sketches on your phone. The sketch programming reminds me of similar tools I've seen for robotic cars. You can also signal the locomotive with colored squares you place along the track. Overall the control mechanism is decent, but not exciting. Again, I feel the manufacturer has missed many opportunities to create a truly iconic, fun and educational toy. I might end up 3D printing some new carriages and possibly even some of my own trains - just wish the manufacturer offered more variety! Size. The trains themselves are tiny and unremarkable. I somehow picture a train that was at least six inches long, but in reality I think the locomotive is maybe three inches at most. See picture. Personal thoughts. The idea behind this train set is brilliant. However the average kid would get more fun, and hence learn more, from a robotic car (costing about the same). Plus, the car would not required track.

We bought an Intellino train for our train-loving kid for their 10th birthday. This is a kid who has loved trains with an intense passion since they were around 2 or 3 years old, so we've accrued quite a few train sets over the years. They also love building, coding and STEAM activities so when I stumbled over this train it seemed a perfect fit. So we got the train and grandparents chipped in with the accessories. It was a hit. They loved coding the track, and adored the fact that adapters allowed use with standard wooden track railways as well. The app was a nice bonus, but only worked on one device, so that limited the capability. So, nine months later, I happened to go on Intelino's website..... Wow! There are lesson plans and activities to correlate with the train. It uses a downloadable Scratch program that then walked my kid through all sorta of coding information. Scratch can link into Artie the drawing robot (which we also have) and other Stem toys as well. My kid can now code and coordinate not just the train, but multiple devices. They spend hours now working with Scratch and the train. Highly recommend this toy for both train affectionados and robot/ coding nuts. It's capacities are huge!

The “intelino smart train” is a revolution for home play in so many ways. An intuitive app available on all platforms allows even three-year old children to have fun playing. As shown in the accompanying photo, autopilot mode allows selecting any one of three speeds, both forward and backward. Lights can be set to either city express or police transport, with racer coming soon. Several different sounds are also available, and these can be activated by pressing the appropriate button on the left side of the app. Built-in color action snap commands, when inserted into the tracks, can affect direction, speed, timed stops, as well as the ability to drop-off the wagon behind the engine. Using the app, custom color action snap commands placed in the track permit setting steering and movement, speed, pauses, head and tail light colors, and sounds. As pointed out in the headline to this review, the intelino smart train can also be a valuable tool for STEM education in the classroom, particularly for elementary and junior high school students. Students can design experiments dealing with speed and acceleration. In addition, the random turns built into the switch track give students a perfect way to study probability and statistics. Delivery of my order from Amazon was fast, the intelino package design is beautiful, unpacking was fun and easy, and the train was up and running in just a few minutes following a quick charge of the engine using the included USB cable. I highly recommend this for both home and the classroom. All aboard!

A clever product, but calling a "STEM Coding toy" is a bit of a stretch! The "coding" consists of placing colored tiles in the tracks to make the train do basic functions like speed up, stop, reverse, etc. with a simple ability to combine multiple actions and assign them to a custom command tile. Unfortunately there are so few commands to choose from it is almost not worth it. Our grandsons mostly liked letting the train run in "autopilot" mode on a layout with plenty of junctions (railway "switches"). In this mode it will randomly choose to turn at a junction or go straight, meaning the train will follow many different routes randomly. Be sure to get the track extension pack! Warning: I am a retired technical writer! So I can't say the instructions are very good. Somewhat disorganized and strange tiny icons that sort of make sense (not all of them) once you figure out what they mean. Most of the print is too tiny for older eyes and the content too complex for toddlers. I think the grandsons will enjoy it, but the product could use a bit of development. Warning: operate at slow and medium speeds only or derailments are inevitable! The little thing is quite fast.

My son loves trains and this was our favorite present! He loves it. He loves the app and he understands how to use it. Pleasantly surprised! A lot of train toys seem the same and this is fun and different. A must if you have a little train lover!

The Intelino J-1 Smart Train Starter Set is a fantastic educational toy that manages to combine the fun of a classic train set with the curiosity and problem-solving of early coding. It’s simple to set up, highly interactive and packed with thoughtful design features that make it appealing for both kids and parents. Out of the box, assembly is straightforward, with a range of suggested track layouts provided to help get started. The quality of the pieces is excellent - everything fits together neatly and feels sturdy enough to withstand regular play. The coloured command tiles are the heart of the experience, allowing children to 'code' the train’s movements without screens. By placing the tiles along the track, kids can control speed, direction and actions, introducing logical sequencing and experimentation in a way that feels natural and playful. The train itself performs brilliantly. It’s quick to charge, holds that charge well, and runs smoothly around the tracks. The included stickers are a nice touch, letting children personalise their train and carriage. The accompanying app adds another layer of functionality, providing remote control and more advanced programming options. It’s well designed and easy to use, though I did find that the app can sometimes draw attention away from the screen-free coding aspect. That said, having both modes available gives real flexibility - younger children can enjoy the tactile play with tiles, while older ones can explore digital control and coding through the app. Compatibility with wooden train tracks is another strong advantage, allowing it to integrate with existing sets and extending its lifespan as a toy. Overall, the Intelino J-1 is a brilliant blend of creativity, learning and play. It introduces important STEM concepts in a way that feels intuitive and fun, while still being a high-quality train set in its own right.

incroyable

The battery is charged. But the train no longer has power It goes very slowly. I'm waiting for an explanation from the manufacturer.

This is my new favourite programming toy! After seeing it modelled online and at the Bett Show, it was a must-purchase situation! It appeals to all ages and I have used it with my 4 year old Reception children up to my Year 6 Digital leaders. I love the multiple ways you can program the train, from the physical tiles, to the app and by using Scratch. It is multi-functional and exciting for big and little people! Love that it is also compatible with wooden sets although it struggles with wooden bridges as the angle can be quite steep. Looking to buy more accessories now to expand the set and explore more of the coding challenges within the app.

This toy is excellent and well worth buying. The app is a great little feature that helps to engage screen-hungry little ones for instance, and with the adapter kit you can make it work with your wooden track. There's actually a satisfying little sound as it goes over the wooden joins.