Honestly, if you’ve spent any time staring at a toy aisle lately, you’ve probably noticed that things are getting weirdly complicated in the world of Sodor. It used to be simple. You’d grab a little metal train, it felt heavy in your hand, and it just worked. But lately, the Thomas tank push along lineup has undergone so many rebrands and design shifts that even the most dedicated "Thomas parents" are getting headaches.
Is it TrackMaster? Is it "Metal Collection"? Is it All Engines Go?
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The short answer: it’s all of them, but also none of them. As we head into 2026, Mattel has pulled a massive U-turn that has collectors cheering and casual buyers totally lost. Basically, they're ditching the wide-eyed, cartoonish look of the last few years and sprinting back toward the "Classic" style we all grew up with. But this transition isn't exactly seamless.
The 2026 Shift: Goodbye Plastic Hooks, Hello Magnets
For the last several years, the Thomas tank push along engines were defined by those little plastic "C-hooks." You know the ones—they’re sturdy enough for a toddler, but a nightmare to connect if the train is on a curve. Well, big news for the 2026 lineup: magnets are back.
According to recent leaks and early wave releases spotted by enthusiasts like Emerald Night Productions, the brand-new "Metal Collection" (debuting fully in June 2026) is ditching the plastic couplers. Instead, we’re getting one-way magnets. This is a huge throwback to the Take-n-Play era that ended years ago.
- Pro: Easier for tiny hands to snap together.
- Con: They won't natively connect to your "All Engines Go" or "Adventures" trains without an adapter.
It’s a classic Mattel move. They give with one hand and take away with the other. The new engines also feature swiveling bogies on the larger characters like Henry and Gordon. If you’ve ever watched a long-wheelbase toy train jump the tracks on a tight corner, you’ll know why this matters. It makes them actually stay on the rails.
Does it Actually Fit Your Track?
This is the number one question. "Will this Thomas tank push along engine work on my wooden tracks?"
Kinda.
The push-along range is technically designed for the plastic TrackMaster (now called "Motorized") track. The wheels are spaced specifically for those gray or blue plastic grooves. If you put them on a standard wooden railway, they’ll roll, but they’re "leggy." They sit a bit high, and they can be wobbly on hills.
Specifics matter here:
- Plastic TrackMaster/Motorized: 100% compatible.
- Classic Wooden Railway: 85% compatible (they'll bump the sides of some bridges).
- Third-Party Wood (Brio/IKEA): Hit or miss depending on the groove depth.
If you’re mixing and matching, you’ve probably seen the "Super Station" or "Super Cruiser." Those sets are basically the Rosetta Stone of Thomas toys—they come with adapters that bridge the gap between the different track types. If you're hunting for these, look for the "AW1" adapter code on Mattel’s replacement parts site.
The 80th Anniversary "Ruby" Confusion
2025 marked the 80th anniversary of The Railway Series, and Mattel went all out with "chase" variants. You might still see these on shelves or eBay. There’s a "Storybook Thomas" that looks like the original 1945 sketches and a "Ruby Red" engine that is essentially a shiny collector's piece.
Here’s the thing: people are paying way too much for these on the secondary market. Unless you’re a hardcore collector, the "Ruby" Thomas is functionally identical to the $5 version you find at Walmart. Don't get caught in the hype unless you really love the metallic red paint job.
Why the "All Engines Go" Era is Fading
Let’s be real—a lot of parents (and kids) hated the All Engines Go redesign. The trains looked like they had too much caffeine, jumping off the tracks and using their wheels like hands.
The market spoke, and Mattel listened.
The 2026 Thomas tank push along range is a "masterpiece" compared to the 2021-2024 era. The proportions are better. The faces look like the characters again. Even characters like Salty and Edward, who were sidelined for a while, are getting high-quality die-cast releases. It feels like the brand is finally respecting its own history.
What to Look For Right Now
If you're out shopping, look at the packaging. The stuff with the 2D cartoon faces is the "old" new stock. The stuff featuring "Classic" CGI faces or the 80th-anniversary logo is what you want.
- Henry and James: These are finally getting their tenders permanently attached again, which is a huge win for durability. No more lost tenders under the sofa.
- Die-Cast Quality: The weight is coming back. For a few years, these felt like light plastic. The 2025/2026 "Metal Collection" feels substantial again.
Moving Forward With Your Collection
If you're starting a collection from scratch, stick to the Thomas tank push along die-cast line over the motorized ones. Why? Because batteries die, motors burn out, and toddlers love to "force" motorized trains along the track, which strips the gears. The push-along versions are basically indestructible. You can drop them on tile, leave them in a sandbox, or run them through a puddle, and they’ll be fine.
When you're ready to expand, don't feel obligated to buy the expensive Mattel-branded track sets. The beauty of the push-along scale is that it’s "close enough" to work with almost anything. Just keep an eye on those couplers. If you're buying the new 2026 magnetic versions, make sure you're getting at least two so they can actually pull something.
Check the bottom of the engine before you buy. If it says "Fisher-Price" and has a date like 2025 or 2026, you're getting the updated tooling with better wheelbases. These are the ones that actually survive a trip to the playground.