Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

We wanted a train in a small area with a small tree, but even a basic 36" H-O electric train setup would have been too large. We had our son's Brio wooden set from 25+ years ago, and that would work fine space-wise, but we wanted something with motion. After reading several reviews of the many small battery powered engines for Brio trains (no good up hills, can pull only 2-3 cars, etc.) I had all but given up on my quest. Enter Mighty Red!!! Two batteries rather than one (ah, more car-pulling power …), lights in forward and reverse (ah, more light ...), train sounds (ah, more sound ... [well, duh!~]), can leap tall buildings at a single bound (OK, maybe not that). It was and is the answer to my dreams. This engine easily pulls an 8-car train on a flat track, and can easily get up elevating tracks with 3-4 cars. SO WHY ONLY 4 STARS??? The batteries, my friend; it's all about the batteries. This engine takes two AAA batteries (I suggest alkaline). Never mind the fact that it eats them alive, I don't care. My main concern is about how they are put in, and the effect that will have over time (and not much time, if you're not careful). And I'll mention now that I recommend alkaline batts because the last longer than rechargeable batts and need to be changed less frequently. Here is my concern in that regard: To access the battery compartment, you need to remove the smokestack (Brio calls it the boiler cover) using a small Phillips-head screwdriver (a #0 or #2 size). If you use one too large or too small (like for eyeglasses) you can easily strip the screw, so use the right size driver. However, the boiler screw also allows you to use a small flat-head screw driver (for after you strip the Phillips portion of the screw head) such as a 3mm (Metric) or a 9/64 (ASE). I ask you, should changing a battery be potentially this involved? Once you have the cover removed, you will go through some minor contortions while your fingers try to get it back on (back, down & flat) against the force of the battery spring; it’s do-able, but it takes a bit of practice. But hey, it is your son or daughter you want to enthrall, so you WILL get it done. OK. Take a breather now ... you earned it. And all that work is worth it, too ... but only for about 50-minutes or so of intermittent use, after which the batteries will die (sooner with rechargeables) & you will have to change them again. Yeah, I know. Dang! (I know that in order to keep things relatively compact, fit the engine to track, tunnels, etc., Brio had to design the blastard thing this way, but ... oh, woe to us Dads and Moms …) My main concern (and, finally, the reason for my 4-stars) is that the batteries will need to be changed out so often (and more so if you use rechargeables), that the "boiler" screw is very prone to having its head stripped which, if that happens, will make changing the batteries impossible. One can only hope that Brio has used a very hard steel for the screw. If not, we’re screwed (LOL. See what I did there …) Wait a sec. What do you mean I'm being juvenile? I'm 64, dammit. Don't call me juvenile. Don't! Whoops! Sorry. It got away from me there for a moment. In the end, I highly recommend this over the other wooden train-set engines out there (we do have two "Thomas" ones) as it truly does have more pulling power and can get a number of cars up a hill. Cool feature ... on the way DOWN a hill, a small button in the front activates and you get the "whoo, whoo, chug, chug" sound again. So in the end, I recommend this engine, as it is more powerful (than a locomotive??? Ahh. I did it again. Funny, man … just can’t stop doing this “stuff”. What’’s wrong with me???) than other smaller ones. Just make certain that when you unscrew the “boiler cover” for the first time, you have the right driver, you push down with some force, and that you twist slowly & deliberately to loosen it. When you replace the screw, do not over tighten. This will minimize the likelihood that you will strip out the screw head. Buy it, and enjoy!