I've got three nephews, 6, 4, and almost 3.
How many years would I get out of a Thomas set? I'm considering ordering one to have on hand before the boys come over for Easter dinner.
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I would imagine the six-year-old is getting pretty well maxed out on Thomas at this point. Just a guess on my part, and there certainly is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to interest in Thomas.
Minimum of 140 years. I'm guessing that at least 2 of the three boys will become life-long model railroad fans. And some day, seventy years from now, they will be posting and boasting on the OGR Forum how they got started Easter Sunday 2014 when their uncle Matt got them a Thomas set.
Check back in 2084 and see if I was right. 
Depends on the child. Might like the blue loco with the "Mars eyes".
Minimum of 140 years. I'm guessing that at least 2 of the three boys will become life-long model railroad fans. And some day, seventy years from now, they will be posting and boasting on the OGR Forum how they got started Easter Sunday 2014 when their uncle Matt got them a Thomas set.
Check back in 2084 and see if I was right.
Well said, SantaFeJim.
The problem today is that kids are pushed into growing up too fast. Then as teenagers, we're surprised when the kids say they're bored... sometimes that happens before they become teenagers. Sad. Psychologists have long known children are more prone to stay happier when allowed to hang on to their imaginations, which means not being pushed into growing up so fast. Ah, childhood is so short anyways, and the responsibilities of being an adult come too quickly... why rush it?
I tend to agree with Allan, based on my own grandkids' experience. Kids today are so darn much more sophisticated.
Myself, I wouldn't mind having a Thomas set though! 
Yes, you'll have to upgrade to a Lionchief Polar Express at around 6 to 7. I have grandkids 3.5 and 5.5. The older is just starting to think the PE is cooler than Thomas.
Im 54 and have a Thomas set I run on the board
at train shows. Kids of all ages, young and old alike,
like watch his eyes wobble back and forth.
My nine year old grandson still runs Thomas on his 8x5 layout. He has other engines, but he likes Thomas as he's a "really useful engine" and pulls rather well! I expect he'll probably retire him in a year or so as he has been playing more and more the the more "realistic" engines (a Williams B&O F3 set, and a Williams ACL F7 set)
Maybe there's a few out there that don't care for Thomas or the rest of his crew. I'm NOT one of those
. I certainly do love that little blue engine. I still have the first one I purchased when the TV series started. I'm waiting for Thomas to be issued in beautiful brass. Then I can put him up for all the world to see under glass.
I'm a lot older than six, and I run Thomas quite a bit. Even without any kids around.
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
I would imagine the six-year-old is getting pretty well maxed out on Thomas at this point. Just a guess on my part, and there certainly is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to interest in Thomas.
My 5 year old is starting to grow out of playing with Thomas but still likes to see it on the layout. My 3 year old, on the other hand, is all in. Based on my experience I say go for it, the 2 younger ones will love it for sure now and for a few more years and the oldest will still get a kick out of it this year.
Originally Posted by Jumijo:
I'm a lot older than six, and I run Thomas quite a bit. Even without any kids around.
I, too, have been a fan of Thomas dating back to the "Shining Time Station" TV series. I have Thomas, Percy, James, and Diesel (LionChief versions) now, and will be adding more items as they become available. They're not really for my already-overcrowded home layout, but are destined, I hope, for future public displays.
I'm still a kid at heart…a bit of a curmudgeonly kid, but a kid nevertheless.
I was always partial to Casey Jr. from the movie Dumbo, but Thomas is OK. LOL
My boys used to watch Thomas. I think they quit when they were about 7 or so. Then it was Pokimon! 
Originally Posted by Allan Miller:
Originally Posted by Jumijo:
I'm a lot older than six, and I run Thomas quite a bit. Even without any kids around.
They're not really for my already-overcrowded home layout, but are destined, I hope, for future public displays.
I'm still a kid at heart…a bit of a curmudgeonly kid, but a kid nevertheless.
Allan,
You made this old man feel good about my admiration for the entire Thomas crew. We have a good excuse, "They look good when together with tinplate"
If you can create a detailed story about Thomas the tank engine's daily duties on the railway and show them while Thomas is being operated then you will keep their interest.
Just running him around in circles would be boring.
Andrew
You should see what some of the kids do on YouTube by themselves with Thomas toys: recreating episodes, new episodes...etc. I actually took to watching a few episodes on Hulu and doing some YT research, they got a whole bunch of new trains, I especially like the sad, but beautiful looking Japanese loco, Hiro. I was into Thomas, even thought I liked trains previously. Now kids have Thomas, Chuggington, and Dinosaur Train (because you know, there were trains in the Jurrassic era). I have the Thomas and James from Lionel Large Scale, I've always thought about getting the N scale versions from Japan...although some of Thomas' real life friends are just too tempting...
Originally Posted by TrainsRMe:
I tend to agree with Allan, based on my own grandkids' experience. Kids today are so darn much more sophisticated.
Myself, I wouldn't mind having a Thomas set though!
Kids today are more technologically sophisticated, but it's that very same technology that has them less sophisticated about life.
Just a doctor's observation.
Alan
Originally Posted by ajzend:
Kids today are more technologically sophisticated, but it's that very same technology that has them less sophisticated about life.
Just a doctor's observation.
Alan
This Allan agrees with Dr. Alan.
If they are Thomas fans, they will love it. If not, any train will do! We have alot of the wooden Thomas stuff. We bought it 10 years ago when my oldest was 2. It still gets played with by my 5 year old boy and 3 year old girl.
Don't listen to Allan Miller! I'm still playing with Thomas
I finally bought Thomas engine after two years of demands by children of all sizes visiting our modular layout asking... Thomas? Where's Thomas? I want to see Thomas!!!
One of our club members had a Thomas, but when it stopped running he bounced poor Thomas off a concrete floor. It went from "broken" to BROKEN. Pointing at (our) Ben and commenting "he killed Thomas" just didn't sit too well with the kids.... We now run Ben's cars with my engine.
Just for fun, I have put the angry face on Thomas and run him in reverse pushing a modern diesel dummy unit. I think it's funny but the kids don't seem to like it.
Gilly
Thomas attracts people of ALL ages. Watch videos.
Thomas the Tank Engine @ The Snoqualmie Northwest Railway Museum. - YouTube
The real question is how long will Thomas last! 
Thomas is timeless. The books and TV shows / videos have always been fun to read and watch - as a father and grandfather. There are many good lessons to be learned from them about what it means to be "useful". I have Thomas and James on the layout, and it makes me feel good to run them. Thomas himself is a surprisingly strong puller. Just as many adults as children want to see and hear them and use the remotes. I can't tell you how many places I have been - outside of the train room - where people (mostly adults) are humming, whistling, or singing the 2,4,6,8 song. It's one of those tunes that's tough to get out of your head once you hear it. So, in response the original question, I think that you will get as many years out of Thomas as you have years to run your trains.
Originally Posted by J Daddy:
The real question is how long will Thomas last!
Born in 1943. I'd say there's many miles left in him and his friends.
Rusty
"The problem today is that kids are pushed into growing up too fast"
I must disagree. The problem today is that they're never expected to grow up at all.
"Then as teenagers, we're surprised when the kids say they're bored... sometimes that happens before they become teenagers. Sad."
Of course they're bored -- they've outgrown kid-stuff activities, but are discouraged from entering into the adult world at their own rate. Often by parents who set a poor example themselves.
"Psychologists have long known children are more prone to stay happier when allowed to hang on to their imaginations, which means not being pushed into growing up so fast"
That oft-repeated stereotype is usually implemented as "Don't let them grow up, or you'll warp their little minds." And then their parents profess to be puzzled as to why they get on drugs, or have no ambition, or stumble through life aimlessly.
"Growing up" does not mean forbidding the young from "hanging on to their imaginations."
"Ah, childhood is so short anyway..."
Which is how it's meant to be. It's a prelude to growing into a responsible person, not a magical golden age that must be extended indefinitely.
"...and the responsibilities of being an adult come too quickly... why rush it?"
There's no need to "rush it." everyone needs to be allowed and encouraged to move into responsibility and self-respect at their own rate. Believing otherwise has been the cause of many social evils.
In the Large Scale/garden railroading club I belonged to back when I lived in Virginia, the Thomas section that we included in our public displays was, by far, the most popular attraction for young and old alike. We also had it set up so kids could take turn running the Thomas trains.
If I was part of an O gauge modular or club group today, you can be 100% certain I would make sure Thomas & His Friends had some role to play somewhere on the layout. The Polar Express certainly is popular, too, but it still pales in comparison to Thomas when it comes to overall "name and character recognition."
Last Saturday an eight year-old friend of my son came over and ran trains on our layout. It was the Thomas engine that he wanted to use (however, I think that the Lionchief remote had something to do with it, in addition to it being Thomas).
Originally Posted by N.Q.D.Y.:
I don't think that one is ever too old for Thomas. He is such a versatile little engine too.
Now, if only someone would produce 'Ivor the engine' to help with the coal and fish traffic....
You could find a 0-4-0 Percy or somebody else that has that wheel arrangement and make your own Ivor the engine.
