Much better than the other battery-operated engine (that came with our first starter set). That had a fiddly switch at the top whereas this has simple big buttons for forward, reverse and stop (much better for our two year old!). It even has a switch to change into push-along mode and has little trouble coping with slopes and longer trains (unlike UK rail companies my daughter likes nothing better than to load on the carriages!). Be aware you'll need two (AAA) batteries but this just makes it stronger and last longer.