My 4-year-old son has just about every Thomas and Brio engine on the market, including the "electric" versions of Thomas and his friends. This one is different -- it does not move by itself as do the electric vehicles. Rather, it makes train and track noises as your child pushes it along the track. It's a fun addition to a younger child's set (one who is not ready for an electric engine that moves itself) -- as well as a great addition to an older child's set as it's new and different. Plus, it feels sturdy. I've only had it for a week, but it looks like it will last a while -- the self-propelled electric engines, while they're well-built, are no match in the long-term for the hijinks of a little boy.