1 stars = Durability 1 stars = Fun 1 stars = Educational 1 stars = Overall

This version of cranky has my 3 year old in fusturated tears 10 minutes after owning it saying "its too hard". NOT compatable with the original take along tracks NOR does it fit into the old Docks. The track piece that is in the picture doesnt even click in it just slides in with little tabs and slides out and all over the place.

It has all the major design flaws of the first Cranky: head and arm are not one piece, arm still connects into a hole in the head piece via useless tabs that are sure to break. and the cord connecting the magnet is just string which children will easily fray or cut as my son did with the original one we are replacing for those 2 flaws.

If off to look for the old one, so sorry i wasted our money!

1 stars = Durability 1 stars = Fun 1 stars = Educational 1 stars = Overall

This is a poorly constructed product. Our Cranky doesn't even attach to the rail set and the magnets don't work to lift up the barrel. It's useless. We bought Wellsworth Station and that was much better quality.

2 stars = Durability 3 stars = Fun 4 stars = Educational 3 stars = Overall

I just bought this for my 3 year olds birthday. He loves it, but it is not compatable with his other take along thomas plastic tracks (Sodor mining mountain). I have not been able to find tracks like these. Also, the wind up part is hard to work and the magnet is not so strong. However, at first my son was frustrated, but determined. So he can work it as long as he hangs on to the top part for support. He does like it. Seems cheaply made.

1 stars = Durability 2 stars = Fun 2 stars = Educational 2 stars = Overall

I was initally happy to see all of the new additions to the Take Along Thomas, including this Cranky. However, they have a newer version of the plastic track. I'm very upset that they've changed the tracks. Although there are connector pieces to make the old tracks fit, the track doesn't lay flat properly. If my son trys to play on the carpet as usual, Cranky falls over. As another review stated, the arm falls off easily and the crank is hard to turn. My 3 year old son immediately said that it was "too hard". (Although I was originally happy that it didn't have an automatic button as the old version did, because he would hold that button down forever and just listen to it click away) I'm taping the box back together to try to return it.

5 stars = Durability 5 stars = Fun 4 stars = Educational 5 stars = Overall

This was one of the first take along items I purchased to go with my son's christmas gift last year. He loves it. It works great with all the track and he has NO trouble putting the arm back on from his carry box (we take the arm off so we can put it in a box that has a latching lid for storage and transport for camping).
He LOVES being able to lift things with the crain and pretending to sort "loads". A+ great item.

1 stars = Durability 1 stars = Fun 1 stars = Educational 1 stars = Overall

This is a very poorly constructed toy. Like the other reviews I found myself as frusterated as my son only minutes after opening. My husband had to superglue the arm that sticks out of cranky and the magnets are so weak they don't even hold the orange barrels that are provided. I found this toy to be a complete waste of money.

5 stars = Overall

I bought Cranky today and my 2 1/2 year old has not stopped playing with it since I got it home. I have had NO problems with Cranky and am surprised to hear other reviews complain about it. The magnet is more than strong enough. My son, who is 2 1/2 years old, figured out within minutes how to operate Cranky.
I amnot sure why one reviewer states that there are three tracks that don't work together. EVERY set of the Take Along track comes with connector pieces to connect the wooden tracks to the plastic track. Another reviewer stated that the Take Along Track won't lay flat.... it clearly STATES on the packaging that you need to use a hard surface. They said they put it on carpet... My son's playroom has berber carpet and the track is FINE. I have never had an issue with the track not laying flat.

Cranky is a great addition to ANY track set. My son loves it and I have had no issues what-so-ever with it.

4 stars = Durability 5 stars = Fun 4 stars = Educational 4 stars = Overall

My son got this for his 3rd birthday. When he first got it Cranky's arm kept popping off. It has to pop off or it could be easily broken off. He plays with it all of the time and the arm rarely comes off anymore. When it does he pops it right back on. My son is pretty rough with his toys but Cranky has made it so far. He uses the magnet for all of the Thomas Take A Long accessories. We haven't had a problem with the track connecting to the other silver tracks.

1 stars = Durability 1 stars = Fun 1 stars = Educational 1 stars = Overall

This toy is junk! My son got it for Christmas and it's broken. It doesn't lift correctly because the gears are not functional. My husband tried to fix it but found he has to take the screws out with a drill press because they are triangle head screws. My son was so excited about getting this toy and then it was broken in literally 5 minutes. Don't buy it.