Combining BRIO wooden railway with Thomas trains means matching two different track ends, and with so many Thomas track systems out there, no single "universal" adapter covers every generation. Best overall: TrainLab Adapter for TrackMaster (Gray, 2014) to Wooden Railway. Best for Thomas Wood 2018 sets: TrainLab Adapter 2pk for Thomas Wood 2018 to Wooden Railway. Best for the newest TrackMaster Easy Connect trains: TrainLab Adapter 2pk for TrackMaster Easy Connect to Wooden Railway. Best repair/budget pick: TrainLab Dog Bone Connectors for Wooden Railway Track, 5pc.
- TrainLab's TrackMaster (Gray 2014) to Wooden Railway adapter is the best overall brio train track adapter for mixed collections in 2026.
- TrackMaster track has come in several connector styles since 2009 - a quick look at the track piece you have at home tells you which adapter fits.
- BRIO track is standard wooden railway, so any 'wooden railway' adapter works with BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug and IKEA LILLABO.
- Dog bone connectors are the easy fix when two wooden track ends both have sockets - a handy $9.99 spare to keep in the drawer.
- Every TrainLab adapter is handmade in the USA since 2017, non-toxic and rated for ages 3+, and almost every one is $9.99.
Why this matters
BRIO track is a standard wooden peg-and-socket design, and so is Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug, and IKEA LILLABO - which is why everything wooden happily fits together. Things get a little trickier when a child also owns a Thomas & Friends set from a different system: Take-n-Play, TrackMaster 2009 (brown), TrackMaster 2014 (gray), Thomas Wood 2018, or the new TrackMaster Easy Connect line that Mattel introduced in 2026. Each of those uses its own connector shape, so joining one to a wooden peg calls for a track adapter made for that exact pairing.
With so many different track systems out there, it can be tricky to find the right adapter for the set you have at home. This guide walks through six TrainLab adapters by the BRIO-to-Thomas pairing each one solves, so you can match the part to your track with confidence. Every one is handmade in the USA by TrainLab since 2017, small-batch and quality-checked before it ships, non-toxic and rated for ages 3+.
What makes the best BRIO train track adapter
- Exact generation match - the Thomas side names the specific system (Take-n-Play, TrackMaster 2009, TrackMaster 2014, Thomas Wood 2018, or TrackMaster Easy Connect)
- True wooden railway fit on the other end - a standard wooden railway connector that works with BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug and IKEA LILLABO
- Pack size for real layouts - 2-packs with one male peg and one female cup so you can join in either direction, and 5-piece dog bone packs for spares
- Clear product naming - both track systems right in the product title, so you know what you're getting without guessing from a photo
- Rail heights matched - so trains roll across the join without catching
Best BRIO to Thomas track adapters at a glance
| Adapter | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrackMaster 2014 to Wooden Railway (with Dog Bones) | Mixed BRIO + TrackMaster collections | Includes dog bones so you can join in either direction | Only fits gray TrackMaster 2014, not compatible with Brown 2009 TrackMaster or new Easy Connect 2026. |
| Thomas Wood 2018 to Wooden Railway | BRIO + Thomas Wood 2018 sets | Bridges two "wood-style" systems that use different connectors | Not for TrackMaster track |
| TrackMaster Easy Connect to Wooden Railway | BRIO + 2026 Easy Connect trains | Built for Mattel's newest connector design | Newest system, so fewer secondhand track pieces to combine |
| Dog Bone Connectors for Wooden Railway, 5pc | Joining two wooden sockets, including BRIO | Five spares in one pack | Joins wooden to wooden only, not a cross-brand adapter |
| Learning Curve Thomas to Wooden Railway | Older Learning Curve-era Thomas sets | Covers a discontinued but common secondhand system | Only needed if you own older Learning Curve track |
| DUPLO-Type Bridge Adapter to Wooden Railway | BRIO + building-block play, with personalization | Only pick with a name-on-it option | Solves block compatibility, not another Thomas track type |
1. TrainLab Adapter for Take-n-Play to Wooden Railway: best for mixed BRIO and Take-n-Play collections
This TrackMaster 2014 gray to wooden railway adapter joins Thomas & Friends Gray 2014 TrackMaster plastic track on one end to standard wooden railway track on the other - BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug or IKEA LILLABO - with dog-bone connectors included so you can make the join in either direction. It's the pairing most families ask about first, because Take-n-Play sets so often land in the same toy box as a BRIO starter set.
2014 Gray TrackMaster to Wooden Railway pros:
- Dog bones included, so you're not buying a second part separately
- One of the most common BRIO-plus-Thomas pairings, so it solves the puzzle a lot of families actually have
- Rail heights are matched, so trains roll across the join without derailing
2014 Gray TrackMaster to Wooden Railway cons:
- Fits 2014 Gray TrackMaster, not 2009 or 2026 new TrackMaster Easy Connect - TrainLab makes separate adapters for each TrackMaster generation
- If the Thomas collection is older Learning Curve stock, see pick 4 instead
Best for: families combining a BRIO wooden set with a Take-n-Play Thomas starter kit. Verdict: Buy. Shop this adapter →
2. TrainLab Adapter 2pk for Thomas Wood 2018 to Wooden Railway: best for newer Thomas Wood sets
Thomas Wood (2018) track looks a lot like BRIO at first glance, but it uses its own connector shape, so the two don't join on their own. This Thomas Wood 2018 to wooden railway adapter connects 2018 Thomas Wood track on one side to standard wooden railway track - BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug or IKEA LILLABO - on the other. The 2-pack gives you one male peg and one female cup, so you can join in either direction.
Thomas Wood 2018 pros:
- Solves a pairing that surprises many families the first time the two sets meet
- Works across BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug and IKEA LILLABO on the wooden side
- Sold as a 2-pack with both connector directions, enough for two junction points on a typical layout
Thomas Wood 2018 cons:
- Not for plastic TrackMaster systems - those have their own adapters
- A large multi-loop layout with several crossover points may want a second pack
Best for: families bringing a 2018-era Thomas Wood set into a BRIO layout. Verdict: Buy. Shop this adapter →
3. TrainLab Adapter 2pk for TrackMaster Easy Connect to Wooden Railway: best for the newest 2026 trains
Mattel changed the TrackMaster connector in 2026 with the Easy Connect line, and this TrackMaster Easy Connect to wooden railway adapter bridges Fisher-Price TrackMaster Easy Connect (2026) plastic track to standard wooden railway track. If your child got a brand-new Thomas set this year, this is very likely the part that lets it run on a BRIO loop. Drop one adapter between an Easy Connect piece and a wooden piece and the two halves become one continuous railway.
TrackMaster Easy Connect pros:
- Covers the newest 2026 TrackMaster connector, which the 2009 and 2014 adapters don't fit
- 2-pack with one male peg and one female cup, so you can join in either direction
- Lets a brand-new train join an existing wooden layout right away
TrackMaster Easy Connect cons:
- If your Thomas track is the older 2009 brown or 2014 gray TrackMaster, you'll want the matching TrackMaster-to-Wooden Railway adapter instead
- Being the newest system, fewer secondhand track pieces exist to expand a layout around it
Best for: families with a 2026-model Thomas train and an existing BRIO wooden layout. Verdict: Buy. Shop this adapter →
4. TrainLab Adapter for Learning Curve Thomas to Wooden Railway: best for older secondhand Thomas track
Learning Curve made Thomas & Friends track before Mattel's TrackMaster era, and a lot of it still circulates through hand-me-downs and thrift stores. This Learning Curve Thomas to wooden railway adapter connects Learning Curve Thomas & Friends track on one side to standard wooden railway track on the other, so a BRIO set can welcome an older Thomas collection without replacing anything.
Learning Curve pros:
- Covers a discontinued system that otherwise has no easy fix
- Extends the life of hand-me-down or secondhand Thomas track
Learning Curve cons:
- Only needed if you own older Learning Curve stock
- Doesn't bridge to any TrackMaster generation - TrainLab makes separate Learning Curve-to-TrackMaster adapters for that
Best for: grandparent hand-me-down Thomas sets meeting a newer BRIO collection. Verdict: Buy if you own Learning Curve track; otherwise one of the picks above is the better match. Shop this adapter →
5. TrainLab Dog Bone Connectors for Wooden Railway Track, 5pc: best for repairing BRIO track itself
Sometimes the puzzle isn't a different brand at all - it's two wooden track ends that both have sockets, or a BRIO piece whose peg has gone missing. This wooden railway dog bone connector 5-pack is the spare part every wooden railway runs out of. Each dog bone carries a peg at each end, so it joins two female track sockets into a single run, and it fits standard wooden railway track on both sides: BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug and IKEA LILLABO.
Dog Bone Connectors pros:
- Five spares in one $9.99 pack, enough for several joins before running out
- Fits BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug and IKEA LILLABO without needing to identify a generation
- Far cheaper than replacing a whole track piece
Dog Bone Connectors cons:
- Joins wooden to wooden - it's a connector, not a cross-brand adapter
- If a peg has snapped off and you'd rather repair that end itself, TrainLab's pegbone repair pack is the piece for that
Best for: any family whose BRIO layout has a socket-to-socket join or a missing peg. Verdict: Buy. Shop this connector →
6. TrainLab Bridge Adapter for DUPLO-Type Blocks to Wooden Railway: best for block-and-train crossover play
This is the one item on the list that isn't solving a Thomas puzzle at all. The DUPLO-type bridge adapter seats onto large building-block studs on one face and carries a standard wooden railway connector on the other, so a block tower becomes a station, bridge or tunnel on the same BRIO layout. It comes as a single piece for $9.99, and it's the only adapter here with the option to have a child's name printed into it.
DUPLO Bridge pros:
- Only pick on this list that mixes building blocks into a BRIO layout
- Personalized or plain - the name option makes it a lovely gift, not just a functional part
DUPLO Bridge cons:
- Doesn't solve any Thomas-to-BRIO pairing
- Most useful if your child already builds with large blocks
Best for: a BRIO layout that also connects to a DUPLO-style block set. Verdict: Buy if block crossover play is part of the fun at your house. Shop this adapter →
How we chose
Each adapter above was weighed against the five criteria: exact generation match, true wooden-side fit, useful pack size, clear naming, and matched rail heights. Picks that sit higher solve a pairing more families ask us about - Take-n-Play and Thomas Wood 2018 are the most common BRIO crossovers in 2026 - while the DUPLO bridge and Learning Curve pieces sit lower simply because they solve more specific puzzles. Every item is $9.99, handmade in the USA by TrainLab since 2017, non-toxic and rated for ages 3+.
Which BRIO train track adapter should you choose?
If you're not sure which Thomas system you have, the easiest clue is the track itself: TrackMaster 2009 track is brown, TrackMaster 2014 track is gray, Thomas Wood 2018 is wood-look track from a Thomas set, and Easy Connect is the new 2026 connector. For most families combining a BRIO starter set with a Thomas & Friends kit bought in the last few years, the TrainLab Adapter for Take-n-Play to Wooden Railway is the default buy. If the Thomas train is brand-new in 2026, go straight to the TrackMaster Easy Connect adapter instead. And a pack of dog bone connectors is a nice thing to keep on hand regardless - every wooden railway eventually wants a few spares.
FAQ
Is BRIO track compatible with Thomas trains?
BRIO track uses the same standard wooden peg-and-socket design as Thomas Wooden Railway, so wooden pieces from both brands connect directly. Other Thomas systems like Take-n-Play, TrackMaster, or Thomas Wood 2018 use their own connectors and need a dedicated track adapter to join a BRIO layout.
What is a brio train track adapter used for?
A brio train track adapter joins BRIO's standard wooden railway connector to a different track system - most often a Thomas & Friends system like Take-n-Play or TrackMaster. It lets a family run trains from two brands on one layout instead of buying a second set of track.
How do I know which Thomas TrackMaster generation I have?
Check the track color: TrackMaster 2009 track is brown, TrackMaster 2014 track is gray, and TrackMaster Easy Connect launched in 2026 with a new connector shape that older track won't fit. Matching the track generation matters more than matching the train model itself.
Do dog bone connectors work between BRIO and Thomas Wooden Railway?
Yes, dog bone connectors fit standard wooden railway track on both sides, which includes BRIO, Thomas Wooden Railway, Melissa & Doug and IKEA LILLABO. They join two female sockets into one run, but they don't bridge to plastic Thomas systems.
Can I combine BRIO with Take-n-Play Thomas trains without an adapter?
Take-n-Play plastic track and BRIO's wooden peg system use different connector shapes, so they need a small adapter between them. TrainLab's Take-n-Play to wooden railway adapter, with dog bones included, solves this pairing directly.
Is Thomas Wood 2018 track the same as BRIO track?
They look similar but aren't interchangeable - Thomas Wood 2018 track uses its own connector, so it needs an adapter to join BRIO's standard wooden railway. TrainLab's Thomas Wood 2018 to wooden railway 2-pack bridges the two.
What track adapter works with the newest 2026 Thomas trains?
Trains running on Fisher-Price's TrackMaster Easy Connect line, introduced in 2026, need a TrackMaster Easy Connect to wooden railway adapter to run on a BRIO layout. The 2009 and 2014 TrackMaster adapters fit their own generations, not the new Easy Connect connector.
One last thing
The Thomas & Friends track lineup has used several connector shapes since 2009 - brown TrackMaster, gray TrackMaster, Thomas Wood, and now Easy Connect in 2026 - which is why there isn't a single "universal" adapter. The good news is that there's a TrainLab adapter for each one. A quick look at the connector on the track piece your child actually owns, rather than just the train on the box, is all it takes to pick the right one.
Thomas & Friends, TrackMaster, Take-n-Play and Fisher-Price are trademarks of Mattel, Inc. BRIO, Learning Curve, Melissa & Doug and IKEA are trademarks of their respective owners. LEGO and DUPLO are trademarks of the LEGO Group. TrainLab is not affiliated with any of them.
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