Train Cartoon Shows: 11 Best Train Cartoons for Kids

There is no train cartoon conversation without Thomas & Friends. The undisputed king. Debuted in 1984 and has been running essentially nonstop for 40+ years.

The show is based on the Railway Series books by Reverend Wilbert Awdry (a real Anglican vicar who started writing the stories for his sick son in the 1940s). Thomas, a cheeky blue tank engine, lives on the Island of Sodor with his locomotive friends Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby, and the rest of the Steam Team.

The original was famous for its model train animation, which gave the show its distinctive look for decades before transitioning to CGI in 2009. Each generation of kids has their version of Thomas. The trains, the lessons, and the Sodor world have endured through countless reboots, spinoffs, and feature films.

Dinosaur Train is what happens when you combine two things kids love (trains and dinosaurs) into one show. Created by Craig Bartlett (also the mind behind Hey Arnold!), the series ran on PBS Kids from 2009 to 2020.

The show follows Buddy, a young Tyrannosaurus Rex adopted by a Pteranodon family, as he and his siblings ride the Dinosaur Train through different periods of the Mesozoic Era. They meet real, scientifically accurate dinosaur species and learn about their habitats.

It’s one of the best educational train cartoons ever made. The science is actually researched. The songs are catchy. And the train as a “time machine” device is a brilliant storytelling hook.

Chuggington is the British computer-animated train series that became Thomas & Friends’s biggest modern competitor. Set in the fictional town of Chuggington, the show follows three young trainee trains: Wilson, Brewster, and Koko.

The world is more modern than Sodor. Faster trains. Brighter colors. More overt focus on teamwork and problem-solving lessons. The show ran for 12 series on the BBC and various international networks, and it’s still a go-to recommendation for preschoolers who’ve outgrown Thomas’s classic feel.

Mighty Express is the Netflix original train cartoon that became one of the streamer’s preschool hits. Set in a vibrant world called Tracksville, the show follows a team of anthropomorphic trains who work with their human kid friends to solve community problems.

Each train has a unique personality and special skill. Mighty Action Chuck. Express Nico. Mighty Mecha Bullet Train. The character variety keeps things interesting. It’s also produced by the same studio behind PAW Patrol (Spin Master), which tells you exactly what audience and style it’s aimed at.

Based on the legendary 1930 American children’s book, The Little Engine That Could has been adapted into multiple animated films (most notably the 1991 and 2011 versions). The story revolves around a small, determined locomotive who faces a great challenge and overcomes it with perseverance.

“I think I can, I think I can.” That phrase alone has become part of American culture. The catchphrase, the lesson, and the lovable little blue engine have made this one of the most enduring train stories ever written. Both animated adaptations have been classroom staples for generations.

Going way back: Ivor the Engine is the British classic that arguably started the whole “train cartoon” subgenre. Set in a fictional Welsh region, the series followed Ivor, a small green steam engine, and his driver Jones the Steam on a rural railway.

Created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin (the same legendary duo behind Bagpuss and The Clangers), Ivor was made using their distinctive cut-out stop-motion animation style. It’s gentle, charming, and has aged better than most 1960s children’s content.

If you want to show your kids where the modern train cartoon obsession came from, Ivor the Engine is the answer.

Now we’re getting into the weird and wonderful. Infinity Train aired on Cartoon Network (then HBO Max) from 2019 to 2021, and it’s aimed at older kids, teens, and adults rather than the preschool crowd.

The premise: a mysterious train runs forever, and each car contains its own miniature universe. Different seasons follow different protagonists who get trapped on the train and have to work through personal trauma to escape. It’s emotional. It’s dark in places. It tackles themes like grief, identity, and self-discovery.

If you want a “train cartoon” that’s actually meaningful storytelling for older viewers, this is the one. It got cancelled too soon, but the four completed seasons are some of the most acclaimed animation of the late 2010s.

Robot Trains is the South Korean animated series that took the obvious next step. What if trains could transform into robots? It’s Transformers, but for the preschool train-obsessed audience.

The story follows Kay, a high-speed train and leader of the group, along with his friends Alf, Duck, Selly, and Victor. They protect their home (Train World) from various threats, transforming between train and robot form depending on the situation. Pure action-packed fun.

Train Heroes is the Japanese CGI-animated series that tells the story of the “Rail Rescuers,” a group of special trains who can transform into robots and work together to protect the rail network.

It hit a lot of the same notes as Robot Trains but came earlier and with a more anime-influenced aesthetic. The emphasis on teamwork and thrilling action sequences gave it a more shonen-feel than typical train cartoons.

A slight stretch for this list, but worth mentioning. The Magic School Bus Rides Again is the Netflix reboot of the classic 1994 PBS series, and while it’s primarily a school bus show, the bus regularly transforms into other vehicles, including trains, for various educational adventures.

If your kid loves both trains and science, this is a great gateway show. The series ran from 2017 to 2020 with Kate McKinnon voicing the new Ms. Frizzle (Lily Tomlin returns for a few episodes as the original Frizzle’s now-retired older self).

Train School is exactly what it sounds like. An animated series set in a school where train students learn about trains. From steam engines to high-speed rail to electric trains, the show works through the history, function, and engineering of every major type of train.

It’s more directly educational than most train cartoons on this list. If your kid is at the age where they want to know how trains actually work (not just see them have adventures), this is the show to put on.