Know-how 3 min read
Track compatible with BRIO: what fits together
Which wooden track fits BRIO, when you need an adapter and what to check before you buy more, with the dimensions from Trackplanner.
by Georg Wächter
The box holds track from three different packs, and not all of it is BRIO®. Does it still fit together? That depends on the dimensions and on pegs and holes.
The short answer
The table only lists pairs that Trackplanner has a source for. The same table is on the wooden railway page.
| Track | Track | Fits together? |
|---|---|---|
| BRIO® | Holzeisenbahn (Standard) | fits |
| Holzeisenbahn (Standard) | LEGO® DUPLO® | with adapter |
| Holzeisenbahn (Standard) | LEGO® City | with adapter |
The common size of wooden track
In Trackplanner the common size of wooden railways is the standard wooden railway library, Holzeisenbahn (Standard). Straights come in four lengths: 21.6 cm, 14.4 cm, 10.8 cm and 5.4 cm. The lengths are for the body without the peg. The big curve is 45°, and eight of them make a circle.
The BRIO® pieces have the same dimensions. The BRIO library takes its geometry from the standard size and adds the pack numbers:
- Item no. 33341: 4 long straights, 21.6 cm each
- Item no. 33335: 4 medium straights, 14.4 cm each
- Item no. 33334: 4 short straights, 10.8 cm each
- Item no. 33333: 2 mini straights of 5.4 cm, plus 1 double peg and 1 double hole
- Item no. 33342: 4 big curves
Pegs and holes
Every regular straight and every curve has a peg at one end and a hole at the other. Two pieces only hold when a peg goes into a hole. If two pegs or two holes meet, turning a curve over often solves it. Where that is not enough, a double hole joins two pegs and a double peg joins two holes. Both are 5.4 cm long. In the Trackplanner Kids planner, pegs and holes snap together on their own, just like the real track.
Wooden track and LEGO® track
Wooden track only connects to LEGO® DUPLO® track and LEGO® City track through an adapter. Neither BRIO® nor LEGO® offers a transition piece. There are only connectors from other makers, and they have no common length. That is why they are not in the library. The LEGO® DUPLO® and LEGO® City data sheets show the pieces of that track.
What to check before you buy more
New straights should fit the series 21.6 cm, 14.4 cm, 10.8 cm and 5.4 cm. Two long straights are as long as three medium ones.
Before you buy, check whether the spot needs a peg or a hole. Otherwise only a double peg or a double hole helps.
Curves come in different radii. A circle needs eight of the same kind.
The easiest way is to plan the layout first in Trackplanner Kids. The parts list counts which pieces the layout needs and which ones are not in the box yet.
There is more about planning with wooden track on the toy trains page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need BRIO® pieces for switches?
No. So far the BRIO library only has straights and the big curve. Take switches, the crossing and the buffer stop from the standard size in the app. They have the same dimensions.
What do I do when two pegs meet?
First turn a curve over. If that does not help, put a double hole in between. For two holes, it is a double peg.
How do I find out which pieces are missing?
Lay the track in Trackplanner Kids and enter what is in the box. The parts list then shows what is missing.