I am sure most parents are familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine. The toys are ubiquitous as is the TV show, the decorations and the events. Thomas is an excellent example of how to extract a LOT of money from parents. I don't know which came first, the toys or the TV show, but they have an excellent synergy between them. Kids get the toys and they want to watch Thomas on TV. They watch Thomas on TV, and they see a new engine or vehicle that they need to get. Once you have a few, you really need more track in order to build an appropriately large layout. On it goes...

If there is such a thing as a money tree, the "classic" Thomas wooden rails, buildings and trains must be made out of its wood. I don't know any other way to explain how two pieces of track, doubtlessly made my some poorly paid Asian laborer, can cost $20 or more. At least these things are relatively sturdy, we haven't had anything break yet, and they receive a predictable amount of abuse.

Not satisfied by the no doubt immense profits on the wooden trains and track, the geniuses at Hit Entertainment came up with the idea of making two additional versions of many of the Thomas toys - Trackmaster Thomas and Take Along Thomas. Not only can your child beg you for his or her favorite train in the wooden variety, they can also ask you for it in two additional versions! Better yet, the tracks from one type of Thomas set are incompatible with the rest! Brilliant! I need to check out if Hit! Entertainment is a public company - recession or not, these guys have one good gravy train.