The gear in question that slips is more than likely the one that is on the axles which are separate from the motors themselves. These can be repaired but Tomy did not make replacement parts and you will have a hard time finding parts for sale on Ebay especially in the States. The triangle screwdrivers are available on Ebay pretty cheaply and migh come in handy if you plan on more trains in the future. As far as the children playing with them, these trains are pretty tough and are made to be played and can take a lot of punishment. As long as they are taught that holding them in place while the motors are running is bad for them they can play away. See your Private Messages for more information.
![[Image: super-smiley-emoticon.gif]](http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/word/super-smiley-emoticon.gif)