Trackmaster Revolution (TMR) New releases

I do agree about the buttons though...just too jarring. Take a look at the Chuggington interactive engines and tell me how noticeable it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLKtdsclgaw

Except on the interactive Chuggers, they're not activation buttons but are (most likely) for sending/receiving signals from other Chuggers/destinations. As shown in the video, the real buttons are the horns. It seems they double as buttons in Thomas Motorized.

When Golden Bear first made talking engines for My First Thomas, they were interactive as well (albeit only for a very short range and only when facing each other). Their transmitter/receiver was hidden behind one buffer/headlight (Bertie)/float (Harold) on each one instead of somewhere on top. Perhaps if Mattel were to use Bluetooth or similar tech, it might've been possible to avoid those IR (?) elements.