Toddler Frustration Struggles

I consider Lincoln to be pretty headstrong and he definitely knows what he wants. The thing that I always commend him on is being able to express himself. I give ALL THE props to infant sign language and us expanding his signs at home for that. When he gets upset or can't complete a task, he asks for help, which is great. He's been doing this since he was 12 months old.

But recently...OH, MAN. We got a new train table and brought up the wooden tracks and train set. He uses them from time to time, but has never really shown great interest in putting them together. He likes this one bridge and that's about it. Today we worked together to create a larger track that ended up being an oval with the bridge in it that went around the entire table. You can see it pretty clearly in the picture. ​
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Well, the trains weren't making this one corner properly and would derail when they got to the bottom of the hill, and Lincoln was losing his damn mind. Every time, bursting into tears and full meltdown. Trains were flying, then he would get upset that they were now on the floor. So I did what I normally do when he gets emotional: I'd tell him it's okay to be sad and to ask for help and we can try to fix it together. He'd listen and then try again. We'd have a successful run, and then boom. Derailed again. Then crying again!

Finally, I told him that it was okay and maybe we should take a break from the trains and get something else. He was easily distracted with a large dump track while my mom and I cleaned the trains and any traces of it so he'd forget about it. I did not want to go down that emotional road again with him. Especially since it was so out of character for Lincoln.

But, what gives? Is it a train thing? Is it a new thing that he's going through that's going to drive me up the wall? He's normally so communicative with me and able to tell me what's wrong without going into a tantrum. Honestly, he's not 2 yet, so maybe the terrible two's are on their way, but still! 

Chime in, MAMAs! In this a boy thing where they freak out when they can't get the trains to connect or the tracks to align perfectly? Or if it a perfectionist thing that my son can't handle failing? Was he just tired? Fingers crossed that this little blip in his mood quickly flashes away!