Need help getting son started

[Anonymous]

Hello,

My son is 4 years old and crazy insane about trains. At first it was Thomas the Tank Engine, now he has progressed to anything to do with trains. I want to nurture this for him but don't know how. I don't know what sets are best to start with or if one is better long term than another. I would also like this to be something that we do together. Can anyone offer any guidance on how to start this adventure? We don't have the means to go wild with buying expensive stuff, but, I want to buy good stuff that will last and that we can build upon. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

[Jumijo]

My daughter is 4 and my twin boys are almost 2 years old. I bought them a Thomas set made by Lionel for Christmas and they absolutely love it. It's a basic set. Not the least bit complicated. The kids were also lucky enough to receive the Lionel New York Central Flyer set for Christmas from an aunt. This set has a steam engine that smokes and a built-in sound system that really sounds like a steam engine. This set was @ $50.00 more than the Thomas set, but once again, the kids love it. I combined the tracks from both sets together and run one big loop of track on the carpeted floor of my den. Every single night we "run the trains" and have fun for an hour or so. I don't know who enjoys it more, me or the kids.

This year, Lionel added a Thomas expansion pack that includes the Troublesome Trucks character cars. The kids are hoping Lionel will make more Thomas character engines, like James or Gordon or Henry. Come to think of it, I am too.

Jim

[eZAK]

[#welcome]Hooligan,

Well you came to the right place.

Jim has some good advice.

I would go with 'O' gauge!
Start off with Thomas or The Polar Express!
Maybe take the kid to a hobby shop to pick one out.

You can't go wrong with Lionel, K-line, or MTH for starter sets.

I would go with Lionel for their track system and reputation.

[jimhaleyscomet]

I agree the Thomas Set from Lionel is great to start with. If you can get it from a local dealer that would be great. The few extra dollars you pay will be worth it when he gives you good service. If you have no local dealer then you can get it a little cheaper online (see islandtrains.com or any of the others) but service is minimal.

Sometimes the Lionel sets have a bad transformer. One call to Lionel and they send you a new one. Most dealers are now checking the transformer before they send it home with you. If you buy a set (any set!) as a present make sure you test it out before giving it (a DOA set would be a bummer at a birthday party). Also, some Thomas sets will not reverse or come out of neutral unless there is a lighted car somewhere on the track (or a lamp connected across the middle and outside rail). In a pinch one can ground the center rail to the outside rail with a wire are screwdriver WHEN THE TRANSFORMER IS AT ZERO POWER.

Jim H

[Anonymous]

Hey,

Looks like you are off to a good start already. A good line for kids is postwar Lionel. They are durable, and current prices can be cheap or expensive. Cheack out Main Street Trains to get a good deal on Postwar Steamers.

Bert and Mary Poppins aka Nick

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate everyones input. I've had alot of fun today scanning the internet for info, I think I'm overwhelmed!!!

eZAK, you mentioned 'O' gauge, is there a particular reason to start here? Also, I've seen alot of trains that are O27, is that the same thing?

What about eBAY? Is this a good place to look for trains and accesories?

I also plan to take Liam to the Great American Train Show this weekend in Columbus, our the prices at these places extreme? Or are they pretty normal to what I would find on the internet?

What about magazinies? Are there any that I should get to help us get started?

Again, I really appreciate all of your help.

[Jumijo]

When I picked up my kid's Thomas set, the store owner gave me an additional terminal track with a light on it. He said it had something to do with impedence.

I neglected to mention the Polar Express set. It's a beautiful set that also can be added onto, but it's more expensive than Thomas or the NYC Flyer set.

I'd aslo recommend using a local dealer as opposed to on-line. It's just easier all around.

O27 is O gauge. They are larger than HO, which makes it easier for children to handle and put on the track.

Jim

[laz 57]

WELCOME HOOLIGAN[#welcome][#welcome]
As the guys said this is a good place to get information to get ya started.
On Ebay please check the rating for this is how the person gets the reputation of being a GOOD JOE or a JOE SCHMOO. And also ask the seller questions on shipping and handling charges. Watch out for guys that will snipe you with seconds left this happens alot. I have gotten some great deals on Ebay but make sure of your product because as they say buyer beware.
As for train shows most guys are great to deal with always ask if this is their final asking price some guys will dicker with the prices and others won't. I always check out the whole show and take note to where it is that I would go back later to get. Lots of times one guys price will be better then another guys.
Hope you have fun with your son this is a hobby you and your son could really enjoy and once you are hooked the bug is hard to get rid of, but who's trying to get rid of it?
Remember it is what you want to make it. If it looks cool to you it's cool.
Enjoy.
laz57

[Anonymous]

eZAK, you mentioned 'O' gauge, is there a particular reason to start here? Also, I've seen alot of trains that are O27, is that the same thing?<<<<

Hi there, and welcome to the forum.

O and 027 run on the same train and you shouldnt worry about any difference, only that 3 and 2 rail, O is true 1;48th scale and 027 is a tad smaller, for smaller layouts, but both with work on O/027 rails!

[3railguy]

In the $150 range, a Lionel Thomas set or GN Glacier Express is a good choice. The transformer and engines in these sets is enough for the set but a tad underpowered if you wi***o expand. The next move up in the $250 range would be a Polar Express or Southern Diesel freight. Both sets come with a more powerful 80 watt transformer and powerful engine. You'll find Lionel's fastrack system is very easy to assemble, sound, and reliable.

I really think you should bite the bullet and treat you and your son to a Lionmaster Big Boy or Railking Triplex. You'll get sucked in to this hobby quickly and there's no going back.

[Anonymous]

Welcome, Hooligan and best of luck to you and your son. You'll both have a blast. I bought my first set (Penn Flyer) to put around my Christmas tree this past Christmas...(un)fortunately I got the bug bad and now I've got a few engines , some extra box cars and another few loops of track. It's fun! What can I say, I never had a train when I was young...now I thought I'd get myself one.

Don't be overwhelmed. I purchased most of my stuff on eBay and have had pretty good luck. O guage is a good size and the Lionel fastrack that comes with the sets is durable for the youngster. A Thomas set or equivalent will be a great start and you'll be ready to add on each year (birthdays, Christmas, etc). There are also some great books/videos/dvds out there for beginners. I got a few from railpress.com (a coworker and reputable guy none the less).

I'm still trying to convince my wife that all this train stuff is for my new daughter some day (she's 3 weeks old). I might have to try for a son to seal the deal.

Best of luck and have fun. This Forum is full of great guys with great information. They are all extremely willing to help out so don't hesitate to post the questions.

Matt

[Anonymous]

I've played with trains since I was young and in 2003 I got my first O-Gauge train, the Pennsylvania Flyer, I also have a Postwar Berkshire. Last Christmas I got the MTH 2-8-0 Pennsylvania Passenger set and a bumper trolley. Then after Christmas I spent money on track and bumpers and 2 weeks ago I bought the Yankees boxcar.

I recommend working with your kids when it comes to trains they are really fun but kids can be careless sometimes

[Dave Farquhar]

I've bought a significant portion of my collection from Ebay, but it's easy to get taken there. Make sure you know what the item is worth and what you're willing to pay for it, don't get caught up in auction frenzy and pay more than you planned just because you got attached to it, and be willing to lose lots of auctions--I only win 20% of the items I bid on--and you do OK. Get a price guide from the library and be willing to stick to it.

If you have a local dealer and he's knowledgeable and helpful, it pays to buy your first set there. I have a great dealer near me and probably half my stuff has come from him. Sure, I pay a bit more, but he gives me great service.

Train shows are an awful lot of fun to visit and look around. Prices vary. You'll see more used or closeout stuff, in general, at a show than you will at a store, so you may be able to get a good deal. Some dealers mark their stuff down a few bucks for the show. Others not much at all. Just like Ebay, the better you know your stuff, the more likely you are to find a deal. Also, GATS is all scales, so it tends to be a lot heavier on HO and N scales than on O/O27. You can find O and O27 there, but the last GATS show I attened, I walked past three or four booths of HO and N scale trains for every booth I visited with O.

I would recommend O27 over HO or N because of the size. The bigger cars are a lot easier for small hands to grip and put on the tracks. Later, you can upgrade to O, stick with O27, or possibly even consider HO and N. As tempting as a $40-$50 starter set in HO or N may be, they tend to have problems. When you buy something whose quality is comparable to that of an O27 starter set, the price gap narrows considerably.

I go to shows, and I have a couple of buddies I usually go with, and we have a blast. I'm not sure that's necessarily where I'd buy my first train, but it's a great way to see what's out there. Be sure to check out the layouts and find out who operates them. If there's an O gauge layout operated by a local club, you can probably get some quick advice from those guys.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dave Farquhar


If you have a local dealer and he's knowledgeable and helpful, it pays to buy your first set there. I have a great dealer near me and probably half my stuff has come from him. Sure, I pay a bit more, but he gives me great service.

I recommend local dealers over anything, if they are an authorized detailer it's likely the best place for your trains. My local hobby shop that is called "The Hobby Shop" has alot of MTH products and Lionel and favor MTH, I like MTH but I also like lionel.

Like yesterday there can be many Lionel vs MTH disputes, but I decide to keep out of those. I don't brag or talk about the lawsuit that much. If I'm bragging about MTH it's just because I really enjoy the product.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: If I'm bragging about MTH it's just because I really enjoy the product.

[(-D][(-D]

Anyway, I would stear clear of postwar for your son, for one reason... its old and It may be fun for us... but not someone at his age.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lehigh Valley Railroad

Anyway, I would stear clear of postwar for your son, for one reason... its old and It may be fun for us... but not someone at his age.

I agree, I have a Postwar Berkshire and I'm glad I have it now. I really know alot about it and if I got it when I was younger, I might have wanted to get a new set (because the whistle now buzzesinstead of whistles.)

[Jumijo]

Someone mentioned that the Polar Express has a more powerful transformer than the one in the Thomas set. According to my 2005 Lionel catalog, the same CW80 transformer is in the Thomas and Polar Express sets.

Jim

[brianel027]

I just saw a very basic Lionel MPC set for sale for $45 at a yard sale. Everything worked and I thought, "Man, I wish I knew someone right now that wanted a very affordable starter set." I was tempted to buy it myself, but until a regular paycheck comes my way, my train buying purchases are really next to nothing. But that would have been a great first set for any kid.

But in other words, keep you eyes open and ask questions. There are deals to be had, but you need to find them and know what it is you are looking at.

[jimhaleyscomet]

027 track comes in a minimum 27" radius curve. 0 track comes in minimum radius 31" curve. Fastrak has built in ballest (better for floor running) but I think its minimum curve is even larger. The 0 track is a little nicer, the 027 track has more flexiblity for use in small spaces.

All 027 engines and rolling stock runs on 031 and fastrak. Longer engines and scale cars may run on only 0 (31" curves), 36" curves, or the big puppies 72" curves. Many sets will run on 027, some sets require 31" curves.

I would NEVER buy a PS1 (protosounds, proto sounds1) set as a starter set! Too many problems. PS2 (protosounds 2) is MUCH improved and reasonably priced. Many mail order outfits (and some dealers) still have PS1 sets.

I have gotten a very few deals on ebay. Usually Ebay sells trains at list and often at more than list. Many online outfits sell at list, others discount 5% on current materials and up to 20% on older items. Train shows sometimes have even better deals. You can often pick up last years sets at a 10% discount. Most of the competively priced stuff sells at a train show in the first hour and you must know what you are looking for.

If I were just starting out I would get that first inexpensive set from a dealer. Ask your dealer if he will be at the next show. You might get better price from him there.

If I had my heart set on getting the best price (forget service) on a new set I would do the following.

1. Get a catalog from a dealer, MTH, Lionel, K-line.
2. Decide which set or two sets you want.
3. Check the prices online at the following four vendors.
http://www.trainworld1.com
http://www.grzyboskitrains.com/catalog.aspx
islandtrains.com
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/
4. Do a google search on the set part number and see if you find any other deals.
5. Attend the train show (the first hour open) and see if you can do better. If not, come home and mail order it.

Jim H

[Anonymous]

Hi Hooligan,

It's a great question and a great process; I just went through it myself. Here's a link to my saga: http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=12560

Within my initial post there's another link to another guy's quest! Hope our two stories are helpful.

Best,
Jeff