What is the Best Lionel Starter Set?

[Anonymous]

I bought myself the Union Pacific Fast Freight set off eBay last year as a Christmas present from me to me. I have yet to get the full benefit of it all due to power issues (I am in the UK - I won't bore you with the details) but the quality is fantastic!

It is a 2-8-4 Die Cast Berkshire engine, and you get a lot in the set. You get a working coal dump car, uncoupling track section, lighted caboose, loco with train sounds, smoke and all the features you'd expect. Only paid $270 for it which is great.

I'd say this was probably one of the more high-end starter sets that Lionel do, and definitely worth considerin - I've seen them for about $240 since then, so a steal for what you get.

 Thanks for the info.

 Okay...that makes a 2-8-4 Die Cast Berkshire engine one of the engines.

 And we have the 4-4-2 engine (what is it's name?).

What other engines has Lionel used in the starter kits for the last ten years? Anyone?

Thanks

TMT

[tomosap]

I bought myself the Union Pacific Fast Freight set off eBay last year as a Christmas present from me to me. I have yet to get the full benefit of it all due to power issues (I am in the UK - I won't bore you with the details) but the quality is fantastic!

It is a 2-8-4 Die Cast Berkshire engine, and you get a lot in the set. You get a working coal dump car, uncoupling track section, lighted caboose, loco with train sounds, smoke and all the features you'd expect. Only paid $270 for it which is great.

I'd say this was probably one of the more high-end starter sets that Lionel do, and definitely worth considerin - I've seen them for about $240 since then, so a steal for what you get.

[Anonymous]

thanks for the info.

What other engines has Lionel used in its starter kits in the last past ten years?

Is this the only one or are there others?

I would expect that these engines are ones that someone would find at garage sales.

TMT

[jimhaleyscomet]

The engine has been a staple of the lowest priced (and some not so low) sets for years.   I guess at least 10 years maybe more.  It is more of a toy than a model of any particular engine.  Usually it is an excellent runner.   They change the sounds (mechical whistle vs trainsounds)  and the railroad line by changing the tender.

Jim H 

[dmestan]

I was just looking around to see what train sets were selling for and stumbled on this. This is the Target set from last year, reboxed i think. You get alot of stuff in this set at a good price. Check it out.

http://store.trainz.com/Items/1999804850

 

That's a great price for that set.  I picked up the loco from a set break-up on Ebay, works great and smokes like crazy.  The Trainsounds whistle sounds more like a horn though, but otherwise it's a good starter loco for the money.  BTW, that set price is a little less than the cheapest Pennsy Flyer set (which has mech whistle, no trainsounds) and comes with much more.  The only downside is that the set comes with 30W Powermax transformer.

don

[Anonymous]

A friend has this starter set and really likes it.  It has a ton of play value for kids.  You can load and unload logs from the train to the truck, a box car you can put stuff in, a crane for lifting stuff, an adaptable play mat with station and signs, trainsounds and smoke, and track with transformer to boot all for under $140!  This is truly a starter set worth consideration.

Is this typical of Lionel starter kits...I see the same engine in many of the starter kits of today.

How many different engines has Lionel used in their starter kits of yesterday?

TMT

[JGozzo]

For myself it wouls have to be in the following order.

 

Polar Express

Hogwarts set

Santa Fe El Capitan

[envfocus]

A friend has this starter set and really likes it.  It has a ton of play value for kids.  You can load and unload logs from the train to the truck, a box car you can put stuff in, a crane for lifting stuff, an adaptable play mat with station and signs, trainsounds and smoke, and track with transformer to boot all for under $140!  This is truly a starter set worth consideration.

[pbjwilson]

I was just looking around to see what train sets were selling for and stumbled on this. This is the Target set from last year, reboxed i think. You get alot of stuff in this set at a good price. Check it out.

http://store.trainz.com/Items/1999804850

 

[ogauge]

I like the 145W set from 1940  which came with a 224E steamer 2224W diecast tender, 2660 crane, 3659 coal dump car, 3651 log dump car, 2620 flood light car, and 2657 rubberstamped caboose.  Oh, you mean current starter sets.... Today  just about any of the current sets are nice.  I say any because the consist is all that is different and so it is up to the individual to choose the consist he or she likes the most.  For $200 or so you could get a NYC flyer set with train sounds, fastrack and a good transformer.

[lionel2986]

Pricing is fairly consistent at local hobby shops. If you have a local shop you like, ask if they ever have sales. I know my local hobby shop has big sales around presidents day, memorial day, fathers day, etc. I find prices on ebay are most inflated shortly before and after Christmas. Prices seem to be lowest on ebay during the summer. That is just my experience but watch a couple items for a few months, take note of their finishing price, and then you will know what it is worth and how much you want to pay. Ebay fluctuates alot and you can still find good deals around Christmas, and things over priced during the summer.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses so far.

How many different starter kits has Lionel made?

How many do they release per year?

How do they decide what to put in them?

From the ones I have seen, they seem to be variations around a few basic elements...correct?

Pricing...where and when would one find them the most inexpensive during the year?

Thanks

TMT

[pbjwilson]

TMT,

So many questions, that can be answered so many ways. The best set? The one that YOU like the best. Everyone has different tastes and ideas when it comes to their trains and layouts. Lionel has been making trains for a hundred years, and alot of them are still around and working. I like to think of it as the whole Lionel experience. New sets, post-war sets, pre-war sets, theyre all fun and offer different experiences. You can mix new and old. And the line of operating accessories over the years is extensive.

Where to buy? The LHS, if you have one, is the first place to check out. Then there are train shows and swap meets that you may find. There are internet dealers that offer discounted prices. And my favorite buying place is ebay. Probably 90% of my train purchases are on ebay. 

I think the most fun is just learning all the stuff that Lionel has produced over the years. I get books from my local library and scour the pages looking at the different eras of toy trains. Reading about the trains of the past, layout construction, scenery making, its all fun and informative. 

Jump into the world of toy trains and go for it. Its a great hobby that lasts generations. 

[lionel2986]

If it is for a young kid, the Thomas sets seems nice. However, I'm not sure how one would grow up with that set. I think the Polar express set is a themed set that one could grow up with. I'm 22 and wouldn't mind having a Polar express set. I would also look at one of lionel's ready to run flyer sets and an expansion pack. They seem like great value. I would pick a road name that is fairly local to where you live. When your kid growns up, they may want to build a more realisic layout using local roadnames. It would be neat if they still ran their first set as they got older. I still do.

[Geno]

We bought three starter sets this last holiday season- two Cascade Range Logging sets ($147 each) and a Polar Express set ($160). The Cascade Range sets were a good value for a starter set- it has a nicely detailed Docksider, three dumping log cars and a caboose, operating track section and a loop of Fastrack, and a CW-80 transformer. The PE was on sale at Macy's and just too good to pass up.

Other starter sets that stand out to me are the Northwest Special and the Alaska work train set- both sell for a little over $200, and have good features. The Northwest set has a CP GP38  with Trainsounds, and makes for a nice modern trainset. The Alaska set has the Docksider and freight cars with good play value. The expansion sets for these two trainsets raise the play value even higher.

Geno

[RockIsland52]

This is not as simple a question as it may at first appear.  A woman at my local hobby store asked me this same question while she was contemplating a starter at Christmas for her two boys, ages 5 and 7 if I recall.  I agree with CNW, that play value tops the list if the train is for  younger children and you want this gift to have staying power with the child.  The attention span of a child is not there, but imagination sure is.  

My granddaughter is 4, so the challenge for me is to tap that imagination with what I have and at the same time realize that her play will take a physical toll on the trains.  So I pull out "her train" which is really my son's starter train, whose interest waned quickly despite my best efforts to the contrary.  And while teaching the child how to play safely and more delicately, you're not worried about the inevitable toll that a 4 year old will wreak on the train.

In retrospect, the only regret I have with my choice for my son's starter set was that I underbought.  If we had today's "starter" selection two decades or so back, I'd have......er, I mean my son would have a 2-8-4 Berkshire with matching cars (Polar Express).

Jack   

 

     

 

 

 

 

[mersenne6]

 

   The best starter set?  The one that got you interested in toy trains of course.

[cnw1995]

Good points all. I'm partial to Thomas if you're getting the set for a small child familiar with the series. It has a fairly high play value - you can carry things in his carriages (the tops pop off), his eyes move, you can replace his faceplate with other expressions. He has ... more like a horn to sound, it comes with a few figures.

[bfskinner]

TMT,

Although many people seem to use the terms interchangeably, you need to be aware that there is a big difference between Lionel's "Trainsounds" and "Railsounds."

[rtraincollector]

Now that we have passed the holiday season, I find that I am looking forward to the next Christmas shopping season with some anticipation.This last Christmas season was the first time that we had considered a Lionel train as a gift.

So in anticipation of gift giving in the future, what in your opinion is the best Lionel starter kit

Is Trainsounds an option that should be considered?

And I am interested in learning just what stores do sell Lionel other than the LHS? What stores are you aware of that sold Lionel this holiday season? Is this seasonal or do they sell year around?

 Finally since these questions are in respect to buying future Lionel items for gifts, when are the better times to buy Lionel inexpensively and where?

Thanks

 TMT

Not knowing where you are limits what stores as some are regional and others are reginal but do mail order whiles some are every where so heres a few to think about

hobby lobby (goto there websit and sign up they send out 40% discount to use in there stores about twice a month and a flyer every week. http://www.hobbylobby.com/

next this store does mail order and they presently have a nyc speeder set for $40.00 and 2 different Plymoth switcher sets for $74.99 (http://www.boscovs.com/StoreFrontWeb/Department.bos?type=Department&pdn=6173550&departmentNumber=6173560 )

of coarse we know target http://www.target.com/gp/search/ref=sr_ln_2/602-0770746-9472613?ie=UTF8&index=target&field-browse=1038620&rh=k%3Alionel

Theres a ferw then as other say the hobby shop/train shops in CTT

I personally unless you know the company or don't mind paying shipping both ways is goto a local hobby shop if possible (which isn't here but was where I lived in Va.) as if you have problems there right there to help take care of it. your department stores won't and mail order wil either tell you to send to company or send back at your cost for shipping.

 

[jimhaleyscomet]

There is no one best Lionel starter set.

 Thomas is the absolute low cost set but not for everyone (about $150).  The NYC and Penn Flyer sets with just smoke, bell and whistle cost the least and most clostly match "traditional" christmas morning sets ($180 - $200).  Menard's and Target sometimes carry starter sets.  The Polar Express and Hogwarts Express sets ($250 - $300) are a tad spendier but are great themed sets.  My next favorite would be a set with trainsounds (still conventional control) but I never owned one.  I do have a trainsounds tender though.  Next step up is not Lionel but an MTH PS2.0 set (command control engine with conventional transformer) for $275 - $350.  Invest in DCS ($250) for even more control.  Very nice sounds and smooth running for a command control engine.  Then comes the Lionel Command Control sets (about $500).  Great sound and lots of options after you invest in TMCC (about $110).  

 The consistantly least expensive venu is online with the advertisers in Classic Toy Trains.  Just be sure to test ANY electrical item you purchase before giving it as a gift to a child.   

Which one is best for you?  Only you can decide.  

Jim H 

[Anonymous]

Now that we have passed the holiday season, I find that I am looking forward to the next Christmas shopping season with some anticipation.This last Christmas season was the first time that we had considered a Lionel train as a gift.

So in anticipation of gift giving in the future, what in your opinion is the best Lionel starter kit

Is Trainsounds an option that should be considered?

And I am interested in learning just what stores do sell Lionel other than the LHS? What stores are you aware of that sold Lionel this holiday season? Is this seasonal or do they sell year around?

 Finally since these questions are in respect to buying future Lionel items for gifts, when are the better times to buy Lionel inexpensively and where?

Thanks

 TMT