Kid themed train sets

[pbjwilson]

I've been buying trains for my kids every Christmas. There are so few sets aimed at modern day kids. My kids know Amtrak and the local Metra. That's it - oh there is the Santa Fe- Gotta be the warbonnet color scheme. New super diesels, Amtrak, ETD's Thats the trains kids see today but Lionel and MTH offer hobos and John Deere??????????????????
And please can they keep the prices within reach of a middle class family. I don't need a train engine that costs the same as my mortgage payment. Your thoughts?

Paul the Painter

[Lafondue]

Agree with you, MTH offer some Amtrak train set with the Dash 8 or FP59 engine and Lionel has an upcoming Acela ( fall 2005) but at $1999.99.
The Hobo set is neat but sure if you're or your kids not into steam can fit the bill.
Check Williamstrains they do have Amtrak engine/car or even Metroliner and their price are very good.

[brianel027]

Paul, this is a hot topic for me. In all fairness to MTH, they are the only company to issue starter sets in contemporary roads like NS, CR, CSX, CP, Amtrak, UP and BNSF. Lionel has recently done Amtrak and UP; K-Line's recently done the UP and the IC - but it's been a decade since the others roads have been on starter sets, if at all. The MTH Railking engines are a little big in size for my liking. And I don't like the extra electronics they now include with everything. But that's me. I really wish MTH would issue some of the smaller engines like the SD90Mac or the SD-45 without the electronics - just a basic solid quality set that would compete with Lionel's on a price point. Those solid Railking locos are better quality than Lionel and I think that could be a good thing for MTH and the newcomers.

The trains are being marketed to the parents, not the kids. Kids don't know what Lionel trains are (nevermind the others) ... the parents know at least what Lionel is. Many times I've been at a show or a shop and have overheard a parent say "oh look, there's the railroad your grandfather worked for." Other than the technology end and the adult scale end, the whole hobby is geared at the past. In the case of Lionel, the past also comes with a price. On the other hand take the affordable $10.95 list "Keystone Classics" by K-Line - a wonderful idea! I think it would have been a better idea to either use contemporary products kids might know, or some current roadnames. Again, it's all nostalgia. And aside from the new operating technology, this is a very nostalgic hobby.

I've done a lot of repainting and have engines in current roads. Sure, they're smaller engines like Alcos and switchers that CR, CSX and NS don't own in reality. BUT kids recognize the paint scheme/color first. I've seen 5-year olds get excited over the NS horse logo and the CR wheels-on-rails logo. I will also add the ATSF warbonnet scheme remains forever popular... kids today love that scheme as much as we did years ago!

In fairness, the Hobo set is a fun thing for kids, as is the circus set. Cartoons too... I've made my own cars with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck on them... even SpongeBob and pals... kids love that stuff - it gets their attention. Even putting Sesame Street characters in a gondola grabs their eye.
On the subject of engines K-Line has their MP-15 which resembles switchers still being used. And Lionel has the GP-29, GP-38 and the U-36B. The U-36B has the look of a more current diesel. BUT as far as prices, things have changed. Small or local retailers (where kids have the best chance of seeing trains) don't get the same prices the mailorder places get. There are bargains out there, but they're mostly mailorder. I think it's a shame when I see sets being blowout from a mailorder place - it'd be nice to give the parents a shot at affording a set. Instead the experienced train buyers get them. Maybe a set gets given to a nephew or grandchild. But a lot of them get broken up and sold on ebay to finance other more expensive purchases. Nothing wrong with that. But it'd be nice to go into a local shop and see the Chessie Diesel set for $99 ($200 list) or the Ballyhoo Set for $99 ($300 list). But it's also business and I don't see it changing. The few big mailorder places buy a large chunk of the production runs - it all comes down to money - for both the consumer and the manufacturers too.

There was a topic sometime ago on another forum about a train related job that paid 30K. Guys posting were saying that wasn't much money; that they wouldn't work for that little money. Funny, but I know a lot of folks NOT making 30K. I know married couples both working who just clear 40K. I was talking to a guy at a diner recently who said he made $15 per hour 20 years ago! I told him there are folks today who would kill to make that much... the cook and waitress readily agreed. America today is not the same America of yesterday when average folks could find decent paying jobs, security, pensions, and benefits. A train guy I know used to make 45K. The job went overseas and he now makes 12K at Home Depot. His train purchases have been reduced and in his words "I can only afford drastic blowouts." I'm sure he's not alone.

Paul it can be done though. Keep an eye on ebay. Watch prices. Go to a train show if you can. Subscribe to a train magazine and watch the ads. Like anything else, there are guys who overcharge and there are bargains. Finding the bargains won't change what's being made, but it will make your wallet feel better.

[pbjwilson]

Brianel 027,
Appreciate your comments. You and I think alike. I to wi***hat MTH would come out with some basic locos. I do think their locos are the best runners. And I do shop around for bargains. The train set my kids have liked the best was the Alien 51 set. I liked it too. Simple, fantasy railline with operating and illuminated cars-great fun. And you are right the train manufacturers are targeting parents and the nostalga of 50's L:ionel trains. But why not market an Amtrak Genesis powered passenger set for under $200? Kids know that train. Hopefully they will one of these days.