Toy Train for my 2 yr Old Boy

[Anonymous]

I purchased an LGB starter set for my Nieces son's first Christmas. It has held up to a lot of wear and tear and keeps on running with minor maintaince. (Track cleaning and light oiling.) He's 4 YO now and has Brio and a Bachmann Thomas sets too, but the LGB is his favorite and has held up the best. The O gauge 3rail manufacturers are good too. I just don't have any current personal experiance outside of having a lionel set when I was 4 mths old.

[Roger Bielen]

As you've probably noted from my postings I'm blessed with three granddaughters who love trains, 3, 4 & 7. I started them with the Thomas type train that they still enjoy, and fight over. I also have a dogbone of O27 on the TV room floor with a Lionel Thomas, it can be a pain to keep operational, and whatever other conventional (non-mint/collectibles ) engines and rolling stock in the display cabinets in the room. The 2 older one's also get to use a CAB-1 on my layout, the youngest can't quite see the layout enough even with a stool.

With the girls, and I'm sure this'll especially go for a boy, the more noise, whistle, bell, chug, the better. Last night they suprised me and wanted my old #50 gang car, it hasn't been used in years, it ran very hot and needed to be removed after a few laps, guess it's time for an overhaul. They finally settled on a K-line hand car and testing to see what barrier it could knock off the track.

Whatever you decide on it should be a "toy" he can play with. Save the good stuff for later.

[brianel027]

The suggestions above are good, providing you want a train for you son to play with on his own.

I had my first Lionel set electric train set when I was less than ONE week old!! Obviously, I didn't run it on my own at that age. And obviously I didn't run it on my own for probably some time.

The GREAT thing about this hobby (which the marketing folks at Lionel, K-Line, etc. have completely forgotten about) is that this CAN be a HOBBY for FATHER'S and SON's to build bonds and memories together. That concept was the centerpiece of Lionel's advertising for decades... and it's still not a bad idea today.

The question is, do you want to participate in the hobby with your boy and do this together? If the answer to that question is yes, then it's not too early to start off with a Lionel set. At his age, he's not going to care about steam or diesel and would probably be fascinated by one of the basic Lionel smoking steamers. The basic PRR Flyer-type steam sets are a fine way to start.

There are decent used sets for sale on ebay too. Need advice? Email me or post your questions here... folks will be glad to help.

The BRIO wood trains are wonderful for little tykes. But you can spend a small fortune on them too. They actually make the Lionel's seem affordably priced. Another idea would be to get a cheap K-Line battery set for him to play with on his own, and the electric set for him to play with when Dad can do it with him. PLUS the K-Line battery set cars will run on the Lionel track.

Go for it... nearly 50 years later I still have trains in my blood as much as I did when I was just a week old. I'll be heading to church this morning. The church is next to the NS mainline. Talk about tempatation.... I always want to get up and look out the window when I hear a train coming by (and not because the sermon is boring... which it isn't)!

[Buckeye Riveter]

Ebay usually has a large selection of Brio for sale. Unlike the Ebay listed electric trains, where we worry if the eletronics is going to work, not much could be wrong with a Brio set.

[bogaziddy]

Come on now. Who is the train really for? I know one of the best things about having a child is being able to continue to go to toy stores and hobby shops.

Just pulling your leg. Those Brio wooden trains, while expensive, are great for the very young ones. And Thomas the tank engine is great because the kids see it (him) on television. Once he sees Thomas on TV, I'm sure he'll let you know, in his inimitable way, where you can find Thomas in the toy stores. Lionel has some Thomas the tank engine sets but you'll have to supervise closely ... but the upside is you (he) can easily upgrade to real Lionel trains in the not-too-distant future.

[Big_Boy_4005]

The general recommendation for Lionel or other brands of electric trains is 4 years old and up.

Brio and Lego's Duplo line would be OK for a 2 year old. At one time Lionel was making some battery powered motorized trains that were compatable with Brio. I'm not sure if they still do. There is also a full line of Thomas the Tank Engine that works with Brio.

Brio is great stuff, but it ain't cheap. For a similar amount of money you could start building a small Lionel empire. Of course it would require your attention to assemble and run for a year or 2, but there are worse ways to spend your time and money.

[nitroboy]

Brio makes wooden train empires. Of course they are wooden, and not that much fun compared to one that moved and made sounds!!! Go with the K-line ones like mentioned above.

[dougdagrump]

Stay with the battery powered for now. K-Line makes one that even tho it is battery powered it is operated by an infrared controller. My neighbor got one for his now 4yr old and has been very pleased with it. No transformer, wall plugs etc to worry about .[^]

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Lonel or MTH or K-line starter sets are good. Check to see if the electrical voltage on the transformer is safe.

Bert and Mary Poppins

[Anonymous]

FIrst time posting here and hope this is not a silly question.

I have a 2 yr old that is literally nuts about train well actually
he calls then CHOO CHOOsssss.

I realize many here are serious collectors but he has just
one toy train he loves and it is I think by Lionel and it is
plastic about the size of your hand and has a locomotive
and 2 cars.

It is powered by 2 AA batteries and has gears inside that
propel it forward > really works!! But my son has
worn it to death.

It also make real locomotive sounds.

Anyone know of any other great train toys for this age

SKI