1st tain set for 6 year old boy - LGB or Lionel?

[Anonymous]

Hi:

My son wants a train set for Xmas.  I am new to this world and since it is so significant an investment, want to be certain I buy something durable, fun and expandable.

I thought I was going to by the Disney Adventure game/track set from LGB (and found a good price for it) but then saw the FAO Schwartz catalog and the Lionel trains in it (with sound effects, lights, smoke) sounded really fun.  Also, I have never heard of LGB but had read their G-scale is great for kids.  Don't know if that's true or how it compares to Lionel quality and expandability.

 

Any comments you can offer would be greatly appreciated. . .

Thanks, Lisa

[Frank53]

Lionel

LGB might have more instant appeal, but Lionel has more lasting entertainment value as the opportunities for expansion and attention grabbing accessories, etc.

A Lionel set early on is an opportunity for a life long hobby experience.

[Anonymous]

Hi:

My son wants a train set for Xmas.  I am new to this world and since it is so significant an investment, want to be certain I buy something durable, fun and expandable.

I thought I was going to by the Disney Adventure game/track set from LGB (and found a good price for it) but then saw the FAO Schwartz catalog and the Lionel trains in it (with sound effects, lights, smoke) sounded really fun.  Also, I have never heard of LGB but had read their G-scale is great for kids.  Don't know if that's true or how it compares to Lionel quality and expandability.

 

Any comments you can offer would be greatly appreciated. . .

Thanks, Lisa If you want a durable ,reasonable price train set that runs like a fine tuned swiss clock get your son a LGB starter set. You can't get any thing better in quality than these german made trains. These trains were made for outdoor use and they are constructed very well.The size is another factor to consider. They can take a lot of abuse for younger children. They are great for using around the xmas holidays.The only drawback is that they take up more space than o gauge trains [ex. MTH,lionel ect.].......

Hi  Lisa

[lionel2986]

I like Lionel. I got my first engine at age 4 in 1990 and it was a cheap plastic Lionel steam engine from the early 1970s. My father may have bought it used, or it was new old stock. Lionel has greatly improved their starter engines since the early 70s. Now the engines are metal instead of plastic. Over the years, small details on my cheap engine such as the gems (decorative fake lights) did break of, but to this day 16 years later it still runs flawlessly. With Lionel, the possibilities are virtually unlimited, and add ons could be purchased off ebay for reasonable costs. Can't say much about the LGB. I've seen them at my hobby shop while growing up, but they never interested me. An older kid I used to play with had postwar lionel trains from the 40s and 50s that were passed down from his father, and since then I've been hooked to O/O27 gauge. Something about the looks, feel, smell and sound that I like. Have your son look at LGB and Lionel layouts and see which he spends the most time at. Then, base your decision on what interests him more.

[kimbrit]

I can't comment on Lionel as we don't see very much of them on this side of the pond but LGB, well, a byword for reliability. Their own range is huge in both American and European outline and they fit in very well with all of the other manufacturers who use 45mm track.

LGB and most Bachmann scale at 1:22.5 and the track represents metre guage

Bachmann also model 1:20.3 and this scale represents track at 3' guage

Arstocraft/USA trains scale at 1:29 and the track represents standard guage

There are other variations around but they all look pretty good together. I think you'll find that LGB will stand up pretty well to a 6 year old, and a 30 year old, and a 50 year old........................

Cheers,

Kim

[daan]

The difference is the size, obviously. Lionel is very good to use with Lego, LGB to use with playmobil.

Both offer good quality, both can give lifelong hobbies. Lionel is mainly indoors, LGB can be used outdoors as well. Lionel uses metal and a lot of engines are diecast, so very durable. LGB uses mainly ABS plastic, which is also durable but "feels" different. Steamers by LGB don't have huge amounts of smoke which is an important thing for a kid (and not only for kids, I also love smoke in trains!)

I would recommend to choose the option fitting to his other toys. If Lego has a big interest, a lionel train is great. If he likes playmobil LGB might be more his cup of tea.

When I was young we got a Faller Playtrain (size comparable to LGB) and we loved it! We also had a Playmobil Castle and a farm and it combined great.

You could however also opt for a Lego train. Those trains can be dismantelled and rebuilt in other style, that means your kid can addapt his train to his fantasy. Also a great value for the money.

[Buckeye Riveter]

I own both Lionel and LGB.  My LGB is used for the outdoor garden layout and of course the Lionel is inside. 

Later this month, many of the neighborhood kids will be attending our 15th Annual Children's Christmas Party at our house.  Based upon my observations over the years, they seem to be much more attracted to the Lionel sized trains. 

When I say Lionel sized,  I mean O Scale trains.  Depending where you live a good hobby/train store should be able to give you considerable amount of help.  Visit the store and then return to the forum with any questions you might want answered.

[Jumijo]

Go with Lionel. Much more play value with all the operating cars and accessories available.

 

Jim 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Go with Lionel. Much more play value with all the operating cars and accessories available.

 

Jim 

Jim, you should have said you are an experienced father that plays trains with his kids.

[Jumijo]

I forgot to mention that, Buckeye! I even play with the trains without the kids!!! Yes, I have 3 small kids. A 6 year old girl and twin 3 year old boys. They all love their Lionels. LGB is great for the garden, but Lionels are great for little ones when indoors. They smoke, whistle, and as I mentioned, have a lot of operating features that kids love.

 

Jim 

[thor]

Lisa, I wholly agree with Daan's summary.

If you lived in Europe I'd say go LGB as long as you have a large play area for your sons trains but here in the USA, Lionel wins hands down and Playmobil, though its great, doesn't have the range of Lego which I use in conjunction with my Lionel to build mechanized toys for our 4 year old (and me) to enjoy playing with.

Mike. 

[jimhaleyscomet]

If he still likes Thomas, a Lionel Thomas set is affordable and basic.  Just be sure to test out whatever you buy as soon as you bring it home.  All sets have been known to occaisionally have a quality problem. 

 

Jim H 

[Dr. John]

Both are excellent choices for a lifetime hobby. Lionel would be my personal choice, if I were starting out with a 6 year old. As has been mentioned, there are numerous action accessories, it takes less space than LGB, very durable, and somewhat less expensive.

[pbjwilson]

Obviously all of us on the forum are train nuts. I have an LGB set-up in the yard for my son(and me).

Indoors we run the Lionels. Right now my son, 7 yrs. old,  loves playong army so the Lionels are set up with his army men.

LGB is very expensive to expand. Lionels arent cheap either but doable if you buy things for birthdays and Christmas. Get a copy of Classic Toy Trains and read through it. Look at some of the ads to get an idea of prices. Its a great hobby and one that can last a lifetime.

[Nick12DMC]

Lisa, I wholly agree with Daan's summary.

If you lived in Europe I'd say go LGB as long as you have a large play area for your sons trains but here in the USA, Lionel wins hands down and Playmobil, though its great, doesn't have the range of Lego which I use in conjunction with my Lionel to build mechanized toys for our 4 year old (and me) to enjoy playing with.

Mike. 

LGB does have a bigger market share in Europe, its also easy to get hold of compared with Lionel.  Lionel does have official dealers in the UK, France & Switzerland.

Intrestingly things are changing over here my local model train shop even had a Lionel catalogue and any shop that deals with Walthers can order Lionel so I have been informed.

I went with Lionel for my 7 year old (now 8). It was tough to start with, power frequency issues. But once these problems were sorted Lionel (3 rail O )is great. If your child likes action Lionel is the way to go.

A nice benifit was that I got sucked into the Hobby and even found myself with a display layout at the Lionel Collectors Club UK show.

 Regards 

Nick

 

  

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

 I was not expecting to get so much information and so quickly.

 I live in Chicago so think I will find a toy train store and "test" them out. 

 

Lisa

[pbjwilson]

Lisa,

Didnt know you lived in Chicago. On the northwest side there is a great hobby shop called Chicagoland Hobby. Its on Northwest Highway out almost to Harlem Ave. Great bunch of guys in there that can help you out. Very fair prices too.

[tmcc man]

I have both. I got my first Lionel when I was 8, and my first LGB when I was 12. I have a nice assorment of Lionel, with my LGB and others quickly catching up. I am now 16 and still very into the hobby. My focus is leaning a little from Lionel and into outdoor railroading. However, I think Lionel would do good. Great value for the price, and many many many expansion possibilities. I still remember that day when I saw my first Lionel set in the basement.

 

[johnandjulie13]

Hello Lisa:

There are a couple of other hobby stores you might try: America's Best Hobby is located in Itasca; and Berwyn's Toy Trains (coincidentally, located in Berwyn).  They both have a good  selection of both Lionel and LGB.  I would suggest taking your son to the hobby store and gauge his reaction to the two different types of trains.

I have a three year old and he loves playing with both our Lionel and LGB trains.  As others have pointed out, playability is a big factor and Lionel (and MTH, another "0" gauge manufacturer) have some great operating accessories that kids love.

Good Luck,

John O

[Anonymous]

Definitely visit a well-stocked hobby shop--with your son in tow--and take a look at what's available in both sizes/scales of trains. Watch to see what your son tends to be most interested in while you're there, and ask questions of the dealer if you want to learn more about a specific product.

For overall quality and durability, it's hard to beat LGB, which I still regard as the best-made mass market trains, regardless of scale.  The larger size can be either an advantage or a limitation, depending on how much space you have available.  A small LGB layout requires little more space than a small O gauge layout, so size only becomes a real consideration if you want to eventually put together a more elaborate layout.

And there are certainly lots of nice O gauge sets made by both Lionel and MTH.  I personally find the MTH starter sets to be a better value for the dollar, but that's something you'll have to decide for yourself once you see several examples from each of the manufacturers.  And, of course, your son may spot something that really appeals to him, and he won't know or care about what brand the train happens to be.

If you're buying a starter set, don't let yourself become overwhelmed with so much information that a decision becomes even harder to make.  Go with something that your son appears to be drawn to, and which is in a price range you can accept.

Before making the purchase, it also wouldn't be a bad idea to check a current copy of "Classic Toy Trains" magazine to at least see what dealers are asking for these sets.  You may do much better, price-wise, buying the set mail order, although I always recommend supporting a local dealer if you have a good one in your area.