Thomas G scale reliability

[Anonymous]

Hi!

I had heard from a fellow (employee of the Train Shop in Sunnyvale, CA) that the Thomas G scale stuff wasn't very good. This being based on what he had heard from customers.

Does anyone have any first hand experience and information about this product?

Thanks!

Derek

P.S. Thinking about getting one for my 4 year old for Christmas.

[Algonquin]

Hi Derek,

I bought the G gauge Thomas set for my son when he was four or five. The set runs well enough but it is a little more delicate that an O gauge Lionel set. The couplers are standard G couplers. My son broke them several times. They were repaired at our local service station each time. After a several months my son was able to break the supports for the drive wheels. I assume he must have been pressing down on the engine while tring to push it. We havent brought it in for repairs since. That was about four years ago.

I bought both my kids Lionel O gauge set when they were five. These seem to hold up a lot better to the punishment kids can dish out. I have had to replace the plastic bell on my sons Lionel steam engine twice and his log dump car tray was also repaired at our local train store. The engines and cars hold up better to being droped, piled in a box and pushed around the track.

I hope this information is useful.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari