Need advice on a holiday train set

[Anonymous]

For years my husband has said he'd like a holiday train set to go around our Christmas tree. I can finally afford to buy him one this year, but I really need advice! I've been looking at large sets (mostly G gauge) because we have a 2-year-old, and I think a larger set would hold up better against a todder (true?). Also, can anyone recommend a brand? I've been looking at different brands of trains, but I don't know if any hold up better than the others or are good for a first train set. I'm going to go to our local hobby store to talk with the "train guys" there, but I'd love also to get advice from people who aren't trying to sell me something.
Thank you!

[Lafondue]

well LGB make good products...www.lgboa.com
also great if you have a garden
otherwise if you consider to run the train only inside why not consider an O scale set like Lionel or MTH...

[Anonymous]

I had a customer come in my store the other day and bought a G scale set for his young nephews. It was cheap, and if they destroyed it, it's no big deal.

If you are looking at trains as forming a hobby...then O gauge is the way to go. But it can be quite expensive, but worth the money. The trains are very high quality, and have much functionality.

If you are interested in starting a collection of trains to run and play with, I suggest O gauge.

www.lionel.com and http://www.mth-railking.com are premier makers of O gauge trains.

[brianel027]

Well it all depends on much money you want to spend. Yes, I feel the larger trains are better especially for yong children. But today the whole emphasis of the hobby is aimed towards the adult scale operator who can afford $60 on a single train car and $500-$1000 on a single engine (which is really a rolling computer on wheels).
BUT there are a few sets that are affordable and offer different degrees of quality. Any of the MTH Railking Dockside Steam engine sets are nice (approx $200). Check e-bay for any of the K-Line sets with a MP-15 diesel: there was a Lehigh Valley, Union Pacific, Western Maryland, Pennsy, Santa Fe and Burlington Northern sets all offered. Now discontinued, but still on e-bay for around $150. If there are any left check KBtoys.com. They're blowing out the Ballyhoo Circus Set by Lionel at 2/3 off list for $99. An incredible deal considering all you get in the set, plus a nice die-cast Hudson steam engine.
The current PRR Flyer set by Lionel is decent for around $140 mailorder. As is the Southern Diesel set for around $170 mailorder. Both these sets contain the new "FasTrack" which has advantages for immediate floor layout use.
Talk to a local train shop and be up front with your budget. More than likely he'll want to sell you a "Command Control" set with all the bells and whistles. If that's what you want fine. You should at least see what TMCC offers before you decide... but it is more money, and in all fairness, there have been sustantial quality problems with the Command equipment. Every one I know using Command has had to send something back to Lionel and MTH for repairs, which takes a little bit of the fun out of the trains. But you could ask the local dealer if he stands behind his product and will exchange defective merchandise. If he does, this is always a big plus. But check out the KBToys web site. Good luck. brianel

[Anonymous]

I think the first thing you must decide is how much you want to spend. Then you need to decide what scale. A quality G scale set can cost $450.00 and up Last year I bought a Lionel G scale Christmas set for a lawn display that was discounted to $125.00 at a show. But this is not a quality G scale set. Good enough for the lawn though. Heck the tracks were covered with snow a couple of times last year. I saw this same set at my local train shop today for $199.00 – which is list. So whatever you do, shop around.

Personally, if I were looking for an inside display, I would go with O gauge. Here you can get a decent Lionel set for $150.00. Here too, it all depends on how much you want to spend. The difference is the entry level sets from Lionel and MTH are much less expensive than G-scale. O gauge will allow you to have more layout in the same space as G. You’ll have an easier time getting houses and accessories if you decide to go that route – this year or at a later date. I would not go smaller that O gauge if kids are a concern.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much, everyone! I really appreciate your help. I'm going to go with the prevailing opinion and look at O gauge train sets in the brands recommended.
Can't wait to see my husband's face when he opens his present!!

[Anonymous]

SInce my personal preference is MTH, I will have to recomend buying a Ready to Run (RTR) Set by MTH. If you want to make a one time "Holiday" train purchase keep in mind some of the features. For a few more bucks, the MTH Holiday train is really cool. It has "Loco-sound" which is a digital sound of a steam engine along with a digital whistle, plus is puff's and chug's in synch with the smoke. What is really neat about the "Loco sound", which is typically only available in the holiday set, you can plug in a portable tape player (provided with the set) and play Holiday music through the train.

The Lionel is comprable in price, but the music is played in the box car and is limited to the tunes provided, plus I don't believe the steam engine has sound, just a whistle and smoke. Lionel also makes a rather attractive "G" gauge holiday train, which I probably wouldn't mind buying for under the tree.

Unfortunately my one RTR has expanded to several engines, rolling stock and an 8' x 12' train layout decked out with accessories - both operating and non-operating.

My advice - Be careful not to get addicted like I did![8D]

[turbine682]

Hi and happy shopping!

First, I think it is wonderful that you are going to buy your husband a train set for Xmas.

Many folks here have offered good advice and encouragement. If you decide to go with O-Scale (Lionel, MTH, etc.) and purchase a Starter Set, then consider replacing the power pack that comes with the set. For example, Lionel used to provide a 40-watt transformer. Very poor performance and frustration with jump-start trains, jerky movements, etc. If you buy a Lionel set that comes with the newer CW-80 transformer - you may OK. I would seek advice regarding the performance of the CW-80.

If you buy any other O-starter set, then you may want to consider buying a power pack from Model Rectifier Corp. (MRC). I highly recommend their products. A new MRC Tech 4 - 600 (specifically made for AC Power ) runs between $60 -$ 80 depending on how you shop. I purchaed an older MRC 027-Trainpower through e-bay for $20.00. Bottom line: With this powersource, I can move 50 year old locomotives pulling 10+ (heavy!) cars at extremely low speeds without having to turn the power up full steam. FYI, slow speed is extremely cool, heavy freights don't fly around curves and railroad yards at 120mph - ROFL!

Good luck, hope this helps, and I wish your family many years of happy railroading.

--Ed

[Jim Duda]

Good info! Ed - would you recommend the MRC Tech 4 600 over my Lionel LW (125 Watt) txfrmr? I have the stand alone Lionel Bell Button. Do I wire that into the MRC just like I did the LW? My MTH Alco PA has Proto 1 and I need the Bell Button to activate the bell.
Jim Duda
Austin, TX

[Anonymous]

Hi Deb,
Hope you have a good dealer to point you in the right direction. I have both MTH and Lionel trains, but favor the MTH engines with Lionel cars as they hold more interest for my children ages 5 and 9. The great thing that I have found is that the ceramic houses that you find at department stores such as Lowe's, Jo-Ann fabric and others are the correct scale for the O gauge trains. The houses go by names of Lemax, Santa's Workbench, and Carole Towne. I'm sure there are others, but I know that these are very, very close to being the scale that fits O guage. My houses have been growing for the past six years and I am now on a two story platform with the train running under and through the platform! It is so much fun for the kids (and me) creating stories about the characters we set up. It does bring to mind in miniature the term 'Urban Sprawl!'
Have fun, good luck
Regards,
Ed