MTH sets on Sale at Sears

[Anonymous]

Passing through the local Sears store last night, I see a beginners Santa Fe set by MTH. Didn't realize that Sears is selling MTH now. Anyway, it's very similar to the set I got my son for Christmas last year. The price is $250. As I look it over good a salesman comes up to me and informs me that the set is discounted 50%. So I got the MTH set that is exclusive to Sears (it's on the rail king site) for $125. A steal. It's cheapened up from a typical set - only a 50W transformer, no people in the (lighted) caboose, Loco sound, etc. But for $125, you can't go wrong.

So, check your local Sears if you might be interested. FOr the price, i couldn't pass it up although I don't really need any more trains.

[brianel027]

Thanks for posting this info. For the folks looking for a starter set, THIS IS A GOOD ONE. The quality on MTH Railking is first rate. And although Lionel has just started putting 80 watt transformers in sets, the one included in this set is certainly more than adequate for a beginners set like this one. The engine is non-scale, but it's going to look REAL GOOD on a table top sized layout. Not to mention the Santa Fe warbonnet scheme looks good on this set and astounds me at how kids today still like the look of that engine.

Again, it's been said this is a great time to be in the hobby with the new electronics and higher levels of detail. The ADULT buyers have been demanding it, and the various comapnies are responsing in kind. BUT we have to remember that KIDS don't necessarily notice the lack of figures in the caboose. KIDS are a little more prone to pretend and imagine things over us adults. O Gauge Railroading reviewed this set last month. And there was a comment on the non-scale shortness of the engine. I'm sure from an editorial viewpoint, they were just being good reporters. BUT from a viewpoint of seeing kids get back into the hobby, it was kind of a put down.
Why is it that every new train that lacks the exact amount of rivets, is not scale, or doesn't have a full-blown computer inside it gets put down? Some say we want kids back in the hobby, but when product is made and aimed at that audience, it gets frowned on as not being scale or detailed enough? I don't recall any Lionel Scout Sets having engineer figures in either the engine or the caboose. It was probably a non-illuminated caboose too. Never mind what a pain those Scout motors were to fix.

Anyways folks, for $125 on this set, as said above, THAT PRICE IS A GOOD DEAL. Die cast trucks, couplers, chassis, great paint job on the engine. All cars have die-cast trucks, and the Rugged Rails type cars in this set are perfect for young hands.

brianel

[Anonymous]

I certainly didn't mean to sound as if this wasn't a quality set. The quality IS there. And you're right, it is NOT a scale set- but it is also NOT intended for the hard core scale modeler. An INCREDIBLE deal for the money.

The reason I pointed out the caboose and transformer is that another set I bought came with a 75 W transformer and figure in the caboose. So more detail and a little nicer power source. But for more than 2x the money.

The paint on the set is very nice and for plastic cars, I have been impressed with the cars included in the MTH sets. I will reiterate, I don't NEED anymore trains. But for the price- just couldn't pass it up. I thought about buying two and putting one on E-bay NIB. Could of probably made some money on that.