Garden Scale Trainsets?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post in the Garden Forum.  I usally hang out in the model railroader general discussion group because I am in HO.  I am getting a G-Scale Trainset for my sisters family.  i was wondering how good (or bad) the Bachman entry level trainsets are?  I just want to get the something that is robust and fairly reliable.  My nephew is 3, so I wanted to get something he can handle. 

Are these trainsets alright?

Thanks, Smitty

[cacole]

If you're talking about the Bachmann Big Hauler train sets, the older versions all suffered from a cracked drive gear problem.  I have two of the more expensive Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidations that also have cracked drive gears and are inoperable until I can find a more robust replacement.  The gears are nylon, and there's no known cure for the problem except to replace the gear/axle assembly once the gear breaks loose from the axle.  Pushing a locomotive seems to hasten the gear problem.

A lot of people will suggest LGB, but I have no experience with any of their products.  Every brand nowadays is made in China, and maybe even in the same factory.

I recently heard one tale of a visitor to China who was touring a factory during the lunch break.  He was watching them assemble LGB products.  A whistle blew and everyone moved to the other side of the factory floor.  When he asked what was going on, the manager said, "Oh, they're going to make Aristo-Craft products now.  We make LGB in the morning, and Aristo in the afternoon."

[altterrain]

I would suggest playmobil products for a 3 year old.

-Brian 

[GearDrivenSteam]

Yeah, or maybe one of those wooden Thomas the Train sets. At least that'll make sure he's interested before you break the bank.

[vsmith]

For a 3 year old, I would get a LGB "TOYTRAIN" starter set. Its less expensive and easier to find than Playmobile, is just as durable, and will give the little tyke a robust trainset that he can grow with. I've seen this starter set for under $150 which puts it competitively with the Bmann set.

http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=94200/394.0.0.0.0.0.0

I think for a 3year old, the Bachmann would be problematic, lots of siderods for little fingers to get caught in (ouch!) the double bogies on the cars are harder put on track for little hands and theres a awful lot of parts that could get easily broken off by rough play, plus I doubt the engine would survive being dropped.

[GearDrivenSteam]

That's a great idea, Vic. You da man.

[SandyR]

I was given the same trainset that Vic showed in his post. That is one tough locomotive! The cars are quite heavy, and robust. A little plastics-compatible oil on the cars' axles is a good idea. Just a tiny bit. If the engine should slip its drivers, then a tiny bit of oil on the pick-up shoe springs will keep them from hanging up on the brass contact bar. I had that problem with mine, and just a whiff of oil cured it. I think that this set would stand up to quite a bit of kid-play...

SandyR