My daughter got hooked on the Polar Express book/movie/SeaWorld Ride and wants a Polar Express train for Christmas. For the past several years we have been buying toy battery powered trains for around the Christmas tree, but they end up back in their boxes when the tree comes down and are never seen again. I was going to get her a Lionel train this year in the hopes she might play with it longer than a few days. I come to find out that Lionel is offering two Polar Express sets, one a battery powered G gauge with wireless remote, and an O gauge set with power transformer for about twice the price of the G gauge set.
Someone who used to be an avid collector (I am not) suggested I get the larger G gauge version as he thought that is what the outdoor trains are these days and set up a "permanent' outdoor layout as a remedy for the "only-used-during-Christmas" syndrome.
I don't plan initially on making any landscaping changes to the yard to accommodate this Polar Express train. But we could set it up on the patio somewhere and leave it up as long as she plays with it. If she gets hooked we can think about designing and installing a more permanent landscaped layout.
The local hobby shop train salesmen are telling me that battery operated trains are better for outdoor use because I won't have to worry about getting power to the train through the rails. Evidently, not a simple matter when dealing with heat, cold, rain, dirt and weather's effects on electrical connections between track sections.
They explained the DC and DCC to me and I think I understand the basic difference, but I don't know if the Lionel battery operated G gauge set is DC or DCC.
Would I be better off getting the O gauge/transformer set for around $290 or the G gauge/battery powered/remote controlled on for $140? The batteries in the cheaper kit are supposed to last a couple hours of running time. I don't know if a 5-year-old's attention span would require it to run more than 10 minutes. But just from a convenience/cost perspective, is it possible to use rechargeable batteries in place of the dry cells? If we decide to go to a transformer DC setup later, is it possible to convert the engine to run on DC? (hope I'm using the right terms here.)
As you can tell, I don't have a clue, but hopefully I can get something she'll get hooked on and we cn get something the whole family witll enjoy doing together. Her Mom is an avid gardener and I enjoy building things.
If your planning outdoor setup, a couple of things to consider, O scale three-rail is NOT designed for outdoor use, to do so risks the following:
1. tinplate O scale 3 rail track is powered thru AC, there is a risk of electrical shock from the rails if exposed to any moisture, as is the real threat of short circuiting. People who run 3 rail outdoors use Atlas (and others) insulated track with a plastic base designed specificly for outdoor use.
2. tinplate O scale 3 rail track outdoors will rust to nothing in a very short time. See above about the Atlas track.
3. Lionel O scale train cars and engines are NOT designed for outdoor use, the wheels are very prone to rust and the engines motor blocks are NOT sealed against the weather like most G scale engines are. DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT leave these outdoors, exposed to the weather. they must be brought in when not in use. I wouldn't leave out either set but the G would likely hold up far far better than the O set in outoor conditions.
4. The G scale battery train can be run outdoors, I do not know what kind of run time you would get with Lionels rechargable battery system in it, this is the first time a battery set has been offered with a rechargable battery so we cant comment on running time, but that is a nice feature.
5. a battery set removes any possibility of electrical shock risk, something to consider with a young child. The train voltage may be low, but the cord and outlet still carry full 110v.
Now, If your daughter wants to play trains indoors, then theres nothing wrong with the O scale set, but if you are having ideas about the garden or the patio, then I would get the G scale set, and use it as a stepping stone into garden railroading. If you chose to stay with the battery idea, then Ebay always seems to have additional plastic track from New Bright and Scientific Toys who also sell battery sets (even switches), I often recommend the Scientific set to parents with young children as its a good tough set thats little ones can bang around, still run and have fun with.
If you go permanent in the garden and want electric trains then brass track is the basic way to go, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Have fun with your trains
Age is only a state of mind, keep the mind active and enjoy life
Jim
Have to ask how hardcore is she and you? There are many sides to look at and would need to be addressed.
Thanks for your reply, it was very helpful.
I did not know the O gauge was AC powered, that is not something I want to risk so thanks for the warning. I just picked up the G gauge set at a nice discount at, of all places, Linen and Things. Just about every place I tried that would normally carry it was out of stock.
The track on this set is made out of plastic, so no rusting worries there. The wheels on the cars are plastic but I'm not sure about the engine. The engine an cabose are under a plastic cover and I didn't want to open so it looks new when my daughter opens it on Christmas.
This set is less "toyish" than past Christmas tree trains we've bought. I don't know how the quality of the motor and such compare to "real" G gauge trains. But I notice there is a lot more detail in the engine and all the cars than past "toy" sets we've gotten. Regardless, I don't plan to leave the train out when it's not being used, only the track.
I haven't gotten the rechargeable battery option yet, maybe I'll just get rechargeable D cells from Walmart and see how that works. Or I wonder if a 12 v. gel cell like the one I have for our alarm backup power would work. My concern is it might burn up the motor.
two tone wrote:Hi JimMM Two things you do no say how old your daughter is or where you are a little info on both helps as you can see from my ID I would buy the Backmann Polar train G scale But if you are going out doors I would recomend LGB track or Peco bachmann track is IN doors only will rust away in a few months AS for track power it is only 24v DC as long as power supply is in doors daughter should be ok out side with train and a basic speed controller. Hope this helps
She will be 5-years-old Christmas Eve. We live in Florida. Places were running out of both versions of the Polar Express so I picked one of the G guage sets up this afternoon. I don't know what LGB or Peco Backmann are ... probably brands? I'll take a look. The track that came with this Lionel set is plastic. I dont' suppose it's going to hold up very long outside, but it should last long enough to tell whether she will stick with it. If she gets hooked we can look into getting more permanent, metal (brass?), tracks.
Well that settles that
Check the set when you open it, its supposed to include the rechargable battery pack with the set.
Look forward to hearing from folks who buy these sets how well they work, I still need a battery engine to pull my track cleaner around but so far none have been powerfull enough.
JMM, You may want to take Mama to one of the botannicals that have G layouts! I took my then wife to be to the Morris Arboretum (U of Penna) in Philly {there should be something comparable there in FLA}; and when she saw it she was hooked! She isn't even a gardener, but she's getting into the train thing! She's always pressing about getting the bull work done on the layout!
Since you said your wife enjoys gardening, this is sold under the auspices of "Something we can do together"!
I got my sisters kid hooked on the Polar Express dvd too hehe
I loved that book when i was a kid
smcgill wrote:Disney's Epcot has a Garden railroad!
I've seen it, if you mean the one to the left of the American Pavilion.
Mr_Ash wrote: I got my sisters kid hooked on the Polar Express dvd too hehe I loved that book when i was a kid
It's a cute story and the movie was well done. I had seen that kind of motion animation before but didn't know what it was. Did a little research and it's very interesting how they do it with motion sensors on real actors tied to computer animation.
Capt Bob Johnson wrote: Since you said your wife enjoys gardening, this is sold under the auspices of "Something we can do together"!
Mom like anything that interests her baby. If it interests me, that's merely a bonus, not a requirement. :-)
vsmith wrote: Well that settles thatCheck the set when you open it, its supposed to include the rechargable battery pack with the set.
I thought I saw printed on the outside of the box something to the effect that the rechargeable battery is *available* and the non-rechargeable batteries are included (and in fact they are), but I can't see anything that says the rechargeable battery pack is included nor it there one in the box. I haven't gotten to the destructions to see how to get the rechargeable pack. I would be happy if this thing would run on a 12v gel cell without burning up. Not only more power and speed, but I have a few lying around already along with chargers.
Jim,
You say your daughter is 5? When my son WAS 5 he got hooked on Thomas the tank Engine.. Bought the First Lionel Thomas set in "G" scale still have it and just set it up for Christmas( He's 16 now) Also got James the REd engine set for #2 son and its set Too. Your Daughter might like them and they turn up on ePay regular They have brass track and power packs that with care last awhile..... Gary W.
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