Have fun with your trains
vsmith,
My apologies for not responding sooner. We went with the LGB battery set, as it obviated the need for the kids to run the power to the tracks. The little loco has a hard time, however, pulling itself through curves and up the incidental grades of the Triple O. I swapped batteries; perhaps I need to add a bit of weight.
Aloha,
Eric
Be advised..... For whatever stupid reason bachmann DOES NOT provide the necessary coupler height adapters with the Lil' Big Hauler line. You will need to buy them separately on Ebay. Luckily there is a vendor on EBay who sells them for cheap. It's stupid because they DO provide them with the Thomas line.
I use all the above mentioned brands together and they look very good together. The only other thing I would say about the Lil' Haulers is that the locomotives are very light and really need to have a little weight added to them, once done they are very good units, the motors are very good. I added full siderods to mine and full blown detailing to mine.
FYI, my parents recently asked "What would the kids like for Christmas?" It seems LGB makes virtually the same battery powered trainset that got me off and running almost 40 years ago! Besides being compatible with everything I own, it will also divorce the crew from having to fiddle with any electric appliances. Everybody wins! Now to finish that gorge we started digging today...
Bill,
Thanks. I gave up serious scale aspirations beyond "3 ft narrow gage reasonably evocative of Hawaii's plantation railways" about 15 minutes into ground breaking as my kids, then 6, 4, and 2 fought over the pickaxe! My priority remains getting them, and a sibling due to arrive early next year, outside, dirty, and involved. Trains they can handle are a key part of that, I think, and I've noticed a number of smaller vehicles that fit my loose theme. Between your advice and observations and the other commentators, I'll return to the CFO with a proposal!
Aloha,Eric
Eric, I now have grandkids starting to enjoy trains, and I to was looking for some thing simple for them to use. I started with Kalamazoo because they were fairly inexpensive, smaller and plentlful, but after them playing with a few I purchaused it became apparent the the 4 axel trucks where a little hard for the to rerail. So I have switched to 2 axel LGB and I have found much more peace when playing trains with the kids. The eldest, now 6, is able to handle some of the 4 axel cars but they like the 2 axel better and are not concerned with what is prototypical. I have had no problem with the LGB style loop couplers mating with same type of different brands, they are pretty forgiving. Enjoy them while you can, Bill
Thanks, everyone. Very helpful!
captain perry They should share the track well enough. some fiddling will be required to get them to couple together nicely. if you have DC track power they should play well...fancier electronics will have to be installed if you use it.
They should share the track well enough. some fiddling will be required to get them to couple together nicely. if you have DC track power they should play well...fancier electronics will have to be installed if you use it.
A bit of minor fiddeling to get the coupler heights to match should be all that is required to get the necessary coupler devices installed. 5 to 10 minute job I would think.
Tom Trigg
Winnegance and Quebec Railway
Eric Schade Gen'l Manager
Quick question...
I am looking to get something kid friendlier for the clan so that I can comfortably let them play on the railroad without constant supervision. For price reasons, I have my eyes on Hartland's "mini series" for rolling stock and Bachmann's Lil Big Hauler tank loco. Are these brands compatible with each other? Furthermore, are either or both of these brands compatible with LGB (virtually everything else I own)?
If it is a matter of adding a few shims to raise or lower a coupler on the new gear, then I am in business. If it would require more than that, however, I am back to the drawing boards.
Thanks,
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