Starter set as a kid

[Rene Schweitzer]

This is the time of year when we all become kids again. Did you get the starter set you wanted so badly when you were a kid?

[Anonymous]

I got a train set i believe it was a marx it's been so long ago , I wish i had the set today
BEN

[Anonymous]

Got a basic Lionel set, oval w/passing siding, steam loco with a couple cars circa 1966. I don't recall actually wanting a set, my dad just got one for me (read: us!). Thanks Pops!

[kstrong]

How about "none of the above?"

I don't even think my dad ever had a Christmas without a train running under the tree, let alone me. His dad started that tradition before dad was born. We still have that train set, too. It sits on my mantle. Dad restored it to its former glory around 20 years ago. (sorry, collectors...)

That's not to say I didn't get the occaisonal locomotive for Christmas, but most of our trains weren't "holiday" purchases, just train show or hobby shop buys. Trains have always been dad's and my hobby, so we just bought things as we saw the need.

(I do remember when we got those first yellow boxes of LGB trains, though. It wasn't Christmas, but it sure felt like it--for both of us!)

Later,

K

[vsmith]

I voted Yes but its not that simple an answer...I got several for Xmas

The earliest I can remember was a cheap battery operated set from Germany when I was 6 or 7, it didnt work and was quickly religated to a Godzilla play prop.

When I was 8 I got a O gauge Marx set that was pretty decent. It even came with a siding and a couple of buildings and signs. I ran it so much I pretty well burned it up in a year.

At 10, I got a Tyco HO set which was OK but its was a Tyco so it didnt last long, but I also picked up a couple other engines, an AHM Dockside switcher and a Tyco 4-6-0 old timer which ran well. I had a 4x8 layout with to ovals on it.

At 12 my grandparents picked up a Lionel O gauge set, which was cool but I was already getting interested in smaller gauges. At 14 I started an N gauge 2x4 layout but quickly converted a couple of engines over to HOn30. Got that bug REAL early!

But high school, those girls, and my love of bikes, got the better of me and I eventually sold off all of my old stuff, except for one HOn30 engine, to finance my Schwinn Cruiser, which was my primary transport until i got my first car at 18. I didnt really revive my interest in model trains until after College and getting married.

[Curmudgeon]

Lionel 225E, with all sorts of metal cars. It was produced Christmas of 1940, when I got it it had BOXES full of 031 straight and curved, and several old metal switches (red tower, green lantern), 90 degree crossing, gates, signs, pack, but no buildings I recall.
My brother has most of the track and switches to use with Dad's old pea-green 252. I still have the 225E and most if not all of the cars (mixed in with all the other stuff I collected over the years), but I use Dr. GarGraves track and switches now.
Them things run for at least 64 years that we know of!
TOC

[Anonymous]

I think we are all kids at heart otherwise we wouldn't be in this pasttime. One of m/s iandors favourate sayings is "The only difference between men and boys is the price and size of their toys)


Rgds Ian

[van buren s l]

Rene
When I recieved my first train the Second World War was still being fought and train sets weren't available.Somehow my dad got hold of some tin plate track, an old transformer and a second-hand Lionel motor block. He built me a wooden mogul locomotive, a caboose and a couple of freight cars. It was the most wonderful present I can ever remember receiving. Over the next ten or so years my younger brother and I played with often, occasionally setting it up in the back yard. I still have the train in the house and my kids played with it until the motor gave up the ghost. The engine and the cars have scars to show that the train gave two generations of Manning children plenty of amusement.

[Tom The Brat]

I got 3.

I don't remember getting the first. It was just there. Wooden track pieces snapped together with dress snaps, instead of the ball and socket they use now. The train cars had cup hooks for couplers.

I was 5 when I was given an HO set with a diesel loco, a couple cars and a caboose. It's powerpack ran on batteries. When the batteries went dead, Dad built me a new power pack. Played with this for years till the selenium rectifier in the power pack blew up. Pewww!

For my 9th birthday, Mom and Dad got me an N scale set. Pensy diesel loco, a couple cars and caboose. The next Christmas, Mom went a little crazy buying cars. I could almost couple the loco to the caboose. Over the years I accumulated more track and a little 0-6-0 steam loco. Dad and I made several layouts.

[Anonymous]

Earliest memories, age 3 or so, are of Lionel set up in the bunk house on our ranch in NV. After a few moves ended up in Visalia, Ca with Lionel on back porch for us, 4 boys. Dad sold Lionel and moved to HO when I was 10 or 11 and that was end of it as was too fragile for us to use. Eqp eventually ended up in storage, then sold many many years later.

Fast fwd to abt 1972, Dad got 2 of the 1st LGB starter sets in CA, 1 ea frt and pax, my son still has them. I got a frt starter set in 1995 and have added much rolling stock since then, all LGB or Toytrain. Now live in Dallas, TX area and have loop inside my 12 x 24 ft barn. Grandkids are 5 & 7 and we're going outside next spring. I never did anything with trains in the interim as was in the USCG and moved often.

I'm staying with all LGB 2 axel eqp as it's easier for the gkids to use and put back on track. My son-in-law and I plan on putting ohead train in grandsons room in Jan or Feb.

SM

[Tom The Brat]

HO to fragile for a 10 or 11 year old to use? I was doing N at that age[:o]

[Anonymous]

I have allways wanted a train set. I am only 13 now too. Ever since I was young I have dreamed of owning one. But my family can not afford anything near what I would like other than a circle track that was barely able to go around our x-mas tree. But it was a cheesy one too. It`s broken now after around a year or two. My mom and dad allways promised me that I could get my dream set. Until my dad`s company that he works at started to fail and his sallery got cut dramatically. My father allways promised me to do fun projects with me. It never happend. We would maybe get half way befor he stopped not caring. I guess it will never be that me and my dad do a fun project as a team. he did try at least once to help me through the hobby of model training. He tried to get rubber bands for the wheels of my trains so they could get traction. Thats only because mine wore off. The thing is we never found any. All the hobby stores near me never carried those parts. Except for one and they would charge us aroung $150. And it would take one week. For rubber bands that I could have even replaced in around 5 minutes? I Ieven said no. For $20 I could buy a new set including train and tracks. Although my dad never thought of that and now says I am too old for things like this. Well this is my story and I hope this helps some one els around the world. But don`t let my story discoourage you. I tried to do something about it, just not hard enough. So for the rest of you out there do something about it. dont waist time like me or els you mom or dad will do the same to you as my mom and dad did to me.

[Anonymous]

Hi Rene,

In the mid 50's my dad bought me a Triang 'OO' guage passenger set. with a Princess Elizabeth 4-6-2 loco and a couple of 'blood & cream' BR coaches with an oval of track and a transformer. What a present for a 6 year old lad!! Sadly it has long gone along with the following years present of another Triang loco that was an F unit in red and silver.

Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

I got a Lionel set back in the early 70's for X-mas, even have a picture of my Dad putting it together and my sister snd I watching intently, I would have posted it but my scanners still broke.

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by sabababa

I have allways wanted a train set. I am only 13 now too. Ever since I was young I have dreamed of owning one. But my family can not afford anything near what I would like other than a circle track that was barely able to go around our x-mas tree. But it was a cheesy one too. It`s broken now after around a year or two. My mom and dad allways promised me that I could get my dream set. Until my dad`s company that he works at started to fail and his sallery got cut dramatically. My father allways promised me to do fun projects with me. It never happend. We would maybe get half way befor he stopped not caring. I guess it will never be that me and my dad do a fun project as a team. he did try at least once to help me through the hobby of model training. He tried to get rubber bands for the wheels of my trains so they could get traction. Thats only because mine wore off. The thing is we never found any. All the hobby stores near me never carried those parts. Except for one and they would charge us aroung $150. And it would take one week. For rubber bands that I could have even replaced in around 5 minutes? I Ieven said no. For $20 I could buy a new set including train and tracks. Although my dad never thought of that and now says I am too old for things like this. Well this is my story and I hope this helps some one els around the world. But don`t let my story discoourage you. I tried to do something about it, just not hard enough. So for the rest of you out there do something about it. dont waist time like me or els you mom or dad will do the same to you as my mom and dad did to me.

Hi there,
Welcome to the forum! First off I would like to say that you will never be too old for trains. I received my first set at age five. I am 38 now and a parent myself. I still play with trains on a regular basis. From what I have read your parents are going through a tough time with your dad's job. Please try to be patient and understanding as the families income is very important. At age 13 have you considered a paper route? This would give you some extra ca***o be able to do something with the hobby. Your parents will appreciate the fact that you can contibute to the family by not having to ask for money or for trains. This helps to ease the strain on them. Thinking back I was exactly your age when my family was experiencing financial hardship. It was'nt that my parents did not want to give me the things I asked for...but food and clothing had to come first. That's just the way it is. My dad spent very little time with me also. He worked very hard and long hours. When he did get home he was just too tired for play. I have three kids myself. They are ages 14, 8 and 6. I'm sure your parents love you very much and I can fully understand your hurt. You need to be a big guy right now and try to help them out. If you can show them the forum and that you have an interest in trains as a hobby. This will help them to see things a bit differently. Take care and enjoy the forum. We very much love to have young hobbyists here too! Later eh...Brian. [:D]

[jtrost]

My brother got a Marx mini-starter set. I got a lump of coal.

[sigh]

[Anonymous]

We were not into gentle with the trains. With Lionel we had very large cat that would sleep in tunnel and not even budge with hit with train full tilt.

I like large as it holds up better under little/rough hands.

SM

[mkblk]

Hi Rene,

My first starter set was a Lionel. The year was 1945, WWII having just ended and the first Christmas that sets were available again. I was only 3 at the time, but vaguely remember it. The set consisted of a No. 224 2-6-2 steam loco with whistle tender and new postwar electro-magnetic couplers. Following were a NYC gondola, PRR automobile car (real steel), Sunoco single dome tank (again real steel), a Lionel Lines automatic side dump car and ended with a PRR Nc Cabin Car (also steel). This train still runs on a regular basis! Admittedly, the couplers have proven problematical but I can deal with them. I can't even venture a guess as to how many miles (scale or otherwise) are on them... they just keep going and still look great (and a bit dusty!).

Then a big gap to 1958 when I received any boys' greatest wish... a Lionel GG-1 set. This set was also a freight. The Brunswick Green G was No. 2260 with 2 motors and whisker striping. It pulled a freight consisting of a operating brakeman box car, an automatic milk car, an automobile car with autos and a PRR Nc4 Caboose. Of course this train still is in frequent use. Lionel's don't wear out very easily!

MK

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

QUOTE: Originally posted by sabababa

I have allways wanted a train set. I am only 13 now too. Ever since I was young I have dreamed of owning one. But my family can not afford anything near what I would like other than a circle track that was barely able to go around our x-mas tree. But it was a cheesy one too. It`s broken now after around a year or two. My mom and dad allways promised me that I could get my dream set. Until my dad`s company that he works at started to fail and his sallery got cut dramatically. My father allways promised me to do fun projects with me. It never happend. We would maybe get half way befor he stopped not caring. I guess it will never be that me and my dad do a fun project as a team. he did try at least once to help me through the hobby of model training. He tried to get rubber bands for the wheels of my trains so they could get traction. Thats only because mine wore off. The thing is we never found any. All the hobby stores near me never carried those parts. Except for one and they would charge us aroung $150. And it would take one week. For rubber bands that I could have even replaced in around 5 minutes? I Ieven said no. For $20 I could buy a new set including train and tracks. Although my dad never thought of that and now says I am too old for things like this. Well this is my story and I hope this helps some one els around the world. But don`t let my story discoourage you. I tried to do something about it, just not hard enough. So for the rest of you out there do something about it. dont waist time like me or els you mom or dad will do the same to you as my mom and dad did to me.

Hi there,
Welcome to the forum! First off I would like to say that you will never be too old for trains. I received my first set at age five. I am 38 now and a parent myself. I still play with trains on a regular basis. From what I have read your parents are going through a tough time with your dad's job. Please try to be patient and understanding as the families income is very important. At age 13 have you considered a paper route? This would give you some extra ca***o be able to do something with the hobby. Your parents will appreciate the fact that you can contibute to the family by not having to ask for money or for trains. This helps to ease the strain on them. Thinking back I was exactly your age when my family was experiencing financial hardship. It was'nt that my parents did not want to give me the things I asked for...but food and clothing had to come first. That's just the way it is. My dad spent very little time with me also. He worked very hard and long hours. When he did get home he was just too tired for play. I have three kids myself. They are ages 14, 8 and 6. I'm sure your parents love you very much and I can fully understand your hurt. You need to be a big guy right now and try to help them out. If you can show them the forum and that you have an interest in trains as a hobby. This will help them to see things a bit differently. Take care and enjoy the forum. We very much love to have young hobbyists here too! Later eh...Brian. [:D]

[#ditto] Well said Brian.

sabababa-[#welcome] Somehow missed your 1st post.

[Tom The Brat]

Sabababa,

If I had a chance to talk to your dad, I'd tell him, "Enjoy your son."

[Anonymous]

I never actually got a starter set for Christmas, but I did get $25 for Christmas (1946) so I bought my own starter set. It was an American Flyer freight. Always wanted a Lionel set but we could not afford it. I later added another American Flyer set (Passenger). They were both destroyed in a flood in the 60's. I then started with HO. In 1999 I got my first G Scale starter set. It no longer runs, but I have it mounted permanently on the roof of our carport/pergola.
Richard

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rainbowglass

In 1999 I got my first G Scale starter set. It no longer runs, but I have it mounted permanently on the roof of our carport/pergola.
Richard

I'd like to see a picture of that ! I've interesting things done on clients houses but never that !

[Anonymous]

Poor ole Santa never bought or gave me a set. [|(]

[Anonymous]

I was three months old and dad bought me a Lionel set. Still run it today. Its in my bedroom. going around the ceiling. Wish we could afford one for my son. He is looking for LIONEL Thomas the tank engine.

[Anonymous]

It was the late 30's, maybe 1938. I was still in grade school but Richard, my older brother by 4 years, was able to hook up all the wires (I was amazed by his knowledge) but he was the most unselfish person I've known.
It was a Lionel, Commodore Vanderbilt engine and three streamlined articulated cars. My family was far from rich, depression still on, Dad never keeping a job long, oldest brother contributing most. Still in awe that we had one.
Later we switched to HO; Richard became an income tax man for Illinois, and I worked on computers after studying electronics.
He's gone now, the HO is in storage and the LGB comes out at special times, like holidays and Xmas.
Sabababa, if you're reading this, don't give up hope. Like my family, I too have had hard times and not enough time to spend with my children. But I still loved them. And they are all now able to get the things they need and WANT. Be patient and work towards your goals.
Art

[Anonymous]

No one ever gave me a starter set or any trains at all, thats why I am like I am now. Bah Humbug


Ian

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

No one ever gave me a starter set or any trains at all, thats why I am like I am now. Bah Humbug


Ian

Doreen are you listening? HINT!

[espeefoamer]

My first set was an American Flyer that had 2 locos,a Reading 4-4-2, and a C&NW Baldwin diesel switcher and about 10 freight cars with 2 cabooses.The track included 2 switches. that was a great presant[:D]!I am now in HO.