Of course, no offense intended. I know when I started, I kind of scoffed at the price until the person at the hobby shop pointed out that good locomotives can last a good long time, and paying more upfront might be a bit of a bummer - but if it runs better, you'll use it more, if you use it more, you'll enjoy it more, and if you enjoy it more - the price is worth the cost of admission. Of course, some people might fault me for getting a Unitrack Kato set... but it seems to have worked out in the long run, though I am wishing I could swap the C&O shells of the caboose and F7 single unit for a Union Pacific for better matching to my intended layout...
Comrad_Durandal richhotrain: I agree with Selector that a "train set" is not the way to go, even for beginners. The quality of the locomotive in a train set is usually substandard. I don't know about that as a hard-and-fast rule. Kato offers a couple pretty good 'sets' that sell you an engine, some rolling stock for a decent price. Need a bit of track - just get one with Unitrack included and you get everything to start... granted, it's a bit plain... but Kato makes some pretty good stuff.
richhotrain: I agree with Selector that a "train set" is not the way to go, even for beginners. The quality of the locomotive in a train set is usually substandard.
I agree with Selector that a "train set" is not the way to go, even for beginners. The quality of the locomotive in a train set is usually substandard.
I don't know about that as a hard-and-fast rule. Kato offers a couple pretty good 'sets' that sell you an engine, some rolling stock for a decent price. Need a bit of track - just get one with Unitrack included and you get everything to start... granted, it's a bit plain... but Kato makes some pretty good stuff.
Comrad,
I think the operative word used by Rich is "usually", which implies most of the time but not always. There are a few good quality sets out on the market (like Kato) but they are generally far and few between. Most sets, in general, are only fair quality so they won't be as robust over the long term.
Albeit more expensive, I would personally opt for buying a locomotive, cars, track, and power pack separately. But...that's me. A good hobby shop - with a knowledgeable staff about trains - can really help immensely in this type of decision.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Never trust anyone selling on "craigslist". Always take it as a pig in a poke. (some thing is wrong with it) Buyer be ware.
Johnnny_reb Once a word is spoken it can not be unspoken!
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richhotrain I agree with Selector that a "train set" is not the way to go, even for beginners. The quality of the locomotive in a train set is usually substandard.
If the rest of the train set is in decent condition, you ought to consider buying a more reliable engine to run with the rest of the set. I agree with Selector that a "train set" is not the way to go, even for beginners. The quality of the locomotive in a train set is usually substandard. Try to find a local hobby shop that specializes in model railroading and ask the staff to recommend a reliable, yet affordable, locomotive to go with the rest of your train set.
Rich
Alton Junction
Thanks for your quick reply. It was bought off a lady who said her son never used it. It did look new. However, I have figured out what it was. By taking it apart I found that one of the gears had broken off in the gear box. The axle was mounted in a tiny piece of plastic which of course had snapped and sent the gear into the other gears. I took out the busted one, so it runs now, just on one set of wheels. My son wont know the difference, but I will know what to look for next time!
Hi, thanks for the quick response. It was "new" but bought off a lady on craigslist who said her son never used it and it looked like it. So it didnt come from a store to return to. The train itself is a Sante Fe Thunder set. I expected that it was not fixable but I would like to learn since my son loves trains and we are probably going to be doing this for a long while (which is good). The engine wheels do not turn and it seems as though the electricity is getting in there because it makes a buzzing sound, but definitely nothing is turning as the other poster thought. I shouldn't have said "metallic" sound, it is more like an electric razor sound. It seems as though the little motor has "frozen" up. I got it apart and can see the motor and the weight in the middle and the other set of wheels clearly. Should all the wheels be able to be turned by hand if working? The forward set of wheels do not budge.
Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Andrew
Welcome to the forums
As selector noted, take it back if you can. If it was used then let us know what brand and model loco you have and maybe we can instruct you on how to open it up to check for problems. It can be a few things, usually what was noted above but sometimes just a clip or screw on a gearbox.
Oh and when you return it, you ran it for a couple of minutes not a week
Springfield PA
Seriously, you should return the train set. Unless it is a top-of-the-line set, it is likely to be more trouble over the short term than it is worth to you and others who want you to be happy with it...mostly your son.
The trains these days are under warranty, some for lifetime. If the item is rare, ask the manufacturer for a return number and package it up to send it back for repair.
Based on what you describe, you have a gear spinning on its shaft, or it is broken entirely. Means at least a broken tooth or two, so no contact with the spinner to speak of, or the gear is actually rotating about the shaft.
Crandell
Just got first train set for son. Ran it for about a week then engine just froze up while running yesterday.
Makes a metallic sound as if power is going into engine but wheels dont seem to be spinning. What has happened? Any suggestions to fix?