Eastrail11 I am deffinatly on the younger side of modelers. My first train was a wodden Thomas. Years later, I got a lego train set, and a Bachmann starter set. however, my father and grandfather were both into trains, and my dad worked for a comany that made trains in Europe. My dad has a plethora of Marklin stuff. Inbetween getting that wooden Thomas and my first model train, I got a computer and a game called Trainz 2006. I had spent hours on the game, making anything I could think of. Now that I am older, I have a 5x9 switching layout, but I still own a game in the Trainz series - Trainz: A New Era (T:ANE). I find this game really useful because it lets me make my dream layout without needing to spend thousands of dollars on a real layout. It doesn't give you the same feeling as being eye level with a HO model, but it does its job well enough.
I am deffinatly on the younger side of modelers. My first train was a wodden Thomas. Years later, I got a lego train set, and a Bachmann starter set. however, my father and grandfather were both into trains, and my dad worked for a comany that made trains in Europe. My dad has a plethora of Marklin stuff.
Inbetween getting that wooden Thomas and my first model train, I got a computer and a game called Trainz 2006. I had spent hours on the game, making anything I could think of. Now that I am older, I have a 5x9 switching layout, but I still own a game in the Trainz series - Trainz: A New Era (T:ANE). I find this game really useful because it lets me make my dream layout without needing to spend thousands of dollars on a real layout. It doesn't give you the same feeling as being eye level with a HO model, but it does its job well enough.
That sounds kinda like my story. wooden Thomas, then Lego train, then some track and cars from the junk bin at the local (no longer) Plattsburgh train show. I later got into Microsoft Train Simulator, and built a 4x8. I still (sort of) have that 4x8, and the lego train, and the wooden Thomas(somewhere else in the basement). My father was not interested in trains, and my grandfathers had some but little interest.
I hope lionel can get more younger modelers started, though the price of the starter sets throughs me off. If only ScaleTrains made starter sets, they could be affordable and not garbage...
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
Harrisonthough the price of the starter sets throughs me off.
Actually, if you compare a Bachmann DCC with sound train set, the Lionel set is competitive (street price not list price). And if it is durable for the smaller hands, great. I hope Lionel can enlarge the offerings and does well.
HarrisonI still (sort of) have that 4x8, and the lego train
.
Hold onto the Lego Train! Those things are so much fun to play with.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Billwiz Harrison though the price of the starter sets throughs me off. Actually, if you compare a Bachmann DCC with sound train set, the Lionel set is competitive (street price not list price). And if it is durable for the smaller hands, great. I hope Lionel can enlarge the offerings and does well.
Harrison though the price of the starter sets throughs me off.
My understanding is that Lionel intends to expand its HO offerings in 2020. The track system for example needs switching.
Joe Staten Island West
I wish them well, but my pessimism comes from their past track record in HO. They never seem to quite understand the HO market, even the toy side of it.
Creating another proprietary track system was a bad idea, there are too many already. It would have been smarter to make a deal with Bachmann or Atlas, or even KATO.
Even as an entry product, this is not O gauge, it is HO, brand interchangeably is expected.
Just ask MTH how well they have done with proprietary systems in HO?
Sheldon
Billwiz Actually, if you compare a Bachmann DCC with sound train set, the Lionel set is competitive (street price not list price). And if it is durable for the smaller hands, great. I hope Lionel can enlarge the offerings and does well.
I agree. In fact, I was surprised by the high MSRP price point (though I realize retail is lower) of the Bachmann starter sets on the back of the recent MR.
However, I think it's more the lack of a basic DC option that is a problem. The train sets that are going to sell most at Menards and the few other outlets that carry them are in the range of $80 to $150, which IMHO, is about as much as non-railroading parents are likely to be willing to spend. Heck, they've got a set on sale now for 62 bucks!
With the tooling they've received from Mantua/ModelPower, there's no reason they couldn't put out a 100-150 set. The basic DC 8WD Mantua F units or GP20's are cheap and reliable and the Lionel name would be a sure seller.
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