Best gauge for 3 and 4 year olds plus a Dad?

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of getting back into the hobby and beginning a layout for my two boys. They got a hold of my old HO equipment and love it. Being that young, the stuff really takes a beating. It's also difficult for them to handle.
What would be the best guage for these little ones? One with a lot of variety and accessories, i.e. Steam, Diesel Locomotives, Cabooses, Rolling Stock, Signals, etc. It's been at least 30 years since I modeled and a lot has changed. I was thinking of "O" but to be honest, I never liked that third rail. I have seen photos of what looks to be a larger scale, but without the third rail. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Fergmiester]

I would suggest Brio the wooden trains as the kids can tra***hem to their hearts content and you don't have to constantly supervise them or worry about small parts. I say this as I tride to get my kids involved at a young age but was finding that there was too much "Control and Command" involved.

Do your HO thing at your pace get them involved, teach them the value of respecting the hardware and give them something they can have fun with.

My own experience with train layouts that once they are layed kids loose interest quick as they need interaction and the ability to experiment. With the wooden sets they can tear down a layout when they get bored with it and build anew.

Regards
Fergie

[nfmisso]

Kurt;

There is two rail O scale, and it is not inexpensive. For the under five crowd, I would suggest Brio,
http://www.brioplay.com/

then graduate to LEGO's powered trains
http://shop.lego.com/department.asp?d=12&t=5

then to HO. I had HO when I was six, and it certainly took a beating then. HO and N scales are the least expensive, and then it goes up quickly from there....

[DonaldAgne]

Welcome to the forum and welcome back to model railroading, Kurt. Kids grow fast, so it's maybe best to think ahead a few years. The small scales might be hard for them to handle now, but when they're seven and eight it'll be all right. I model in N-gauge due to space restrictions, but I believe HO offers the most in variety of rolling stock, scenery, and all other accessories. You'll spend more in terms of space and money for the larger gauges, like O and G. Since you're just getting back into the hobby, you might as well do it right and go with DCC, which seems to be the wave of the future. Again, there's more available in HO, such as sound and decoders, than in the other scales.

[simon1966]

My boys are 4 and 7 now. We have been actively building a layout for about a year in the basement. Prior to that I we would build simple loops on the floor or the table with sectional track. We are in HO and I have found it to be an excellent scale for the boys. I am more than content to let them use my lower cost freight cars and locomotives. Both of them have leaned about care and looking after things. Both can re-rail complex equipment back on the track without the need for a re-railing ramp. In other words they have learned something about fine motor control. One of our favorite things to do is to go to the local hobby shop on a Saturday and get a simple freight car kit each. With a little help they can assemble the kits, paint and weather them as well. The truth of the matter is, that there is not much to break on a basic Athearn freight car with moulded on detail.

The wooden trains are a great way to go as well. I found that my two quickly lost interest in the "Thomas" trains, but still regularly play with the more reaslistic trains from the Whittle Short Line railroad. www.woodentrain.com We are fortunate in that they are located close to us in St. Louis, so we can visit the factory. They are a fantastic toy. Well made and have extended the play life of the wooden track significantly.

Good luck and have fun
Simon

[ClinchValleySD40]

G scale if any. Rule of thumb - the smaller the hands the bigger the scale. Otherwise like someone else said, the wooden brio.

[simon1966]

The bigger the scale, the more small details parts there are for small hands to snap off!!

[Anonymous]

I'd buy them a toy train set for now, and in about 4 years when they're old enough to understand that the equipment is fragile and they can behave and even start helping with the layout, then you could go into HO with them and they can fully enjoy the hobby. As Fergie said, you and your kids might find there is too much control going on the train room if you start with deliquate equipment now. But if you start with a big gauge today, you might end up feeling stuck with it in a few years.

[Anonymous]

HO, but Athearn Bluebox/RTR, Accurail & Branchline Yardmaster stuff, rather than the more detailed units. Walthers is good too, but leave off teh wire grabs until they're older. This is the best bang/buck solution.

O and G are good options, but much more expensive.

[ondrek]

my son of 3 and a half has his own 4'x5' HO layout that slides out from under his bed. I did the design and the track is permanently down on the MDF sheet. its a simple loop with one passing track line. there is one curved bridge and two switches, oh, three actually, there is an inner spur. he has been playing with HO trains since he was less than 3. sure, there have been some issues with him pushing the train on the track even if its not railed, but that was with his own desiel switcher that costs $10.00 so if he ruined it, no biggy. he also uses his brio thomas trains on the HO track, yeah it doesnt go well, but he doesnt care. guess what, the switcher he started with still works well, the layout is in good shape still even the bridge is still intact, and he has added an HO Thomas to his engine list. he has excellent behavior with the layout. we sometimes run my kit built 4-4-2 on it too. To complicate matters, I also have a daughter, she is going to turn 2 in october. she has been playing with the same layout since she was 1 easy, and she does the same as my son did, she pulls downt he brio thomas and pushes it on the HO track. She tends to leave the HO engines alone, but will pick them up off the track and give them to me if they de-rail. my son, now konws how to re-rail the trains and they can play with the layout for a while now unsupervised. they understand the concept of the speed controller and everything.

So my suggestion is to make a real simple layout and leave lots of space in the center of it for the kids to sit and have the trains circle around them. so if you want scenery, use paint for the grass and roads so when they sit on it, it doesnt get ruined. I should post a pic if anyone is interested.

I used lightweight spackle for the climb up to the bridge, the bridge is 1/2" off the surface of the MDF board.

The kids love the layout.

We are getting into Gscale as well. but we havent built that layout yet, i have the track, and the kids love those trains too.

I suppose if i was to start all over again, i would do just the G scale for me and the kids, as its easier to deal with the items, but cost might be a factor.

Kevin Ondre

[Junctionfan]

First off, take them railfanning and see if they really take to the idea that trains are cool. If you have done that than take them to see model railroading club tours. If they seem really impressed about than go HO. As long as they don't touch and they just use a power pack, it shouldn't be a problem. My advice though is to get those Bachmann or Model Power train sets that don't cost a lot and come with track all kinds of accessories just in case something brakes. You can get more cars cheap at garage sales or second hand stuff at a hobby shop if they stock any.

[Don Gibson]

SERIOUSLY:
BUY The wood train system that requires hand pulling.

Children 3 & 4 want to touch things to make them go. (Watching things run by remote control and pushing buttons is not their thing).

Dad and they learn together HOW to put the track togetner and stay on the rails. When they are 5 & 6 it'll they can learn to operate .

[ben10ben]

O by far the best size for the younger crowd.

Most O gauge trains are just right to be picked up by any sized hands. Small hands will have trouble with the large size of G, and will have trouble with the small size of HO and N.

Most starter-set type G will have a good amount of plastic add on which will break off very easily. Starter set O gauge has very few add on parts to break off.

Most O gauge can run on smaller diameter track than most HO(27" compared to 30" or 36"), so it takes up less space than either HO or G.

Operating accesories are available for O, which really add to the play value of the set.

Finally, O gauge trains have deep flanges that allow them to stay on the track at higher speeds than most other scales.

Buy your children a quality O gauge starter set made by Lionel, K-line, or MTH that they can enjoy for years without the fear of damage. Save the HO for when they're older.

[Wdlgln005]

For kid trains, I'd start with the wood Brio sets. You may find a selection of Thomas stuff that will fit that track. Then they can do almost anything they please with their railroad.

Take them to the LHS or a train show like GATS and visit an operating train museum. Find out what they like. I hope you have Amtrak nearby so they can learn about modern trains. Take lots of pictures to help them remember.

Dad's layout can be any of the scales. A lot depends on the space & time you have available. The wooden set can also be used to try out different track arrangements. You can even put together a timesaver puzzle. Then you can go ahead and build some Nscale modules, and let the layout grow, and everyone has fun together until they turn 10 or so. Have fun model railroading!

[Anonymous]

I would just like to cut in and thank everyone for there input. All suggestions are carefully considered. I'm actually surprised by the amount of replys. Thank you, I'm learning a lot here.

[Anonymous]

I was 4 years old when I got my first Lionel. I remeber having a lot of fun with it.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I think you need to decide if you will be doing most of the handeling or if this is supposed to be the kid's train.

If you are getting it for the kids, then 3 rail O is the only electric train you should consider. 2 rail O is not for kids, nor is G. HO is recommended for 8 years and up, N for 12 and up.

Brio is very appropriate for the ages you mentioned, however LEGO is not. Regular LEGO has too many small pieces and is too hard to assemble.Their DUPLO line is designed for those ages, and is an excellent choice. My kids (and I) have played with Brio and DUPLO we love them. Now they are old enough for the LEGO and have a blast with them too.

I feel a little guilty having never really shared my Lionel trains with them, but that has nothing to do with their age. They are MY TRAINS after all.[swg]

If you are getting it primarily for yourself, that's a different story.

By the way, those age recommendations are from the manufacturers in most cases. I used to work in a hobby store, and sold trains for a living. Sorry guys, but I am dissappointed with much of the advice given so far. Ben's advice is the best of the bunch, and he's the youngest one responding. Way to go Ben. [tup]

I see Glen and Jim snuck in while I was typing, Right on guys!!![^]

[Anonymous]

Recommend starting with Brio, Thomas, and Whittle Short Line. My kids eventually had enough gear to turn most of house into a layout. Whittle sells extra large curves which allows really long trains. The bridge ramps are a little abrupt. Depending on temperment, HO may or may not be appropriate as early as five. A surer bet is O gauge and leave the HO for when they get a little older. Some kids get interested early and some never get it. Rail fanning will help them develop appropriate play.

[BRAKIE]

My Dad had me running trains when I was 3 years old..Of course I can not remember that but I am told that is very true.My oldest Grandson was running "his" train( a Athearn GP35 with no added details including handrails) at the age of 3 on papaws layout and was very careful..Now he's quite the modeler at age 15..[:D] I can recall running my Dad's O scale 2 rail when I was 5.So,I would suggest a Athearn blue box F7 for the youngsters...

[lupo]

My son ( now 7 )started off with LEGO-DUPLO, after that Brio , small HO layout with Cheapocheapo rolling stock from under swapmeet tables ($1 a car) and a Modelpower Santa Fe F3 on a 3 x 4 , I made him a 8 x 4 with a fixed flextrack oval and passing and also 2 switches going nowhere,so he can connect tracks after his own idea in the middle of his "lay-out" again using sectional track picked up at swap meets,
no matter what he constructs - he is still learning, it will allways be possible to run trains on the outer flextrack.
For now it rests on the floor, because he likes to sit in the middle watching his trains go round him.

btw I also can use the flextrack oval as a test track for my own stuff [8D][8D]

[Anonymous]

Hey there,

When I was young, I picked up my first tyco set - it was an HO with a few cars and large 4x8 oval. Then I moved to N scale because I could fit it in my apartment. Now, I have rediscovered Lego. They are not cheap (at least $250 for a small layout, power, cars, and engines) and are actually targeted to adult Lego fans. I buy the bulk sets of 1000 pieces for about $20 to make scenery, buildings, etc. All from Lego. A book recently came out that tells how to make a wide variety of Lego trains - Getting Started with Lego Trains and a variety of other books.

I guess my point is that the Lego trains are great if you plan on working with them with your child. I agree they are a bit small for 3-4yrs., but with adult supervision, they are extremely versatile and your children will come up with some amazing ideas.