Lionel Polar Express

[Anonymous]

Are any of you going to buy this set? I think it looks rather interesting. I really like the look of the steamer and what appears to be baby madison cars. Does anyone know when it is coming out. Also dose it come with the figures shown in the picture?

[Anonymous]

Yes I plan to purchase this set. If you check Lionel's web site, there's a page with a delivery schedule (if you can find it....). Yes, the figures are included.

[pbjwilson]

I like it alot and it's priced right! Might get the Polar for under the tree next year. In my opinion it's the best thing in the catalog. Kinda like the little 0-6-0 tank engine too!

[prewardude]

According to Lionel's website, the Polar Express is due to ship in August.

[Algonquin]

I plan to buy the set. I read the story to my kids several times when they were younger. I plan to see the movie also. I think it will be a fun set. And the price is great.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[douellet]

Just ordered one from Charlie Ro a few days ago. It looked to be a pretty good deal. I'll bet they will sell a pile of them. I work at an elementary school and the kids will love it. The cars do look like the baby Madison cars from the 1970's. It will be the first new Lionel set I've ordered in years. Been buying Williams trains for the last several years. Can't beat the price, quality and the way they run. Plus they have made some locos with Maine roadnames, like the Bangor and Aroostook, those red, white and blue State of Maine cars were so colorful. I do miss that railroad it was one of the best.

[Anonymous]

I saw the trailer for the movie last week and it really impressed me. My wife said they could put a photo of a train on the screen for 2 hours and I'd go to see it. Probably so. But as for buying the set, I had to pick and choose my train dollars and I decided to buy the Acela. I have to sock money away for that so no other sets are in my foreseeable future.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Today, after casually saying something to my wife and daughter about Lionel offering a Polar Express train set, I was strongly encouraged to place an order. The order has been placed with Davis Electronics in Cincinnati, my favorite store in Ohio

[Dr. John]

This set looks like a good tie-in to the book and the up-coming movie - smart marketing move by Lionel! It seems like a good value for the money. If I were in the market for a new set, this would be the one I'd buy.

Hopefully, the movie and the set will introduce another generation to the joy of toy trains!

[mpzpw3]

In my opinion, this is possibly the best set in the Lionel catalogue. It offers a lot for a lot of people. I think newcomers will like it, collectors will like it, and customizers will like it. For the beginner, it is priced right (comparing to O-gauge pricing), has nostalgia value, has a contempary theme (sp), and the berk has quality. Collectors have a reasonably priced set, that will probably gain value in the near future, and customizers, such as myself, can finally afford a set that can be repainted without feeling bad. The only losers are the scale guys, who will derive nothing from the set. If only they would make a scale set at these prices, I believe everyone could be happy.

[Anonymous]

I've said this elsewhere and I'll say this again in regards to the Polar Express. When my 11 year old daughter saw the the cover of the Lionel catalog, she asked to see the picture and description inside. She looked at it and said, "get that, dad, get that." Of course I said, I will. How could I refuse? That's the first time she has ever shown a real interest in a catalog item. Lionel has a chance at hitting the jackpot with this one.

[Buckeye Riveter]

First, we have a very popular book.

Second, we have a movie being made of a very popular book.

Third, we have Lionel making a model train that promotes the movie.

We, being those who love toy trains have an opportunity. When the movie hype kicks in, and it will, I would almost bet that some of the major movie theater chains will be looking for people to set up a train layout in the lobby depicting scenes from the movie or book.

[?][?]More thoughts????

[cheapclassics]

My wife could hardly wait for me to come home the day the catalog arrived. She told me we had to get the set. I was going to argue about a nice set with a Fasttrack oval and 80 watt transformer???? I do believe it will go under the tree. I hope Lionel makes some add-on cars later on.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[bowlerp]

Take the set, add some extra Fastrack pieces, a pair of switches for a station stop, a few of the new lighted Lionel Bungalows or suburban houses, a store or two, and you have the makings of a terrific Christmas tree layout year after year! Having a few add-on cars would be icing on the cake, especially a station stop announcements car.

My children are too old for it, but we have the book from years ago and it may find a place under the tree. My wife thinks trains in the basement are enough and doesn't want (ok, permit!) trains under the tree anymore. Unless I can run it under the tree, it makes no sense for me to have the set. "We'll see" (same thing parents say to their kids when they want them to drop a topic or forget it......

Pete from Akron

[clinchfieldfan]

I have mine on order! This set will be the "tree" Layout for Christmas. I'm anxious to see how the movie is received. Maybe after the movie release this could breath some new life into our trains!

[Anonymous]

"Hey bowlerp", that really stinks that your wife doesnt want trains around the tree! Sure they get in the way, are always getting knocked off the track, leave no room for any packages, and stink the room up with smoke, but if it wasnt for all that Christmas wouldnt seem complete! Why dont you suggest to her (in a subtle way) no train = she sets up the tree, decorates it, takes it down etc. oh yeah and the thing my wife totally hates; putting up the lights!! Maybe that will help your cause!! [:D]

[Anonymous]

The best price I've seen on a Polar Express is at www.hobbystation.net It retails for $249.99 which is a good deal considering everything you get with this set, but they are selling it for $168... Check it out!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link to hobbystation.net. !!

Have you purchased anything from the site??

Mike

[NH_Chris]

I don't mean to rain on the parade here, but doesn't anyone here recall past Lionel low-priced sets that just plum disappointed? For example, the Thomas the Tank sets from a few years ago, ran in only 1 direction (forward) and at one speed (rocket)...

I have a NYC steam set from two years ago that is only tolerable, compared to diesels I have from Williams that cost less... My kids greatly prefer the Williams' engines, because they are much more difficult to derail, given their greater weight and lower gearing. It's fun to "launch" the NYC steamer once or twice, but it gets old when you just want the train to run without a constant hand on the throttle.

The Polar Express looks cute, and has great tie-ins to the (great) book and (we'll see) movie, but I'm waiting for reviews of the set before buying one.

[Kooljock1]

NH Chris,

What we do know, is that all the set components are regular production items from LIONEL. The Berkshire has been in starter sets for several years and reviewed in CTT . The tender appears to be the die-cast unit with an air whistle. The cars are the standard "Baby Madison" cars. The track is FasTrack, and the transformer is the CW-80.

To be sure, each of these has their pluses and minuses, but for a mailorder price of $184, you can't go wrong!

Jon [8D]

[Anonymous]

NH_Chris: There is a big difference between the Polar Express Set and the Thomas the Tank Engine! The Polar Express has the popular and dependable 2-8-4 Berkshire steam locomotive which has die-cast metal body and frame, and comes with two passenger coaches, one passenger observation car with rounded deck all with lighted interiors, whereas Thomas the Tank is plastic with 2 plastic cars! The Polar Express also has forward, neutral and reverse operation.

Kooljock Jon: You have some very good points, but just wanted to let you know that www.hobbystation.net has Polar Express for $168 + $12 shipping = $180