New to model railroading, I wanted to start with a christmas tree setup. I was going to start with a O scale train set. I am a fan of the Harry Potter books and I was considering the Lionel Hogwarts Express or the Polar Express. I have seen mixed reviews of the quality for the Hogwarts Express. Any thoughts on either of the two train sets. Is one "better" than the other and what is the reason. Thx in advance
I can't speak for the Hogwarts and Polar Express sets, no direct experience with either, but the last two Lionel sets I've gotten were the Strasburg and the NJ Transit sets. No problems with either, quality's good and they're fun to run. A MINOR complaint is the smoke unit on the Strasbug 0-8-0, it's a bit anemic unless the engine's got a load on it, like a long freight or passenger consist, looks like it needs that extra voltage to get smokin'.
Personally, I think I'd go with the 'Arry Potter set. I didn't like the "Polar Express" movie, I thought the computer animation was creepy, to say the least. The book was MUCH better!
If you want smoke go with the H.P. set. The P.Ex is a good runner but not much in the smoke dept. Both have good performance records.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I have bought both and both run fine. The Hogwarts has some fine details that may be broken by very young kids. IMO, both smoke OK, but not great. Buy the one that you like best. I never thought that a Christmas layout needed a "Christmas train" (I bought the PE for my grandson).
Thanks all for the post, is there anything that you would suggest as a must have for my first set.
adamstownee Thanks all for the post, is there anything that you would suggest as a must have for my first set.
A must have? More cars! The sets are good but if there's any add-on cars available get 'em, a long train is more impressive. My NJ Transit set came with three cars, I bought the add-on package making it five. Looks a lot better. I lucked into three more Transit cars at a train show for a total of eight. VERY impressive! I'm looking for more Strasburg cars now, no luck yet but I'm patient.
Are kids going to be playing with your set? If so, I would suggest a boxcar with an opening door, and some cargo (anything will do) to put in it. Trains are so much more fun when you can pretend you are actually moving things from place to place. Real railroads handled "express" shipments of many sorts (parcels, mail, milk) at the head end of passenger trains, so to add a boxcar is not a stretch.
It depends on your own likes. Since I prefer passenger cars, and I've ridden the Strasburg RR a zillion times, I'd buy the Strasburg set for as little as $220. Many would have little or no interest in it.
Yes there will be very small kids. Cargo sounds like a great addition. What about sound tender cars?
I've got both of them. The Polar Express gets more track time. We also use it for a kid's Polar Express themed program at our local MKT Depot museum.
They both have been trouble free so far. I've gotten the expansion pieces for both of them. The Trainsounds tender for the Polar Express has a reasonable sound package - steam chuffing, bell, great whistle.
On level track the Harry Potter does out smoke the Polar Express. But introduce a grade on the layout and the added current draw going up hill increases the smoke output on the Polar Express.
There have been articles about replacing the stock smoke unit on the Polar Express with a fan driven unit that will smoke better - this replacement is rather involved, so you need to be handy with tools and willing to hackey-chop your locomotive.
If kids are involved, freighttrains do offer more 'play value' than passenger trains. I did not get any passenger equipment until I got back into trains as an adult.
All in all, it comes down to what you reall prefer.
I've got a bit of a personal connection with the Polar Express. The Berkshire in the Polar Express movie was inspired by the Piere Marquette Berkshire #1225 that was on display at Michigan State University for many, many years before being restored to operational status. I remember climbing around on it as a kid several times. Then, as an engineering student at MSU, I remember seeing pieces parts from it waiting restoration in the basement of the Engineering building. Later still, while I was living in East Lansing, the boiler had gotten certified, so, for the homecoming game, they got a head of steam up and blew the whistle for every State touchdown.
I have both and I originally built an extra track running around the entire display for the Hogwarts, but I swap places with the Polar Express every so often because I have the extra car it the track is longer.
I’m still setting it up for this year, but this video from last year is mostly of the trains.
watch?v=tT1hAZT Nyw&list=UUba1zM b0hhU9ygkuSei7WA&index=7&feature=plcp
One thing not discussed so far is the prototype accuracy of the models themselves. The Harry Potter locomotive is virtually a scale model of the prototype locomotive used in the Harry Potter movies, and if you are planning to keep the model, it might continue to keep your children's interest as they learn more about real trains. The Polar Express locomotive is much more toy-like in its construction and less likely to impress children as they learn more about real trains.
M636C
For a whimsical under-the-tree set-up I wouldn't sweat the prototypical accuracy too much, remember (I'll stop now while everyone gets the kids out of the room.....they all gone now?.......OK) there is no real Harry Potter and there is no real Polar Express. So if you want prototypical accuracy I'd go with a starter set close to what a "real" train looks like. If it's not important, why bother?
It could be a hard choice........but, my personal favorite is the PE. So what one did you decide to go with Harry Potter or the PE
--Black Diamond-- One thing about a train, it doesnt matter where it's going, You just have to decide to get on... Woo Wooo.....
I decided to go with the Polar Express for a couple of reasons, first was price Amazon had a great deal, and I know I should be supporting my local hobby shop, but $199 for the starter set was too good to pass up. Second, was my wife thought that it would be harder to find characters or other houses or buildings that would go with a Harry Potter theme. Lastly the PE is more of a Christmas theme. Thanks to all for commenting.
Best of luck with the your Polar Express and have fun with it! Oh, trust me, you'll be supporting your local hobby shop soon enough!
Here is a picture of how I put my Polar Express to work this weekend for the kid's Polar Express day at the local KATY Museum.
Somewhere between 120 and 150 people attended the two programs we ran.
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