Best Lionel >$250 set?

[FEClionel]

I discovered that for my Christmas layout its more fun to run the cheap stuff and leave the PW and TMCC stuff for the layout or shelves. Any suggestions I was looking at the Yukon GP-7 starter set from last year and the Southern GP-38 set from a few years back or NYC 4-4-2 steamer - all sets have trainsounds except the Southern set. Any other suggestions? I will be running this on an outter loop with the Polar Express set.

[jimhaleyscomet]

This is not Lionel .....but it's very nice.  Consider the "Santa Set" by K-line.  Number 1409?  It is available without transformer from JusTrains for about $100.   Just  got mine today and I like it.  The engine does not "run" down hill like my Lionel set steamers.  Instead of  railsounds or a whistle, the tender plays Christmas songs when you hit the whistle button.  It is a very nice, very heavy engine.  It includes a candy cane dump car and "christmas" parade car.  Now I just wish I had purchased a Christmas box car to go with it. 

The engine has a plug on the back but none on the tender.  Anyone know what the plug is for?

Jim H

[phillyreading]

The reason the engine has a plug on the back could be it was made to go together with differant sets and Lionel kept the cost down by making it with the plug, it may not be wired.

Lee F.

[pbjwilson]

The Yukon set is very nice. But for some nostalgia how 'bout a Williams Burlington GP-7 set. Found this one on e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GP7-BURLINGTON-FREIGHT-SET-MINT_W0QQitemZ290005784546QQihZ019QQcategoryZ38280QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

[Old King Coal]

For a few extra bucks, I would suggest "The Polar Express" set.  An awesome  performing & well detailed engine which runs like the Energizer Bunny ..... "just keeps going & going & .......".  With the 3 passenger coaches, it is excellent value.

Best regards in trains,

Dave

[riverrailfan]

If you don't need track and transformer, I would suggest the north pole dockside switcher and mabe a few xmas rolling stock. Also if you got red and green gondolas, you can make up your own cars. I have done this for the past 3 years, I have gondolas with little presents, little bells, little ornaments and small white christmas trees standing up. Last year I made up a flate car with Lemax sleds on it.

[Jumijo]

Polar Express or NYC Flyer sets. The Polar Express is a modern day classic.

Jim

[Nick12DMC]

I would go with the Lionel Santa Fe Fast Freight with Trainsounds. Santa brought this for my son last year. Great value. I think Lionel have changed this set to a Union Pacific Fast Freight with Trainsounds. Nice part is you get a operating car and uncoupling track.

Nick

P.S. I know its a little more money but I would be tempted by a set of Williams "AA" Santa Fe F3's or a Williams Scale Hudson with a selection of Lionel Christmas cars.

 

 

[FEClionel]

Already have the polar express set -  looking for something of equal quality and cheap to run. In my opinion the new berks (polar express included) are fabulous engines for the $. Also saw the Williams GG1 freight set from the Golden Memories catalog its pretty nice as well - no track and transformer though.