Not new but my first set was the Marx Big Rail with the automated log car. I haven't stopped since!
underworld
RIP Chewy - best dog I ever had.
I guess I'm still new to the hobby. I bought my first train set in 2004 (Lionel Southern Diesel). Then I got into N and HO, but it's getting to costly for three scales, so I'm going to stick with O scale and store the rest.
Stan.
THE SOUTHERN SERVES THE SOUTH.
Well, I'm definitely not new. My first set was a Marx clockwork (wind up) set I received for Christmas in 1962. My first electric train set was a Marx Allstate set in 1965 from Sears. I got into HO about 1969 and stayed there about 30 years before getting back into O (and dabbling in S) about 1999. The only set I have bought new since a kid was the Copper Range set.
I mostly collect and run postwar Lionel and prewar/postwar Marx but I also have modern Lionel, Williams and MTH in my collection too.
NewbieLady wrote:My husband bought me a Lionel Pennsy Fyer set two Christmases ago. Surprisingly, considering my gender, I thought it was the best present I'd ever gotten. I love to make a village around the tree, and this was the icing on the cake. We set it up around the tree and were a bit disappointed with the smoke output. The next day we went to our LHS to buy some more track, and the owner asked if it was Lionel or MTH. I said, "What's MTH?" Although he sells both, his opinion was that the MTH starter sets gave a little more value. We ended up buying the MTH Virginia and Truckee RTR set pictured below (with separately bought Overton cars.) We were thrilled with how it smoked, and it did seem nicer. Granted, it was more expensive than the Pennsy. Please, Lionel people, don't flame me; I think Lionel makes beautiful stuff in the higher price ranges, but in the "starter" range, I just prefer MTH.As you all know, once you buy that first set, you're hooked. At least 99% of us here are I guess. :-) The funny thing is, I have developed much more of a passion for it than my husband. He keeps saying that he thought he'd just buy me one little set for around the tree, and look what it's turned into - he's created a monster, etc. We now have four sets, with an RMT Beep on order. This year he gave me a DCS system, which I love. We just built our first little layout to keep the trains up all year, and we're really enjoying it. Women love decorating, and to me, it's like a constantly moving, evolving decoration. Feel free to try to use this line on your wives!
NEWBIELADY, thats how I started with one set (NYC FLYER) around the tree and WAMO the train bug got me.
laz57
I got a Bachmann Power House set (HO) for Christmas back in '84. I LOVED it but it was hard to keep running (6 ppl in a 3 bed room trailer, not much space for a layout, old school HO track and shag carpet did not get along). I lost it , and most evrything else in a house fire (No one was home , I am blessed no one got hurt). I bought a Bachmann North Pole and western that year at Wal mart after Christmas, Never opend it.
I moved and wound up at a church with a pastor and his brother who have a great postwar Lionel lay out. They had me over to see it and it was amazing. The trains actualy did stuff like my old Power House did. Turns out most of the Power House accessories were ideas "borrowed" from Lionel. Then His brother fired up his Cat MTH set, and it sounded Like a train, I didnt know toys could do that!
Last Summer we were visiting familiy and stopped in a Gooodwill. Found a Glaicer Route set for $9.95 and an Alaska spotlight car for $4. Our car was almost full and it might have ment them riding in may lap for 5 or 6 states on the way home but I bough them any way. I had always liked my dad's O Marx set for the simple resaon that it ran and did not derail. The Lionel was the same way.
Well a few train shows later I saw how high this stuff sold for and almost thought I could not aford to play this game. Then Hobby Lobby did the %40 off coupon and I got a Santa Fe Fast Frieght set. WOW what a change from the single motor RS-3 to the dual motor MP-15. I kept watching the clearance Isle at HL and got a few swtiches and some bumpers and stuff, am now planing a 4 x 8 is lay out, thus fufling one of my child hood dreams : )
Its never to late to have a happy child hood.
NewbieLady wrote:My husband bought me a Lionel Pennsy Flyer set two Christmases ago. Surprisingly, considering my gender, I thought it was the best present I'd ever gotten. I love to make a village around the tree, and this was the icing on the cake. We set it up around the tree and were a bit disappointed with the smoke output. The next day we went to our LHS to buy some more track, and the owner asked if it was Lionel or MTH. I said, "What's MTH?" Although he sells both, his opinion was that the MTH starter sets gave a little more value. We ended up buying the MTH Virginia and Truckee RTR set pictured below (with separately bought Overton cars.) We were thrilled with how it smoked, and it did seem nicer. Granted, it was more expensive than the Pennsy. Please, Lionel people, don't flame me; I think Lionel makes beautiful stuff in the higher price ranges, but in the "starter" range, I just prefer MTH.As you all know, once you buy that first set, you're hooked. At least 99% of us here are I guess. :-) The funny thing is, I have developed much more of a passion for it than my husband. He keeps saying that he thought he'd just buy me one little set for around the tree, and look what it's turned into - he's created a monster, etc. We now have four sets, with an RMT Beep on order. This year he gave me a DCS system, which I love. We just built our first little layout to keep the trains up all year, and we're really enjoying it. Women love decorating, and to me, it's like a constantly moving, evolving decoration. Feel free to use this line on your wives!
NewbieLady,Up until I started coming on the board back in Nov I probably would have flamed you! However, after spending some time on the board, reviewing some reviews, and visiting my LHS I have come to appreciate all manufacturers (actually just picked up some MTH and Williams rolling stock, and MTH Chessie F-3 A-B-A diesels!I'm now of the mindset that you buy what you like within your budget! Looks like I'll be making an investment in DCS soon too!Brent
I received my first set the day I was born in 1950,Lionel 2-6-4,blk gondola,Baby Ruth reefer and caboose.I added a couple of cars when I was fifteen and dad finally let me play with my set.I purchased a Jersey central NW-2 set for $20.00 a few weeks later and sold it for $25.00.I was fifteen and what a great profit I thought I'd made.I went into HO about a year later.I ended up with a 45 foot by 27 foot basement full of trains.I also liked building plastic models at the time.When I met my wife in 1969 I gave all the HO's to my brothers and kept the model airplanes.After a few years of marriage I started again with Ho but just didn't enjoy it as I used to.I always liked building over running,so once again I gave my trains to my brothers and concentrated on my model airplanes.I was in ahobby shop in the early nineties and saw a Lionel Santa-Fe passenger set.I told my wife I always wanted a Lionel Passenger set and she bought it for me,Now I have a model room with over 3,000 model airplanes and the train bug bit me.I didn't have the nerve to ask for another room in the house so I purchased a shed and after a year of insulating and building the framework I now have five lines and a trolley and over 100 locomiotves and I'm afraid to think how many frieght cars.(The origional Lionel set included) I still am into both Hobbies and have many "priceless" aquisitions,but the one I value most is my wife of thirty-six years ,who puts up with all of this.She used to wait for me to grow up but now enjoys both hobbies with me.I now have children and grand-children who are happy that I never grew up.
Ed
I reentered the hobby during the Christmas season of 2001 using my existing trains. My first set was a Lionel SantaFe passenger set. My first MTH set was the PS2.0 Alaska Set.
Chris
I got a New Englander set for Christmas in 1980 or 1981. Still have it, although because it is DC powered it mainly sits on the shelf. I got back into trains about 8 months ago and found that I really like the Postwar Celebration series. So far I've picked up the Santa Fe Super Chief set, the Super O steam freight set, and the Virginian Trainmaster set. I think I'm done for a while . . .
Great topic! Great accounts from everyone!
In 1958 my Dad gave me the Lionel plain jane freight outfit, The Coal King Set 1597S for Christmas. My Mom complained that is was to exspensive (Catalog evidence says it was around $40 -$50!) for a kid to have. I guess that depends on how old the kids was who made the purchase (grin). Dad won out and I had a Lionel train set! It is still running and I have the entire set, with all the boxes (thanks to Mom). Since then I have purchased a second set so each of my kids will get one some day! Tricky huh!
In 1995 my good old Mom decided to mail my old train set to Alaska so my kids could see it and maybe I could get it running again. As soon as I opened the box "The hook was set". The next thing I know I was checking out Lionel trains on the web and ordered the 1997 Alaska set! Now it is my wife who is saying "Hey that stuff is to expspensive to be considered a toy!" I truely marvel at the Lionel postwar stuff and buy some it from time to time– mostly I buy Alaska Railroad since I'm up North. From the old post war to current if it is ARR I can rationalize it.
Kevin T.
otftch wrote:I still am into both Hobbies and have many "priceless" aquisitions,but the one I value most is my wife of thirty-six years ,who puts up with all of this.She used to wait for me to grow up but now enjoys both hobbies with me.I now have children and grand-children who are happy that I never grew up.
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