I want to buy the polar express set for my children's first set. Personally I would love to buy the O-Gauge, setup now, and then move under the x-mas tree in a couple months.
My fear is that they may be a little too young for this and it might be a better idea to go with the "ready to play" set for the next couple years then possibly upgrade. I'm only torn because I really like the detail of the steam and lighted box cars on the O-Gauge.
My kids are 3 yr. and 1.5 yr.
Can someone with experience in this area please provide me with some guidance on which set to proceed with?
Thanks in advance!
Welcome to the forums,
I would say that they are a little young to enjoy operating an O scale train. Not thet they wouldn't enjoy watching it and making it go faster and slower, but I think they would enjoy a wooden or plastic train with track they can set up, change and push around themselves.
There have been posts here of young children that have blossomed into very good model rr operators at a young age, but I think the majority seem to enjoy being able to push, pull and otherwise operate the simpler trains.
This does not mean you have to deprive yourself of a train set up under the Christmas tree. A simple circle or oval under the tree can add a lot. If you have a strong urge to expand your modeling, it can be done elsewhere, saving the tree layout for Christmas. I had a 4'x4' base for our tree and a small N (too small for tykes) layout for my wife's Christmas train. Unfortunately the train got burried when a son moved home. Could still put an HO on the base, but she's now got a few too many critters for that to be safe for anything smaller than O.
If finincing allows only one choice, I think I'd go for a small wooden set (they aren't cheap). As they grow, if they show interest go with a electric train set and see what happens.
If you have a love for trains and want yours, start with a simple, expandable plan. If I ever get my next layout started, I hope to have my great grandchildren give me a hand, let them do some scenery work on a small section and see how they do. If they have fun, maybe I've got some new modelers, if not I'll redo parts of the layout later.
Have fun,
Richard
Gave the polar express to my boys both at 1 year old. One was polar express one was a NY yankees train. The deal was they sat in my lap and I ran the train until they were about 2 years old.
My 5 year old does great with the train, and by the end of the season last year my 2 year old was getting pretty good with it. They were on seperate tracks so no chance of hitting one another.
Side note they both use my bachmann dcc controller to control trains on our pool table before we moved.
alco's forever!!!!! Majoring in HO scale Minorig in O scale:)
rs2mike Gave the polar express to my boys both at 1 year old. One was polar express one was a NY yankees train. The deal was they sat in my lap and I ran the train until they were about 2 years old. My 5 year old does great with the train, and by the end of the season last year my 2 year old was getting pretty good with it. They were on seperate tracks so no chance of hitting one another. Side note they both use my bachmann dcc controller to control trains on our pool table before we moved.
o-gauge?
I have an O gauge Polar Express. My grandson was running it at 3, he's 6 now. What he couldn't do and still really can't is take the track apart and put it together. He knows how it's done and tries to do some of it, but it's a little too stiff for him.
With 2 children you are eventually going to need 2 trains each on their own loop of track. That way they can run them at the same time. My grandson and I run trains together - each on our own loop. He likes to race them.
He also loves his Thomas the Tank trains and happily builds layouts all over the floor.
Paul
Can we see some pictures please?
If the Polar Express is O gauge, then what gauge is the other train?
ATSFGuy Can we see some pictures please? If the Polar Express is O gauge, then what gauge is the other train?
This is the other one I’m talking about.
Lionel Polar Express Ready to Play Train Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C35QC4W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CaS6zb18ZNGEX
Fisher Price Thomas Wooded train set. Not that expensive, no wiring and bullet proof for that age group.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy Fisher Price Thomas Wooded train set. Not that expensive, no wiring and bullet proof for that age group.
Have it. Doesnt Lee their attention like a Friends model does.
O gauge is the size for children that age. The Lionel Polar Express is a wonderful set. I have twin boys, and bought both the Thomas set and the PE for my boys when they were 1 year olds. They loved them, and ran them non-stop for years.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Thanks for everyones help! I ended up going with the new o-gauge with Bluetooth capability. When all was said and done I ended up getting it for about $225 so I really can't complain.
Fingers crossed that all goes well, I'm really looking forward to using this first train with them!
When my boy was younger I bought him a Geotrax train set which he really enjoyed. Runs on batteries with a wirelss controller lots of accesories. Not sure if they are still made.