Hi
I am now 75 years old. I started with "TRAINS" when I was about six (LIONEL). I am
and have bee concerned with what you might call "MANAGEMENT SUCCESSION" ie
at what general age is good to start a kid with his first "Trainset"...? Any thoughts. I know
that not every child is alike and that it is completely related to certain traits as the child grows up,
Just curious (for my two young fellows / Grandchildren..
I presume that you agree with me that LIONEL is best for a kid... vs the delicate nature of a lot
of HO or N Scales ?? So again- How ABOUT HO.. what age seems to work out best ??
If you can tell me who to write to as we begin this adventure (they are age 4 and 5) I can come up
with something perhaps useful for other FATHERS / or GRANDFATHERS...
Respectfully
Henry T, Paiste, III
(htpaiste3@yahoo.com)
Welcome to the forums.
As you said, each child is different. I would say that if you have some Lionel that you can set up for them, see how they do. I think the recommendation is 8 yrs, but with your guidance they could start learning and appreciating the basics. If they show interest, then you could continue, introduce to HO if you feel they can be careful enough to handle it or just keep improving the O scale with them.
Good luck,
Richard
I started my Grandson's at the age of five with a wooden set; then on to an HO set by the time the first hit eight.
I figured the wooden train cars got him used to the idea and tough enough where no or be careful wasn't necessary. Then on to an HO set that was large enough for him to build those fine motor skills. And he was old enough to be careful with what he was playing with.
Things have worked out quite well; I also purchased a White foamboard for him to put the HO set on to. His Dad cut it down to fit under his bed and it's still there and working today two years later. And I've sent him another Loco and a few cars to add to his collection.
So with that being said it's up to the child as to when and what. But the earlier the better.
Hope that helps you.
A lot of the Toy Train market is now for adult collectors and has delicate detail. For 4 and 5 year olds, I would probably go with Lionel O27, cheaper American Flyer, or Industrial Rail (now owned by Atlas). These seem to be more kid oriented than the rest - they're also cheaper.
When they're 8 to 10 you can introduce them to the scale side if they're so inclined. Both S and O have a scale side (some with scale wheels, some with oversized flanges). So as a hobby they are both worth considering along with HO and N. And then there's Z and G.
Enjoy
Paul
Welcome!
I started with trains when I was 2. This was I lionel set which I could easily operate even at that young age. The result is I've been hooked since .
When I was 6 I got my first HO set. It was a Bachman and didn't run very well. That might have been the reason I gave up on HO scale for a while and went back to the easy to run O gauge (by this point my family had Lionel's, MTH's, ect).
When I was about 10 or 11 I finally got back into HO scale because it was less expensive than O, now that I was starting to buy my own trains. I also got better running models.
Now I'm 17 and run primarily HO, but still have and use all of the O scale I received when I was younger. I would recommend that you start your grandchildren with O gauge to get them interested. Then later on if they still seem interested you could introduce them to the smaller scales, when they're old enough to be able to handle them.
Just my opinon,
Good Luck
Jamie
Cape Vincent Southern Railroad
HO scale Horseshoe Curve in 5’x10’
My YouTube
My boys are now 11 and 13. I have been back in the hobby in HO for the last 10 years, so you can figure how young they were. They have been actively running trains and handling HO equipment with no problems for the last 6 years. I am of the opinion that with appropriate instruction and supervision that kids can learn to be careful and appreciate how to handle delicate things. For sure some locos and rolling stock are more fragile than others, so perhaps start with some lower end things, but now they use and cherish their own locomotives.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
My boys have been playing with trains since they were infants. Playmobil 1-2-3 set, then Thomas / Brio wooden trains, gradually moving into HO. They're now 9 and 7, and can handle HO with aplomb, but they started with some basics as early as age 4.
In point of fact, 4 yr olds are much better at staining rock castings than I am, because their natural sloppiness makes for a very realistic looking rock.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I seem to recall having brio and lego trains before I got my first train set around age 8 or so. Brio was a lot of fun since it was easy to build up tracks and their wood construction made them robust enough to stand up to me and my brother. When I was a little older legos added even more to the creative side and around age 8 I got a Walthers train set in HO. Soon after I was building car kits and taking apart my engines. I think as a kid if you care enough about something like your trains then you'll be careful enough not to break them. I dont really use my original train set stuff anymore but I'm still in HO and my collection doesn't want to stop growing.
Cahrn
I think ages 8, 9 and 10 are when a child is likely ready to be able to rerail an HO train (perhaps N also but I can say that the ability to rerail N seems to go away again somewhere in the late 50s -- at least it has for me!)
So from age 5 or so on to about 10, Lionel is probably the way to go. Age 5 to 10 is also where the easy to build Plasticville O scale structures are well suited.
Although we think of Lionel as expensive and priced for collectors, in point of fact plenty of basic Lionel can be had fairly cheaply and that is probably the best for kids rather than let them beat up on a carefully preserved treasure from the past. It certainly seems like used Lionel track is dirt cheap.
Dave Nelson
I gave my grandkids a basic LGB set. One is 8 and two are 4. They are running the wheels off it and having no problems . By the way two are girls and playy with it as much as the boy.
Depends upon the child's "small motor skills". Until the child can get the train on the tracks, and rerail it after it comes off the tracks, it won't be an enjoyable toy. I can clearly remember mastering Lionel at age six, but being unable to get HO onto the tracks until several years later. I did a lot of carpet running and pushing the Lionel around the track by hand. I don't remember running it under power until age 8 or 9. I think Brio has a lot of play value for younger children and it's very rugged.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
You have mnay varieties of answers here.
There are lots of options:
start with the wooden push around Thomas trains, start with Lego electric trains, start with/move to Thomas the tank electric sets, start with Lionel electric trains,start with a BAchmann or Athearn HO set.
You need first to find out if they are even interested, and a cheaper HO Bachmann set will give you/them the idea if they are interested. Bachmann sets are not the cheap crap they used to be, so they should last awhile, and they are usually durable and less detailed in sets so they won't break easy, and will save you the expense of buying a $300-$500 Lionel set only to find out they are not interested at all, or don't stay interested.
Just some additional thoughts and ideas
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
My kid got his first train set when he was about 6mos, a G-scale Steam Engine and Passenger Cars. He started running HO trains, w/DCC throttle and "real" trains when he was about 2-1/2yo or so. My other kid, who is now 1-1/2yo, is not quite ready to handle a throttle yet, but he does "turn the knob" on the G-scale train sometimes and understands what it does.
John
I believe the love of trains transcends generations and will always be around as long as trains are around.
that being said, the world is a lot different today. I doubt a kid will appreciate a Lionel set as much as someone 50 and older would. BUT a wooden Thomas set & accessories is the "gateway drug" of choice into model railroading for the kids of this generation. There's quite a bit of track, rolling stock, accessories and scenery items in the Thomas realm and it transfers almost directly into model railroading today.
I would say between 7 and 10 gauge what they want and see what their hands can handle. Some kids are responsible around delicate models, some want to demolish them, it greatly varies. I started to take HO seriously at age 10 myself (after breaking previous HO and 027 train sets).
As much as I'm an N-scale proselytizer, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone below teenage years.
Forgot to mention this in my previous post, but if you decide to go the wooden trains "Thomas The Tank" route, then be aware of this great US company The Whittle Shortline Railway http://www.woodentrain.com/ they make some excellent Thomas track compatible locos and freight cars of real trains. This extended the life of the wooden track in our household for years after they were "too old" for Thomas.
This company happens to be from the St. Louis area so we were fortunate to be close enough to go to the factory store. Even though the boys happily ran my HO trains, these wooden trains have been hugely successful. Just this last Christmas our entire living room was taken over for a day with a massive wooden layout, so even at 11, these still get a run out occasionally.
Like others have said, "Every child is different"
Honestly at that age (4, 5) children typically don't have the pre-hension (Fine motor skills for fingers) necessary to rail a HO engine. This is why larger scale is better.
Lionel still makes tin-plate. Or for a similar amount of money you could go a very cheap G scale from Bachmann (the kind that runs around a tree) and see how he/she takes care of it.
I know I will be browl beaten for saying this but fewer and fewer and fewer children are getting O-scale stuff. Only the old timers use it. You can get more realism and selection for a lot less money and space in HO/N these days. So beware of this if you decide to start them on O scale.
Diesel is always better than steam, as the steam gearing tends to get damaged by small hands. F and E units are particularly good at taking a beating.
Thomas the tank engine is an excellent first choice also.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
I am another that would say start with the Brio sets, my 3 year old daughter has been playing with them since her early days in pre school/day care and is fascinated with trains.
I personally started with a Lionel set under the tree when I was 3 and have been hooked ever since. That set didn't last long of course as a few years later I also discovered the screws on the bottom and removed the internal workings to see what made it tick, never did get it back together.
I moved to HO when I was 6 and with the help of a plastic rerailing ramp to put over the track, had no problem rerailing the AHM trainset equipment I started with.
We have a Bachman G scale set that goes under the tree every Christmas and my 3 year old can rerail that equipment no problem.
Modeling the fictional B&M Dowe, NH branch in the early 50's.
I think that introduction to model railroading can start at age 2 years old with the wooden track and trains. But, I think that 4-5 years old may be more appropriate for the models that we are used to using. O scale would be a good start, but I think that one could make a case for HO. I guess it depends on the level of involvement that you plan for the youngster. I have a 6 years old nephew. He comes over with his parents to run "Uncle Train's" trains. I am a serious scale modeler and have a lot of Fine Scale Miniature and scratchbuilt structures. I run some brass locomotives and some plastic ones. Needless to say, we run the "plastic" when Devin is there. He has "helped" me build some plastic structures. But, these are of the very inexpensive variety. His parents are starting to buy a few model railroad items in HO scale for him. They are planning to build a layout for Devin.
I would start simple and as the grandchildren show more interest and skill, I would let them become more involved. You did not mention where the model railroad is to be built. I would assume that it would be your house. At your home, you have more control over their "activities". I hope this works out, as we need more young folks to become involve in our hobby. If we don't get them interested in model railroading, who will?
Craig North Carolina
One other thing that seems to help with getting kids to catch the bug is taking them to see (or better still, ride) real trains.
I'm fortunate that within 30 minutes drive, we can see Providence and Worcester trains, two short lines, Amtrak, commuter rail, and a tourist steam railroad.
One of my kids' favorite spots is a local pizza parlor, which is actually located IN the Amtrak station, and has two operating HO layouts. So, they can see real and HO stuff run, all in the same evening!
I think it depends on the kid. Whenever he stops trying to destroy, blow-up , or leave things outside, ( when he starts careing for his toys) ,Thats the time. Some children come out of this stage faster than others. If you are looking to hand down your old train set I would at least make sure the child is capeable of careing for it.......JMO........Mike