Guys, been reading here trying to absorb as much info as quickly as possible. There's obviously a reason why this is a lifetime hobby for so many! My soon to be 5 year old son has me scrambling to find something for him as he's been asking for a "real train". No more wooden Thomas. That set is now too boring for him.
So here's where I am and I could certainly use any/all guidance. I'm still doing the debate between O and HO. There are obvious pros and cons of each. My brother-in-law has an O-gauge layout in his basement but he's suggesting HO (more available, can take up less space, which is limited). If I go HO, my father has some trains he's collected over the years (all HO), that he is going to give us.
The little guy, he loves the Polar Express (with Hogwarts Express a close second and Thomas is a no). I think getting him something he recognizes/likes would help keep him interested in it. So while I'm leaning towards HO there is no obvious Polar Express like there is for O-gauge. Whatever we get will definitely be a fixture at Christmas time.
So if I go HO, do you guys have any suggestions on some decent beginner sets? There are so many choices between Bachman, Life Like, Athearn, etc.. And please, feel free to chime in with any other guidance.
Thanks!
Back when I was 5 or 6 years old, I could operate O gauge Lionel, no sweat. I could get the train on the tracks and work the couplers and make it run. HO was trickier, I could not work HO until I grew up a bit. For a 5 year old, he would have more fun with the larger, stay on the track more, O gauge. Lionel or MTH are both good. Carpet running is fun, making up new track plans is fun. Only down side to carpet running for a kid it you gotta pick up it and put it away sometimes. Then you can graduate to a 4 by 8 train table.
HO is cheaper, and vey good these days. Any train set stocked by your local hobby shop will be fine. Plus you can replace any single item in a trainset that breaks or you get tired of. A train set gives you an oval of track, a locomotive and 3 or 4 cars, a low end power pack. You will want to get more track fairly early, some turnouts, a crossover, and make a more complex track plan than just an oval. You will want to buy a few more cars to make a longer train.
The trainsets come with mostly track with a rubbery ballast attached. There are several makers of the pre ballasted sectional track, and they do NOT intermate. The hobby shop will carry extra track, straights, curves, turnouts and crossovers. Buy the set that has track to match what the hobby shop has so you can enlarge your track. Some trainsets come with plain sectional track with just ties, no rubbery ballast. That will intermate with other makers of sectional track and the hobby shop is bound to carry additional track to mate with it.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
I started with trains in HO scale at 4 years old. At the time I could not figure out how to get the cars back on the rails and usually had to ask my dad or mom or even my sis if she was being nice to me that day. It was Tyco with horn hook couplers and it was fun and memories that have stayed with me my entire life.
Fast forward about 30ish years and now I am a dad of my own 5 and 2 year olds. My son can handle the HO trains just fine and getting them on the tracks is easy for him if he goes slow and watches what he is doing. I found some kits with old horn hook couplers and used them on his engine and cars since they are easier than knuckle type (for a 5 year old) I placed a loop and a smaller loop on a sheet of ply and then cut the ply to the tracks so that my son's layout was portable. See below.
That is his "layout" He gets out his wood blocks and other items to make tunnels and hot wheels bridges and he loves it. Fast is his favorite speed and for him that is just fine. He has a Thomas with Anne and Clarabel in HO scale, he really likes running them. I also bought him an old Athearn BB F45 and a couple "real" cars which is his main train.
I bought him a full body locomotive because little hands do not always be careful where they hold things, and with a full body engine there are no handrailings to ruin (I also have not put the front or rear railings on the engine for that very reason, I will when he gets older).
A DC power pack is the best to get him started with since it is the simplest to operate, teach him to run only one train at a time and to stop before going in reverse and he should be fine.
I love to watch my son play with his trains, I love to see how he creates little buildings, tunnels and "operates" his train. His imagination is full of new and exciting things. Watching a child play with a train is a wonderful thing, you will see soon enough. HO may be a little difficult for him at first but with a rerailer track and some daddy patience he will be running trains and switching industries before you know it.
Massey
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
My son turns 6 next week. He's been into trains since he was born. Plastic Thomas, wooden Thomas & now HO scale.
Start off with a simple set, preferably Athearn or Proto 1000. They're inexpensive but not cheap like Bachman & LifeLike's offerings.
With an Athearn Set, you get a decent power pack & train in the box. You'd be able to expand from there to include the locomotives he may like.
Just my 2 cents
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
My youngest has been operating HO equipment since he was 4 1/2. He started with the HO Bachmann Thomas stuff, but like your son, he now thinks Thomas is "silly". He has gradually acquired his own HO stuff, at Christmases and birthdays, and even some of my cast-offs.
He has his own layout, which he does much of the work on. It's very whimsical, and not realistic at all, but I don't tell him what he can do with his layout, and he doesn't tell me what to do on mine.
As far as Polar Express or Hogwarts express goes, well, if you're up for a little challenge, you can just make your own. You can buy "painted, undecorated" or even "unpainted" locomotives in the correct wheel configuration (to match the movies, I presume), and add your own decals and / or paint to get everything matching. Not a beginner, one evening project, but not hugely difficult, either.
For a starter set, I'd get one with the roadbed attached, because it's easier to get things set up and have them stay together. Another word of advice: don't run HO equipment (even on track with pre-attached roadbed) directly on carpet. Those little fibers kill locos.
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 forgot to mention the Hogwarts or Polar Express. There was an HO set of Hogwarts express a while back when the first movie came out. I cant remember for certain but I believe it was by Bachmann. I dont think it sold all too well and I cant find them any more. Polar express is an easy one to do. Watch the movie, and the loudmouth kid tells you what kind of engine it uses, it is a Baldwin 2-8-4 wheel arrangement. The actual loco the computer models were made with were from a Lima 2-8-4 from the Pierre Marquette. The cars are heavyweights, easy enough to find in Bachmann Spectrum line, the paint is a light grey blue and the stripe is similar to Wisconsin Central Maroon. There should be 5 cars total, 3 coaches, one baggage car and the observation. The only part of the train that is not available is the observation car. There are ones that are close but not exact, so kitbash or live with the "not the same as the movie" car. I choose to live with a normal observation.
Hogwarts train is and engine similar to the Flying Scottsman, painted in a deep maroon and the cars are European lightweights also painted in the same deep maroon. I have seen this engine around from time to time but not in a while. The cars I also dont have a clue where to find them. Maybe some one here that models European steam could chime in and give you a better idea.
wolverines!
First, welcome to the forums! You have already had lots of good advice which is what these forums are for.
Here's my two cents worth:
HO scale can be a little fussy when it comes to putting stuff on the track and keeping it on the track, but if your son is the type who is not too easily frustrated then it might be worth a try. Atlas offers a re-railer that can make the task a lot easier.
http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/Track/Trackphotos/0155.JPG
There is certainly a wide selection of products available in HO and lots of it can be had at reasonable prices. Also most of the model train shows/swap meets cater to HO primarily so you and your son could have some fun together at the meets, get to see lots of layouts, and likely come away with a few treasures at good prices.
I have the Bachmann HO Hogwarts Express. It is a well made engine but the front truck derails constantly (I have not run it much but nothing else is bothered by my trackwork). If you really have your hearts set on Harry's loco and the front truck does cause a problem, it will run fine if you simply take the front truck off. Won't look as good but it will work. The other problem with Hogwarts Express is that it was actually made by Bachmann in England so the couplers are totally different from North American stuff. That problem can be fixed if you want to use the engine to pull other rolling stock but otherwise it is no big deal. eBay has two listed right now and the prices seem reasonable (make sure you are getting the full set with track and transformer):
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_nkw=Hogwarts&_sacat=19132&_dmpt=Model_RR_Trains&_odkw=&_osacat=19132&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313
I would be cautious about the fragility of some brands, especially with regard to the engines. Proto 2000 makes great stuff but the details like grab irons and lift rings are very easily damaged. Intermountain uses wire for grab irons but now you are talking some serious coin. The cheaper sets lack the delicate details which is OK because I don't think that the level of detail is foremost in your priorities right now.
I think that Massey's approach is great. Not too much money invested, reliable trackage, and the opportunity to add a few special items that the two of you might find at a swap meet or online. Most important is the obvious play value that their setup provides.
Hope you have a lot of fun with your son!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
O gauge Hogwarts
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SSN0Q0/ref=asc_df_B000SSN0Q01729444?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=dealt1-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B000SSN0Q0
HO scale Hogwarts
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-Scale-Bachmann-Harry-Potter-Hogwarts-Express-TRAIN-/160644551248?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2567295250
I just did a Google search and got a lot of hits.
Personal unless you like fixing things I would stay away from steam! It is way picker about track (derailing) and lot more things to break. I have no children here at the house, but i have to work on my steam engines way more than my diesels.
Here is a link to a page that has starter sets.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/HO-Scale-Train-Sets-s/334.htm
Here is a set I would look at.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Athearn-HO-1073-Iron-Horse-Express-Train-Set-p/ath-1073.htm
Athearn is hard to bet when you are running DC (at this point you should not want to know about DCC) and pretty easy to fix if there is a problem.
Good luck, and hope to hear back from you.
Ken
I hate Rust
If your son is going to play with the train mostly on his own and/or mostly on the floor then go with O 3 rail. It's more rugged and easier for young children to handle. Young children also seem to like the larger size more. Plus you can add action cars and accessories.
If you plan to be heavily involved with the hobby and build a permanent train table (layout) with scenery then HO or O can be a good bet. Don't let the size be a major problem. 3 rail O gauge can operate on as little as 27" diameter curves for O27 and 31" diameter curves for full size O gauge. HO generally requires 18" radius (36" diameter) curves. In both cases longer engines and cars require larger curves.
Enjoy
Paul
Hum, beginning to think this a one post member. Hope I am wrong!
If yours truly bought an HO set for my grandson, it would be Atlas, as I consider them very good quality! Unfortunately, my 10 yr.-old grandson is not at all interested in trains. My 2 cents. Good Luck. .....papasmurf in NH
hon30critter I have the Bachmann HO Hogwarts Express. It is a well made engine but the front truck derails constantly (I have not run it much but nothing else is bothered by my trackwork).
I have the Bachmann HO Hogwarts Express. It is a well made engine but the front truck derails constantly (I have not run it much but nothing else is bothered by my trackwork).
hon3critter,
I have solved derailing Bachmann front trucks by adding a section of stick-on wheel weight to the truck. Also if it has a spring to hold the front truck down you might consider shortening it or removing it entirely as I did. HTH
Regards,
From Mt Pleasant, Utah, the home of the Hill Valley and Thistle Railroad where the Buffalo still roam and a Droid runs the trains
cudaken Hum, beginning to think this a one post member. Hope I am wrong!
I hope so too. He is not on the other forum I contribute to so I cant say he found better info there. Some of the guys here are also there too, so alot of the info would be the same!
Dave Merrill
Thanks for your suggestions. I had tried the opposite approach with the spring which was to try to put more pressure on the truck. I think all that did was make it more likely that the wheels would catch at every opportunity.
Thanks for all the advice guys. Would've posted earlier but I it won't let me reply from the iPad (that and a long day at work).
If I go O it's pretty easy, I'll get the Polar Express for him. But I really want to dig more into HO to understand what is out there and you've given me a lot to work with. I'm going to look into some of the sets/brands mentioned. Something more basic and sturdier would probably help. And I appreciate the advice on the steam vs. diesel engine to start with. If I do go HO, he and I perhaps can recreate the Polar Express on our own, which would make it a fun project for us. And in the meantime he'd already have a train to play with. As for the O vs. HO debate, I'm not so worried about his ability to get the train on the tracks and to do it himself. He learns pretty quick and can be gentle with things when need be (as rare as it may seem). He also has 2 older sisters to help out when things aren't so easy!!
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I learn more so stay tuned!
SMassey cudaken: Hum, beginning to think this a one post member. Hope I am wrong! I hope so too. He is not on the other forum I contribute to so I cant say he found better info there. Some of the guys here are also there too, so alot of the info would be the same! Massey
cudaken: Hum, beginning to think this a one post member. Hope I am wrong!
No 1 post member and done. I wouldn't waste everyone's time like that! It does say my posts need to be approved by a moderator first, so that is also contributing to the delay in getting back to you all (along with the long days and iPad issue - which is where I do most of my reading). Thanks again!
Hey, Wolverine(s) (don't know whether you're an X-Men fan or a Michigan fan), Glad to see you made it back.
Can't help with the ipad, unfortunately, but I want to weigh in on something someone said earlier (Cudaken?). I think you SHOULD take a look at DCC. Now, granted, it doesn't do you much good on a single loop of track, and granted that even a very basic set is North of $200 at MSRP. However, if and when you step up to a slightly more complex track plan, the ability to have you and your son each running his own loco at the same time, anywhere on the layout, is not to be missed.
I put it off for years because I thought it was both too expensive and too complicated. Turns out, I was wrong on both counts. I simply disconnected my bus wires from the DC controller and hooked up the DCC command unit. I purchased a "used" MRC Prodigy Express system at a train show -- which meant that someone had bought it on Saturday, took it home, unpacked it, then returned it on Sunday for a different model --- for $90, and was surprised to find that I could get decoders at my LHS for $30, including installation. So, when I was expecting to fork out $1000 for a system and a bunch of decoders, I ended up getting started and upgrading for about $400. I'm now sorry I didn't jump in sooner.
My son and I are going to start building the Polar Express here this year. We are going to make it a many year project adding more to it each year until we get all 5 cars and an engine. I am planning on using the Bachmann spectrum Heavy weight cars. they are great runners, come with lights, and are easy to get a hold of for reasonable prices. The engine I will worry about last since I have quite a few that he can use in the meantime. For this year the Polar Express is going to be pulled by a 2-8-0 Consolidation.
Massey, sorry I thought you where a 1 time poster, we get a lot of them.
Far as starting in DCC, well there are pro's and con's. My self, I started with DC and glad I did. There is a learning curve to this hobby. If your son was say 8 or 9 and you knew you wanted to get in the hobby I would fully endorse DCC to start with. In the long run, it makes running a bigger layout easier.
Cost is not the reason I said start with DC. With DC engines, it is a simple electrical devices. Much easier to trouble shoot if there is a problem. I am guessing you seen this part of the site.
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/744.aspx
If you look, there are people that have been in the hobby for a few years asking what they need to do to get a engine running. It is because they might have hit the wrong button changed the computer chip in the engine they should not have. I have done that a few times my self. If you look at a Digitrax Manual (DCC manufacture) it will make your eyes glaze over, well it did mine.
If You have all wise want to get into trains, that is a different store.
Sorry again I did not think you where coming back and
Cuda Ken
Guys, thanks again for all of the good advice. Time seems to have flown by the past several weeks. We ended up doing something else for his b-day, putting off the train until Xmas. He really wants the Polar Express and given it's his first set, making him happy is first and foremost for me. So it looks like the Lionel O-gauge set it is. I can get it for $200 so it's not the end of the world. Maybe down the road (and in a slightly bigger house!) we'll get him going with an HO set as well.
That's a good choice for his 5 year old Christmas I'd say. Actually, I do believe that's what we will be getting our 5yr old as well this Christmas. Where can you get one for $200? I can find them no cheaper than $250.
Anyway, as for the HO size, I bought my son a Bachmann Thomas the Tank Engine "Annie and Clarabelle" set for his birthday last year (4 yr birthday) to see how he liked it and how he handled that size), and here's where we are today!!!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxi5OvxFh60
It's no where near the standards of what most of the people here model to, but it's a work in progress and frankly I have no clure what I'm doing. I've never done this before. I saw some pictures on the Bachmann website of their "Sodor island" 4x8 layout exhibit layout they built to take to shows to shows of their Thomas HO products and I thought it would fit what I wanted to do for my son perfect. PLUS... I get to also run trains I like on there also. :) So, I thought to myself, "Hey, i could probably pull something like that off... so off I went." The main thing is to just have fun with you son doing it. Those are the memories he'll carry with him.
Chuck