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Electric train set questions
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:44 am
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:44 am
When is the right time to get a kid an electric train set, and what scale?
For the last few years I have set up my old O-27 gauge train around the bottom of our Christmas tree, and this year our three year old has really taken an interest in it. I think he is still too young this year (just turned three in October) but is a young four still too young for a train set? I can't remember if I got my first one at 4 (almost 5) or 5 (almost 6).
For a younger child, what's the best starting gauge? HO?
For the last few years I have set up my old O-27 gauge train around the bottom of our Christmas tree, and this year our three year old has really taken an interest in it. I think he is still too young this year (just turned three in October) but is a young four still too young for a train set? I can't remember if I got my first one at 4 (almost 5) or 5 (almost 6).
For a younger child, what's the best starting gauge? HO?
16
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:45 am to PJinAtl
Got one in first grade. Had a lot of fun with it. Going to the toy store and picking out a new piece was always exciting.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:46 am to PJinAtl
Wish I could help, but model trains are not my thing. However, I do know we’ve got at least one or two enthusiasts here who should be able to steer you right.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:48 am to PJinAtl
Lionel 1955 Still Smokes Whistle Cattle Car still workes
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:50 am to PJinAtl
Maybe start him out with some Brio sets this Christmas and see how things go from there.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:52 am to PJinAtl
Be careful. Those things killed Bobby Baccalieri
Posted on 12/4/24 at 9:56 am to PJinAtl
quote:
HO
Probably has the most options.
I have a killer set now, but the one I got as a kid I tore up and accidentally dropped trains and cars breaking them. Something to consider...
I would get a coupon for Hobby Lobby and buy him a basic set to start. As he grows older, buy him nicer individual engines, cars, etc. if he still has an interest in it.
Also, I had a table as a kid, with the new stuff, you can set it up quickly on carpet and put it up quickly when you are done, so it doesn't take up a ton of space.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:05 am to PJinAtl
Just do the Thomas set with the plastic tracks. Your three your old will likely drop stuff and the real deal trains are fragile. We bought the polar Express set (O scale, metal, Lionel) a for our kid early on and sure enough one of his friends switching signs and we have had to fix it a couple times since. They aren't going to have any fun if you have to tell them dont touch this, don't do that.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:07 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
Wish I could help, but model trains are not my thing. However, I do know we’ve got at least one or two enthusiasts here who should be able to steer you right.
yes, they'll get you on the right.....track
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:08 am to PJinAtl
No kid wants a spare arse train set these days.
PS5 son and an IPhone 16
PS5 son and an IPhone 16
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:09 am to ThuperThumpin
quote:
Maybe start him out with some Brio sets this Christmas and see how things go from there.
We actually got him one of the little wooden sets last Christmas. I don't think they were Brio but the same idea.
He likes it, and will get it out and want to play with it some, but his attention span is still somewhat short and right now would rather play with his plastic dinosaurs, etc.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:12 am to S
quote:
Going to the toy store and picking out a new piece was always exciting.
I remember going to the bozo toy shop to look at stuff for my lionel train.
I about shite myself when I saw what they cost. Grandma hustled me outa there when she saw what they cost.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:39 am to PJinAtl
The 0-27 will be fine, make sure whistle works and it smokes, you can find smoke pellets on e bay if it’s post war steamer I remember just wanting to see smoke and hearing the whistle
Posted on 12/4/24 at 10:51 am to PJinAtl
quote:
For a younger child, what's the best starting gauge? HO?
It's hard to say. We've got multiple trains in our house in multiple scales and gauges (O, HO, ON30 an G.) What I'd say is from age 4, go with O gauge. It's a little more expensive, but HO is to fragile for a 4 year old. My kid helped build our HO layout at 5-6 and it was still a little bit much for him at that age. I remember spending ALOT of time repairing cars and locomotives that got damaged from his "playing" with them.
If you can find a good used O gauge set, I'd go with that. I'd HIGHLY recommend one with Lionel Fastrack,
Posted on 12/4/24 at 11:15 am to Lonnie Utah
Every year Los Angeles county has a fair in Pomona. Dates are in early May. One of the most popular destinations there are the trains. They have both an outdoor and indoor exhibit. The indoor is more of a swap meet, with tons of vendors.
LINK
LINK
Posted on 12/4/24 at 12:01 pm to PJinAtl
quote:
Electric train set
Don't be a damn hippy. Get a gas train set.
Posted on 12/4/24 at 12:03 pm to PJinAtl
We had a small house growing up so my dad installed a piece of plywood with hinges on the wall beside my twin bed and I would pull out down and screw two table legs to it (it fit across my bed) and he glued the train track down so all I had to do was connect the transformer and pull the train out of the closet to play with it
Posted on 12/4/24 at 12:05 pm to PJinAtl
I looked at this for my son a while back. Man toy trains are bonkers expensive these days. I remember I had one as a kid and they never seem to run right either.
Ergo I will buy him some Brio trains which are not cheap especially considering they are wood blocks, because they can't break if there is no motor to act funny. I will also buy him something like the Polar Express set I bought for my nieces. It's cheap garbage but it's easy for kids to use and simple to set up. When they lose interest, who cares? Toss it.
LINK
Ergo I will buy him some Brio trains which are not cheap especially considering they are wood blocks, because they can't break if there is no motor to act funny. I will also buy him something like the Polar Express set I bought for my nieces. It's cheap garbage but it's easy for kids to use and simple to set up. When they lose interest, who cares? Toss it.
LINK
Posted on 12/4/24 at 1:49 pm to The Torch
quote:
No kid wants a spare arse train set these days.
PS5 son and an IPhone 16
You might be the biggest arsehoe for saying this.
But everyone was thinking it, we just don't want to give up the train-set fantasy
Posted on 12/4/24 at 4:32 pm to PJinAtl
There are some good people who will take your old set and mechanically refresh it.
The 50's sets are more reliable and will last longer. The new technology often fails. Conversely, kids like the new tech.
Kids can learn to operate the trains at 4-5 years of age.
I gave a local lawyer a nice ) gauge 50's vintage Lionel train. The kid loved it. The lawyer and his pal broke the diecast locomotive (which is damn hard to do).
Older Lionel trains were of exceptional quality. They also were not cheap. I just acquired a 1940 set and looked up the original price in the Lionel 1940 catalog: $85. That was a ton of money in 1940.
The 50's sets are more reliable and will last longer. The new technology often fails. Conversely, kids like the new tech.
Kids can learn to operate the trains at 4-5 years of age.
I gave a local lawyer a nice ) gauge 50's vintage Lionel train. The kid loved it. The lawyer and his pal broke the diecast locomotive (which is damn hard to do).
Older Lionel trains were of exceptional quality. They also were not cheap. I just acquired a 1940 set and looked up the original price in the Lionel 1940 catalog: $85. That was a ton of money in 1940.
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