Do you set up a train under your Christmas tree?

[luvflorida]

I never have, but I've always thought they looked cute. So, I bought one yesterday to set up under the tree this year. The train is mostly red and is called the Santa Express. I tried it out today to make sure everything works on it.

I had in mind a little train slowly circling the tree, something that would be calm and serene to watch. That doesn't describe THIS train!

Once you flip the lever on the side, it takes off like nobody's business! It makes chugging sounds, has a working headlight, a train whistle (very authentic sounding) and even has smoke puffing out of the smokestack. The train went past me three times before I could manage to hit the stop button.

I bought it figuring our gandson will get a kick out of it, but I don't know. It might end up scaring him. It's pretty intense! Not much riles up our cat, Henry, but even he fled the room.

Anybody have a quiet train under their tree?!?!?!?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Sounds like the one we have. It is like the super express train! I still like it though. I just wish the tracks would stay together better. We have a lot of derailments. Santa waves out the window but I think he is really waving people out of the way and screaming "Look out! Runaway train!"

 

[wdwfan16]

We have had a train under the tree since I was a kid. We use the electical ones not the battery operated ones.

 

[Jacoby 46]

We do! We set up our WDW Railroad under the tree every year! It is tradition with our kids and I just love watching it go around the tree!

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

We but our Monorail around our tree...a nice change from the WDW Train we have and everyone compliments it.

 

[ticktock]

DS sets up two or three. He has an old fashioned HO scale Lionel steam engine set that isn't too noisy if you keep it going slow. He has the O scale Polar Express by Lionel that is noisier but still not too bad if you keep it going slow. He also has a smaller version of the Hogwarts Express by Ertle? I think that isn't as loud as the other two, it's not very good quality compared to the Lionels though. I'd like to get him the Hogwarts Express by Lionel but it is pricey and he isn't that into trains anymore so don't think I'll spend $200-300 on a new train. I HATE when little boys grow up.

You need to buy a train that has a control box, that way you are in control of the speed, whistle ect. Also nothing but a Lionel or equivalent is going to stand up to a little boy. Good luck!

 

[Liberty Belle]

No. I think they're really cute, but we always have way too many gifts under the tree. We have a smaller tree for the living room, but it's an aspen type with a small base and that wouldn't work for a train. Also, we have a fiesty little beagle who would have a field day with it.

I'll have to do some thinking and see if I can figure out another place to put the train set. Right now I'm coming up blank.

 

[pennymom]

We do! We have the Disney Express under the 'kids' tree in the family room with all of the kids' decorations they have accumulated over the years and also some from when DH and I were children. The Lionel Polar Express goes under the more formal living room tree. And both boys have tiny artificial trees on their dressers with small N-scale trains.

DH and DS7 and big-time train fanatics, especially during the holidays!

 

[luvflorida]

Sounds like the one we have. It is like the super express train! I still like it though. I just wish the tracks would stay together better. We have a lot of derailments. Santa waves out the window but I think he is really waving people out of the way and screaming "Look out! Runaway train!"

I just checked our train and there is a picture of Santa at the controls. However, he isn't waving. Looks like he's got both hands on the levers. Good thing! No derailments yet.

You need to buy a train that has a control box, that way you are in control of the speed, whistle ect.

You got that right! I thought I was going to lose a finger trying to hit the switch on the side of the train.

 

[NotAmused]

We just bought a small train that is actually made to go around the tree and actually attaches to the mid section of the Christmas tree so it's off the ground. We haven't set it up yet, but hopefully it's not too loud and crazy.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We have 2 trains. One is a Lionel the other an MTO.

 

[suzimar57]

DH used to set up a small train, that circled around the tree - every once in a while, it would fall off the track though - still, was fun to watch!

 

[olena]

We but our Monorail around our tree...a nice change from the WDW Train we have and everyone compliments it.

Same here! The monorail talks though...

 

[tinkerfan1]

Yes, ours is quiet. It is the Disney monorail. It makes a little bit of noise and if you push the button tells you the standard sayings that the monorail says when you get on it. We love it. It is part of what makes us Disney unique.

 

[rie'smom]

We have a train but don't set it up because we have 3 small indoor dogs and a cat that would love to play with it.

 

[Caradana]

You are clearly an advanced-level Christmas person. This train thing sounds awesome. It is all I can do to convince the guys to drag a live tree into the living room and arranged in a vertical fashion. I feel such an immense sense of accomplishment with that, you would think I was Paul Bunyan, truly. I drop on an angel and some lights + ornaments and call it a day.

 

[LVSWL]

We have a WDW train and the monorail.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Never had bothered with one... Now it'd become a kitty toy if it was one of those electric trains... I doubt I'll even put up a tree this year as last time, the cats knocked it over about 4 times....

 

[ilovejack02]

I have a thomas the tank engine set.. Thomas is electric and has a little Santa hat on . It goes under the tree in my den, we don't put presents under that tree.

 

[monkeybug]

We do! My husbands Uncle buys each child in the family a train for their first Christmas. He sets up a crazy elaborate train scene in the basement each year! We put it around the tree after opening my daughters on her first Christmas and it just stuck!