Halloween train TR

[VACAMPER]

I absolutely love where I live but i dream of retiring in florida someday as well. I guess its good i get to admire these beautiful mtns for 33 more years before that happens though.

 

[FWRR3]

Hey, rapriebe, what are the dates of your next visit? Hope we can get to meet.

 

[mgsmom]

Hey FWRR3 - I'm officially hijacking your thread - so glad I went back and found it!!!

I need train advice! DH wants to buy a nice train set to go around the base of the Christmas tree. Something that is not themed or could be tied to a time period (ie: Polar Express train, etc). But also will not cost a ton of money. Hoping to find something that we can keep and use until DD is older and grown and she can take and use around her tree.

Any suggestions? I know Lionel is a good brand, right? But those suckers are $400 and up -and honestly, I just don't know the difference between all the different sets.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[FWRR3]

Hi, mgsmom. I'm not sure if I can help that much, as I'm pretty new to this model train thing myself, but here goes. Do you know what scale you want? I always liked the large trains under the tree, but large scale is usually more expensive. HO is probably the cheapest. For large scale, I like Hartland (www.h-l-w.com), only ones made in USA! but you can pay $400 or more just for an engine. Rolling stock can be around $100 per car. Check out www.wholesaletrains.com and look at sets under O guage, and I see some around $200. A good hobby or train store would help, but watch out for their pricing. It's often much better on the internet. Or you could watch EBay. Or estate sales, yard sales. Other than large (G) scale, I'm not too familiar with the products. It can get expensive if you start buying individual components, engine, cars, track, power, so for a tree I'd look for a set. LGB is very traditional, but expensive. Hope this helps. Maybe some other modelers could chime in. You can PM me if you want with any questions.

 

[mgsmom]

That is so helpful - you have no idea how clueless I am! I don't even know what any of the gauges mean or sizes or whatever. I looked under the "O" gauge and there was a nice looking "Yuletide Express" for $200 that might do the trick! Our price range is $100-$200 - so I'll look around some more to be sure there's not something a little cheaper that would also work.
I'll also have to figure out if it can make a circle around the tree - I would think it could (thus the name) but it has listed how much of the types of track so I'll just try and do the math.

Thanks so much for the help! If anyone knows of other websites, too, let me know!

 

[FWRR3]

Mgsmom, also go to http://mrr.trains.com/en/How To/Articles.aspx and click on the articles under "ABC's of Model Railroading", especially the ones about buying your first train set. Good Luck!

 

[dblr]

Sears had a add for 1 Lionel sets this week a Pennsy freight set and the Harry Potter set either for $ 169.99 not a bad price just do not know if they will have any left.

 

[mgsmom]

Mgsmom, also go to http://mrr.trains.com/en/How To/Articles.aspx and click on the articles under "ABC's of Model Railroading", especially the ones about buying your first train set. Good Luck!

What an informative site! I love how that article gives descriptions for terms used - thank you!!!

Sears had a add for 1 Lionel sets this week a Pennsy freight set and the Harry Potter set either for $ 169.99 not a bad price just do not know if they will have any left.

I'll look that up - sounds like a great deal! Thanks!