Need help with picking out a lionel christmas tree train

[higleytownheros]

Hi!

We have decided it's time to get a train to put around our Christmas tree this year. We've decided on a lionel train .... we want to use this for a long time. I've found what I think are pretty good prices on ebay, new sets ranging from $150 to $200. Now I'm having a hard time choosing the size/scale to get. Does anyone have experience with lionel trains? What size would be appropriate for around the tree? I've seen G, O, O-27 and others. What does this mean?

Thanks!

 

[luvmy3jewels]

We bought the Polar Express Train Set for ds a couple of years ago. You can buy the set and then add on cars, tracks, etc. It is a really cool set (whistle and smoke) and ds loves it!! (My kids are all BIG Polar Express fans). The most recent car that I bought has a hobo that pops up out of the top of the car.

I can't remember what scale it is...but to me it is a perfect size (not too big or too little). I have three kids between 4 - 7 and the train has held up despite them ;-)

 

[Minniemouse07]

Can't help you much...we have a monorail around our tree!

 

[musicmama]

Before you spend the ebay bucks on a set - are there any train stores around you? You might be able to do better pricewise. Or even the Greenberg's Train and Toy Show - they have a website with show locations and dates!

We have a Lionel O-27 gauge, which works with DH's 50+ year-old Lionel O-gauge set to go around the tree. I spent time and $$ several years ago to start purchasing the annual Christmas cars as well as a couple of specialty trains for him. The Christmas train goes around the tree, as does his "original" train. He prefers that gauge as the HO-gauge is a little too small to be seen well, and the N gauge is even smaller. Also, look for the "click" track system as it can be taken apart and reassembled far more easily than the standard track types.

Another great trainmaker besides Lionel is MTH (Mike's Train House). We've seen these in several stores in suburban Philly and in Lancaster, PA. Another good train "source" is Charles Ro, and they have a website.

 

[poohguys]

The difference between to o and 0-27 is the radius of curve that the train needs to turn. There are trains that are O Scale which are true to the scale of the actual trains and then there is an O toy size(not true to scale). I believe that all of the sets are the toy size. We started out the a Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer set for around the tree and no DH has a 16x8 layout in the basement and a ton of Scale trains. I would say a Lionel set would be fine if you were going to use it once a year around the tree. I have heard that Walmart and Target and someother department stores may be carying these sets this year. I would check there. If you have more specific questions I'll be happy to ask him when he gets home from work.

 

[higleytownheros]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I checked out Greenberg's site, and unfortunately there aren't any shows near us ... I wish there were, my son is obsessed with trains and he would have loved that. We are actually in western PA, not near philly.

My husband and I looked through all of the sets on the lionel site last night, and we've decided on the polar express O gauge set.

My youngest DS loves freight trains though, so I was thinking about buying a couple of cars and a red caboose from ebay as christmas gifts for him. If we took the passenger cars off of the Polar Express engine, would these different cars be compatible?

Just one more question ... What do the three numbers mean after the engine name? For example the Polar Express has a 2-8-4 steam locomotive.

Thanks!!

 

[1LuckyMom]

We have a Lionel W.E. Disney Railway O gauge that we put under the tree. When the passenger cars light up you see all the characters on the train. Not sure if you can still get it or not. I would definately research all different kinds before you buy, so you end up with one that you will like for a long time.

 

[poohguys]

The numbers after in the engine name 2-8-2 The first number is the number of little wheels on the front of the train, the middle number is the larger wheels in the middle of the train and the last number is the smaller wheels in the rear, not including the wheels on the coal tender that is right behind the engine. This is only used for steam engines.

I am not sure were you are in western Pa, but there is Jim's Train shop in Homer City, but has MTH and some Lionel, but not the Polar Express set.

DH said he would not recomend buying trains on ebay. There are several good shops to buy from on line that would have discounted prices.

If you PM me DH can recomend some other good places to get trains from and answer any other questions.

 

[higleytownheros]

I wish I would have waited ... but I already purchased the Polar Express set earlier today on ebay. The set is new and from someone who appears to be a good seller so I'm hoping the train arrives okay.

Thanks for all of the information!