I wanted to spend 200-350. I have been really pleased with the information I have received here. I did go back and look at the older post about starter train set for Christmas. Many of you have about sold me on the Polar Express, and maybe I can buy some frieght cars for it. The talk about it having the Berkshire (I think) engine is nice also. The pink Williams train would be nice, but $400 without track. What is the “story” on Williams Trains? Also, are they all 027? Other possibilities I am still considering are the NYC Flyer or Penn Flyer. If I buy some K-line cars, do they have the same coupling? Thanks. Philip
Let’s see…Polar Express mail order $200…Lionel Freight Expansion Set $100 each ($70 mail order or on sale)… two should be about perfect. You will then have 4 freight cars, two operating tracks, two operating cars, 6 more straights, and a few trucks. Lionel sells additional passenger Polar Express cars but they are spendy (about $40 or $50). Passenger cars do look nice on the layout but freight cars have more play value. The K-line cars do work with the Lionel cars but they tend to be a tad smaller (some would say 027 scale).
William’s has two lines, Traditional and Golden Memories. I believe the traditional is sized like the current cars in a Lionel set. The Golden Memories might be a tad larger.
Note: If you purchase a set mail order be sure to check that everything works long before the big day! Sometimes sets have a bad transformer.
Jim H
The polar express has just a whistle. You might want to consider the Lionel Express baggage car (with steam sound trainsounds) for about $100 ($75 mail order).
Jim H
Ignore what I said about Williams Traditional vs Golden Memories. Looking at the catalog it seems you can not generalize about which line is what scale.
Jim H
Here’s a great buy. MTH Pennsy freight set w/locosound $194.00. This engine works beautifully and the set comes with a very nice transformer.
http://www.trainworld.com/mth/mth2006sets.htm
OOps, that one may not be in stock. How 'bout this one. Pennsy deisel freight. Might be easier for a youngster to get a diesel on the track compared with a steam engine.
http://www.railking.com/detail2.asp?item=30-4147-0
You never mentioned the childs age or if there is already train interest from the child. I got a Lionel Thomas for my grandson. He loves it and it is low geared and does not fly off the curves at full speed. But you may want something more traditional.
Looking at another post, I found a 40% off coupon on the Hobby Lobby website. I hustled myself down there and picked up a 2006 Pennsylvania Flyer for $128.38 with 7% tax included. A great buy, I think. I had been patrolling eBay for several weeks and none have been this cheap (including shipping). Sticker was $199.99
Just a thought, hope this helps![2c]
The Lionel New York Central Flyer now comes with a searchlight car, and already has the full “TrainSounds” system with chuff, whistle, bell, crew announcements etc. Buy the NYC Passenger expansion pack, and you’ve got a big layout, a station, and two trains to run with one loco. I’d buy a switch, some extra straights and a bumper for a plave to park the cars that aren’t running, and you’ve TOY TRAIN BLISS! Jon
Williams is good stuff, to answer one question. One thing I did with my grandkidswas get contemporary trains for them. I could see the Polar Express set if the kid liked the movie. Other people have said the Thomas set was junk, so I wouldn’t do that.I question giving a kid a steam set or an F3 set of a railroad that was a fallen flag when their parents were in diapers.
Even $199 isn’t a bad price for that set–just my opinion–let alone $128.38. It would be difficult to put together a comparable set with used Marx or MPC-era Lionel and come in much under $130. I agree, you did great!