You have me inspired to do something under the tree this year!
WITH TRAINS!!!
Anyway…LOL
I don’t have anything Lionel O guage past 1969. What would be a good set to run under the tree for Christmas??? I would prefer a Christmas theme type train and it would need to run on my older O gauge track with a ZW transformer.
I didn’t know if all the new stuff was geared towards the older operating conditions I have.
Is the new Lionel Christmas set I see all over ebay any good???
Or should I piece something together separate???
Any help is much appreciated as I want to get moving on this!
If you are a little more daring… MTH 384 Standard Gauge Christmas Express. Comes with everything you need. Standard gauge track, transformer, lock-on, engine, tender and two passenger cars. It is a beautiful set and can be found for less than $500.
There is just something about tinplate (Standard and O) and Christmas…[:)]
In the last month I purchased two sets to use under the tree. An old Am. Flyer 3113 with 3171 passenger cars. That’s for an old nostalgic look. And also just purchased a K-line Super Chief Passenger set. Santa fe silver and red are great for Christmas.
Look around on the internet and see what you can find. Any trains under the tree look great. Good-luck and Happy Holidays!
I like garysevens idea also - Standard gauge - Awesome!
The Polar Express or the Holiday Tradition set are both nice themed sets that you can run under the tree. They come with FasTrack, so that will sit on either carpet, flooring, or a tree skirt. Easy to set up and expand.
That 384 is totally sweet!!!
i guess the only problem is that i have been doing Standard in the past and O wanted to do more of a platform with two loops under the tree. I saw some of the guys layouts in the other thread and I got inspired to do an O gauge layout. I guess it’s been 3-4 years without setting anything up and i saw the Holiday tradition set and just wasn’t sure of the quality!
This old died-in-the-wool American Flyer fan finally broke down and bought my son a Polar Express for his Christmas village lay-out. It just seems to have the right look for his theme. Kind of hated to buy any of that funky three rail stuff, but that’s just the way it is… I’ve been looking on e-bay for more FasTrack add-ons (switches, etc.) Boy they don’t give those away, do they? Is this stuff too new to have any used pieces available anywhere?
Lionel’s docksider Christmas set is sweet with its diecast 0-6-0 in bright red North Pole Central scheme, Christmas cars and caboose. K-Line has a nice Christmas set too.
I bought Lionel’s Christmas expansion set for $99. It included a flat car with an operating Santa & Mrs. Claus hand car, reigndeer car (their heads bob in and out of the car) and illuminated elves workshop box car, plus some straight sections of fastrack. To this I added a North Pole Central transfer caboose. Looks good behind any of my locomotives and cheaper than buying a complete set.
Jim, it is new and is flying off of the shelves. Finding used is going to be very difficult. Your best prices might be found at one of the big Lionel stores, such as Charles Ro.
I’m seeing more and more people say they like FasTrack. In the short time I’ve been in the hobby, I have seen a distinct shift in people’s opinions toward the track system. I’ve liked it right from the get go. It’s very nice.
Fastrack is indeed very nice. Got to work with it first hand with my Son’s new Thomas set. It really seems to add value to a starter set where as traditional tinplate track almost seemed like a “throwaway” item that cost Lionel little to package with a set. It is perfect for the temporary or Seasonal layout. However, with the growing library of pieces, realistic ties and the smooth switches, it seems to be finding it’s way into more permanent layouts here on the boards.
Mike
i did buy a Lionel Holiday Set and am very excited awaiting it’s arrival!
I have plenty of Standard Gauge things for now but the more I look at that
MTH 384, the more I know I will own one by next Christmas…LOL
i also liked your idea Dr. about the docksider but the set came complete
and i am kind of interested to see some of this FasTrack so i just
went for the complete set. I will have a nice mix of Post War and whatever
the new stuff is called…ha ha ha!
Thanks once again for all the help!
i want to run one of the layouts i saw someone post with two separate loops and a
really fun looking switching configuration. I have bout 4’x8’ maybe 5’x 10’ so i am gonna do some searching for layout palns in the other thread! Looks like I need to get busy pulling out all my track this weekend and get it done!
You guys are great!!!
Thanks for all the suggestions [:)]
I converted my permanent layout to FasTrack. What a difference it has made in operation. The switches are outstanding and smooth. I have had NO derailments going through the FasTrack switches with the train traveling in either forward or reverse at any speed.
Dr., I thought the docksider was a separate purchase for the Holiday Tradition set?
I did get the Docksider this year, along with the work caboose and the expansion set. Looking forward to running them on my Xmas layout.
Karl: The docksider is a neat little engine - I’ve already run it ona temporary layout and am looking forward to using it on my Xmas layout. You might consider the Xmas Expansion Pack, as that gives you not only the three cars and the Santa handcar, but also exxtra FasTrack to boot (I think you get 4 10" straights). Not a bad deal, especially if you order from some place that gives you a discount.
FasTrack is fantastic–no problems with it, everything goes like clockwork, been on the layout over a year (not attached in any manner and we run the trains daily). Hubby did the track plan and said the most useful piece is the 1 3/4" size because you can get everything to fit just the way you want it–much better’n cutting track the old way. By the way, his selection of FasTrak over other brands was because it was the easiest to put together with arthritic hands.
Re cleaning stuff: I found that rubbing flannel on the rails removed the dirt quickly and easily. For dusting I use a very good (guard it with your life) camelhair’s bru***hat I picked up in an art supply store–just a shade larger than a cosmetic powder brush. I’ve used it for years for all the delicate, precious stuff anywhere in the house. Never had to clean it–just tap it hard in palm of your hand (outside, of course). Compressed air works well on the trains (after brushing), if you haven’t kept up with it. But check each piece carefully, as it blew the hubcap off a vehicle on the auto carrier (details-details-details) nwhitley
