Considering that many families were introduced to trains this Christmas, how would you suggest they expand their starter sets…buy another starter set, an expansion set or buy individual pieces?
What is the economical method and which is the most flexible?
Thanks
Probably to buy another set. You get a whole another set-up.
I suggest you look into the Hogwarts Express. Island Trains ( www.islandtrains.com ) has it instock for $195.00. I personally was never into the set, actually never even consider it until this weekend when I saw one run and held the engine. That is a heck of a lot of train for $195.00. I think I might buy one…lol!
I suggest you look into that.
It depends on what you want. My son and I got a Pennsylvania Flyer set together about 6 months ago. My wife got him another set, the Cascade Range Logging train, and the Hogwarts Express for me during the holidays. We have since bought two expansion packs and use the three transformers to run tow different layouts. The family really enjoys all of them.
Hi, my advice is look around online and see what is out there and what it costs and then choose what is right for your situation. most sites have photos and some even provide short video. after looking go see it in person before you buy. having another set is nice because you can get another engine which gives variety.
Scott
Whew!! So many questions here and no “cast in stone” answers. First, it would all depend on the person’s wants. If all that is wanted is more cars and track, then expansion sets is the way to go. If more then one train is wanted, then another set is probabley in line here. Keep in mind though, that expansion packs or sets only offer certain cars and such. Keep in mind also, that expansion track packs come with manual operated switches, not remote. Also freight train expansion sets and starter sets only offer coal and log operating cars, so if cars like the operating milk or cattle cars are wanted, they will have to be an individual item. Also, keep in mind that expansion sets and track packs are just an expansion for sets and offer a little more variety in train running if thats what your looking for and are great for play value for kids in my opinion. Anything beyond this will have to be purchased individualy. Signals, structures and bridges (one set does have a bridge in it I believe) are all indivdual items. My opinions here are just that and based on the assumtion that we are Talking Lionel here. Ken
I would get another set. If you got a steam loco, then get a diesel, and vice-versa. Run them on separate loops with a transformer per loop. That will open up a world of possibilities. Work on putting them on a perminent board. Mount them on a board that is small enough to slip under a bed if you have to store it away, but if you store it away, you probably won’t play with it. That will give you a great start. Then add a few switches to connect the loops, and so on, and so on. With each step, other ideas will sprout. It’s a time invested hobby, so take your time and enjoy it. Those trains will run for a long time with easy maintenance, so just buy it and have fun!
Wes
When we started 3 years ago, I began expanding our NYC Flyer set by purchasing more freight cars. One or two a month for a few months. Then when I saw that interest wasn’t waning, I bought another set - the El Capitan passenger starter set from Lionel. That was followed about 4 or 5 months later by the Polar Express set.
If you’re on a limited budget, consider buying one or two train cars a month. Or expand your track with some more pieces or some switches. It all adds up pretty fast.
If you can afford it, sets are the most economical way to increase your train empire. When you consider that you get an entire loop of track, a complete train, and a transformer for roughly 1/2 of what they would all cost seperately, it’s a great deal!
Jim
Jim, I always new you had a good head on shoulders. [;)]
Agreed sets are the quickest way to go. Once that first layout is up or the floor empire is complete, and if interest is still great, and you have learned a little about what you might want and what is available, then maybe start branching out to single items like engines or nicer cars.
The first thing I’d suggest to someone who got trains for Christmas is to buy a 4x8 peice of plywood and 2 saw-horses. Buying additional sets, IMO, comes after seeing if the interest continues…that is, becomes a “hobby”. If not, put them away until next Christmas. Joe
We are one of those families who just got started this Christmas so I can only comment on what has worked out well for us. My son is four years old. We started with the Great Western Train set and planned on adding the expansion pack for that set at a later date. However, the price dropped significantly on the expansion pack before Christmas so I went ahead and got it. I’m glad I did because the price is back up now. Well, anyway, let me see if I can list what has been a hit and what has not.
Big hits:
Log car – and especially finding out from his older cousins that you can shoot plastic people and animals across the room from the car while it’s moving if you time the button press just right. The button thing has been a big hit so I think the next thing we add will probably have a button.
Tunnel – I made a tunnel (my first attempt at modeling so be kind) that is supposed to resemble the mountains in the movie Cars. I made it with ramps so that the kids can run cars up and down it. They love the train going through it. I need to get some better pictures up but there are a few here: http://planetwilliam.spaces.live.com/photos
Grade Crossings – We have the inexpensive version with no lights or arms. Again, this made it more fun to combine car play with train play. The cars have to stop and look both ways and such before crossing and sometimes they run out of gas on the tracks. I’d like to upgrade these crossings at some point.
Any train car that can hold small animals, people, or cars – So far the only cars that he doesn’t really play with are the caboose and bunk car because you can’t put anything inside of them. Of course he keeps the caboose hooked up because the whistle noise comes from there and he loves the whistle. I’d like to find a way to add a bell noise at some point.
Hand
first, Are you considering adopting? I wish I had room enough for your layout!
next I know some will not agree but right now your boy will not notice any differences in scale or eras of trains.
my nephew is 5 and loves the Marx barns I have. if you go on ebay you can still get them fairly cheap. the difference is they have one side out so you can put the people and animals inside to play. he pretends to deliver feed and animals and people to and from the different farms on the trains.
he absolutely loves the postwar crane and work caboose I have. he loved it soo much that the string that holds the hook couldn’t take it and soon the hook was missing for a day or two.
he found the missle launch and exploding box car and suddenly the rest of the train didn’t even exist anymore. they aren’t too fragile but I can see that some might have moral objections. lionel made many variations of their operating cars and even a missle launch platform so that there is less chance that the more susceptible car and track will be damaged. from experience avoid the coal dump car and coal loader etc. that is unless you don’t mind little black pieces of coal in everything you own. if he doesn’t know about it he won’t miss it.
another thing which inspires hours of hilarity is getting a few of the operating gang cars going on the same track at the same time. I had some nephews years ago who had a lionel layout so I got each of them one and painted them different colors. the game quickly evolved to seeing who’s would knock who’s off the track. when thy hit it sounded like a touchdown at the super bowl!
Scott