Im interested in getting started in model trains but would like to start off with a train set. Is there a quality set that can be bought?
There are a handful of sets which are above the typical $30 department store trainset. Walthers Trainline is decent, so are the Bachmann Spectrum trainsets. I think Athearn has a trainset as well. IHC’s aren’t bad either. Avoid the cheap Lifelike, Bachmann and Model Power trainsets. They are junk.
However, in the long run you are probably better off buying the pieces separately and buying a better quality locomotive. You may pay more for an Atlas locomotive but you will be happier with it.
Welcome to the forum and the hobby… Not knowing exactly what you want, I’ll stay away from my generic answer that sets are usually substandard… For anything further, feel free to view this little writeup…
I think rev has some good points.
If you start with a train set that you buy at a local big box store, you will likely enjoy it for a little while, but will quickly be left wanting more.
That being said, My folkes bought me a cheap box set when I was a kid and I still have a few box cars around, everything else was upgraded.
You will get more help if you indicate what scale you are interested in and what you want out of the hobby.
I agree but I want to be able to get something for Christmas to play around with. And with Christmas being so close, that doesn’t leave much time for research and finding the direction I want to go towards. Eventually I would move on to that aspect of the hobby.
HO
I have seen Life-Like Proto 2000 sets with great freight cars and an RS10 in CN or CP, they make great sets, but I’m not sure if you can get them outside of Canada.
Matthew
If you are looking for something you can have up and running on Christmas day, I’d recommend a Spectrum trainset with the Bachmann EZ Trak system. Though Bachmann Spectrum diesel locomotives are not the best in terms of reliability when compared with Athearn, Atlas and Protos in similar price range, they are better than typical trainset stuff. In other words, should you build a permanant layout you would still use the Spectrum locomotive and rolling stock. (Though you will definately want to exchange the Bachmann couplers with kadees.) The EZ track is much better than sectional track if you want something temporary. Just buy a bunch of extra sections at the hobby shop including switches. The d.c. power pack that comes with the Spectrum trainsets isn’t bad.
If you decide to run a temporary layout on your floor, just be sure to use a drop cloth. The fuzz fibers from the rug can get into the gears and ruin your locomotive.
If you want a steam trainset Bachmann Spectrum is pretty good. While their diesels are not as good in terms of reliability, Spectrum steam is a different story. Another decent steam trainset is IHC. I don’t know if it comes with plain old sectional track or some version of EZ Track though.
To respond to the other part of your statement, I would like to get serious with the hobby. I’m just looking for an introduction to the hobby by getting a set and not having to spend a lot of time and do a lot of research right now. At the same time, as I’'ve mentioned, I want a quality set to start with.
some hobby shops put together their own train sets rather than sell the cheapies that you’ll find in wal-mart etc. it’s also possible that the LHS (local hobby shop) will give you a price break if you go in and buy all the seperate parts needed to get started . of course it’s also possible that you’ll be getting the stuff that they haven’t been able to sell any other way , so be careful !
Here is a link to “internettrains” and a page of Walthers trainline train sets, you will get a lot better quality from one of these sets than at Walmart.
http://www.internettrains.com/waltraincomt.html
hope this helps.
bill
Now if you want to spend a little bit more and put together your own ‘trainset’ w/ DCC then check out these links.
http://www.internettrains.com/noname64.html
http://www.internettrains.com/150-488.html
http://www.internettrains.com/achoscboxca.html
OK I’m not a shill for Internettrains, it just happen to be the first place I thought of
you can save alot by shopping around.
bill
Thanks for the link! I’m sure one of these will do as Walthers a popular brand, right?
Walthers trainline is a good starter set I believe and there is also the Bachman spectrum that is also a good starter set,
http://www.internettrains.com/train-sets-all-scales-ho-scale-train-sets-bachmann-silver-series-train-sets-with-e-z-track-system.html
these sets are far better than the junk sold at Wal-mart at X-mas time.
bill
Since you are inclined to get at “it” right away, and if money is not so much of an issue right now, I would advise you to go to your local train hobby store and slap down something like $120 for a Spectrum or Atlas or Proto 1000/2000 engine of your choice, buy two or three eye-catching Proto 2000 cars, some EZ-Track, a rectifier (MRC), and have fun while you do some research. You are not likely to be have to leave those items aside once you are running trains on a layout of some sort, except perhaps for the DC controller. At some point you will want to use digital control (DCC), and your first engine will be relatively easily converted.