Hi! I just registered on the forum. My son (6 yo) just got his first electric train set for Christmas (he has been playing with Thomas and GeoTrax for a few years). He is SO excited to have REAL train. My in-laws purchased the set for him from a local hobby store. He has the Lionel New York Flyer set (I ran down to look at the box after reading a few posts here!).
He loves this train and we are talking about how/what to add to it. We went to the store where it was purchased last weekend and they weren’t much help. They are phasing out the store I think and were completely out of FasTrack switches and straights and said they won’t be getting more in. We picked up a couple pieces of railroad crossing track but that was it.
There is a train show this weekend and my husband and son are attending it (with Grandpa who purchased the train). All of this is new to us though. We aren’t from generations of train collectors so I would love some advice on what to look for.
My son wants some switches but he also wants to build a figure 8 track. We don’t have room right now for both. Is this track made to be taken apart and put back together as my son uses his imagination to change layouts or do we need to pick a layout and stick to it?
Also, in browsing the internet, is it better to purchase expansion sets or additional train sets rather than picking up pieces here and there? It seems like some of the set prices are really good. I guess I am clueless about whether or not you can use more than one transformer on one layout.
So, basically I need any advice you can give. I think my husband and I are having as much fun as my son!
First, Welcome to the hobby & this forum. You’ll get some very good advice here. First, don’t worry about the Fastrack-- It was designed to be put together and taken apart many times without having problems. Lionel has expansion packs of Fastrack alone, or packs with Fastrack and extra cars. Switches can be a bit costly, but if you shop around for prices you usually can buy for less than MSRP. I would suggest that you purchase the FasTrack book from Lionel-- web site is www.lionel.com Price is 31.99, but it’s a very helpful book.
As to buying additional sets, i’d hold off on that for a bit. For the present, you don’t need additional transformers. The expansion packs are to me, the best way to grow into this hobby.
FasTrack is a wonderful track system that can be taken apart and reconfigured over and over.
Expansion packs are an economical way of adding straight track and rolling stock. But don’t limit yourself. Get a Lionel catalog at the train show and see what else is available. You can certainly buy cars, track, and switched one at a time.
Your best bet for buying FasTrack is to get it off the internet. There are a number of sites (Island Trains, Grzyboski’s, etc.) who sell FasTrack at 30-35% off list price. Same goes for the expansion packs. Christmas 2006 I started off my two nephews with NYC Flyer set and the passenger car expansion pack, which I believe I ordered from Grzyboski’s.
As for your own fun, well, I have two little ones, 2 & 4.5, and we have an absolute blast playing with the trains. My older one Tyler already has his own trains as a reward for potty training, so he’s well on is way. The little one Corey just got his first trains (a boxcar and a caboose) for Christmas.
Good advice, so far. I’ve been in the hobby for 22 years, but I’m still using FasTrack and CW80 transformers on my small layout. The add-on set that has a inner siding and 2 manual switches is a good bet. The fragile switch gizmo will break-off, but don’t worry about it…just push the rail with your finger to make it work (the best way, anyhow). One great thing…you won’t have to worry about what to get your son for Christmas and birthdays. Just make sure your husband gives your son equal time to play with it[:D]. Joe
Well you are definitely on the right track so far. It appears the in-laws know what they are doing. My recomendation would be to vist a well stocked Lionel hobby shop this way you can see the full array of model equipment.
To be honest it doesn’t really matter what we think. The best thing to do is put the $ signs in the back of your mind and take your son to see what HE wants. You don’t want him to loose interest because he got something that saved you a couple of bucks.
Thanks for the advice everyone! We live in the Louisville, KY area. I know we have one shop that carries the full FasTrack line. We haven’t been there yet though. I think I have gotten some great advice here. We do have a Hobby Lobby so I will start saving those coupons.
I think I will send a notebook with my son tomorrow at the train show. That way he can write down what he likes so we will have a list going for Christmas and Birthdays. I will also suggest that my husband pick up that book.
Isn’t it refreshing to see the excitement associated with someone getting a new Lionel train set for the first time. It sounds like the whole family has been bitten by the bug. It is a wonderful hobby that easily transcends childhood into senior adults. Best wishes on your journey.
L&N Trains and Things down on Frankfort Avenue should take pretty good care of you. I haven’t been there in a year or two, but in the past they’ve had a very good selection of track. You may need to ask about it, as every time I’ve gone in to buy track, they’ve pulled it out of the back room, however they’ve always had whatever I needed.
Don’t waste your time at the Hobby Town in Middletown-the last time I went in there, they just had stacks of 15-year old stock being sold at or above MSRP.
You mention that you don’t have room for both a figure 8 and to have switches. I haven’t worked much with Fastrack, but I use to combine both on figure 8 layouts(with O27 track), often in ways that only negligibly increased the overall size of the layout. One favorite way, which required four switches, was to have an oval with a crossover in the center. This is a layout which has a lot of play value, as it can be both a figure 8 or an oval, gives plenty of places to drop off cars, and even has a reverse loop to turn the train around without taking it off the track.
Lionel catalogs used to have all kinds of layout plans in them-that’s one area where I feel like newer catalogs are really lacking.
The FasTrack book from Lionel that Willpick reccommended is decent for a beginning and it has the plan for the figure 8 / oval layout that Ben describes. With that layout you will get both your figure 8 and your switches in the same limited amount of space.
I don’t believe multiple transformers on the same track is reccommended without knowing how to create block sections. Again the FasTrack book has examples with block sections as well as layouts with inner and outer ovals run separately with multiple transformers or both loops combined using switches with a single transformer.
so far with my nephew at 5, he likes having lots of car options mostly he tends toward freight cars. lots of people forget to accessorize their trains. my nephew lets the train run and plays with cars and little people around the train.
Lots of great advice here - that thor site has a lot of fastrack layout plans to get you started. My kids really love the accessories like the lumber mill and you can find some bargains on ebay, but be sure you shop around because you can often find stuff at the places like Island Trains, CharlesRo, Justrains, and other online sellers for less than prices on ebay once you add in the cost of shipping/handling!
The thomas set and the cascade range set are pretty good bargins, Charlie Ro has both at 114.99 right now. The cascade range set gets you an uncoupling track section and a CW80 plus three operating log cars and the very nice looking 0-6-0 diecast switcher. That may be the best value around. The set is around 125-135 in other places as well.
As above try to find a Lionel catalog or wait a few days for the new one to come out.
There is some great information here and I really appreciate it!
I have another (potentially dumb) question. Can he run two trains off of one transformer? I am already thinking that Santa might bring a second engine if the answer is yes!
My husband made a 4x8 table and I can’t believe all of the layout options for that size.
With starter set transformers, yes, you can run 2 trains at once, but it really isn’t practical. The starter set transformers just don’t have the power to do it well. Either get a second starter set transformer, or one transformer that is designed to run multiple trains.
I bought my kids a Thomas set and my sister bought them a NYC Flyer set just 3 years ago. We now have a permanent layout and greatly enjoy the time we spend working on it, and running trains on it.
Welcome from me too. Keep an eye on “E-Bay”. A short while ago, I was able to purchase a brand new NYC Flyer Passenger Expansion Pack for less than half (incl s&h) of Lionel’s catalog “special” price. There just may be some FasTrack bargains there also. Best of Luck!
You are getting into an area where there will be a lot of differing opinions. My personal advice, especially for a 4x8 table, is to put your money into operating freight cars ( milk, dump, etc), animated trackside accessories (signals, crossing gates, etc), and scenic items (houses, people, cars, etc). If his interest in trains grows, that may be the time to think about running 2 trains, buying more expensive transformers, or even building a larger layout. Just having another train running will not be a cure-all for “keeping things interesting”. Joe
Adding an elevated trolley line adds alot of action. The Lionel trolley has a bump and reverse feature. When it hits a bumper it reverses direction automaticly.
Buildings, cars, accessories all add to the fun as well.