How you decided on your first set?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I’m a newbie to this hobby and I’m curious as to how you chose your first set?

I’ve always loved the diesel locomotives from the 40’s, and 50’s, but never knew anything about them. During my research I found the EMD FT series, that was the first generation diesel locomotive. I really like the look of these, and I found a nice picture of this Santa Fe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:ATSF_DL_in_Kansas.jpg

Any chance I can get this exact one in O gauge? Or am I not going to be that lucky?

Chris

2

Hi Chris, welcome to a totally fun hobby. I love that photo - I’ll let someone more knowledgeable comment on whether you could find an FT in that paint scheme. I’m sure you could come close.

Boy, are there lots and lots of great options for starter sets. Do you live by a Menards or a Bed Bath and Beyond or Linens and Things or Target - all offer some nice sets you could peek at. I was just re-reading the latest Jan. CTT which reviews some of them in detail. There’s myriad advertisers in CTT and on this website with some well-priced options. I entered the hobby around 2000 - saved up my pennies and bought a Lionel ‘Ballyhoo’ circus train set. Why this one? It was affordable. Eight years later, I’ve had fun meeting folks on this forum, tried my hands at building and expanding a layout and got other toy train items.

3

I visited a local train shop and found a Lionel starter set that I could afford. It was an O-27 freight set.

Now I prefer to run passenger trains, but I still like the traditional sized O-27 and O-31 sized offerings.

4

Okay now most of the Freight sets have expansion packs that have passenger cars so you can run that instead for about $109.00 retail maybe less at different places heres a couple of links to see what they have to offer and how cheap

www.charlesro.com

http://www.boscovs.com/StoreFrontWeb/Department.bos?type=Department&pdn=6170000&departmentNumber=6173500

http://www.trainworld.com/

Have fun

5

I started my 027 when I was 10 or so and I dug out dad’s 2 old Marx sets. I ran that for a while until a good friend gave me his old Marx set from when he was a kid. That was my first 666 engine. from there I just started buying used individual pieces as I could afford them(i took all my the money I got for Conformation & bought a rail scope), and then we eventually found a Marx passenger set. After we bought that, we found 2 boxed Marx freight sets in good shape. I’d say those are my only sets though. Everything else was bought as individual pieces. Not a big collection, but it’s nice. Between the Marx & Lionel I’d guess 12-15 engines & 130-150 cars.

6

I found my 1st set at a Goodwill store.

BTW Hobby Lobby is a good place to get starter sets, if you get the 40% coupon or a sale. But watch those tags! I have seen 2 of the same set be priced $100 diffrent. Also they charge $119 for the expansion sets, even if they are marked $109.

7

Are you sure you want a “SET” ? You may want to check out a preferred engine and a good sized transformer and build from there . That way you don’t get stuck with a usually underpowered/unreliable transformer and rolling stock cars that are way below looking anything like realistic . There are fabulous deals and thousands of them on ebay at great prices .

If it’s just a xmas tree set you want then okay … but if you’re really thinking of getting into trains … most folks end up very unhappy with those department store sets . Hand picking and building your line is alot of fun and very rewarding !

8

Mine was somewhat based on need. My kids fell in love with the Polar Express movie, so that set made sense. Plus they Thomas the Tank fans, so I picked up that set as well. From there I’ve added onto them with extra PE cars and Thomas expansion packs.

9

My kids bought me my first set one Christmas but what made me decide on the Hogwarts set as my own first purchase was the fact that its an English locomotive (I’m English) and the level of detail for what seemed an amazing price for all of what you get. I’ll probably buy the properly liveried Shakespeare Hall too, though I wouldnt normally buy two of the same loco. Lionel will have a willing customer for any goods wagons (non bogied) they make, I’m hoping for some like the Thomas troublesome trucks only without faces thanks!

As a schoolboy I fell in love with our train clubs antique O gauge Bassett Lowke and Hornby rolling stock, it was pre-war and must have been worth a fortune. Thats the sort of setup I would like to be able to relive my childhood with. I like American railroads just fine but they don’t have that nostalgic magic.