New Lionel Holiday Express "G" Gauge Train Set

I was at BJ’s Wholesale Club today and found them selling this new set for $199. My store seemed to have quite a few left. They had one out for display, and it is cute. Just a heads up for anyone interested!

You seem to be the only one that I know that might have any intrest in this set. The majority of people I know on this forum rather dislike it.

No, actually I don’t have an interest in it. I just wanted to let folks know that I saw one there in case they wanted the info. It’s certainly attractive enough, although not most people’s cup of tea on the forum. I suppose a family looking for a little kid’s set for under the tree would do just as well with this version as any of the other similar sets on the market every Christmas, that’s all. We look at it as adults, of course; put yourself in the shoes of a 3 or 4 year old and it might look pretty nice. It surely isn’t any more fanciful than the Thomas sets.

That is true.

Just my personal opinion: A butt ugly train set in any scale. If I was going to buy a Large Scale Christmas set, it would be LGB, Aristo-Craft, Bachmann, or USA Trains. Any or all of those would be a better value for the price.

Lionel’s regular version of their G scale Christmas train is far, far more elegant, IMO. Here’s mine from 2003:

Regards,

Clint

I initially thought the set was cute, however, it’s too “busy”, like they tried to squeeze too much into it. I agree that I think kids would get a kick out of it, since they haven’t been slanted with adult cynicism

I guess that’s really my point. Adults may think it’s ugly but probably not your typical 3 or 4 year old seeing it run around the tree for the first time. If it gets them interested in trains, at an early age, what’s not to like? In a couple of years you can always move them up to a better set.