Hi All, I want to purchase a new train set for my son for christmas… I dont want to buy any junk … so my question is… who makes a quality train set at an affordable price… what are the brands to stay away from… thanks in advance… Paul
“Quality” and “train set” usually don’t go together. I’d advise a trip to your LHS, or Local Hobby Shop, particularly if you’re lucky enough to have a good one that specializes in trains. You will be better off buying individual components - locomotive, rolling stock, track and power supply, than you will be if you buy them all together.
Although Mr. Beasley is correct, I get what you are looking for. The Bachman Spectrum Series is a relatively safe bet, but I don’t like the track system and the power supply is weak. However, to get you started, usually the engines are good and they can be converted to DCC when the time comes. If your son “bites,” you can go for the better track system and power. Don’t try to stick with EZ track. It will cost you more in the long run and it can be a real paint to make look reasonable.
In short, buying quality components for yourself (admit it you are the one really interested) and building a layout to suit you will do more for bringing your son into the hobby than simply presenting him with it. Whether or not it is for you, I suggest reading the beginner’s guide in my signature before you go shopping. Research will save you a ton of money.
I will have to agree with Space Mouse on this one. Bachman is a realitive good starter set unless you want to spend more $$ and get the individual pieces. I would say get a nice Bachman set with several cars and a engine, and then if he ‘‘bites’’ and wants to expand on the hobby then purchas the better stuff.
Last Christmas I was given a Life Like HO scale and grew to love it, I now have a U shaped layout with about 130 ft. of track and planning on adding on. Nothing I am using today came with the Life Like set, Although the LL set was the thing that got me "Hooked’'.
Good luck and ENJOY THE HOBBY, it can be a world of enjoyment, both in the running and the building. Mike
The Bachmann Spectrum sets are a good bet. As are the Walthers Trainline sets, although they are not a finely detailed as the Bachman sets. I believe Athearn also makes starter sets. They are on par with the Walthers sets.
I’d stay away from the Life Like, and Model Power sets.
Nick
I do agree with all the above. But one question does come to mind. What scale trains are we talking about here??? That could effect the answers given. Ken
I think the larger question is: What is the age of your son?
Very small kids care not a whit about detail, but are impressed by shiny colors and movement. There are several battery operated LGB sized ideas you could look into. (Dept. stores) These are especially worth a look if there’s a possibility this may be just another Holiday Decoration.
An older child, and only you know this, about your son, will be considered differently. The choices are endless.
Most GOOD hobby shops will put a package together for you at a good price. I don’t recommend train sets to anybody.
When you say affordable, about what price range are you thinking of?
Decent train sets from Bachmann (standard) can be had for under $100, and include a smooth running engine, decent rolling cars, pretty decent track, and a power-pack that works well enough. Just make sure the train set is new, because the older ones have engines with pretty poor drive systems.
Trains sets from Walthers, Athearn, and Life-Like Proto 1000 can be had from $100-$200, and are usually pretty good.
The Walthers train sets have smooth running diesels of about the same quality as Bachmann, good quality cars, and Bachmann or Atlas track.
Athearn sets include good quality diesels with smooth drives and good detail, extremely free rolling cars with pretty good detail, a good power-pack, and Life-Like or Bachmann track.
LL Proto 1000 sets have excellent quality engines, high quality cars with metal wheels, the same power-packs as Athearn sets, and Life-Like track, which is pretty cheap, but works well on carpet.
Bachmann Spectrum sets usually cost around $300, and include high quality Spectrum engines and cars with lots of detail, which can be fragile, and the same track as standard Bachmann sets.
That’s about all the info I can give you. If your son is under 10, than I’d recommend the Bachmann, Walthers or Athearn sets.
Paul, The best bang for the buck, in my opinion, is one of the following http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=Iron+Horse&CatID=THS or http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=Warbonnet+Express&CatID=THS or even one of the following http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Trainset&scale=H&manu=&item=&keywords=proto&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search Depending on your sons taste in locomotives. I generally have stayed away from everything Bachman or LifeLike branded equipment. The Lifelike Proto series are great though I hope this helps. Since I’ve updated my IE to 7, you will have to cut & paste the urls to see them Gordon
Long out of production, but Caboose Hobbies in Denver still had two HO scale Atlas Pro sets sitting on their shelf last time I was in. Set is an oval of Atlas tru-track, power supply, Alco S2 diesel locomotive, two freight cars and caboose. Price was $99. I can highly recommend Atlas.
I cannot speak to the O gauge stuff like Lionel, except I’ve seen some that look to be pretty poor quality.
For G-scale the company called LBG makes some really good starter sets with either Eurpoean or American equipment. But here you are into the $300 range.
Repeating what several others have already said:
Walthers also has some good sets out, as does Bachmann Spectrum (Spectrum being the key phrase there - the only catch is they come with EZ-track), Athearn has various sets out.
Avoid HO straight LifeLike, and straight Bachmann sets. I know the Life Like Proto-1000 locomotives are good, but I don’t know what else might be included in the set. I almost guarantee it will be “power-loc” track though. As spacemouse says one can always upgrade the track - it is the cheapest part of the set.
Zephyr, for O guage, there isn’t a bad set Lionel makes. All of their sets are extrememly high quality. Some of their stuff just looks a bit odd to us scale modeler’s because typically O guage is over proportioned.