Retro Rails on the Polar Express

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Can someone explain to me why Lionel would put breakable plastic handrail stanchions on a locomotive meant for little kids to play with?

Oh, well, my eye doctor’s kids will have to try harder to tear the handrails off THIS toy Berkshire…

Retro Lionel cotter pins courtesy of The Train Tender. Thanks, Jeff!

(N.B.: Anyone wishing to try this, be prepared to drill the plastic nubs out of the holes in the cast boiler. I didn’t bother in this case, but if one wanted a more scale appearance, standoffs could be cut from tubing and painted to suit.)

-MMM-

2

Can someone explain to me why Lionel would put breakable plastic handrail stanchions on a locomotive meant for little kids to play with?

I would guess that the attempt to reduce manufacturing expense of the steamer took priority over common sense.

3

I also imagine they mean less for a child to play with it - then to influence the purchase - and for dad/mom to run it instead … [:D]

4

I thought it said on the Lionel boxes now 14 years and up? [:^)]

Kev

5

On the box, maybe, but ya gotta figure the market for kidfilm tie-ins trends considerably younger…

Mitch

6

Yeah. The shell is probably common with their scale, superdetailed Berkshire. (sigh) Not like the old days. Back then, it was Magnetraction and reduction gears. Now it’s traction tires and worm gears so you can’t even turn the drivers… :frowning:

Mitch

7

More than likely those are the same ones they use on both “scale” and “O gauge” steamers, TMCC or conventional, since the hand rails also serve as the “antennae” for the TMCC signals.

8

Ummm… as a parent I would not let my youngster play with my trains unattended. I also don’t let visiting children play with my trains.

I have trains that are intended for use by younger kids (Thomas, James, Percy) as well as less detailed trains for them to play with. IMHO if you buy a Polar Express and let a child younger than 10 operate it unattended and do not TEACH them how to properly handle the engine - well then - it is your fault - not Lionel’s.