I got my first starter set–a Marx–when I was less than a year old. By the time I was 5, it was completely in my control. Boy, did I have fun with it! when I was a little older, a friend and I set up cornfield meets between his clockwork and my electric. The pilot and the cab roof suffered chips. BUT, I still have the set, it still runs like a champ, and I will be putting it on the layout under one of our CHRISTmas trees in a couple of weeks. So what if the train gets scarred? Those scars represent fun and memories! They are toys, meant to be played with.
Although the collector in me salivates at old but Excellent, Like New, or Mint trains, they usually haven’t been played with, and hours of happy memories were never born, so they sadden me, too.
Very good point, whenever I spot a set on E-Bay complete with it’s original plastic seal, I can’t help but wonder, WHY?? Was it given to someone who did not like Trains ?
Al,
I heard Linens and Things sold the G gauge PE set, but not the O gauge starter sets- I guess each store carries what his/her managers and buyers thinks will sell. Too bad for the kiddies in Socal.
I do shop there quite a bit- we recently bought a Calphalon Stainless cookware set there. I didn’t see any Lionel train sets out though.
I’m not saddened at all if I see an old train new in its box. To me, it is like a look into the past which will never ever happen again no matter how much we wish that it would be so. It is quite the opposite, I’m elated when I can see or buy an old new stock train that has been out of production for many years & may never be made again at any price! What saddens me are Trains that have been so beat up or worn out that they are only worth the few parts they may have for another project engine or train. Another thing that gets my goat are perfectly good Trains that get butchered into so-called projects that make such items worth little anymore on account of the fact that a new coat of paint may be applied over the original with little thought of how ugly it may look or modifications that do nothing but ruin an original piece. that, again would be better left alone. I feel that only trains which have quite a few scratches,rust,or dents should be brought back to life or used as a doner Train for parts depending on which is more financially feasable to the owner/buyer. Just my [2c] worth. Take Care all.
I must have gotten my G and O reversed. The battery-powered Polar Express at 149.99 must be the G, because it is noticeably smaller than the 199.99 model, which is an O (fastrack, I think, not middle-rail). What I saw at the Skokie (IL) store, was the “modern classic” Pennsy Flyer with a transformer. Be on guard: Linens ‘n’ Things has been handing out 20%-off coupons in the ad-packed Sunday paper; perhaps they will keep doing so. (One per customer, one per trip.) I would consider the 199.99 a good deal this close to Xmas. Since twenty percent of $200 is $40, the coupon would reduce the PF down to about $160. I consider that a great deal! And there were plenty. - a. s.
Al,
I guess $160 for a PF set is a ‘fair’ deal, but if you prowled the big box stores you could have got that same set at Macy’s for $99 at their ‘One-day’ sale (smaller Macy’s stores, probably not the bigger ones on the East coast that have plenty of inventory and know the can sell all the train sets they have at full price).
I paid about $160 for the PE set at that sale, that set is normally $299 (same as the online price). I’m thinking the bigger Macy’s, and other Big Boxes will blow out any train sets left over the Holidays.
Since my brother thinks his boys are going to “destroy” the new Menards train. I was thinking that I do have an older, less-expensive, plastic lionel set that I could clean up for them.
… maybe mount some track on a piece of green-felt covered plywood.
Does anyone have any thoughts on that? The more I think about it - the more I like it!
Oh, absolutely! I’ve done that myself, and the practice is fairly common. A good, basic postwar or MPC starter set with a diecast steam engine and basic frieight cars–maybe an operating one or two, but certainly flat cars, gondolas, and hoppers (that can carry loads)–along with an oval with a switch or two for a siding or spurs and an actuating track for the operating car (if there is one). Screw down the track and prewire it so that you can test it and eliminate set-up hassles. You can do it reasonably priced and have lots of fun in the process.