i have have two careful little kids 3-5. i am undecided on what scale i should concentrate on. i have n scale to g scale. im going in circles, i find myself buying different scale trains here and there. i want to know what scale gives you the most bang for your buck, fun, and least troublesome. im leaning towards (n) scale so far, but my kids like it all. i almost have the room up to (O) for a permanent layout. im just tired of setting up all these scales each week. my kids are no help, they like it all.
If you want kid friendly trouble free go O/O-27 scale like MTH, Lionel, Williams etc. These trains for the most part run like crazy and the 3 oversize rails make derailiers few and wiring simple. Trains are very kid friendly if you stay with the Atlas IR brand or MTH RK and the like.
‘Bang for buck’ alone HO first with N second. Both require MUCH better trackwork and are or can be less kid friendly with small parts and easier to derail engines and cars.
Space alone…N scale. But you have a little less choice than HO.
Just my opinion. Small kids in the house that you want to involve…O-27. A good MTH starter set and some extra track.
Every scale has cars that are durable enough to be handled by little kids. Walthers cars in HO scale are durable as well as Athearn and most of the Atlas cars. You want to stay away with fine detail, cars like Intermountain and Athearn Genesis stuff. If I were you I would look at how much space you have and decide from there what scale you want and what kind of track plan suits you and the kids.
As said above, you could consider O scale. The problem with that is that it’s quite expensive. Most bang for your buck? That would be HO. It costs much less than O and there is a wide variety of accessories available. It also gives you much more track and run distance in a limited space. Right behind that would be N scale. It’s more expensive than HO but can give you much more track in a limited space. Be aware that the coupler pockets are quite fragile and there’s a myriad of tiny parts, not always a good idea around young children.
They are 3 and 5 now and then you will blink and they will be 10 and 7, believe me I know. Choose a scale that will allow you to build a layout that will keep you and your family engaged for years. I have no doubt that your kids can be trusted with smaller models. My 2 are just fine with our HO scale trains. I would plan for the future rather than for now.
Interesting ordeal. I think the O27-O 3 rail is going to be more tougher for the break resistance.
Think in the short run but also the long run, what may have the longest lasting enjoyment.
If you’re thinking of a little more permanent layout without all the setup/teardown, moneywise/spacewise, HO is good, if the kids are good with it, all the better.
Reminds me of some Bar Keeper, he set up a train loop, with Standard gauge down to N scale on the same track, and had the same exact train for each scale. He would run the big train around while bar patrons watch it go, then run the next smaller, then next smaller…well, by this time the near drunken patrons are getting stupified… [:o)]
I’m with the kids, I like it all. I am always herd pressed to stay within the scale I chose to model (n). I see so much of the bigger stuff and if it weren’t for the space concern… I’d want a railroad in each scale… But you can’t have everything…
Go with ho scale. They will grow into it and all will appreciate the layout more in the future with the detail and quality of the ho. You could always set up g scale outside for fun with them now. Just my[2c]
Hi,
I’ve been playing with trains since 1955 (I’m 63) - Lionel O gauge, American Flyer S gauge, HO, and N. In general, I agree with most of the previous comments and having 4 kids, I’m experienced in your dilema. Ha, the kids are now in their 40s and while they like Dad’s trains, they have no real interest in them.
First of all, I ask the question… Is it you or the kids that are really interested in the trains? If its primarily the kids, then O gauge is the answer. If they continue to be interested in later years, then they will decide to stay in O or move to something else.
If you are most interested in trains, then go with what you prefer. In my case, I converted to Ho as a teen and found it easily to be the best bang for the buck. About 15 years ago I built an N scale layout and it is too darn small for my hands and eyes. Those super long trains are great, but I soon sold it all. Today I have a large HO collection and 15/11 layout, and I am happy with them. Ha, I also collect postwar Lionel too, which brings me to my childhood.
Hope that helps!!!
But whatever you do, ENJOY the time spent with your children!!!
Mobilman44
Last year, Lionel made a deal with Target stores and put a lot of Lionel train sets on their shelves at bargain prices for Christmas. Even better, the day after Christmas sale was a blowout, at about 50% off the already low prices. By New Years, the cupboard was bare and they were stocking those shelves with whatever the next seasonal sale products were going to be. If you are thinking of O-gauge, this is an opportunity to save some money on starter sets.
You say you have “room” for an O-gauge layout, but how much room is it? Lionels, because of their ability to operate on very tight radius, can pack a lot of fun into a 4x8 layout. Oddly, as you go up to HO, you’ll find that you need more space, to get to more prototypical, realistic-looking curves. The fun-factor is different too. Instead of animated cars loading and unloading cattle, logs or milk cans, you begin to focus on switching operations and schedules.
How carefully do you plan to scenic your layout, and have you thought about how long it will take to build? I’m thinking of the progression that many of us Boomers took in the 50’s and 60’s, as we went from our Lionels and then, after the layouts were “done,” transitioned to HO as we “grew up.”
If you take this path, though, don’t sell the Lionels. Mine have been gone for close to 50 years now, and I still miss them, now and then.
Hi screech
Well I am going to throw a spanner in the works and say “G” scale it is a far more very young children friendly size.
If you have room for an “O” scale line then using the normally despised R1 & R2 curves you have room for a “G” scale layout, it could conceivably even go in the garden.
Its not as expensive as a lot of people think particularly if you can scratch build structure’s I have found 1/2" foam is an ideal material for this, but other things work just as well.
Other things can be scratch built as well.
Added to which its big enough to see what you are doing.
The Kids other toys can ride in the trains increasing the play value, and they can help dad build it without getting into too much trouble if properly supervised, making it a father children quality time thing.
Dad can play with the serious trains the kids with the Teddy bear trains or brightly coloured for the children etc
That’s my 50c worth on it
regards John
Well as usual, questions asked bring more questions like what is the purpose of the trains, do you want scale exact replicas, do you just like or want to see trains run? I, like many, got started as young kid with Lionel O-27 back in the 40’s, so from past experience as a kid that hasn’t grown up yet, my vote is for Lionel. But, if the trains are for you ( let’s face it, kids are a great excuse for grown-ups to buy trains) and the kids, then I think HO would be the best bet. Lionel is more expensive then HO, but in my opinion, more durable (kid friendly) and more action packed then other scales. Like stated before, if you progress to HO down the road, it’s nice to have that Lionel stuff for the Xmas tree and such. As far as being more expensive, yes to a degree, but the the smaller scales can be too. I would suggest you check out the toy train forum here on this site. Now, this is not law, just an opinion. Ken
HO may have the most bang for the $ with the Atlas TrainMan & LifeLike Proto 1000 lines. Bachmann’s Standard line may be OK. You don’t have the fine details, but that can be added later. Your kids may be able to get the cars on the track & coupled.
You may find some HO scale Thomas items they can enjoy running.
Atlas does make Nscale TrainMan cars, but I’d like to see them come out with some locos to make a set. Atlas & Kato make the best Nscale locos.
Looking at the new Walthers catalog, they have a new supplier of wooden trains. It appears they may have some US prototype equipment that would be compatible with the Brio & other mfr’s sets. I just may have to get the Blue Engine from the Little Train that Could.
X2. I would go with HO as well, best in the middle for size and best for product avaiblity and support. I had a 3 year old son when I started and just like that, he is all ready 7 going on 8. He now has his own Proto 2000 engines and several “big boy” cars that he takes care of.
Heck when I first started by layout when we moved in back in mid-05’, he could walk under the benchwork with a hat on. Now, he can stand on his tip toes and see the grass.
If you want now, by a trainset and call it good. If you are going to build something like a major layout that, go with the future.
Go with on30, the stuff available now is great and they have stuff for the kids and fine scale stuff for you, and the kid stuff can be converted into the fine scale so very little lost as they get older, also it only takes a little more room than ho. Last as you get older it will be easier on the eyes.
Fortunately and sometimes unfortunately, I like just about all scales and gauges as they all have their advantages and disadvantages. HO probably gives more bang for the buck as more is available, however, all scales from N to G would probably cost about the same if modeled in the same amount of space due to the fact you would use and purchase more equipment in the smaller scales. The larger scales are more robust, easier to work with, and the detailing that can be seen with the unaided eye is greater. The downside is they require much more space than an equivalent layout would in the smaller scales. For kids, the larger scales such as O and G would be advantageous due to the robustness and ease of handling of the equipment. For O scale try On30 - the advantages O scale in roughly the same amout of space of HO plus affordable, high quality equipment. If time, space, and money were unlimited, I’d have a layout in every scale, gauge, and era (except perhaps the modern one).
With HO & smaller, set some rules. You can’t touch the cars. Dad puts them on the track and kids run the power! With larger scale, let them handle the cars etc.
I have grandkids from 3 to 18 years old. I use the some rules. You have to be 5 to run trains on the two main lines. You have to be 9 to go under the duckunder and canrun the industrial sidings with supervision (mine). You have to be 9 to rerail derailed cars. They enjoy running the trains. The very youngest 3-4 years old have some HO size toy trains that they like holding while watching the older kids run the train.
I have five granddaughters and two grandsons.
Walter