Best hobby trains & accessories according to redditors

They can be found on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/CWBPING-50pcs-HO-Scale-Passengers/dp/B07GB1HWV2/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?keywords=human+figures+plastic+model&qid=1554240583&s=gateway&sr=8-11
These are not the same, but they're similar.
:)

The price is $224, the same price it was when I bought this set over Christmas. Also, it's a shit set. I had to have Amazon replace it due to problems with both locomotives, and guess what, both locos in the replacment were also broken. Problems ranged from spontaneous failure to respond until powered down for several minutes, to super loud bearing/bushing screams making it sound like a 7 year old CPU fan about to go out, to the hand rails being broken in the packaging. Imagine your soundtrax module loaded up with this engine note and you get the idea of what it's like to drive these

I repaired the two least broken ones and they are still the worst engines in my collection.

I found a nice starter kit for you - its on sale!! https://www.amazon.com/Kato-USA-Model-Train-Products/dp/B00FXS4I5C/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=train+starter+kit&qid=1556490659&s=gateway&sr=8-3


Here's some scenery too - https://www.amazon.com/Woodland-Scenics-Landscape-Kit/dp/B00CEHCCK8/ref=sr_1_24?keywords=starter+kit+train&qid=1556490670&s=gateway&sr=8-24

I can't recommend a Bachmann HO Starter Set enough. I got this particular one for my four year old son and truth be told I probably have more fun playing with it. The size is perfect IMO as it looks the part of a model train but won't take up half your basement like an O scale.

The Bachmann EZ track is very easy to assemble/disassemble and we set it up on the carpet in our family room. It's also very easy to build upon. We go to model train shows a few times a year where we buy extra track pieces and train cars for about $40 bucks total. We now have a huge layout with tons of cars.

When my son gets older I've got a crate of O scale trains and track that I'd like to restore. In the meantime though, this Bachmann HO fits the bill perfectly.

Hope this helps.

I'd advise sticking to one of the scales used by model railroaders because it means you'll be able to easily add to it year after year. I also recommend avoiding battery powered trains because they're kinda meh whereas trains powered through the rails typically last longer if cared for. So for scales look into O and HO and decide what you think would look best around your Christmas tree.

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For the traditional O scale train from the likes of Lionel:

here's one for $99.99 but it's a smaller diesel train.

here's a steam version but it's $109.99

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O scale doesn't really come cheap so if you wanted you could opt for the smaller HO scale:

here's a Bachmann set for $85

here's another Bachmann at $92

and another Bachmann at $81

the cheapest Christmas train I could find is from the British company Hornby for $65 this one is OO scale but is compatible with American HO scale as the track gauge (size between rails) is the same. Apparently there's two versions of this and this one is $60.

You should be able to find reviews for all of these products very easily on YouTube.

This and This

Edit: Look into some bachmann nickel silver HO scale EZ track too.

Very nice for your second. Heres a tip for trees, ive been slowlly learning how to do this. You can make some pretty good trees with some thin wire twisted a few times. Or if you want to buy some pre-made, this is one pack i purchased recently,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B8G7S25/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

what ive been doing is chopping off the green on the trees and putting on some glue to the branches and sprinkling some woodlan sceneics fine turf on it for the leaves. also works nice for make shift bushes.

If you're ok with On30 (That's O scale narrow gauge, running on HO gauge track), Bachmann has a trolley set almost identical to that, but specifically Christmas themed:

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=487_672&products_id=5213

I highly recommend shopping around. For whatever reason, Bachmann's equipment tends to retail for lower prices than listed on their site. I often see companies selling their equipment at as much as 50% lower without calling it a sale.

For example, here's Amazon with prices ranging from 100-150:

http://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Village-Street-Ready-/dp/B000EHH3HC/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413225292&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=Bachmann+Christmas+Streetcar+Set

If you are looking for a HO scale 4-4-0 American the Civil War sets by Bachmann are a good place to start.

Planes look great, but I’d suggest improving the attachment of your antennas. EZLine is fantastic for this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KSDVF4V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XuT7Cb5WEJ1M4

Doubling your budget can get you a Lionel metal shell locomotive with LionChief remote, sound, smoke, Remote and Bluetooth set. Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer Electric O Gauge Model Train Set LionChief w/ Remote and Bluetooth https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1A3JS4/ or look for sales soon on BF/CM. Maybe even the Polar Express set for around $230 which is a quintessential under the Christmas tree train. Lionel The Polar Express Electric O Gauge Model Train Set w/ Remote and Bluetooth Capability https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3D2VTC/

Nah, more like a train set, here I'll start you off; this one is only 70$.

You can even get this spiffing conductor's hat for another 10$.

I assume you know that the base game only plays 3-4 players, so you'll need the 5-6 player expansion first and foremost.

After that, I'd recommend Seafarers, as it fleshes the game out a bit with new tile layouts, boats to go across water, gold tiles that score you a resource of your choice when their number is rolled, a pirate ship (functions as the robber at sea), and objectives ("land on another island to score 1 victory point"). Of course, you'd then need the 5-6 player Seafarers expansion for that too (including the 5-6 base game expansion).

So: Base game ($34) + 5-6 player exp ($16) + Seafarers ($34) + 5-6 expansion for that ($16) = $100 (based on Amazon's prices). That's not exactly cheap (for me at least), so maybe you should just go with the base game + 5-6 player expansion at first?

I'd maybe alternately recommend the highly regarded Carcassonne Big Box, which comes with the base Carcassonne game + 5 expansions for less than $50. You can check out a review here.

There's this US shop on ebay who makes track cleaning cars by hand. Their design is super simple but it works great. It's not for a thorough cleaning but more for regular cleaning.
https://www.ebay.com/str/espeetcpexcessbaggageshoppe

I bought a car from them, they're nice people and the cleaning car works great! Plus it looks like a normal car so it can sit on your layout without looking weird and out of place.

For a more thorough cleaning there's the CMX cleaning car

It's expensive though but /u/ronstrainsnthings of Ron's Trains N Things reviewed it and said it works great.

EDIT: just saw this was posted 5months ago. Sorry.

I bought Lionel's Pennsylvania Flyer set last year as a black Friday special, believe it was only $180. Fantastic value, and more surprising, the engine is actually damn nice (for its size anyway). It's no Big Boy of course, but it ran around the tree just fine. Hell, for that price you could buy 3 of them and tripple head them, and still have change left over compared to the price of a Big Boy. (Of course, if you want a BB, get that, just realize you're looking at more like $1300 not $300).

If you go used, be careful, Lionel has used that name for decades across multiple sets and price points, so it can be hard to tell them apart.

Crossovers and turnouts can be tricky for locomotives to carry themselves through. In order to keep things from short-circuiting, the tracks need to be insulated from each other, so the chances of the loco getting power essentially get cut in half as it's traversing these areas.

The good news is that both the flickering and the stuttering are more than likely being caused by dirty track. If there was a lack of power, the lights would be dim, not flickering on and off. It doesn't take long for oxidization to build up. You can buy a Bright Boy, though I've seen people also using small squares of Masonite to wipe up grime as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Village-Street-Ready/dp/B000EHH3HC

Kitbash for your pleasure.

Here are links to the train set. There are multiple versions of this.

First of all, the one above is O gauge sized, and is the most popular size and the size of the original Lionel trains that your dad and grandpa played with when they were kids. They are heavy duty and meant more for older kids and adults. There are also multiple add-on cars and accessories to go along with this, including characters from the movie, the boy's house, etc.

From newest to old:

link1
This one is controlled by both the remote and BlueTooth. It also has snow on the roofs. It also has the lettering on the cars in the correct place to match the movie.


link2
Contains only the remote, no snow on roofs, and lettering on the cars not prototypical to what is shown in the movie.


link3
This was the first set released back when the movie was released. It's only controlled by the wired transformer. Does not have any included movie sounds, but you can buy an add-on tender and add-on car to get more of the sounds.


link4G-Gauge version
This is the cheaper version that you see sold at Costco, etc for around $70. This is a true toy for smaller kids and is really designed as a toy.

Could you use Amazon. Im not a steam person so I dont know exactly what your looking for or what "cheap" is for you but I found some if you wanna check them out.

Bachmann Trains - Chattanooga Ready To Run 155 Piece Electric Train Set - HO Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000ISI1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IObkDbAAW8W6E

Bachmann Trains - Durango & Silverton Ready To Run Electric Train Set - HO Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004NHEQWY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_yPbkDb778QMPP

Bachmann Trains - Pacific Flyer Ready To Run Electric Train Set - HO Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RG0LLE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uQbkDbMTKK635

Bachmann Trains - The General Ready To Run Electric Train Set - HO Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NUA2RA8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pRbkDbBBZ0K1P

Bachmann Trains - Overland Limited Ready To Run Electric Train Set - HO Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006KQGF2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HTbkDbGYCDSFV

https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Thoroughbred-Ready--Scale/dp/B001RG7LDU/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1468465621&sr=8-13&keywords=train+set this is cheaper

If you don't already have normal Carcassonne, get the big box now!

There are a ton of good Board games out there. My girl friend and I really enjoy Carcassonne (This is usually on sale, we got it for around $50 so watch the price) It is a tile laying game so each time you play it it changes. You score points by completing roads and cities. The one I linked to has 5 expansions with it. With all 5 expansions the game can take a long time, plus there are a fair amount of rules. It took us with 5 players almost 4 hours to go through one game. There are also videos on youtube of the game.

Then there is Settlers of Catan. I got this game for Christmas. It is kind of a more luck game since there are Dice rolls involved unlike Carcassonne which is all based on laying pieces but with some luck at drawing the right ones. You make cities and roads and you try to get to a set number of points before others do. Points come from how mnay cities you havem longest road, biggest army and so on. There are also expansions to this game, but the downside is that it is 3-4 players, so if you just want to sit down with one other person you can't really play it. They do sell expansions for 5-6 players and are around $16 on amazon. The three expansions cost about the same price as the game (about $33), but they add just as much if not more content then the original game. There are also tons of videos on Youtube about this game and the different expansions. They do an overview of what each one is.

Amazon has it for $53 shipped if you're in the USA: http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-435RGG-Carcassonne/dp/B004DZ8WYE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1TVYDM1PF5JXD&colid=27SIQOHQROPGF

Bememo 33 Pieces Model Trees 1.18 - 6.29 inch/ 3 - 16 cm Mixed Model Tree Train Trees Railroad Scenery Diorama Tree Architecture Trees for DIY Scenery Landscape, Natural Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B8JGBTH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_l6EACbVVCZF08

I liked these ones best so far.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000EHH3HC?pc_redir=1405363191&robot_redir=1

Sure.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B076Q1QJTL?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
And
https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Hobbies/Painting-Surfaces/Wood/Plywood-Circles/p/108770

I would suggest using rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth or if they are in worse shape use a Bright Boy. Should get one of these anyway for regular cleaning once you lay track.

Walthers SceneMaster Bright Boy Cleaner Standard Grit Abrasive Track Toy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EXGNT0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0lddBb7PPF71P

Most of the photo etch was included in the kit, I only added the outside railings, which was just a Eduard kit: 1/350 Royal Navy railings. The Rigging was done with a product called EZ Line, I used the fine black product.

Thank you very much!

I guess at this point I know enough about scales, power source and current to know what to choose from.

Knowing my husband he would prefer steam train.

I had quite a look at what you could buy right here, it's not even nearly as impressive as US/EU options.

While researching myself I found Bachmann/Lionel Trains, they are actually very attractive, electric, H0 and you probably could plug them here with adapter (gonna check) not sure about AC/DC thing yet, have to check too...

Christmas Bachmann one https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Before-Christmas-Electric/dp/B0006MZN7C/ref=sr_1_28?keywords=Bachmann&qid=1573035232&sr=8-28

Penny https://www.amazon.com/Lionel-Pennsylvania-LionChief-Freight-Bluetooth/dp/B01N1A3JS4/ref=sxin_0_ac_d_rm?ac_md=2-2-bGlvbmVsIHRyYWluIHNldA%3D%3D-ac_d_rm&keywords=Bachmann&pd_rd_i=B01N1A3JS4&pd_rd_r=308bf438-5fcf-40a0-ba89-22df7c818209&pd_rd_w=6gcYs&pd_rd_wg=rXUiF&pf_rd_p=ed481207-4bea-4e19-bbad-73ed40fdc292&pf_rd_r=HT2XTHB8V41CFAXFSMWC&psc=1&qid=1573035232

Christmas Lionel https://www.amazon.com/Lionel-Christmas-Express-Scale-Train/dp/B07BDZVT1H/ref=sr_1_97_sspa?keywords=Bachmann&qid=1573035663&sr=8-97-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFWUjVZSlVGOUU4RkQmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNjQ1OTFHTVU5RU1JQzhJSTcmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDE5NzkzNzNKTkk5REJIVlJJNVImd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Don't think you will find anything half-way decent at that price.

https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Thoroughbred-Ready-Scale/dp/B001RG7LDU/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=HO+scale+train+sets&qid=1575075317&sr=8-8 Really basic you will have to add to it..

https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Pacific-Flyer-Electric/dp/B001RG0LLE/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=HO+scale+train+sets&qid=1575075380&sr=8-14

check this site as well www.trainworld.com

Looks like that amazon has same price on polar express, what is difference between these two models, other than the price obviously?


Lionel Polar Express Remote Train Set - O-Gauge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BK5MXQ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QjT-BbZ4GAMXQ. $330


Lionel The Polar Express LionChief Train Set with Bluetooth Train Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3D2VTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nkT-Bb2M8XBVW. $250

Might be here?

https://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Digital-Commander-Ready/dp/B000BPPNWE

Orgy. Requires no pop cultural knowledge at all and suits as many people as you can fit in the playroom XD

Anyway, we often play this:


http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-435RGG-Carcassonne/dp/B004DZ8WYE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1314322123&sr=8-2

Officially it only works for up to six people but it can be easily expanded to eight players. It's quite an amount of fun, allows strategic planning and can take a few hours to complete.

Carcassonne is really fun with just 2 players as well. The gf and I play it alot! Check out Carcassonne Big Box for the game and 5(!!!) expansions for just the price of the base game alone in most gaming shops.

Yes. There are ready-to-go products like https://smile.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Nickel-Reversing-System-Ho/dp/B0038LDLQI, or you can do it yourself with your own sensors.

The one you linked is one that I was looking at, this is the other(they look very similar identical other than cosmetics)
https://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Express-Ready-Electric/dp/B07GR9BTDZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=merry+christmas+express&qid=1567615270&s=gateway&sr=8-1

I think I will end up ordering some straight pieces to make it an oval.

Thanks re wagon. I can’t claim the trees though. I bought those on Amazon Bememo 22 Pieces Model Trees 3 -... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07B8G7S25?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Figured as time poor terraniac newbie I’d do that before spending time to make my own with sea foam, wire and clay.

This is the set I was talking about. Anything similar to it in HO?
https://www.amazon.com/Kato-USA-Model-Train-Products/dp/B00FXS4I5C

A little repaint and I think you would have a nice rat. Check out the cheap radio control cars. Maybe something like this: https://www.amazon.com/snailrun-Radio-Control-Truck-Vehicle/dp/B07V54Y57W/ref=asc_df_B07V54Y57W/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385419804656&hvpos=1o35&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2561093529562304268&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030766&hvtargid=pla-823135469911&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=87039472068&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385419804656&hvpos=1o35&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2561093529562304268&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030766&hvtargid=pla-823135469911

Cool project you got there. Keep us posted!

What track are you using? Were there any pieces taken from something like this?