Lionel Train Sets

[mike234]

Am trying to purchase my grandchild a Lionel Train for Xmas. There are so many guages now I am getting confused. My train set when growing up was of course a Lionel and had a track with a track going down the middle to carry the electric current to the trains.
I need to know what gauge is best in terms of quality of the trains, that it which gauge has best engines and etc. Also which guage would be better to expand with in the future.
Not that I have a lot of money but for him price is not a consideration as long as I can purchase the best for him.
Please help as I have no ideal which one to purchase.

Thanks

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Sorry Mike, I can't help, but I appreciate the fact of the model trains. I loved them as a child. With the day of XBox and Playstation, you don't see them too much anymore. I saw a slot car set the other day and I told my wife to get it for my sons. I told her if they don't play with, I can enjoy the nostalgia in it.

[bamabassman]

wish i could help too mike. but i never had a trin set. only had 1 electric race car set. still got both cars too. i hope oyu can find what oyu need buddy.

[bassboogieman]

Visit Lionel's website. A lot of good information there. This link will take you to the page that explains gauge and scale.
http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/AboutGauge/

Depends upon the room available for the train set. Small room and small kids HO would be the most economiical way to go, especially if you're thinking of running it under and around the Christmas tree. Standard (0-gauge) does take up some room, like on a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. Lionel also offers battery operated trains in the G-gauge.

I wish I had my old Lionel train from my childhood (mid-50's) it would be worth a bundle today. It was a standard gauge, 5 car set. I had HO scale when my daughter was little. I had an uncle who's basement was an attraction all year around, with his 5 train set-up. Little town, mountain tunnels, lights it was really something.

[mike234]

Thanks Bassboogieman that site explained what I needed to know. I still have my Santa Fe Diesels from the 50's. Can not believe how detailed they were and had the magnetic traction. They will still run but I would not take a million dollars for them.
Bubba Bruiser I purchased him the NASCAR slot set from Bass Pro last year and he has enjoyed it. He was looking at the electric trains and I should have paid more attention to him at the time. This year while waiting in line to see Santa they had an electric train set up and he got closer look. He spent alot of time looking at it and finally told me he had rather have the train set than a 4 wheeler that I had already purchased. Now Santa will have to bring train set and I will drag 4 wheeler in the door Xmas eve.
Thanks everyone for your replies to my question.

[bamabassman]

gotta say this mike. for a kid to choose a electric tain set OVER a 4 wheeler is jsut amazing to me. the kid is gonna be alright buddy. never would i have guessed in a trillion years something like this would happen. lol. i always wanted one of those slotless race car sets. never go tit. but man it owuld have been fun. now i just want go and get the track and put my old cars on it and watch it go round and round, haha. wonder if mom and pop still have it? hmmm, gonna have to ask.

[bassinbob]

Talk about bringing back memories. I have mine from the 50's. Also have my fathers with the tin cars. Had it appraised when he passed for insurance and found out it was a common set and wasn't worth much. The worth of it was knowing my dad had it when he was a kid. I don't have a son to pass them to but a nephew has shown interest. Mike get it for him and he will cherish the memories as I and many more here do.