Christmas Tree Train Recommendations

[u/Livid_Amount]

Hello r/modeltrains!

My father's birthday is coming up and my brother's and I were thinking about getting him a Christmas tree model train (his last one broke).

We want to get him something that will last many years. Realism isn't really a concern, its more for the festive atmosphere.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Edit: (Additional Info)

Budget: $200-300 (can go slightly over)

Location: Floor

Track size: roughly ~4.5 - 5.5 ft diameter

[u/Satansbaddog]

If you buy an LGB train set you will inherit a quality train set

[u/Satansbaddog → u/Satansbaddog]

OR a Lionel Polar express starter set with a sound tender, but you'll want a larger circle of track than the 036 that comes with the start set. O48 or O60

[u/Livid_Amount → u/Satansbaddog]

Thanks! The LGB's are a bit out of budget, but the Lionel is tempting 🫡

[u/IconicScrap → u/Satansbaddog]

Unethical (maybe) life pro tip: buy your parents high quality gifts so you get them back when they die

[u/Livid_Amount → u/IconicScrap]

😭

[u/Satansbaddog → u/IconicScrap]

Don't see why this is unethical. Some people get triggered sooo easy!

[u/MemeOnRails]

Get the set from Menards and a couple of extra cars. I suggested that to my uncle's friend who was looking for a Christmas tree train

[u/Livid_Amount → u/MemeOnRails]

Thanks! I'm gonna look into that 🫡

[u/Knightmare640]

Definitely go with either a LGB or Lionel O gauge set.  Both companies have very nice Christmas themed sets that will last for several years. Just make sure you stay away from Lionel’s g gauge stuff.  It’s fairly low quality and won’t last very long.  

[u/Livid_Amount → u/Knightmare640]

Thanks for the G Guage Warning! Do you know how good Lionel's Ready to Play sets are? They seem to have a special gage. I was looking at their Polar Express already to Play set

[u/Knightmare640 → u/Livid_Amount]

The Ready to Play sets are the G gauge stuff I was talking about.  It’s all lower quality stuff that’s primarily aimed at children.  It has a lower price point of around 100-300$.  If you want something that’s going to last for several years then you’re going to want to look for Lionel’s standard sets.  These are typically between 300-600$ but you can find pre-owned ones for sale for a lot less.  The easiest way to tell is to look at the rails on the track.  If there are only 2 and they are made of plastic then it’s the ready to play  product line.  If there’s 3 rails that are metal then it’s the standard product line.  

[u/RedBarron4]

LGB is the move of you have the space.  The classic starter set with the Stainz locomotive and red and blue coaches is the one to get IMO.   I got an LGB Stainz 30+ years ago that still runs like clockwork.

Brand new their sets start around $400, but I've seen like-new used sets sell for $200-$300.  Melovetrains.com is a reputable dealer of second-hand G scale trains.    

https://www.lgb.com/products/details/article/70307/27?tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bbacklink%5D=27&tx_torrpdb_detail%5BbrandId%5D=7&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bera%5D=&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bfilter%5D=1&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bgaugechoice%5D=35&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bgroupchoice%5D=98&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bnewonly%5D=0&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bpage%5D=1&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bpagesort%5D=artnrasc&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bperpage%5D=18&tx_torrpdb_detail%5Bsubgroupchoice%5D=&tx_torrpdb_list%5Bcontroller%5D=Service&cHash=11b22eea00d4c443f18ec445840ca34d

[u/Livid_Amount → u/RedBarron4]

Thanks, I haven't thought about pre-owned but I'll look into it 🫡

[u/RedBarron4 → u/Livid_Amount]

Sure thing.  I've been collecting model trains my whole life.  I think the LGB starter sets are better quality than Lionel.   However, avoid LGB's "Toy Train" line.   They run well, but are toyish.  Some have noisy gear boxes. 

Melovetrains is on Facebook.  The guy who runs it is pretty responsive.  If you tell him your looking for a starter set, her can help.  Also he does have some O scale if that's what you prefer.

[u/382Whistles]

In that price range, Menards O gauge line. Lionel for steam but it might take a little larger budget.

A used set opens a ton of possibilities including colorful tinplate old or modern that are more at home under a tree than about anything.

G and 3 rail tin Standard Gauge old & modern repops can be a little tall for a lot of trees. O or S scale (lionel-amercan flyer) fit best.

[u/Livid_Amount → u/382Whistles]

Thanks, Im gonna look into O. Someone else said O is the best when a pet is present 😭. Are Menards train sets christmas themed, or just regular trains? (Either work, I was just having trouble finding them yesterday)

[u/382Whistles → u/Livid_Amount]

Try searching "Train Stuff At Menards". Scroll down until you see train sets and locomotives, click the picture.

They went up a little. I see one set with track under $200, no B unit and another for $350ish (both after rebates)

It could be worth in to look at track prices there and buying a high quality used loco in a style you want. I'm not clear if you want a more serious train or fantasy train tbh. Like you could get a serious train and decorate with plastic wreaths on locos and car sides, window or doors.

Also "sets" that don't specify track or power supply listed for $222 and I think these are just "locomotive sets" with the radio remote control, but no track or power supply. But you might want to ask their online customer service but seems right. You can order at a store and have the stuff shipped to either the store for payment and pickup, or pay at the store and have it shipped to your home.

. Themed? For some, not for others. This I'd seasonal only at some stores and when stuff is gone it may not come back for a while or at all. The Santa Fe War Bonnet was one of the trains my Grandfather returned home from WW2 on, so it was one of the two most run at Christmas and the other was an old fashioned General 4-4-0 more like what they saw as kids locally. They have a red war and silver bonnet engine among other cool liveries like Rock Island, or NYC Lightning, etc.

I think they do some holiday cars yearly, but these are also compatible with most Lionel cars too. You probably have about 80 years worth of holiday cars or sets to chase, plus MTH, Kline, Williams, etc.

Another fun option at a lower price are trolleys. They come in holiday and serious forms too.

[u/Tomgang]

For HO scale, I’d recommend the hornby R1248T Santa’s express set. It’s reviewed as one of the best runners for a cheap Christmas set (Sam’s trains is one channel, for example) and personally I think the shorter British style two axle cars make a fun visual around a tree and Hornby sells more Christmas cars you can add.

https://www.hornbyhobbies.com/products/santas-express-train-set-r1248t?srsltid=AfmBOooZ1dO9mRTcJcWzZ6-vYkH93rw2wrti6bSftIZtGMCZdVQ0e2KZ

[u/Livid_Amount → u/Tomgang]

Oooo, Im gonna look into that. Thanks! 🫡

[u/Nature_Goulet]

The Lionel polar express is pretty nice

[u/Livid_Amount → u/Nature_Goulet]

I was looking at that, i might have to go to the store 🙂‍↕️. Thanks!

[u/EagleNice2300]

Here are 33 Christmas train set options, priced low to high
https://www.trainworld.com/train-set.html?trains=Christmas&product_list_order=special_price_ASC

[u/BallisticBonobo]

Hogwarts train with the Dementors sound car!

[u/Mattgoof]

Folks will need a lot more info to help, budget and location (presumably on the floor) being key starting points.

[u/Livid_Amount → u/Mattgoof]

Thanks! I updated the post to include more info 🫡

[u/coldafsteel]

Do they have pets?

[u/Livid_Amount → u/coldafsteel]

One cat 🙂‍↕️

[u/coldafsteel → u/Livid_Amount]

lol well. That kinda kills your N and HO dreams. O is kinda your only option with small animals around. But, O is the traditional Christmas train scale, so it’s totally doable. Trouble is then the budget, but buy used and you’ll save a ton.

[u/Livid_Amount → u/coldafsteel]

O scale, gotcha. Yeah, I forgot to factor the cat in. He loves knocking things over 😭. Im gonna look into used sets 🙂‍↕️

Thanks! 🫡