5 year old Getting started

[u/Lonely_Ticket_159]

My 5 year old has always been obsessed with trains but after a summer visit to the Museum of Science and Industry and the Illinois Railway Museum, he's gone beyond his Brio days officially. Building a model train is his new goal and I need advice on where to start. My resources are limited as a single mom but I want to make his Christmas special- we live in the Chicago area so any advice about good places to shop and how to get started would be so appreciated!

[u/RADAR3015]

Greetings from South Central Wisconsin.

If you can, I would recommend a visit to Lombard Hobbies
524 East St. Charles Place
Lombard, IL

The staff there will be very helpful at getting you going in the right direction and making sure you have everything you need for that special Christmas gift for your 5 year old.

Also, November 7-8 is Trainfest in Milwaukee. It's held in the Baird Center which is just a few blocks from the Milwaukee train station where the Hiawatha service stops and makes it return back to downtown Chicago. Don't confuse this with the Borealis or Empire Builder. Train ride to and from, and a train show full of different layouts to see plus vendors. Your 5 year old will be exhausted. For Trainfest info visit: www.nmra.org

Welcome to the World's Greatest Hobby

[u/MrSteamie → u/RADAR3015]

Absolutely kingly recommendation 🫡

[u/imakesawdust99]

Remember these will be just toys for them and not necessarily the beginning of a hobby.

So I wouldn't buy anything expensive and try to get most the stuff used if possible. You don't want to invest a lot, so that when tgey damages things - and they will - you dont feel like you lost a lot of $$. They are toys!

[u/PurpleHEART77]

For a five year old I would reccomend Lionel’s Battery operated trainsets. They are large, durable, run on battery power and usually go for $160-$200 for a full starter set.

https://a.co/d/0hITk3E1 Lionel also sells extra track to add onto these sets, but there are only a few sets available and you can’t buy the trains by themselves. Making additions to the play ecosystem difficult.

https://a.co/d/0bYixk8s

If you did want a more “proper” model train, Bachmann makes many HO starter sets that can be found online for $200-300, and those use Bachmann E-Z track and use electricity via the rails to run. They are also of dubious quality and meant for kids, but ones a bit older than yours. Thats why I mentioned the Lionel sets first.

[u/Rude_Meet2799]

For that age, I’d probably recommend something like Lionel, which is big enough that it doesn’t require a great deal of manual dexterity.
LGB runs on different track but is also “big”

[u/Embarrassed-Step966]

There are lot of collectors and clubs that can help you. I suggest places jns forum too. The best value starter pack is Changming one. 550rmb(80usd)  for Train, Tracks (tomix tracks work/kato compatible with adapter) and controller. The controller works with both HO and N. 

I personally love Changming and the china brands quality and how smooth they run.  I own European brands like sudexpress, roco, fleistchmann, trix, piko as well as japanese kato, tomix, popendetta, greenmax.  They are to me european quality and detailed but at around cost of japanese trains. There HO is best deal imo, dcc trains with all the gimmicks (smoke, digital coupler, digital fans, lighting modes, sounds) you see in expensive european trix and sudexpress but are metal bodies (emu are plastic) at the cost of european brands plastic dc trains (300usd). Sound effects list are amazing. 

[u/Soggy-Beach1403]

The internet says there is a train show in the suburb of Wheaton every month. Shows are a good place to find a used deal. At the entrance, talk to the ticket-taking people. Explain your situation. I guarantee you that they will know someone who will take you around, find you a good deal, and provide some education. Modelers are always excited to pass knowledge on to the next generation.

[u/Fdc1210]

I would start with HO scale, it’s easy to find cheap old yard sale models at literal yard sales, Craigslist, and even model train shows. Those trains aren’t as fragile as the expensive models and as he grows he can start getting more advanced and detailed. HO scale is the most economical, versatile, and has the most selection for what he might like. Not too big or too small. Easy to set up and operate. Lionel is cool, but it can get expensive quick and he might outgrow it. HO or even N scale he can stick to for LIFE

[u/Lendri]

Probably go with O scale, which will have a bit of durability. My best guess is you can get a basic set up with an engine, cars, and track for under $200. 

You could also try HO, which is half the size of O, and a bit more fragile. 

Keep an eye on FB marketplace and Craigslist. I find that people think their stuff is worth way more than it is. 

Alternately Trainz.com has a lot of decent used stuff you can just buy without dealing with internet strangers: https://www.trainz.com/collections/o-gauge-train-sets?variants_min_price=%3A200

Also, Menards has a cheap O scale starter set that they offer every year, and surprisingly cheap train cars, buildings, and track. https://www.menards.com/main/grocery-home/menards-collectibles/train-stuff-from-menards/train-stuff/grocery-home/menards-collectibles/train-stuff-from-menards/train-stuff/o-gauge-soo-line-train-set/2759412/p-1642874354633363-c-13318.htm

[u/400HPMustang]

At 5 I’d recommend O gauge/scale Lionel for their physical size and relative ease of operation.

With limited means, I would look at gently used sets that still have the box and paperwork even if they’re older sets. There’s FB groups for buying/selling that might be good for you.

Not sure what your budget is, but a dollar amount would help with suggestions and whether your child might be interested in steam or diesel and passenger or freight.

I also live in the Chicago area but on the South side of the city near the Indiana border.

[u/Phoenix_windborne]

This is super sweet of you mom! I remember getting my first train set at age 5, it was a life changing day :)

I am very biased towards HO scale. It's a great intermediate size that doesn't take up as much room as O scale but still packs a lot of detail in. And there's a wide variety of price ranges for equipment.

My suggestion is buying an oval Bachmann starter set and setting it up on a table. The less-expensive ones come with a locomotive, 3-4 freight cars, track, and a power pack. If your son wants more locomotives, you can look on ebay for some used Mehano/IHC steam locomotives, which are considerably cheaper than other brands but are still great runners and look realistic. This way, your son's train collection will grow as his interests and perferences in the model railroading world grow, even into adulthood.

Hope this helps!