Train Sets for all ages!Are you thinking of getting into train sets? There are a lot of decisions to make when choosing a model train, because there are so many different companies making them. Plus there are so many different scales and purposes for railroad models. The first and most important thing to remember is to consider the age of the person you are buying it for. The Standards of buying for children is totally different from those of an adult train lover. For toy train, a great example would be Thomas the Train Sets. These are wonderful gifts for children 8 and under. You would look for one that would keep them interested with hands on fun. You would also hope to find one that was easily expandable for future fun. It will eventually get old just watching a train go around and around, so plan on growing the railway a little at a time. My friends have kids who were really in to their trains! They would go to garage sales, flea markets, second hand stores, or anywhere they could to find little pieces. They collected them in boxes and used them for the next available scale model trains they built. They had everything from railroad tracks, cabooses, freight sets, assortments of different wagons such as flat bed wagons they could load their other toys onto. Or coal bin cars to carry around their legos. Passenger cars are not so appealing at this age, as they can’t “carry” anything around the track but the people inside.
Here are the top recommended Train Sets for children: This is the best Thomas the Train Sets I have come across. A great Holiday Train for children! Thomas hauls the tree and has his trusty plow to make the way! The set features Thomas the Tank Engine with plow and moving eyes, open wagon and tree, candy cane tank car, decorated coach, 47"x38" oval of EZ Track, power pack and controller, and illustrated instruction manual. All have international-style hook and loop couplers.
Then in a few months (when boredom comes), expand your Thomas with the addition of James - the Really Special Engine in bright red and brass. This is also an HO ready to run set which includes James the Red Engine with moving eyes, Sodor Fuel Tank with international style hook and loop couplers, Open Wagon with same, Brake Van with same, 56" x 38" oval of E-Z Track with 12 pieces of curved track, 3 pieces of straight track, and 1 straight plug-in terminal re-railer, power pack and speed controller, and illustrated manual.
If you are looking for even larger tracks, at this point you can use the EZ track pieces!
Or for a special surprise get the HO Deluxe EZ Crossing Gate. The Gates automatically lower when train passes by. It is compatible with steel alloy or nickel silver track. The engine is not included with the Gate.
When children turn around age 8-9 years old, they go through another train phase. If you haven’t already moved up to these train sets, you will find that this is the route to go for age appropriate train sets. Usually by this age and older, they are more likely to appreciate the higher standard of details on their model train sets. I would suggest moving up a little in quality to something like the Thomas’ Gordon Express Set which also uses the EZ track system. It features the senior Engine in Sir Topham Hatt's team, Gordon, who is the fastest and most powerful engine on Sodor, and he knows it! Gordon has moving eyes, and international-style hook and loop couplers, Gordon's Express Brake Coach with the same couplers, 63" x 45" oval of snap-fit EZ Track, power pack and speed controller and illustrated instruction manual.
Have the kids outgrown Thomas and moving onto bigger and better railroad models? We have some great ideas for them too. Look at this IR Freight Special Set. It’s the famous C&O Train Set; the Chesapeake & Ohio 4-4-2 Steam Locomotive #281. It is an Industrial Rail and high quality designed model railroad. It is compatible with all traditionally sized O/O27 trains and the Industrial Rail Train Set Expansion Packs. The Locomotive features finely detailed die-cast metal, puffing smoke, transformer-activated whistle and bell sounds, electrical pickup on both loco and tender, illuminated headlight, and realistic painting and lettering based on Pennsylvania Railroad prototypes.
It has die-cat metal trucks and wheels, needle-point axles, die-cast metal couplers, rugged ABS plastic bodies, detailed under frames, operating doors, and realistic painting. Also included is the Chesapeake & Ohio Single Door Box car, Chesapeake & Ohio Gondola, and Chesapeake & Ohio caboose. The Industrial Rail Track System includes realistic roadbed track system, prototypical T-shaped hollow rails, snap-lock design ensures positive connections between sections, and is fully compatible with the premium Atlas O 21st Century Nickel Silver Track as well as other roadbed track systems. Track included supplies a 40"x70" layout. The 80-watt transformer included is UL listed, of traditional heavy-duty design, variable controls for both track and accessory output, and is compatible with all AC powered locomotives and accessories. Smoke fluid and starter guide included as well! These items sold separately would be a $430 value!
You can find almost all these in a Model Train Set. If you search around, you will find almost all Railroads in existance have a Model Train made after them. We will list as many as we can for you, so check back often. See other Train Sets for these ages and older
Keep reading for other model train sets for more mature model railroad building audience.
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