Advice on a train set for a gift

Ecksmas?

Your nephew is exactly who Lionel beginner sets are made for. Small hands and rough play, no problem.

this is perfect.

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-30190&expandBranch=0&Keywords=thomas&CategoryID=0&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

Be aware that this set only runs with the remote it comes with.  No remote (i.e. it gets lost), no train. 

There is a Thomas version Lionel sells that is truly O Guage conventional operation.  Runs about $40 more.

If you want a relaistic looking train (like a steam engine vs. Thomas), try one of the Lionel starter sets.

The Lionel Thomas set would be a good, inexpensive choice. It doesn't have any really fine detail parts to break off and it can withstand quite a bit of abuse. We just got one today to give to our nephew for Christmas. At 2.5 he may be a tad on the young side, but his folks can run it for him, he just can't get enough Thomas! You may also consider the Lionel Scout set, it has a little more play value and a metal steam engine.

I'm a big fan of the Thonas remote set from Lionel. My 5 year old granddaughter loves it and plays with it fr hours. 

At that age and level of interest in trains, we'd (LHS) say a Lionel starter set.  As others have said, they're made for play.  If you're into the sixth or seventh decade of your life, you'll probably have some memories of receiving your first 'Lionel' around the age of 5.

However, there are two other aspects to making this leap.

First, how the child cares for their toys is a matter of parenting.  Co-participation in the intial set-up, running, maintaining of the train...i.e., setting an example for the desired behavior...can go a long way towards ensuring survival of the investment.  That said, kids will be kids, and I can remember some 'play' scenarios I had with my 1949 Scout set.  However, being "rough" and being "abusive" are different, IMHO.  Paint scratches, a broken coupler, a bent metal handrail, etc. are to be expected in extracting play-value from a set at that age.  Running the engine/train at full throttle off of a table onto a concrete floor..with glee...resulting in diecast and plastic shrapnel everywhere is simply abusive.  But, so is having the train gently played with for hours and hours and hours...but never once cleaning, lubing, oiling the mechanism. 

In this case, since you are the uncle, what level of parental involvement would you expect from your brother/sister in giving your nephew a train of any type?  Do they even know of your intentions?  Did they 'yea' or 'nay'?  Will they be involved in the child-train interaction at all?

A battery-powered train benefits the giver, but not necessarily the recipient.  It will typically cost much less to purchase, but have far less durability, performance, expansion possibilities, and learning value.  Our best example is the battery-powered version of the wooden Thomas trains.  I can't tell you how many parents bring the battery-powered Thomas, James, Percy....whatever...back to the store complaining about it because it's upsetting and disappointing junior.  He wants it to do the same thing his push-Thomas does: Pull several cars up steep climbs and around sharp curves.  It doesn't, of course.  It was never intended to do so.  So the B/P-Thomas is given lots of manual assistance (mechanism abuse), the child is unhappy and loses interest in the train-thing.

Which leads to the second...and perhaps most important...consideration.  Do you want this purchase to meet the skills and interests of the child for NOW, the day of the gift-giving, or do you want an investment in a toy that will challenge, inspire, and educate, helping them to grow?   If you already expect this to be another 'disposable' toy gift, find a cheap battery-powered plastic train, plastic track package at a big-box store and be done with it.  If you already have conceded the child to the immense play-value () of sitting in a chair staring at animation on a screen, then buy him/her a Train Simulator for the computer...they can handle that at the age of 5, believe me.

But, if you want to give them a toy that will develop skills and responsibility, challenge their creativity and imagination, and help them grow in the next 365 days until the same gift-giving opportunity arises, by all means think seriously about a Lionel (or MTH) starter set.

Just MHO, of course.

KD

Although I have 9 Grandkids, I don't think any of them were "rough on their toys". I gave my "train nut" Grandson a Lionel "O" Polar Express set at age 3. Now he is 8, and the train is still running.

I only have one Grandson. So, at 6 for Christmas I gave him the Christmas Story set. Along with the CD Christmas Story movie and the Red Red Rider BB gun. My son thought it was cool. However, my daughter in law was not impressed. Well I'm old I have to get my gigs in there some how.

Larry

All good ideas.  Since you are in PA, I would recommend going to one of the numerous train shows held this time of year and maybe you can find something used and for around 80-100 bucks!   There are lots of sets for sale and believe me people want to sell them so they don't have to take them home!  Be willing to bargain too!  You will find most of the vendors are more than willing to provide info and 'deal'.  

Dec. 2 there is a big show in Williamsport area. 

Avoid trains difficult to re-rail, and get trains and accessories with good play value:

> A single truck locomotive like an 0-4-0 Dockside or a Plymouth diesel that is easy to re-rail. If it has smoke, it should have a smoke OFF switch. Sound is good;

> Gondolas and flat cars so he can put things in / on them;

> Action car with a push button controller;

> Remote control transformer like MTH provides in its sets;

> Durable track system;

> Bridge and or tunnel to run through;

> Extra track to make a Figure 8. As he gets older, add switches and sidings.

Hi,

   Thank you all for the great input, we have good info to think about now.

    Kevin

since nobody else went this way i'll just throw in a recommendation for an old Marx set.  still inexpensive, some even available with battery power and rugged, rugged, rugged (worth mentioning a few times).  of course it won't be new or hi-tech, but you'll also have a piece of history from the world's greatest toy maker.

cheers...gary

Kevin, if you're not strictly married to the idea of O gauge, you might also check Bachmann's G scale Thomas. Bought one for my three year old nephew last Christmas and he adores it. Larger size is very easily manipulated by little hands. Trouble free, dependable, rugged, smooth, powerful, quiet runner with moving eyes and nicely detailed. Has two coach cars with removable roofs so kids can carry stuff in cars. Really nice set.

Don't get me wrong, I *LOVE* the O-gauge Thomas set.  That being said, it is vulnerable to breakage.  I have given two of them to nephews who are about 5 years old and both of them broke the face off trying to remove/swap it out.  It is a repairable break but it seems like they would engineer it a bit better so the face would be easier to pull off and swap.

Hi,

   I would like to thank everyone for your input.  I bought a $50 Lionel set at Gilbertsville this past weekend.  I then stopped at Nick Smith's and bought some lonely Plasticville items that had no real collector value due to over paint of glue stains.  I just painted the walls white and I was good to go.  The police staion I had in a box without a roof, so I just made one out of heavy card stock and painted it.  Next was the 3' x 4' hardboard sheet for $8.00.  I did not do my usual routine with green sawdust to simulate grass as I did not want any of the sawdust to rub off and end up on the floor in my mother-in-laws house.  Hopefully the five year old will make it last a little bit.

   Thanks again for everyone's input.

    Kevin

Kevin,  Great job!   That's a good start for a youngster.  Hope he gets lots of enjoyment out of it.  Good price too!  

You might also try Henning's trains in Lansdale since you live in that area.  Lots of great stuff.  

If your willing to buy G scale, the Bachmann Thomas set is made well ..