Battery powered train sets.

Cuz they're selling?

It's funny how people pay $80 to $100 for a train set that takes C or D batteries. You pay as much for the batteries in one Christmas season as the train set cost.

I thought I got a great deal on a Home Depot G gauge set I got on an after Christmas sale that was $20 instead of $69. I quickly realized I spent more on batteries than the train was worth. Never again will I do that.

Brad

So buy rechargeables.

Do you know what happens to a Legacy or Vision locomotive when your small child or grandchild decides it’s a shiny banana and peels it off your layout or kicks it over on the floor?

You see a $69 battery operated train set is like a Timex. It keeps on ticking no matter what you do to it. Tommy can play soccer with it and Billy can Godzilla it across the kitchen right into the dishwasher. And when Emma says “Uncle Mark can I play with the Elf train?” I simply place it back on the track and it runs. I don’t weep any more over broken expensive trains; No more fights with Momma on why kids can’t have access to our layout.

I will happily spend $30 this Christmas on C batteries and thank Lionel for building child-proof trains.

Too many batteries left over from unused PPD products 😂

Several of us in our club have regauged them to run on Standard Gauge track and we bought rechargeable batteries. All works great! Fun sets!

@Mark Gannucci posted:

Do you know what happens to a Legacy or Vision locomotive when your small child or grandchild decides it’s a shiny banana and peels it off your layout or kicks it over on the floor?

You see a $69 battery operated train set is like a Timex. It keeps on ticking no matter what you do to it. Tommy can play soccer with it and Billy can Godzilla it across the kitchen right into the dishwasher. And when Emma says “Uncle Mark can I play with the Elf train?” I simply place it back on the track and it runs. I don’t weep any more over broken expensive trains; No more fights with Momma on why kids can’t have access to our layout.

I will happily spend $30 this Christmas on C batteries and thank Lionel for building child-proof trains.

I see your point. No small kids around my home so just not worth it to me. I would give you this Home Depot set but it's way to big to ship. I'll donate it I guess. It just takes up closet space now. I thought about just setting it up for a Christmas decoration but I have other trains I run for that.

Brad

Quite a few years ago, there was a non Lionel battery powered Caterpillar train set that would run on O gauge track.  Forget which magazine or publication had a brief article on it.

Also K-Line had a battery set or two labeled as Kids "O" which were O gauge and could run on O gauge track.

Why not? They want your car to do the same? Price their batteries!

Having completed a fairly large number of battery powered locos, here are some points to consider:  1. Batteries with the proper capacity, usually lithium based, are not inexpensive.

2. To keep battery cost down, don't over capacity.

3. There are quite a few available sources for batteries.

4. Almost all factory installed control systems can be operated on battery power.

5. With battery power, a wireless control system is appropriate. Many are out there.

6. Give some thought to on-off switch positioning and recharging access and method.

7. Each conversion is unique.

8. Keep your track power system connected and in good condition.

Because of price point. At around $100 it can get into venues that probably won’t sell the electric starter sets. I’ve had several and they seem more durable than the battery sets many places sell.

I've converted a KMT DC Alco to run off of a 9 volt battery with an on/off/reverse switch.  No speed control but it runs acceptably for what I want to run it for.

i really like lionel ready to play sets especially the ones with the F unit diesel as i would love to get one

however i do have a rare set with a pennsy 4-4-0 and passenger cars and the only reason i don't play with it right now is my room being too small for that wide track

sometimes i like the battery stuff better than electric for the rugged reliability and lionel's ready to play is dirt cheap. i can buy 4 of those sets for the price of one electric set

however i haven't bought more because they take up more space than o gauge when laid out