Buying a first, sort of, set

Lionel made a really nice GP9 Legacy set (6-11181) - Canadian National with flatcars and piggyback trailers a few years back. I few hobby shops may still have them, I few by me still do If I remember right. You didn't state your price range so I kind of just picked one based on features.

CANADIAN NATIONAL PIGGYBACK SET

There is also a cheaper GP9 starter set (6-81021) that has the track and transformer BOSTON & MAINE PAUL REVERE GP9

BOSTON & MAINE PAUL REVERE GP9

As for GP7's Lionel makes them in the LionChief Plus version, but you would use a remote instead of your Transfomer and they do not come in a set.

LionChief Plus GP7

That leaves a lot of things open actually I'm trying to think thou of PRR GP-7/9 complete set. There is a Lionchief set by lionel that is a remote set for about $325 then there is a conventional set by lionel which is a coal set for about $700.00 now shopping around you probably find somewhat better price. You might be better buying it piece by piece if you just want conventional set. It really depends how much you have to spend 

Iwas thinking the Paul revere B&M set also but thought it didn't have track and transformer

If I were you...

1. Set a price range  2. Buy what you like  3. New, all present manufacturers offer a variety of options. To some, it comes down to the color of the box.  4. Since you have an old ZW, great deals can be had in postwar.

Good luck and enjoy...

Padova as in Italia.

Mikey

mikey posted:

Padova as in Italia.

Mikey

Yes.  It's a beautiful city in Northern Italy.  In the late 19th century, baby was left at an orphanage there.  When he was old enough to leave, he took the name as his own.  The English spelling is Padua, which may be more recognized by most Americans.  

My wife and I stayed in a small hamlet nearby when we vacationed in Italy five years ago.  It was my first time ever to Padova. The locals could not believe our last name was Padova.  We attained a sort of celebrity reputation.  

My wife took the picture of me just as we got off the train we had taken from Paris the afternoon before. 

Here are a few photos.  Padova has a memorial to 9/11 and I took a picture of the train station.

There is an interesting tram that takes it's power from a buried third rail and the catenary.

https://youtu.be/aJPP5Sv89Xk

So I see Trainworld is having a sale on Williams trains.  These prices are more in line with what I can afford at the moment.  Before I dive in I'd like to know a bit more about, let's say the B&O, #21452.  Anyone here have one they can speak about ? 

I don't have that set but have others and have liked them.  the only thing is depending which sound system that has in it you may have bell and if you hit horn it does the sequence for grade crossing you have no control over it but as a train set It appears to be a very good set I was actually looking at back about a month ago. 

The more I read, in this forum, and research on-line, the more I see that being away from O scale for over twenty years is going to be quite a learning experience.  

I've been browsing retailers and Evilly for O scale trains the past few days.  I see Lionel Legacy, Lion Chief,  Command Oddest and other systems from different manufacturers.  My goal is to operate conventionally.  My question is are any of these locos that advertise these systems compatible with conventional transformers ?

any legacy engine can also run in conventional mode, lion chief no lionchief plus yes 

DP I grew up in West Chester. I did 17 years USN my email is in my profile just click on my name email me if you want and will give you number and will try to help you with what I know and will tell you what I don't lol I may be able to help you catch up to what trains are now. 

Thanks Bill.  I don't see your email on your profile page however.