Fantasy Train Sets

I have the Hogwarts' set, mostly for the novelty of a UK prototype amongst my collection: (skip forward to 2:40 for intended effect)

I have since lengthened the train to more closely match the above consist.

Does that still leave it as a Polar Express-level fantasy?

---PCJ

For my two daughters (and my wife) the following is in our collection:

Lionel:

Polar Express (non-scale, original release)

A couple of Disney-themed trains, including one of their Christmas ones in addition to having almost the full Mickey Mouse Express from the MPC era.

K-Line:

Girl's set

MTH:

Spongebob set

I would say that my Mobile Missile Launcher set is fantasy....bought for me!

Peter

I bought a Hogwarts set, set it up under my Christmas tree one year, then a couple of Christmases later I gave it to my grand-niece. That had always been my intention; it was fun to have as a Christmas tree train the one time, but I really did buy it for the little kid.

I enjoy fantasy sets and locomotives just to change it up a bit.  I run my Christmas trains from December 1st to January 1st. 

I like fantasy sets. I have the Hogwarts set and a few others like the Halloween themed sets. I have the engine from the Polar Express and I like the book but not the movie. The engine is waiting to be repainted as an RF&P Berk. The set that got me back into O scale was the Lionel Construction set from 1998 with the RS3 and three gons. That RS3 is currently on the bench being redone as a Penn Central RS3m.

A few sets that I wanted as a child of the 1980's and would still like to have are the Black Cave Flyer with all the Dungeons and Dragons like cardboard cave pieces. The L.A.S.E.R. Set of the same time period would be fun to have too. Tyco's futuristic glow in the dark Turbo Trains  were fun but offered in HO only. 

If ever there was a Star Wars set I would buy it in a heartbeat.

I have the Hogwarts Express, Thomas, and Percy. Also, would by 52 Fire Car count as fantasy? How about my Lionelville Fire Department set?

So the Hogwart's Express is a real train!  Okay, that makes it not a fantasy, doesn't it?  And the Polar Express is a real engine up there in Michigan, right?  So that's not a fantasy, either.  Maybe the Coor's Express is a bit of fantasy, but who's to say?

I guess that I limit my "special trains" to a 20 car circus train, mostly of older K-Line cars, and a military train, made up of some Weaver troop cars, some various flat cars with miltiary vehicles mounted on board and a couple of K-Line 70' coaches for the officers.  I gues that that is about as "fantastic" as I have allowed myself.  At least the Grandkids have enjoyed seeing these trains. 

Haven't had the heart to get a Thomas and Friends train as yet.

Paul Fischer

I confess! I have these "Fantasy" train sets:

MTH Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer (PS2)

MTH Coors Silver Bullet (PS2)

MTH Rescue 2 NY Fire Dept Water Train (PS2)

**Lionel Polar Express (Conventional)

*Lionel Hogswarts Express (Conventional)

*Lionel Area 51 (Conventional)

**The new-for-2014 scale Legacy Polar Express is on preorder

* These two may get ERR command control upgrades when the new SUPER MICRO command boards ship

I also have the Disneyland 35th anniversary General, but it's not a "Fantasy" train since it is based on the real deal. I like running it at Christmas.

Have a bunch of Halloween rolling stock too.

It's all fun stuff!

Yes, that is it for every train I have . . . 

I have 3 Coca-Cola Sets

1st up we have a Williams GS-4 that has been modified with Fan Driven smoke unit/LED Headlight/ operating LED Mars Light/ Custom painted and Lettered for Coca-Cola that pulls a 23 car consist of Various Coca-Cola Freight Cars

2nd up is an MTH O-8-0 Engineering sample painted and Lettered for Coca Cola updated to Proto-Sound 1.0 which pulls a set of 15" K-Line Coca-Cola Passenger cars and I did a Repaint on a set of Williams Passenger Cars so that it would have a Baggage/ Diner Car/ and A Parlor Car

Thirdly I have the MP-15 from K-line that hauls a consist of Coca-Cola Flat Cars with 1930's and 1940's cars and Trucks complete with Caboose

I also have the K-Line 12 days of Christmas Freight Car set

 a 1991 Lionel Girls Set

Two Williams Girls Sets one a GG-1 and the other Steam

MTH Big boy passenger set

MTH Caterpillar Set with 12 two bay hopper cars and another Caterpillar set with all kinds of Add on Freight cars all under the Caterpillar Brand

and then of course there are all the Cancer Cure Cars from RMT

as well as DAP/Railking Christmas Boxcars

I have Hogwarts and the Silver bullet, USCG and Christmas Beeps.

I picked up a Hogwarts because I've always liked British trains. Also recently added a US made Thomas set with a Harold the helicopter added supposedly for the grandson but its really for me. I stll get a kick out of watching them go around in circles on my small incomplete layout.

Scotie

Count me in. I have the scale version of the PE that was purchased for our pleasure and for any visitors to the layout regardless of their ages. I like this set so much that we are adding the Gold Edition of the PE.

Good thread!

I recently bought the LionChief Polar Express supposedly for our Christmas display, but it's running now on the year round display. I'm partial to passenger trains. I'll be buying another fantasy Christmas set next week which will probably only run at Christmas time and I'm looking forward to getting a Thomas Kinkaid set later in the year.

How about some fantasy sets that should be made or maybe not, like a Playboy Bunny passenger set with a J Edgar Hoover observation car or a Penthouse Pinup Girl freighter with a William Jefferson Clinton caboose.

The only one that comes to mind is the K-line Hershey set.

Brad

Dear Paul,

The main reason I really got into reestablishing myself into this hobby was for myself but a side reason was I saw what great joy this hobby could still bring to kids and adults at train shows! The hobby allows intergenerational appreciation and communication and as far as I'm concerned, that is a good thing.

That is the real reason to stick with it, because it IS a positive influence among SO many negative influences.

IMHO!

Mike Maurice

Agree 100%.

Have lots of Christmas themed stuff. Thinking about the Area 51 lionchief set

The full reindeer-named 8-car North Pole Central streamliner...

Paul,
   I view any train or rolling stock that really does not exist as a fantasy.
Even though there is a NASA train mine is a fantasy, because many of the cars on my
NASA train really do not exist in real life.  Some do however!
PCRR/Dave

The NASA train was never pulled by a PRR E-44 for darn sure.


The Space Capsule loading Car, is definitely a fantasy piece of NASA rolling stock also.


However the #1 NASA Engine and box car do exist and transport parts of the shettle, including the External Tank.

I think that absolutely everything that carries the road name "Lionel Lines" would certainly qualify as fantasy.  I do have lots of these.  

Hey CentralFan,  Love your snow and slush.   What's the secret?

MK,

I spent a lot of time researching the "right" amount of everything to get it to look just that way; that slushy "wet" road look...

Here are the steps details:

2013 Christmas Photos - CentralFan1976 "wet" look

Simply pouring the "realistic water" in the gutters and in puddles was super easy.

Thanks,

 - Mario

OK, I have the Coors Light Set with add-ons, and the Complete Phantom set.

I have the Minuteman missile car and exploding boxcar, I also have a Mercury capsule transport car.

Sure, It's Fantasy, My Fantasy.

My Railroad, I'll run what I want including a long Military train behind my Big Boy.