Fave Christmas Loco or set

If I were buying one now, I would go with the Williams by Bachmann 4-6-0 Christmas RTR set.  I like the looks of it.

While the engine of the Rudolph RTR set isn't much to smile about, the rest of the available cars make an interesting consist for under the tree. what i need to get are some of the MTH reindeer passenger cars to go with the Rudolph engine.

Kenn:

 

By restricting the PE and Tinplate from a list of favorites, you have taken many of us right out of the picture and I am not sure you will get an objective read of what is actually the favorite choice among most Forum members.

Like some others, the "restriction" against tinplate kind of doesn't work for me because the tinplate trains rank among my favorites, and especially at Christmas.

 

However, I also very much like several other Christmas sets that I have:  The new Bachmann 4-6-0 set (currently available), the MTH Christmas set w/PS3 (currently available), and, among the older items, an MTH Christmas set with a blue steam locomotive, the RMT Christmas locomotive, the K-Line Plymouth Christmas set, and the Lionel Polar RR GP7 and matching caboose.

My favorite production set would probably be my NPC passenger set with the Santa's Flyer locomotive. Wonderful looking on a long main line.

 

  However, my personel under the tree favorite is an unmarked K-Lionel Porter, with an elf in the cab, pulling 6 of the K-Line green and gold Kennecott Copper Corp. (Marked KCC) 2 axle ore cars.  Thus is created the Kringle Coal and Cookie line, distributing snacks and fuel to Santa's workshops.

My favorite is the Lionel North Pole Central Christmas Train.

 

It is the set I purchased when I decided to start the toy train hobby.

 

Much of my hobby interest is in the connection between trains and Christmas, so I have a fair bit of Christmas equipment.

 

Most Christmas themed sets are one off paint schemes that the manufacturer makes for one year or maybe a couple of years. One of the reasons I like the North Pole Central is it isn't just a set, it is a RAILROAD. There are several locomotives, passenger cars, and different types of rolling stock. You can run all kinds of trains, and if you are running a freight train, you can mix in other cars like the annual Christmas box cars.

 

I like the North Pole Central paint scheme. It is loosely based on the New York Central. It is a nice mix of fanciful bright red, green and white Christmas colors, and an otherwise somewhat realistic workman-like look.

 

Hello guys and gals.........

 

Well i am picking up my sunset 3rd engine next Monday (Dec 3rd) and so that one would be my favorite Christmas engine .

 

the woman who loves the S.F.#5021

Tiffany

My favorite is my Polar Railroad K-4 with all the scale Polar Railroad freight cars and caboose. Santa's ground support.

This old junker engine and cars that I got for next to nothing at a train show; old Lionel.

And had lots of fun practicing/ learning masking and airbrushing.

 

To me looks a lot better then the many different Christmas theme paint schemes from the various train companies.

 

 

Very Nice! Wish I was that skilled

i don't have either (yet) but the lionel christmas hudson jr. or one of the christmas rs-3's

Dave

No around the tree this year, but on the garage platform the Route of The Reindeer RS-3 with a four-car consist of the North Pole Central passenger expansion set plus the Vixen Vista Dome, along with yes, you heard  me, the Polar Express set plus the hot chocolate car. 

 

Pete

Nice Job, kj356!  The matching up of the stripes across the different cars is very impressive!

 

As to other sets, I'll add the Department 56 Lionel Baby Hudson with the various cars offered by Allied Model Trains in the late 90's to early 00's.

 

I also like the little Lionel Docksider in North Pole Central livery to pull the North Pole Central Passenger cars (just wish there was a rudolph, but I was informed in no uncertain terms that would never happen due to licensing).

 

I also like the 1999 GP-7 and the cars in similar paint schemes offered that same year.  (A few years ago I used this GP-7 to pull all the annual Lionel Christmas Boxcars I have since getting into the hobby (was ~ 13-14 cars at the time).)

 

Sorry if I deviated from the question, as note of these are truly "RTR" sets offered in a single set box with track/transformer, etc.

 

Too many others to list, as I tend to like most of the Christmas trains (don't have any Polar Express or Tinplate though, at least not yet!)

 

-Dave

You know you really do not have to get any specific Christmas Theme engine you can always make your own.

 

On some others I just printed up on the computer various holiday messages and mounted with double sided tape to the tenders.

 

Go to the $1 or craft store and pick some stuff up to decorate an engine. Wreaths, bells, blinking little lights, a santa hat for the funnel, some Theme figures for the cab or front of train/caboose or passenger cars, stickers that shine in the lights.

Cheap $2 old used freight cars are perfect for redo's

 

You can also take a very nice scale loco from your railway and decorate it up and just peel off the decals and decorations after the holidays layout gets taken down.

 

There is all sorts of sorts of stuff you can do to decorate an engine and full train, that will be fun for you and the family to do and create your own unique train!

 

It is lots of fun and really brightens up a holiday train display.

 

I had a box car with the bobbing heads and swaped animals for snow men.

A chase gondola and swaped figures for Santa and elves