Starter Suggestions?

I think you're on right track.  I would look for a small to medium PW Xformer to match up with the PW loco.  Make sure the rolling stock rolls well and you can't go wrong with that combo.

Moose

That might make a good set for you but for a child of 11, I would get a MTH PS.3 starter set.  Full command = maximum playability and fun!  IMO, MTH is the heads above the rest when it comes to starter sets.

Regardless of what you get it's nice to hear of a child that age having an interest in the hobby!

--Greg

Probably a little more expensive than what you were thinking, but I think the MTH RTR set is the way to go for an 11 yr old. They will make him a train fanatic for life.

jasonstrainshop.com has the PRR steamer freight set for $312 and the NS and BNSF Diesel sets are $325. You can't go wrong with either. He is gonna want all the bells and whistles that come with these PS 3 starter sets(smoke, engine sounds, lights, realistic start up speeds, horn/whistle, bell, and great details).

Not to mention adding realtrax is pretty cheap on the secondary market. You can usually pick it up for $2 a piece or less.

I think one of the big shortcomings of starter sets is the minimum basic oval of track. Get some extra track to allow a figure-8, maybe a couple switches to do a loop-to-loop setup. More track allows more creativity with layout.

I would get a starter set too. I have no knowledge on this but many folks on this forum wax poetically about their first set on Christmas morning. You can always add you donations at a later date.

Also I wouldn't let the type of track which comes with the starter set make your decision as to which track or set to go with. I have gone from O-27 and checked out Atlas;Realtrax;Gargraves& Lionel Fastrack before I made a commitment to a type of track. 

Good luck

We struggled with the same dilemna last year.  I was going to give my son (9 at the time) a train set and I tried to cobble together my old SOO line switcher, some tubular track, and a working transformer.  All of these items were circa 1977 and had been in storage for at least 25 years.  I even bought extra track!  I thought I could spend about $40 and have a decent set.

OR I could cobble together my old Santa Fe HO set with new track (similar to fastrack), a few old buildings, and a tyco transformer....again circa 1979 except the track was new.

I put them both on a 4 x 8 piece of plywood, painted it, and ran them a few times about  four days before Christmas.  The HO didn't work very well, so I thought I would stick with the Lionel set and make it work.  But the old track and transformer were feisty and worked, but not consistently.

Then I looked online and saw a brand new Lionel Santa Fe Flyer starter set.  It had smoke, a whistle, lights, matching cars, fastrack, and a new transformer for about $150.  I ended up buying it the next day--had to pay a premium for expedited shipping--but compared to the stuff I had, it was awesome.  Picked up some fastrack at the local antiques mall, bought some buildings at Lowes and Walmart clearance sales, a snow blanket, and put it all together.

I loved it.

He loved it. 

The whole family loved it.

His grandpa loved it so much he built his own layout at his house this year!

The reality is that no matter which train I gave him, he would have loved it.  But getting him a starter set that was brand new, no issues, a few nice features, has been worth way beyond the price we paid.   He spent hours and hours playing with it and still does.

Once we moved it downstairs he wanted to see my old SOO line switcher, and we set it up with the tubular track and it was a nice complement to the new set.  We built a bigger layout and ran both trains at the same time.  We have been working ever since on expanding the layout.

This year we went to the Toy Train Museum in York and he participated in the "Night at the Museum" program and built a layout with other kids.  We've been to train shows, ridden on the Western Maryland Steam train in Cumberland and built our first holiday layout.  I think the use of the word "fanatic" is a good way to describe his passion for the hobby. 

Absolutely!  Whatever startup you get, an 11 year old will get bored pretty quickly with a small oval.  I had a figure 8 with 4 switches on a sheet of plywood when I was that age and it kept me interested for a long time.

With today's track like RealTrax and FasTrack, you can easily do a temporary floor layout with a loop to loop.  You can expand it a number of ways.

I think the best thing though is to find out what the kid is interested and buy a RTR set that matches up.  I recently saw some grandparents let their grandson pick the set he wanted and they were surprised at his choice.  Bottom line, the kid will like it more.

BUY EXTRA TRACK!

I too think that a starter set is the best way to go, then add to it later.

Check out the four larger companies for prices of sets; Lionel, MTH, Atlas, and Williams.

Lee F.

I'm also just getting started and looking to pick a starter set and track system...

The folks I've talked to around here claim that Lionel FasTrack is better than the MTH track, if you get one of their starter sets with Railsounds (or at least TrainSounds) you'll have the same sort of features as the MTH sets I think - other than the remote control.

Plus, they have a wider selection of sets - a couple of them come with figure-8's, at least one comes with a dumping coal car, etc...

If you need a super-tight setup though, the minimum radius FasTrack is O-36 right now.  Personally though, I'm always trying to find ways to use wider radius wherever possible - I'm more bummed that they don't have a 42 or 54 radius

I should point out though that RealTrax is no better - they have no 36, 48, or 60.

A lot of people like Fastrac for whatever reason but I am not that fond of it.

However for differant sizes Fastrac does have 048 curves, and maybe you can break up the curve with half sizes of curves and straights for wider diameter.

The only drawback to buying a Williams set is to know where to buy more track for it in the future as WBB does not sell the 'starter set' track on their website. I think that Williams uses Atlas snap-track in their starter sets.

Right now thru some of the online dealers you can find a really great deal on a train set.

Lee F.

I think I would narrow that down to three possibles:  Lionel, MTH, and Williams by Bachmann.

Two corrections -

(1)  You will not get the same sort of features in a Lionel Trainsounds / Railsounds starter set engine that you'll get in a MTH PS2 or PS3 starter set engine.  While both offer "sounds" the MTH engine offers things like speed control and remote uncoupling from the transformer.... both nice features, especially for kids.   It's also "command control" equipped, which not only means you can use a remote control to run it (if you choose), but, if down the road the user wants to go with a command control setup (i.e. the MTH DCS system), the engine is ready to go (i.e., the ability to run multiple units on a single track (or electical block), independently, along with a number of other features).  You'd need to get a Lionel engine with TMCC or Legacy capability to get "similar features."   Of course the downside is the more eletronics, the more complex, which means a greater risk of something not working. 

(2)  MTH Starter Set Realtrax is 0-31, Fastrack sets come with 0-36 (but I think 0-31 is / will be available for seperate purchase). 

Realtrax if fine, especially if you're not re-doing the setup a lot.  If it's going to be a setup that the kid is going build / re-build a number of times, I'd recommend Fastrack.   

Thanks for clarifying the difference there, those are definitely desirable features.

I do expect to rebuild sometimes though.  Does anyplace sell sets with Lionel track but MTH control and a good selection of different lines?  

Maybe the best thing for me is to get an MTH set, sell the track, and replace it with FasTrack - that solves most issues...

Hi,

I started the hobby around this past May. I purchased an MTH Steam Prr set which I am very pleased with. I did not use there Realtrax and went with Atlas and their switch tracks to get a more realistic layout.

Trackahead

I got back in to this hobby only a few years ago when my wife and boys bought me a Lionel starter set for Christmas. I ran it Christmas day and was hooked, but as others have stated needed more track immediately. I went to the train shop the next day where my wife had purchased the set and they had an MTH starter set running. My jaw hit the ground! The sounds, quality of the locomotive and cars and the functions of DCS system were like night and day with the Lionel set. I immediately bought the MTH set which was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The Lionel set has sentimental value to me but only gets used under the tree every year. And even though I run the Lionel set under the tree I run it on MTH track because the Fastrack is just too noisy for me.

Now just so none of the Lionel devotes get upset about MTH vs. Lionel: as my interest and collection has grown I have added Legacy and find the top of line Lionel stuff to be incredible. But as starter sets go I would only consider a DCS MTH starter set.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!!!

Question:  How much difference is there between PS2 and PS3?

Is it worth picking up a PS2 starter set, or should we only be looking at PS3 at this point?

You wouldn't be the first to do that.  I happen to prefer FasTrack because I had trouble with the MTH product a long time ago.  It really boils down to personal preference.

I believe the last time I looked, you could get loops of FasTrack from broken up starter sets on the bay fairly cheaply.  Again, if you do this, I'd spend the extra money and get the kid extra track.  Buying 2 loops and a crossover will let him do some interesting things with the track.

One big difference is that the PS3 has no battery.

...and no unsightly cord tether between locomotive and tender on steam sets

How good is MTH warranty service and customer service in general?

Pete

I think that may be the best idea. I run MTH under the tree with Lionels Fastrack. I don;t like the look of the track as much as Realtrax, but it is much more dependable in my opinion.

As far as PS2 or PS3, I would go with PS 3 unless there is a substantial price difference.

I am sure you and your son will be impressed with the SD70 NS or BNSF rtr sets from MTH. The horn and sound is impressive! Those engines have a nice level of detail for a starter set also.

That's what many people do---buy the set for the engine and sell everything else they don't need or want as it's the cheapest way to get a command control engine with all the features of a $1000 scale engine.

--Greg

OK, so having to sell & replace the MTH track with FasTrack has a cost associated with it, both in money and in time.

What about the other way?  What would I have to do to grant a Lionel starter set engine the control abilities of the MTH one?  If it's as simple as adding a reasonably priced chip then this might be the better route and still give me access to the bigger array of choices Lionel has in their starter sets.

At the "starter" price point, Lionel does not offter the same CC level as does MTH. IMHO, the best choice is MTH for the quality, and value of the set and the ability to expand. Lionel will cost more, and performsless for the same money. Go to a train shop and see for yourself, however they, too, are judgemental, just like this Forum.

Good hunting, Dave G.

I would call jasonstrainshop.com and ask if you buy a mth rtr set if he would switch out the reatrax for fastrack if you pay the difference, won't hurt and his is a good guy.

I tend to agree with others about going the starter set route, putting together a set from post war stuff sounds attractive, but it has pitfalls.  It can be a way to do it relatively cheaply is some of the stuff is donated, but in terms of running and such it is problematic, an older engine might have problems working right, you just don't know.

You didn't say what the woman's budget was, you might be able to put together a decent set using E-bay, and buy stuff at a good price there, but again, you are taking chances.

I kind of agree with those who suggested looking at something with command control, an 11 year old may very well be interested in that, as an 11 year old I would have been thrilled with that (as an old crock in my late 40's, not so sure *lol*..prob because I spend my whole day with technology). If there is a command control starter set at a good price, might be a good jumping off point.

If it is out of range, then a conventional starter set is still a lot of fun. I agree with others, whatever you do, think of getting added track, Lionel sells "expansion packs" for fast track starter sets, or you can simply buy more. I would talk to one of the hobby stores, either a local one or one of the online dealers you see mentioned on here, and see if they can put together a deal for you, maybe buy a starter set with additional track, or swapping out the track, and see if they are willing to do something. After all, starter sets are designed to get kids or people into the hobby, and one way to get a customer is give them a good impression in this kind of situation.

I think what you do may be defined by how much she can spend. You could prob get a good deal on a conventional set, and pick up track off e-bay or the like, to expand it and do it for a lot less then the command one.

Nice part? Those freight cars you wanted to donate, you can do that in any case.

Great idea - I'll give that a try.

One more question...  If I replace the tracks, how does that work with the power hookups to the FasTrack?  The MTH set appears to use different plugs & such, and I'm not sure which piece of their system contains the receiver for the remote control unit either.

To upgrade a Lionel starter engine to railsounds, speed control, & command control (TMCC) will cost $250 for diesels and $325 for steam (From Weaver Models).  There might be a place that'll do it cheaper... but you get the ball park idea.  Not exactly a cheap and easy "chip addition." 

Someon else may know for sure, but I don't think it's possible to upgrade to the Legacy functionality (which is their latest / greatest).  If it was, of course it would be even more $$$. 

It's a simple hookup of the Fastrack terminal wires to the MTH transformer.

I agree with the sentiment to get a new starter set for him. If he wants to get more involved later on then help him get some of the older stuff. For us veterans of the train wars old trains are like gold but for a kid just getting into it they might just look like someones old trains they gave him unless they look and run perfectly. Later you might be able to take him to a small local show after Christmas and let him pick out anything that strikes him as cool with his Christmas gift money. Might want to look at the WBB sets, not sure about their quality but it should be like the rest of their line, bullet proof.

Jerry

Maybe a Lionel Lionmaster set! They may cost a bit more but are worth the investment!

MTH RTR with track, transformer, and remote is the great deal for around $325.

I would prefer the MTH Amtrak starter set with the F40 and four cars, buy extra track for operating interest. I like this set because it uses the stations from the Amtrak Pennsylvanian. 

What is wrong with realtrax that is what i use it works well for me

Thone, I think your original idea is the best for a starter set. Try that route until you can see whether the kid is really interested in pursuing it, instead of buying an expensive and possibly problematic modern electronic set. Add more track and accessories to spiff it up.

I believe your first thoughts were best.  First of all a 11 year old soon tires of a train running in a circle and if you are doing the postwar thing for him you could add a few switches, uncoupling track etc for some diversity very raeasonably.

   Should you decide a starter set is the way to go a 11 year old boy knows what he wants more than most posters on a train forum.  Why not take him to a decent train store or two and allow him to decide.