What's your favorite Polar Express add-on car or accessory?

@JD2035RR posted:

I recently picked up a Bluetooth Polar Express set with the snow roofs for Christmas later this year.  I'd like to add a little something - perhaps another car or two, or maybe the PE gateman.  What are your favorite PE add on cars and/or accessories?

I really enjoyed the PE gateman and 6-24223 santa's sleigh pylon for a season.  They both conked out by the second season and I plan on replacing or fixing them someday...I need a thread on repairing both...but they are lots of fun IMO. 

I bought a skiing hobo add-on observation car last year.  I like it best of any cars or accessories I have seen.

My favorite add-on is this express reefer I made from an MTH R50b. I told my boys it was for hauling refrigerated reindeer food (although I have no idea what reindeers eat or if it has to be refrigerated). I made it entirely from advice obtained here on the forum (colors, decal application method, etc). It’s not catalog quality, but I had fun doing it. So, don’t be afraid to build your own add-ons or accessories if something grabs your fancy!

I like the open gondola with presents.

@Mark Boyce posted:

I bought a skiing hobo add-on observation car last year.  I like it best of any cars or accessories I have seen.

Does the skiing hobo move left to right mechanically via which way the truck turns or does it swing from momentum while turning around the curves?

@Sparty1225 posted:

Does the skiing hobo move left to right mechanically via which way the truck turns or does it swing from momentum while turning around the curves?

It swings from momentum.  I wasn’t surprised that it was stiff when I got it.  After one Christmas season, it moves a little more freely.

My favorite add-on was upgrading the conventional Series II set locomotive to full command, TMCC with cruise, RailSounds, fan driven smoke, and enhanced LED lighting.

I enjoy all the animal figures that I added to recreate scenes from the book and/or movie. Still working on the polar bear area obviously.

Not necessarily a "PE Accessory", but the Dept. 56 snow village pairs exceptionally well with any PE themed items.

Great suggestions everyone. 

@I'd rather be ice fishing I had a little bit of sticker shock looking for a PE gateman, but I suppose that is the ante these days.  I might find an old rusty standard one for a repaint - but I swore off new projects

@Rider Sandman that car turned out very well!

@gunrunnerjohn that is a totally different locomotive with all of the upgrades, well done!  Also the extra cars go a long way over the 3 included in the set.

@Mark Boyce That one looks fun.  I also like the hobo campfire one I've seen around too.

@Sparty1225 Gondola with presents certainly adds to it!

@Keith Crook 020419 those are very nicely done and helps tell the story...great idea.

@Prr7688 I will check into those, thank you!

JD, I have the hobo campfire car also.  The one thing it needs is a light in the fire.  I've seen folks have done that, but I haven't bothered.  It was my favorite until I got the hobo skiing car.

I added on the hot chocolate car, hobo car, dining car and the baggage car to my set. The hobo car is my favorite. As mentioned, it is too bad the flame didn't come illuminated. I'll likely add the skiing observation car this year. Do wish Lionel would add a few more buildings to the accessory line from the movie. I'd like to see Billy's "wrong side of the tracks" house, Herpolsheimer's Dept. store, etc.

Rob

@robmcc posted:

I added on the hot chocolate car, hobo car, dining car and the baggage car to my set. The hobo car is my favorite. As mentioned, it is too bad the flame didn't come illuminated. I'll likely add the skiing observation car this year. Do wish Lionel would add a few more buildings to the accessory line from the movie. I'd like to see Billy's "wrong side of the tracks" house, Herpolsheimer's Dept. store, etc.

Rob

Agree! Herpolsheimers  would be a cool one to add!! A toy store with some front window animation would be a cool adder to any layout.

@Mark Boyce posted:

JD, I have the hobo campfire car also.  The one thing it needs is a light in the fire.  I've seen folks have done that, but I haven't bothered.  It was my favorite until I got the hobo skiing car.

This was taken before the details were put around the campfire.

Very nice, Jim!!

Several years ago when I got my Polar Express set it came with a bell.  I thought what a waste just sitting there in a box so I came up with this idea of a bell car.  I made the frame out of 1/4"x1/4" wood stock. The bell swings free and sometimes you can hear it ding,  "If you believe" !

@boomer0622 That is a great idea!  Great job with that project

@Mark Boyce posted:

I bought a skiing hobo add-on observation car last year.  I like it best of any cars or accessories I have seen.

For the Op and others,  a certain OGR sponsor just posted these cheaper than I have ever seen them?  I really like mine..

@I'd rather be ice fishing posted:

a certain OGR sponsor

Why not actually help them out and actually name the sponsor?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Why not actually help them out and actually name the sponsor?

I figured it was probably against the rules..  Trainworld's new passenger car sale post...

I think they encourage you mentioning sponsors, I don't know anything in the rules that prohibit that!   Now, if you post an eBay link, that's something else...

Boomer, that is an excellent looking car you built for the bell.  Mine just sits there doing nothing.

Thanks Mark,  I will share the dimensions and drawing if you would like.  

Thank you, Boomer.  My email address is in my profile.