Toymaker Santa Express LC train set made by Lionel for Hallmark

I bought this train in 2015, it ran good the first year, I set it up this past Christmas and the sound would cut out real bad, the only time you could hear the sounds and play the Santa announcements would be if you put this engine in neutral and put it in the first notch in reverse you could push all the announcement buttons and they would play, but once you put it in forward they would stop and you would get a few chuffs every now an then.     

Isnt it weird that the two middle wheels on the locomotive dont touch the rails?  Am I seeing that correctly?  TW

FYI, Hallmark’s online Digital Dream Book website is listing a miniature scaled down ornament version of this 2015 train set that will be available during the 2017 holiday season:

HALLMARK KEEPSAKE LIONEL® TOYMAKER SANTA EXPRESS. The 3 piece set Includes locomotive, tender and caboose.

Btw, does anyone know of an identical or similar red metallic paint available in a spray (rattle) can that will match the Lionel Hallmark Toymaker Santa Express red finish? Since Hallmark chose not to make additional cars available for the original O gauge set, I want to repaint a few O gauge cars to go with my Lionel Hallmark Toymaker Santa Express set.

OGaugeGuy,

   My wonderful wife gave me the LC Santa Toy Maker Express for Christmas when it 1st  came out, simply a great little train, no doubt about it the colors are just incredible, I have a lot of different Santa rolling stock, including some one of a kind upgraded Lionel Christmas Cars, that I added to it and the Santa Engine pulls it all.  Remember this is a stand alone Train, I run it off an old ZW set at the proper voltage, and controlled by it's individual hand held remote control.  The kids just go nuts for both the sound and high grade coloring of this Christmas Train, and even the smallest kids can use the small Hand Held Remote Control, it is that simple.  I would purchase more rolling stock from the Hallmark Company and have even requested the Hallmark Company ask Lionel, to supply additional rolling stock for their Christmas Train. A great little Santa Christmas Train that can be expanded forever if both Lionel & Hallmark are smart.

PCRR/Dave

 1st Picture is the Complete Santa Toy Maker Hallmark set, following you get to see some of the custom Christmas Cars we added to the set.

My train book posted:

I bought this train in 2015, it ran good the first year, I set it up this past Christmas and the sound would cut out real bad, the only time you could hear the sounds and play the Santa announcements would be if you put this engine in neutral and put it in the first notch in reverse you could push all the announcement buttons and they would play, but once you put it in forward they would stop and you would get a few chuffs every now an then.     

I would check that the pins and contacts on the drawbar are clean and making good contact here.  It sounds like when the engine is put in reverse it is putting pressure on the pins, then releasing the pressure and breaking electrical contact when put into forward.  If the contacts look good you could remove the heat shrink and check that the wires are soldered securely.  

ogaugeguy posted:

Would you be likely to purchase additional cars if Hallmark made them available?  

As for the set it's self, searching the parts for the set (6-11699), shows that this engine uses one of the smaller type motors found on many LionChief products.  The motor is just fine when used with just a couple cars like what come in the set, but it was a problem in the Polar Express where many 'add-on' cars were offered.  In the Polar Express the motor was changed to a larger type after there were problems with pulling all the additional cars.  I would be cautious of similar problems that may arise from pulling too many cars with the Toy Maker Express, though I have no idea what to recommend as a suitable number.  

JGL

I bought one in 2015, because my wife saw it and loved it.  Since it is a LionChief, I didn't expect the greatest sound, running, and fidelity.  I think it is sufficient for the price.  I didn't have any trouble with the engine.  The only trouble was with the 'cop and robber' car.  I can't get the right tension on the belt that makes the characters move.

When I was taking everything down after New Years, I  forgot about the car and packed it all away.  When I got it out this Past December I remembered, but saw 1 year had passed.  I was going to call Lionel to see if they could help me, but my mother went in the hospital, and I never made the call.  My fault, since I never contacted them. Mum finally got home last week after almost 2 months, but having to help Dad with her, I just packed it away again.  I'll look at it someday.  It isn't very high on my priority list.