O Gauge trainset under Christmas Tree?

[rngrchad]

Hey guys, not sure if there are any Train geeks on the forum, but growing up I always had an oldschool(probably 1960's era) Lionel O Gauge train set that would go under the tree. Now I've got a 1.5 year old I think she would get a kick out of a train set so I'm thinking of buying one as my local hobby store is loaded up on amazing train kits.

If there are any of you with some train setups that you run you should put up some pictures. I'm looking for some motivation to spend the money on one!!

 

[wings_of_fire]

I have been working on a brass live steam ho scale train which will be manufactured for the Indian toy market. My goal is a cost sensitive product without compromising on quality, and that has brought me a lot of issues for more than a year.

Brass is a notoriously difficult metal to process during casting. Done a lot of R&D work for a year and now I feel I am closing in on success.

 

[Mike Flea]

Live steam HO?, crap!, my fat fingers have problems with G scale live steam!

Is it butane fired?

 

[BigSki]

There's a few train nerds here, I'm one of them. "thumbsup"

My dad always had Lionel trains running around the tree in a big circle, it was the only time of the year that he ever got to run any of them. Now my younger brother has most of the collection and will set up a similar Christmas garden under his tree for his kids. I'll be there next week to help.

 

[rngrchad]

There's a few train nerds here, I'm one of them. "thumbsup"

My dad always had Lionel trains running around the tree in a big circle, it was the only time of the year that he ever got to run any of them. Now my younger brother has most of the collection and will set up a similar Christmas garden under his tree for his kids. I'll be there next week to help.

Sweet. Take some pics of the layout under your brother's tree! I'm leaning towards a Lionel Polar Express O Gauge. I can get a RTR for about 280 bucks at my LHS. I might pick it up tommorow. So much for that SCX10ii kit I was gonna get myself for christmas lol :
I found this video, of pretty much what I'm wanting to do.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LHhs6YAz49A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[QuesoDelDiablo]

My father in law and I have been building (really, it's mostly him - I've got to many rc projects going right now) an ho scale layout that has completely taken over the dining room and I'd threatening to encroach on the living room pretty soon...

I'll go snap a couple pics of it in a few minutes..

 

[justinart24]

I got a small HO layout."thumbsup"

 

[Mike Flea]

Yes, there are a few train nuts here, this is G scale around the garden

 

[wings_of_fire]

Live steam HO?, crap!, my fat fingers have problems with G scale live steam!

Is it butane fired?

It will use spirit. I wanted a no sooth, pressurised stove that runs on diesel because diesel is easily available, but it will take some time and more investment.

I decided HO, purely based on mass publics purchasing power and cost of product.

 

[TexasSP]

I run all O Gauge now. Been in almost every scale though with exception of Z, S, and TT. Best around the tree set is probably a Lionel Polar Express. The new one comes with remote control, full sounds, and puffing smoke. Remote also controls announcement. This is Lionel's Lionchief System.

 

[rngrchad]

I run all O Gauge now. Been in almost every scale though with exception of Z, S, and TT. Best around the tree set is probably a Lionel Polar Express. The new one comes with remote control, full sounds, and puffing smoke. Remote also controls announcement. This is Lionel's Lionchief System.

You like the Lionel lionchief then eh? I read they've been through a few different generations of track control systems and got away from some of the transformer styled throttle controls. I've read a lot of mixed feelings on the lion chief system but it looks appealing to me so I can stash the remote from my daughter lol. I think I'm picking up a rtr train tonight. ..... :ror:

 

[rngrchad]

HO is smaller than O right?

 

[BigSki]

H.O. Stands for Half-O. O scale is generally 1:48th scale where H.O. is 1:87th scale

 

[Peaker]

I wish i was able to get my hands on more 1:20.3 rolling stock.

I need some more small ore cars for my porter to haul around ( 5 )

And i would love a few skeleton cars for my logging 2-6-6-2 Baldwin to carry around. ( have flat bed cars for wood after saw mill )

I am pretty sure is Sheldon Cooper ever grow up he will become a G-scale nutter.

Only problem i now have no place to run my trains as my friend cant be bothered with the track in his garden.
So i have been thinking ;-) how about if i pulled up all the track there and used it to do some hit and run train running is forests and what not.

Was thinking if i put the 100 M or so he have in one long track then i could put a camera or two on the train and then stop before i get to the end, relocate all the track behind the train and then chuff along.
Now off course this would be almighty slow, and i would be forced to stay on reasonable level walking paths in the forest.

But i think i could make some awesome footage that way.

I am running Battery powered ( 5S- 5000 MAH that give a okay running time with the Baldwin )
Control is RC too with the 2.4 GHZ Revolution Train engineer from crest /aristrocraft.
Sound in Baldwin i get from the Phoenix sound PB11 ( sound i use ATM is Sumpter Valley Mallet #251 -- Uintah )
http://www.phoenixsound.com/library/am_steam/uintah.htm ( loud sound warning )

Porter is not on battery or RC yet, planning on getting a receiver with generic steam sound for it as there is little room in it, and then i will have to put a small battery on the following car just like i do with the Baldwin

For undet tree running there is also.
<iframe width="400" height="276" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TeRPkisVCCE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Mike Flea]

I wish i was able to get my hands on more 1:20.3 rolling stock.

I need some more small ore cars for my porter to haul around ( 5 )

And i would love a few skeleton cars for my logging 2-6-6-2 Baldwin to carry around. ( have flat bed cars for wood after saw mill )

I am pretty sure is Sheldon Cooper ever grow up he will become a G-scale nutter.

Only problem i now have no place to run my trains as my friend cant be bothered with the track in his garden.
So i have been thinking ;-) how about if i pulled up all the track there and used it to do some hit and run train running is forests and what not.

Was thinking if i put the 100 M or so he have in one long track then i could put a camera or two on the train and then stop before i get to the end, relocate all the track behind the train and then chuff along.
Now off course this would be almighty slow, and i would be forced to stay on reasonable level walking paths in the forest.

But i think i could make some awesome footage that way.

I am running Battery powered ( 5S- 5000 MAH that give a okay running time with the Baldwin )
Control is RC too with the 2.4 GHZ Revolution Train engineer from crest /aristrocraft.
Sound in Baldwin i get from the Phoenix sound PB9 ( sound i use ATM is Sumpter Valley Mallet #251 -- Uintah )
Phoenix Sound Sound Library: Uintah - Sumpter Valley Mallet ( loud sound warning )

Porter is not on battery or RC yet, planning on getting a receiver with generic steam sound for it as there is little room in it, and then i will have to put a small battery on the following car just like i do with the Baldwin

20 yrs ago you could pick up those cars for under $20 each, I just looked at a couple of my distributors, and the least I found new for Bachmann is $49 for the skeleton log car and $37 for the ore car. You'd be better off hitting up some garage sales, flea markets or train shows.

I picked up a couple LGB V-dump ore cars at a model railroad swapmeet for $10 each last year

 

[Peaker]

Yeah i have not been keeping up lately have Bachmann stopped making G scale ?

Its like their stuff is scarce and expensive,, though not in Accucraft price range.

I should have gone for something a little smaller i think, but you know me :roll:

Just edited my post above it is actually the PB11 sound bord i have.

I really wanted one of the C19 or K27 trains, but the turns on my friends layout is too small for those, but the 2-6-6-2 navigate then pretty good.

I use to have 4 box cars in Little River Logging livery matching my Baldwin, but they are gone
They are not in my apartment and probably not at my friends house thought is is a horder mess there, but we both looked for the fairly big cardbord box several times.

I fear i have been wanting to take them home and then forgotten to put them in my car, and so they have been stolen standing there on the street.

Really too bad cuz spectrum box cars are not cheap even ones from Bachmann.

Only a handfull of people here in Denmark run G-scale, i only know about 1 for sure, and hes over near Copenhagen, and 10 wild horses could not drag me over there.

 

[TexasSP]

You like the Lionel lionchief then eh? I read they've been through a few different generations of track control systems and got away from some of the transformer styled throttle controls. I've read a lot of mixed feelings on the lion chief system but it looks appealing to me so I can stash the remote from my daughter lol. I think I'm picking up a rtr train tonight. ..... :ror:

I don't have any, but know several who do. They are easy for kids and seem to withstand extensive use well.

If you were getting into O scale trains for more than an around the tree layout, I would have other recommendations.

Only other thing I will add is get some scented smoke fluid from JT's Megasteam Mega-Steam Smoke Fluid in a nice Christmas scent. Adds to the magic.

 

[rngrchad]

Welp, bought one yesterday and put it under the tree tonight. Here is a quick video of my Lionel O gauge LionChief set. I'm not very artistic, so don't judge the Christmas Village too closely LOL. Wife daughter and myself are having an absolute blast with this little train!

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YpvANJ9pV1c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>