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BBL · 8 January 2016, 12:56 AM

Hello.
A long shot perhaps, but I thought I would tap into the plethora of experts on TRF. I have found numerous places via internet, but would entertain ideas from members here.

I am looking for a model railroad/train set to enhance a holiday tree. Just found out that a dear friend who is ill, had a train set when young. The train was pulled by engine 646 around the tree bottom.

If anyone, who is in the "know" about model trains, could give me a hint as to best place to obtain a durable train set, I would really appreciate. Hopefully I can capture an after holiday sale price.

Thanks, DM

Danny83 · 8 January 2016, 01:11 AM

Look at the name brand Lionel they actually have the engine 646. You can also try a Hobby Lobby they have many different sets prices are between 80.00-300.00. Bachmann and Lionel are the best electric brands.

RichM · 8 January 2016, 06:30 AM

Check out MTH. When I bought a set a couple of years ago to put under the tree, I found them far superior to Lionel.

Just look at how the tracks are connected. MTH is a modernized version of Lionel.

If your looking for old school, go Lionel. If you want modern technology, go MTH.

swils8610 · 8 January 2016, 06:42 AM

Lionel is 3 rail. HO and smaller scale is 2 rail. Lionel O gauge is what you typically saw from the 1930's until the mid 1960's. Some prewar and postwar is vey collectible. 646 sounds like a Lionel postwar engine.

andromeda160 · 8 January 2016, 06:44 AM

Could probably find a vintage Lionel set quite cheap. Lionel used to be made in Michigan, they sold out to China around 15 years ago. I was at the warehouse liquidation auction with my dad when I was a kid. We got some Lionel prototypes and other cool trains there. I'd be willing to bet his original train was either a Lionel or Marx set. I would buy a used set off ebay though, the American made stuff is awesome

azguy · 8 January 2016, 07:08 AM

ebay

I have a crazy old client and he has over a half million in trains, appraised, in his basement. 6 pieces of 4*8 plywood for his set up and book cases on the walls with literally hundreds of trains. He's left it to a museum for after his death

andromeda160 · 8 January 2016, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azguy

ebay

I have a crazy old client and he has over a half million in trains, appraised, in his basement. 6 pieces of 4*8 plywood for his set up and book cases on the walls with literally hundreds of trains. He's left it to a museum for after his death

A few of my dads friends are that way. God only knows how much my dad has invested, I'd imagine it's gotta be close to six figures. I have a few sets myself, haven't pulled them out of storage in forever. I only display 2 of my HO locomotives, ones a Marklin, the other is some really rare German brand. I picked it up for $1 at a garage sale and it ended up being worth 3-500 so I kept it. Can't remember the name atm though. Only ones I use are Lionel though, always fun to set up a track. Especially with all the loaders/unloaders and other interactive things we have to add on.

bayerische · 8 January 2016, 05:41 PM

What size?

Märklin is the best IMHO.

You get perfect scale too.

Märklin

joli160 · 9 January 2016, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayerische

What size?

Märklin is the best IMHO.

You get perfect scale too.

Märklin

This is top of the line

Relyt · 9 January 2016, 01:15 AM

Man, the childhood memories. Here, in Cincinnati, they have a huge train display every year that my dad would take me to. Always so unbelievably awesome, how they can put together a large city.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

cjohns · 9 January 2016, 01:38 AM

Me too !!In the mid 60s had the big 3 railed job that I would get zapped by when using it,probably got tossed because of that.What a shame.

joe100 · 9 January 2016, 02:37 AM

Scene from my 1:220 Z scale N&W layout.

The buildings and scenery were all scratch-built. Z scale is tiny and probably NOT what you're after. Each of the cars you see is about 1.5in long. It's tiny stuff

joe100 · 9 January 2016, 02:56 AM

Pair of Z scale locomotives. Paint, lettering and details done by me. Each locomotive is about 2in long.

andromeda160 · 9 January 2016, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe100

Scene from my 1:220 Z scale N&W layout.

The buildings and scenery were all scratch-built. Z scale is tiny and probably NOT what you're after. Each of the cars you see is about 1.5in long. It's tiny stuff

Beautiful as usual, amazing paint jobs and craftsmanship. I have some z scale trains,or maybe they're n gauge, really small. never set them up. They're very neat though.

BBL · 10 January 2016, 02:59 AM

Thanks everyone!
Joe100 - awesome models!! Great hobby!

joe100 · 10 January 2016, 03:08 AM

Thanks! Lionel is really what you want for a holiday setup. Durable and not as delicate as the other scales.

I enjoy Z scale a lot because product offerings aren't as broad as N or HO scales which offers me the opportunity to scratch build everything I need.

8 January 2016, 12:56 AM	#1
BBL "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Real Name: DM Location: USA Watch: DD-YG/DJ/Breitling Posts: 8,948	*Seeking advice on model railroad and train sets* Hello. A long shot perhaps, but I thought I would tap into the plethora of experts on TRF. I have found numerous places via internet, but would entertain ideas from members here. I am looking for a model railroad/train set to enhance a holiday tree. Just found out that a dear friend who is ill, had a train set when young. The train was pulled by engine 646 around the tree bottom. If anyone, who is in the "know" about model trains, could give me a hint as to best place to obtain a durable train set, I would really appreciate. Hopefully I can capture an after holiday sale price. Thanks, DM

8 January 2016, 06:30 AM	#3
RichM 2025 TitaniumYM Pledge Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Real Name: Richie Location: "Nowhere Man" Watch: out now,take care! Posts: 30,184	Check out MTH. When I bought a set a couple of years ago to put under the tree, I found them far superior to Lionel. Just look at how the tracks are connected. MTH is a modernized version of Lionel. If your looking for old school, go Lionel. If you want modern technology, go MTH. __________________ "I love to work at nothing all day" TRF #139960

8 January 2016, 05:41 PM	#8
bayerische "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Real Name: Andreas Location: Margaritaville Watch: Smurf Posts: 19,879	What size? Märklin is the best IMHO. You get perfect scale too. Märklin __________________ Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

9 January 2016, 01:15 AM	#10
Relyt "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Tye Location: Eastern US Watch: Rolex Explorer ii Posts: 1,464	Man, the childhood memories. Here, in Cincinnati, they have a huge train display every year that my dad would take me to. Always so unbelievably awesome, how they can put together a large city. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ ~NEVER GIVE UP! 2005 Explorer ii 16570T

9 January 2016, 01:38 AM	#11
cjohns "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Real Name: Clark Location: Ramsey Minnesota Watch: GMT Master II Posts: 956	Me too !!In the mid 60s had the big 3 railed job that I would get zapped by when using it,probably got tossed because of that.What a shame. __________________ GMT Master II 126300 41 White stick smooth Explorer 39mm SOLD ,, 114060 SOLD NIB Sub ND SOLD,,Shouldn't have!!!Crap!

8 January 2016, 01:11 AM	#2
Danny83 2025 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Real Name: Danny Location: Bay Area CA Watch: Yellow Gold Posts: 20,325	Look at the name brand Lionel they actually have the engine 646. You can also try a Hobby Lobby they have many different sets prices are between 80.00-300.00. Bachmann and Lionel are the best electric brands.

8 January 2016, 06:42 AM	#4
swils8610 2025 TitaniumYM Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Real Name: shannon Location: usa Posts: 9,274	Lionel is 3 rail. HO and smaller scale is 2 rail. Lionel O gauge is what you typically saw from the 1930's until the mid 1960's. Some prewar and postwar is vey collectible. 646 sounds like a Lionel postwar engine.

8 January 2016, 06:44 AM	#5
andromeda160 Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Real Name: Greg Location: michigan Watch: Rolex Oyster Posts: 4,044	Could probably find a vintage Lionel set quite cheap. Lionel used to be made in Michigan, they sold out to China around 15 years ago. I was at the warehouse liquidation auction with my dad when I was a kid. We got some Lionel prototypes and other cool trains there. I'd be willing to bet his original train was either a Lionel or Marx set. I would buy a used set off ebay though, the American made stuff is awesome

8 January 2016, 07:08 AM	#6
azguy Banned Join Date: Sep 2011 Real Name: ------- Location: ------- Watch: --------- Posts: 12,609	ebay I have a crazy old client and he has over a half million in trains, appraised, in his basement. 6 pieces of 4*8 plywood for his set up and book cases on the walls with literally hundreds of trains. He's left it to a museum for after his death

10 January 2016, 02:59 AM	#15
BBL "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Real Name: DM Location: USA Watch: DD-YG/DJ/Breitling Posts: 8,948	Thanks everyone! Joe100 - awesome models!! Great hobby!

10 January 2016, 03:08 AM	#16
joe100 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,840	Thanks! Lionel is really what you want for a holiday setup. Durable and not as delicate as the other scales. I enjoy Z scale a lot because product offerings aren't as broad as N or HO scales which offers me the opportunity to scratch build everything I need. __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

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