It would be a very interesting statistic to know just how many model railroaders currently engaged in the hobby got their start as a result of a Lionel Christmas train set under the Christmas tree. Certainly the volume manufacturers of model railroad equipment believe this is a major date in the sales calendar and for some time they have responded by making specifically Christmas-themed products available.
The Polar Express is Still Number One.
The race is already on for the 2010 Christmas season and Lionel are quite understandably foregrounding their very popular O gauge Polar Express Christmas Train set. As well as the train itself, but at extra cost, there are 1/48th scale figures from the movie (including reindeer), extra track, background dioramas for the train to make entrances and exits and additional rolling stock. But that's not all Lionel is offering for the Jolly Season. Christmas train set buyers should also take a good long look at the G scale version of the Polar Express (especially if your children are quite young), The Nutcracker Route set and The Christmas Story set. And if you're a real model train fan, try and tell me you could really walk past that exquisite green British outline 4-6-0 North Pole Central loco. I know it's not a boxed set, like the others above, but, hey, you're a model-railroader aren't you? 'Tis the season to be creative!
The Sleigh Bells Jingle And The Lonesome Whistle Moans.
The Nutcracker Route set gives an American 4-4-0, complete with snowplow, two period clerestory coaches and a flat car with four reindeer (sitting quietly while being transported). Transformer, an oval of track and a capsule of smoke fluid complete the package. Oh yes, the loco steams and makes all the right steam-train noises, thanks to Lionel's TrainSounds sound system.
But A Lionel Christmas Train Set Was last Year's Present!
Ok, so time to go for the add-ons. This is a real model-train system, remember. If you are going to buy extra coaches or wagons, or maybe even a second locomotive (have a look at Lionel's very nice 0-4-0 Yard Switcher), it's probably a good idea to buy more track. The set you bought last year came with an oval, but if you add extra cars to your train, you run the very real risk of your beautiful train looking like a dog chasing its tail. And while it is the season to be jolly, that is just plain silly! So extra track is a good idea, and oh yes, maybe a switch...or two, so some shunting and spotting of cars can happen in the sidings. Now, you see where this is leading, don't you? Extra track, more ambitious track plans, multiple locomotives and last year's toy is beginning to morph into a serious model railroad. Which is kind of what I think Lionel might have had in mind. They make some great trains and accessories and they want a real commitment to the hobby from you.
Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy.
Lionel has been in the business of train-making for a long time and they know where the real fun lies. It starts, all too often, with the Lionel Christmas train set, in its box, under the tree. It very quickly becomes the Lionel Christmas train set which goes round the Christmas tree, but for a lot of very lucky people, it becomes much more than that. Gee, I'd really love to know how many model railroaders get born on Christmas Day!
Liam is an avid collector of model trains and a gamer enthusiastic. Take a look inside his site for more helpful tips and great offers of Christmas trains, Lionel & Bachmann train sets and more..
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