Any model railroad guys here? I need some advice on a Christmas gift.

[Tim K]

9 year old daughter wants a train set. Wants buildings, people, the whole schmear. I need some advice about what and where to buy. HO, most likely.

[sniper7]

I was really into trains as a kid and still have a lot of the 1950s era Lionel trains. Those are probably the best built train there are. Like a solid chunk of steel. Some of the engines weigh probably 5+ pounds!
My son is 6 and when we was about 4 got a Thomas Lionel train set. Came with track and the engine and cars. I can’t remeber if it came with the controller or not.

We built a table using a 4x8 plywood sheet, covered it in green felt. You can add buildings, screw things down etc. I cut some 2x4s and made legs so he could store stuff underneath.

I would shop online. I used to go to caboose hobbies and one other train store I can’t remeber the name of but I think they are closed. I know hobby town USA carries some stuff like that but haven’t been to one in years. I would suggest starting with a set that comes with track, trains some cars etc. then go from there. You can buy individual cars that she likes and add on and also get whatever buildings and bridges and tunnels added on as well. Like any hobby it can get expensive.

[BladesNBarrels]

Caboose Hobbies is now just Caboose, 10800 W. Alameda Ave.
One third the size of the old Broadway Store, but same amount of inventory.

[BladesNBarrels]

Is she going to make it a hobby with continuing interest and expansion, or is it a one-time Christmas toy that she will forget in a month or two?

[OtterbatHellcat]

Kids don't generally have the greatest attention spans, but I hope it works out well. I'd suggest just getting a basic train set, and see if the motivation is really there for all the extra stuff.....just saying.

Mizzell might have been the place you were thinking of, Sniper. Off of Federal and about 74th?

[sniper7]

Kids don't generally have the greatest attention spans, but I hope it works out well. I'd suggest just getting a basic train set, and see if the motivation is really there for all the extra stuff.....just saying.

Mizzell might have been the place you were thinking of, Sniper. Off of Federal and about 74th?

Yep that’s the one.

[Tim K]

My guess is that she will remain enthusiastic. She loves to build. We've tried model airplanes, RC trucks, dinosaurs, etc. she enjoyed them all, but none quite hit her in the breadbasket.

I pulled out my old Lionel train from when I was a kid and she fell in love. Kept asking about buildings and people. I already have a 4'x8' play table I built the kids. It's about 24" high, and I cut an 18" circle in the middle so they can sit in the midst of their empires. Should be perfect for a new RR enthusiast. Honestly, I think she likes all the extras more than the trains, but that's fine. I expect she will rearrange all the buildings and create new layouts pretty regularly.

[BladesNBarrels]

My guess is that she will remain enthusiastic. She loves to build. We've tried model airplanes, RC trucks, dinosaurs, etc. she enjoyed them all, but none quite hit her in the breadbasket.

I pulled out my old Lionel train from when I was a kid and she fell in love. Kept asking about buildings and people. I already have a 4'x8' play table I built the kids. It's about 24" high, and I cut an 18" circle in the middle so they can sit in the midst of their empires. Should be perfect for a new RR enthusiast. Honestly, I think she likes all the extras more than the trains, but that's fine. I expect she will rearrange all the buildings and create new layouts pretty regularly.

Great!
It sounds like you have your answer.
On-line there are a lot of accessories available for what you already have.
In the 50's, when I lived in Sacramento, a neighbor had converted his entire attic to a train set mounted on plywood about 3 feet off the deck.
You crawled under the layout to a position in the center and were surrounded by different scenarios including a train yard, a mountain and river scene, a depot, and a rural set depending on what direction you faced.
The neighborhood kids, under his guidance, were individually allowed to control everything.
He also was the neighbor that bought fireworks on the 4th and supervised the kids to safely blow up firecrackers, cherry bombs, sky rockets, etc (well, as safely as we knew in the 50's)

[OtterbatHellcat]

Sounds like you have a ringer for some great fun to be had then.

Neato.

[CobaltSkink]

Mizell's is gone years ago.

TimK- Have you considered LGB or G-scale? A lot bigger, but some people use for garden railways. Check Hobby Lobby for some of the lower-priced sets. If she stays interested, then buy something higher quality (and higher $$). I don't think there are any model railroad stores in Colorado Springs other than Hobbytown USA and Hobby Lobby. That leaves Denver or mail-order.