CentralOhioRR posted:Thank you all again for the help. Many of you have ID’ed another issue, the tension between a realistic model and it being too fragile for a kid. I grew up around HO trains and feel that one draw of steam engines is the moving running gear I also know how fragile they can be.
I’m leaning toward the LC+ B&O Mike. Sounds like they are reliable engines that can be expected to operate when I pull it out each year. My only real concern was the remote - I don’t know what happens if it dies after 10 years. But it does seem like a great set it and forget it engine so I can hold my kid and keep him from going King Kong and ripping it off the rails.
My grandson just turned 4 and is my assistant in the train room. I bought him a 2056 (4-6-4 with whistling tender) for the model railroad in the basement and an old Marx steamer for his loop of track in the family room. If you buy an old engine in good condition it will most likely out last the both of you.😜😜
I would start him out like that and get into the full featured scale stuff when he gets older.
