I'm the guy who started this thread. Great comments.
Lots of comments about Lionel Chiefs with their remotes. I'm just starting, with 2 (!) so two kids can be running at the same time. Great first impression of the impact on the kids, will report back with results in a month or two.
I have another related thread going. It has a lively discussion going about realistic freight operations for kids, starting with the layout I described at the top of this forum. FYI. It is "Real Freight: Anybody using operating cars, accessories, multiple locations & a yard for realistic freight operations?" It's in the Layout and Buildings Forums group, Track Plans and Layout Design subarea.
Ed