I'm weighing all the replies so thank you all. I agree with them all so far. I like the idea of PS3 so much that I've changed the set's model # that I was going to buy. When I last saw him, I asked what's his favorite road. He said "Amtrak". I think that was from the time I showed him the ready to run catalog and the cars I gave him I got from Barry. Trouble is the Amtrak set right now is PS2. SO....I went to the all time favorite that both boys respond well Pennsy and that's PS3. The younger also likes Burlington, but, hey, that's another story.
Now I'm not rich, but....I already bought a set of RMT Beef Pennsy diesels for their stocking. Trouble is they don't have any track or transformer. I was going to give them what I have laying around. That's not a correct thing to do? I remember how much it meant to me to get my first train set. Maybe it won't to them. I don't want to be the one who wrecks it.
SO.... I figure I will get them a whole set. If it breaks, so be it. I could stay with just the RMTs. I will give them those also (for diesel interests). It will be something else to run and serve as a backup or alternate for the steamer. I also figure that they already know that my trains have smoke, sound and control. Heck, they grab my DCS remote. I want them to have a decent train set incase they like them as much as I do. If their interest grows then the PS3 one would be for their future RR. If it ends up a child's toy that goes into the closet as they grow up, then so be it.
Maybe someday at the least, it will end up at an auction for someone else to enjoy.
