Anyone running Hallmark's Lionel Toymaker Santa Express set this holiday season?

Grampstrains posted:

I am also running this set.  I got a great deal as I was able to buy just the train without track or powerpack for $150.00.  One thing that makes this set better than most R-T-R sets is Die-cast trucks.

Congratulationss, Grampstrains, you definitely got a sweet deal. I was lucky to get my two NIB sets for sweet deals too, though not as sweet as yours, on consecutive days after Christmas  2015 and 2016. Enjoy running your set "full steam ahead" this holiday season

I purchased this set after my wife saw it for sale at the Hallmark store when it came out.  It is a great looking set and runs fine.  I have had trouble with the gondola car getting the elves to keep moving.  Other than that, it is very nice.  My wife likes it, and that is what really matters!!

That is a nice looking train, especially running on your terrific layout!

Thanks for posting the video,

Don

DGJONES posted:

That is a nice looking train, especially running on your terrific layout!

Thanks for posting the video,

Don

While I have two of these sets, Don, I can't take credit for the video and layout since they're the creation of a gentleman named Emile, a.k.a. TheBigCrabCake, who used to but no longer posts on this forum.

Thanks to forum member WMCWOOD’s post here , I was able to pick up this engine, tender and controller from Lionel for a very good price. It is noted as refurbished, but operates and looks like its brand new.  I have it pulling our ‘Mickey’s Holiday To Remember’ set and they go well together. A fun train for the Christmas tree layout and you can’t beat the price!

Wow!!  That is a great deal!  I bought ours when it was first released for more than I thought it was worth.  My wife saw them at Hallmark and really liked it.  Therefore it was worth getting!

OGUAGEGUY, what did you use for snow?

It looks great, especially the areas that look like its plowed away from the tracks.

Reprising this thread to see who will be running this train during this 2019 holiday season. Would love seeing pictures and videos of it under your tree or on your layout. 

Btw, if you're running it have you added extra cars to it?

Great looking set really wish there were a couple of more cars in matching paint scheme colors.

My set the gears began to grind and it stopped running last year, ordered a new drive axle and have other motors I can swap in will have to take it apart and see if I can fix it this week. Anyone else have any problems with the drive on this ? Probable had about 2-3 total running hours on it when it died???

kj356 posted:

Great looking set really wish there were a couple of more cars in matching paint scheme colors.

My set the gears began to grind and it stopped running last year, ordered a new drive axle and have other motors I can swap in will have to take it apart and see if I can fix it this week. Anyone else have any problems with the drive on this ? Probable had about 2-3 total running hours on it when it died???

It would have been great to see additional cars made but then of course this set like most rtr Lionchief steamer sets is built with that puny flat-sided set motor which only runs the cars included in the set and a couple more max before motor eventually overheats and self destructs.

Did you run it with additional cars? Asking because if so, possibly that led to the premature gear failure?

I do have two NIB sets which were both purchased at 50% off Hallmark's original m.s.r.p..

I find it interesting, kj356, you're the only one who's replied to this reprised thread since there were some forum members such as Mark Boyce who loved this set when it debuted. Wonder if those folks still run it or if speciality sets such as this one lose their popularity so quickly and go out of vogue.

Mine runs around a small loop under the tree.  No issues, no add-ons.

Ogaugeguy, good question!  My wife was the one whose eye it caught, so I bought it.  I have had it out every Christmas since.

Donated this to one of my sons this year and him and his wife actually used it and sent me proof. I was pleasantly surprised!

It is a Very nice Christmas Train.

Larry

rjsmithindy posted:

Thanks to forum member WMCWOOD’s post here , I was able to pick up this engine, tender and controller from Lionel for a very good price. It is noted as refurbished, but operates and looks like its brand new.  I have it pulling our ‘Mickey’s Holiday To Remember’ set and they go well together. A fun train for the Christmas tree layout and you can’t beat the price!

Pretty set and nice smoke too!

Larry, nice donation!  Incidentally, I forgot to mention our little dog does not like Santa’s voice at all!  LOL