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Anyone get any decent train items for Christmas?

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PP Prewar PappyOGR Forum Member

Bnsftrains,

I always receive just what I need. In that case it's always, "decent". I have no idea as to what I'll receive this year. This Christmas is producing many mixed feelings, each different in each of my children. Even if I do not receive anything train related. The one special gift I'm able to enjoy is one more Christmas with my family. You see my friend, what's decent to you has an entirely different meaning.

 

God Bless,

"Pappy"

WRGMILWWRGMILWOGR Forum Member

Nothing yet from Santa ! 

 

from my self - I bought the Lionel Lion Chief Frosty the Snowman set plus the extra boxcar. 

 

The family does not buy trains for me anymore !  I have traded some stuff off for different cars !  feelings were hurt !  My mistake in not telling them that happens in the model railroading business!  My brother somewhat understands because He collect Baseball & Football cards ! 

OKHIKEROKHIKEROGR Forum Member

My wife and best friend bought me a great train book on trains of the world and two dvds from Herron Videos about the Norfolk and Western.  On my own I treated myself to several of the Lionel die cast semi-scale freight cars from 1991 which I have wanted for a long, long time.  The best of all was all of the fun I had last night with my three Grandchildren.  What a treat.

JL Joe LittmanOGR Forum Member

I bought a 10th Anniversary Polar Express LionChief set for my son (and myself).  Its the first set for both of us.  I bought the PE baggage car,and snow tower, lots of extra fast track, and a couple of Woodland Scenic buildings.   I also bought a bunch of Lemax buildings, mountains, trees to make a winter scene.

 

I also bought him a Lionel lamp for his room.  Its the one that has the locomotive with moving wheels and train sounds. 

Last edited by Joe Littman
POTRZBEPOTRZBEOGR Forum Member

The Lionel Pocono set is quite decent.  Good sound, good smoke, terrific caboose.  On the minus side, the animal car is not lit and the animals are impossible to see as they are set in the middle of the car and not near the "windows".  Also the hopper coal load is a light blue.  In the catalog and box art it is black (kinda like real coal).  Anthracite is not blue coal.  It burns blue.  Easily fixed with some glossy black krylon.

D daylightOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Kato N Scale UP FEF-3, cab# 844, and matching 7 car passenger set.  The first delivery of the items will not include DCC, sound or lights in the cars.

 

I purchased from a vendor that installed DCC, sound and lights in each car along with a tender light which is not available from KATO.

 

Exceptional N Scale work from KATO

 

http://katousa.com/N/FEF/index.html

 

Take a look

Last edited by daylight
modeltrainspartsmodeltrainspartsOGR Forum Member

Bnsftrains,

i think your choice of the word "decent" was most inappropriate in describing Christmas gifts. All gifts are "decent", to use your wording. While i did get some nice train stuff including a surprise PRR signal in my stocking, the best gifts were having some close friends and family over for Christmas Eve, and being able to give some of my closest train buddies custom made Fonda, Johnstown, & Gloversville R.R. coffee mugs.

Perhaps you should re-think your choice of words before entering "post".

 

jackson

B brianel_k-lineguyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

I do suppose the idea of "decent" varies vastly among train buyers today.

 

Christmas, twenty-five years ago I re-entered the hobby. Everyone talks about the technological improvements made during Richard Kughn's reign at Lionel. Often overlooked is his efforts to improve and mass market starter sets again. So I started again with a Lionel starter 4-4-2 steam engine bought at a department store... I might not otherwise had seen the set.

 

It wasn't the high end Super-O trains of my youth, but it was sure good enough to rekindle the flame. A couple more starter sets were bought, including K-Line and I was on my way.

 

All these years later, I still have all these trains and they all still work perfectly. I've never once had a DOA or something defective that had to be sent back for service. The smoke unit in the original 4-4-2 has been replaced once, but that was a decade ago and that still works like new.

 

Granted, the trains I like don't have all the new features. But unlike so many on this forum, I don't experience all the problems so commonly grumbled about. I sure can live without the problems... there's enough of those in life without having them on the train layout too.

 

Funny, but I'm sure when I was a kid, I imagined my trains were far more real than they were. Today, when I hear that "bicycle horn buzzer" that Lionel used in those postwar diesels, I thought "well, that's hardly realistic." Yet at the time, I probably imagined it was.

 

Well, my imagination has remained well intact. I watch my trains and they do everything the high-end trains do, but without all the added expense or frustration.

 

And I run trains for FUN, not frustration. And when as an adult, I found out how much money that Lionel set I had as a kid listed for, I called my dad out of the blue and said "thanks." He said "for what?" I had no idea that childhood train set was almost 2-weeks pay for him.

 

That was a Merry Christmas. And all these years later, my so-called inferior, non-scale, toy trains still make me just as happy as they did years ago.

Gary GravesGary GravesOGR Forum Member

I got three great items: 

1. A post war Auto loader car; 

2. A Lionel 1776 Short Set (Seaboard Coast Line Bicentennial loco with caboose and Connecticut car - I was on that train when I was 16); 

3. An Atlantic Coast Line hopper (purchased from an OGR forumer and yet to be delivered).

 

Can't wait to run them all. Merry Christmas! 

FM Former Member

"

visionline big boy, vl big boy aux tender, vl big boy caboose, mth premier cn narrow nose dash 8, mth premier wabash caboose, mth premier new haven tank car, woodland scienics grocery store, some figures and label 108 oil!

Ho! Ho! Ho!"

 

I'd say Santa was very good to you Harold this year. Your family sure must love you. They have excellent taste.

A AMCDaveOGR Forum Member

Much to my surprise while visiting my folks......Dad handed me a gift......The B&O railroad in West Virginia book!!!  My only train related gift this year.

It's great too as my great grandfathers only job he had was with the B&O in WV.....make for good reading!!!

 

 

****UPDATE......sat down and skimmed through the book tonight.......on page 62

at the bottom of the page.....the loco great grandpa says he spent the most ime in....2-8-0 #1212.......WOW....really makes this book special!

Last edited by AMCDave
RobbieRobbieOGR Forum Member

I really appreciate the fallen flag railroads that had trackage through Wisconsin.  My mom found the Milwaukee Road engine shed during visit to Menard's.  She remembered me talking about it when it came out last month.  Its a really thoughtful gift, and this was very unexpected.  I thought those were all gone.  According to her, the only one on the shelf.  Thanks Mom!   and Merry Christmas to all of you.   .........Robbie

TrainsRMeTrainsRMeOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Happy Pappy:
Originally Posted by modeltrainsparts:

Bnsftrains,

I think your choice of the word "decent" was most inappropriate in describing Christmas gifts.

Perhaps you should re-think your choice of words before entering "post".

 

jackson

Jackson,

Well put and to the point, Thank you!

A wise person once said,"It's All A Matter Of Manners"

 

God Bless,

"Pappy"

 

 

People - lighten up.  "Decent" is just a colloquial term meaning "cool" in some areas of the USA, at least.

 

p51p51OGR Forum Member

I didn't technically get anything for Christmas. Two DVDs I was going to buy in October got snatched up by my wife at the store and she declared, "These are for Christmas," so I didn't see them for over 2 months.

She got a new monitor for the computer and declared it was so I "could edit photos better" although she was the person griping about our old monitor, not me.

That was it. My parents sent me a P-51 Mustang fighter plane clock and a check, which will probably go to train stuff...

Don't cry for me, Argentina, because I got my Christmas present early! In October, I got to go to Kennedy Space Center with 2 good pals for 3 days, then to Space Camp for 4 days after that at Huntsville. Best week-long space program trip EVER! And yes, plenty of NASA swag came with that.

Last edited by p51
Dennis HollerDennis HollerOGR Forum Member

yes, the Wife got me this old Beater Scalecraft k4.... that I won last month and my mom, bless her, still likes to get me a couple of train cars for Christmas.  This year she got me the PRR Christmas Merchandise car and the Ronald Regan Prez  car.  My only issue (well, it's not really an issue) is that the K4 is straight up two rail....and I am not currently set up for that.  It has now forced me to go Gargraves on my highline so I can switch back and forth.... well at least i think I will be able to .

 

 

But the best gifts of all are healthy family and so far the kids have behaved fairly well

100_1823

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C chinatrain99OGR Forum Member

i got a **** juicer....  when my wife mentioned it, saying "what the hell would i do with that" was to subtle and i still got it.  as for trains, i sold out last fall and got rid of my layout.  it was all the newer low-end sets.  over the holidays i bought a couple marx windups and an old engine to "play" with.  eventually, i'm going to try to put together a small under the tree layout.  

CR California Railfan508OGR Forum Member

I got myself a NIB Unpowered ATLAS O Santa Fe EMD SD40 #1719 unit for myself off of eBay for Christmas this year at a great price. It should be arriving in the next week or so. Sadly, my family does not care about my interest in model railroading (they find it pointless and stupid, as I was told on multiple occasions), so I have to go out and find some good deals in order to slowly expand my roster. Image below credit to ATLAS O (number is incorrect, but same model and paint scheme):

ATLAS O UNPWD ATSF EMD SD40

 

Last edited by California Railfan508
Dennis HollerDennis HollerOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by California Railfan508:

I got myself a NIB Unpowered ATLAS O Santa Fe EMD SD40 #1719 unit for myself off of eBay for Christmas this year at a great price. It should be arriving in the next week or so. Sadly, my family does not care about my interest in model railroading (they find it pointless and stupid, as I was told on multiple occasions), so I have to go out and find some good deals in order to slowly expand my roster. Image below credit to ATLAS O (number is incorrect, but same model and paint scheme):

ATLAS O UNPWD ATSF EMD SD40

 

I love that SF paint scheme.

p51p51OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Steamer:

I was hoping for a box of busted rusted junk for winter fix up projects.

There could be a totally different thread for the stuff we hoped we'd get but didn't.

Early in my marriage, my wife would insist on a list of things I wanted for Christmas and my birthday in November.

And each year, she'd ignore every single thing on the list and get me whatever she thought I should have, instead.

Most of those presents went to Goodwill by the following year or would be quite obviously untouched and unmoved where they'd been originally put. And every now and then, I'd get her best griping about why I haven't touched the thing I got for Christmas a few years that I never asked for nor shown any need ot want for.

For example, about 3 months ago I got a lecture about why I have never used a portable photo booth/background she'd got for me about 5 years ago (which was very difficult and time consuming to put together).

I say these things in the past tense, which would suggest things have changed.

They haven't.

After 15 years, I've long since given up on getting what I really want for Christmas from her.

The only real problem is from about August, I'm not allowed to buy anything that she might buy for me for the holidays but never will. I have bucked that a few times, once buying some On30 stuff at a hobby shop a week before my birthday when she started in with this, "but you have no idea that I'd get this for you," and I replied, "There's no chance at all you ever would, and we both know this." And after that Christmas (again, stuff I never asked for and never needed nor used), she then admitted she never would have bought that On30 stuff...

K KeystoneOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by MarkStrittmatter:

I forgot to mention, I received a 2015 All Pennsy Calendar designed by Audio Visual Designs.

As always great photos of the Pennsy in all it's glory.

Me too, this is probably my 7th or 8th year for this great calendar.  I really like the large b&w D. Wood photos.  I just wish they went back to their earlier spiral bound version, but understand that cost and possibility that the manufacturer no longer offers that binding option.  None the less, it is a fabulous calendar.

rtr12rtr12OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Originally Posted by laming:

They're only obscene in the fact that I've spent obscene amounts of money on them this year!!

I'm in the same boat this year, I may have to see if my LHS has an 'Easy Pay' plan and get enrolled in it. I hope the catalogs are much less attractive next year.

 

Actually just repeating this years catalogs again would be nice for me. As bad as it was this year, I still had to eliminate many items from my want list. I could play catch up.

S SteamerOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by p51:
Originally Posted by Steamer:

I was hoping for a box of busted rusted junk for winter fix up projects.

There could be a totally different thread for the stuff we hoped we'd get but didn't.

Early in my marriage, my wife would insist on a list of things I wanted for Christmas and my birthday in November.

And each year, she'd ignore every single thing on the list and get me whatever she thought I should have, instead.

Most of those presents went to Goodwill by the following year or would be quite obviously untouched and unmoved where they'd been originally put. And every now and then, I'd get her best griping about why I haven't touched the thing I got for Christmas a few years that I never asked for nor shown any need ot want for.

For example, about 3 months ago I got a lecture about why I have never used a portable photo booth/background she'd got for me about 5 years ago (which was very difficult and time consuming to put together).

I say these things in the past tense, which would suggest things have changed.

They haven't.

After 15 years, I've long since given up on getting what I really want for Christmas from her.

The only real problem is from about August, I'm not allowed to buy anything that she might buy for me for the holidays but never will. I have bucked that a few times, once buying some On30 stuff at a hobby shop a week before my birthday when she started in with this, "but you have no idea that I'd get this for you," and I replied, "There's no chance at all you ever would, and we both know this." And after that Christmas (again, stuff I never asked for and never needed nor used), she then admitted she never would have bought that On30 stuff...

I have gone as far as write down item numbers, the phone number of the train/car shop, etc, and most of the time I still wouldn't get what I wanted.Sometimes she comes thru, but the last few years I just ask for a gift card from the store I want something from.

Mark BoyceMark BoyceOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I did very well.  My wife has me buy freight cars, then I have her wrap them.

 

Here is an Atlas O Steam Era Classics express reefer.  I really like the Steam Era Classics.

Behind it is a N&W Premier caboose to go with my Y6b.  Oh, you can also see the PE figures in front of the express.

 

image

 

 

 

Next next is two K Line reefers, NKP and N&W.  The aren't the greatest, but a $25 each and me having no reefers, I couldn't pass them up.

 

 

image

 

 

Here is is another Premier caboose, Virginian.  Having lived and worked in Virginia in the '70s and '80s, I like Virginian.

 

image

 

Here re is a nice print my mother-in-law gave me.

 

 

image

 

 

last, my daughter and son-in-law gave me this nice repro Lionel sign.

 

 

image

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Big JimBig JimOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

My daughter gave me a 25th Anniversary edition of The Polar Express book. It includes a Keepsake Ornament & Bonus CD read by Liam Neeson. On top of that, mine has been autographed by Santa himself! Santa was on the Polar Express train that they rode somewhere in eastern Tenn.

 

The reading by Liam Neeson is very nice with appropriate music and sounds, following each page of the book. I would recommend this edition to anyone who enjoys the story as written by Chris Van Allsburg.

SantaFeJimSantaFeJimOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by California Railfan508:

I got myself a NIB Unpowered ATLAS O Santa Fe EMD SD40 #1719 unit for myself off of eBay for Christmas this year at a great price. It should be arriving in the next week or so. Sadly, my family does not care about my interest in model railroading (they find it pointless and stupid, as I was told on multiple occasions), so I have to go out and find some good deals in order to slowly expand my roster. Image below credit to ATLAS O (number is incorrect, but same model and paint scheme):

ATLAS O UNPWD ATSF EMD SD40

 

I am pretty sure that I know exactly what you paid for this locomotive.  I was bidding on it myself.  Was it shipped from Illinois?  

 

I Picked them up locally from a private party.  They were still in the factory sealed cartons.  The two powered units cab numbers are 1701 and 1712.  The non-powered cab number is 1715.

 

Great looking locomotives and they are real stump-pullers. 

Last edited by SantaFeJim
C chinatrain99OGR Forum Member
Ron,
 
I have no idea what kind of juicer but knowing my wife, it's an expensive one!  i guess i can put that with the regular blender, bullet, wock, seal-a-meal, and the other great items that we have to simplify our lives.  if people think trains are expensive, my wife just spent 8k on a sewing machine!  that makes about 6 of them in the basement.  i thought i lost money on trains.  she turned her 5 year old 5k machine into a 1.5k trade in.  not saying trains are an investment but i know dang well i can do better than that!
 
 
Originally Posted by Ron045:

i got a **** juicer...."what the hell would i do with that"

What kind of Juicer?  You need to watch a Joey Ricard video on using real dirt on your layout.  I'd bet you could really put that thing to good use.   I'd love to have a juicer.

 

Ron

 

 

CR California Railfan508OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by SantaFeJim:
Originally Posted by California Railfan508:

I got myself a NIB Unpowered ATLAS O Santa Fe EMD SD40 #1719 unit for myself off of eBay for Christmas this year at a great price. It should be arriving in the next week or so. Sadly, my family does not care about my interest in model railroading (they find it pointless and stupid, as I was told on multiple occasions), so I have to go out and find some good deals in order to slowly expand my roster. Image below credit to ATLAS O (number is incorrect, but same model and paint scheme):

ATLAS O UNPWD ATSF EMD SD40

 

I am pretty sure that I know exactly what you paid for this locomotive.  I was bidding on it myself.  Was it shipped from Illinois?  

 

I Picked them up locally from a private party.  They were still in the factory sealed cartons.  The two powered units cab numbers are 1701 and 1712.  The non-powered cab number is 1715.

 

Great looking locomotives and they are real stump-pullers. 

I was the only bidder on this locomotive on eBay. It did come from Illinois from the buyer I purchased it from. Can't wait until it arrives in the next three to five days and the day when I find a powered unit to pull it with!

CobrabobCobrabobOGR Forum Member

I received an MTH Western Pacific bay window caboose from my son Matthew to run with the Williams A-B-B-A Western Pacific F3 diesels I bought this past Summer. My son Eric bought me an MTH Nickel Plate Road hopper and my daughter Kaitlin bought me an MTH Premier Line 50' Central of Georgia boxcar. All are nice gifts!

Cobrabob.

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