Hallmark stores on tap to sell a Limited Edition "Toymaker Santa" series O gauge Lionel train set this holiday season!!!

Hey All

I ordered one of these sets from WWW.Hallmark.com and they offered Free shipping.

http://shop.hallmark.com/ornam...el%20santa%20express

Here is a Video of the Artist who designed the set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKSmoQ53QtY

Here is Hallmarks' Promo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SevN-fXMRUg

Since I am only interested in prototypical models, the description of this set as a "created collectible" makes me shudder, and I had no interest in Hallmark, except greeting cards, UNTIL I recently discovered close to O scale ornaments depicting pre-WWII pickup trucks.  THAT got my attention and is a series I hope continues, as Matchbox's has not.

I just like this set and do not see it as a collectible. I am sure Hallmark made several thousand of these.

BTW folks, this set has begun arriving at Hallmark retailers. My store got their allotment yesterday and I hope to see it up close either today or tomorrow and post my initial impressions. Would be great if they let me take it home before next Saturday, but likely Hallmark won't allow that. I'll soon find out. Cheers and fa-la-la-la-la

Looking forward to seeing LOTS of pictures posted here when you finally do get it.

Hi All. I saw everyone's posts about the limited quantities various retailers are getting. Wanted to let you know a local Northeast based gift/retail chain will be having it as well. In select stores (limited quantities) and online at:

https://www.thepaperstore.com/...hallmark/38881200005 

Just thought I would pass it along. 

already a few sets have shown up on the e*** auction site.

if anyone is looking for some nice o scale elves to go with this set, I had a custom designed elf produced and  have extras available.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...stmas-elves-are-here

Has anyone purchased this set yet?

I won't have an opportunity to get mine from a Hallmark Wish List untill next weekend and considering the following comment/review just posted on a Hallmark Collectors website I am now wondering whether I should

Can't vouch for the validity of these comments the person posted so that's why I'm asking for additional comments, opinions, reviews, photos, or videos from anyone who's gotten theirs already. Thanks.

Here is that review posted by a N.H. Hallmark collector:

"Really disappointing, the packaging for a 400 item is the worst I have ever seen. I have two other Lionel trains and this is the least detailed but the most expensive I have ever paid. I think I would rather spend 100 less at the train store for a more detailed Frosty or Snoopy train.
Absolutely no similarities to the Toymaker Santa ornaments, none of the toys that have been featured in the series are even painted on the train.

Not sure why it is called Toymaker Santa. It looks like a generic Santa train that Lionel could have created themselves. 

I was just so excited about this product and I saved for it and I would much rather have my $400 back.

Someone please point something out about this train to make me like it."

Be interested in seeing some photos of the actual set.  Note in the original artwork the set clearly is shown with a scale NE style caboose, but the finished set photo shows the less expensive Lionel center cupola (SP size) caboose.

I don't put a lot of faith in online reviews. Especially not just one single review. Everyone is different, some have problems with things that I think are great, and it also works the opposite way as well. Personally, I would wait and see for myself. I can't imagine this set being that bad?

I picked up my Hallmark set today and gave it a test run on my not so permanent layout.  So far, the train runs well right out of the box.

Having metal trucks, it feels more substantial then the Peanuts Christmas set that I also own.  I was happy to see that each car is painted metallic red, and not just molded red plastic.  The speech is clear, but it tends to repeat the same 'Santa' dialogue over with each button press.  It should look good under the tree.

Looking good!  Mine is supposed to be here Friday.  I can't wait!

Nice looking Christmas train set.

The Hallmark video with their designer is really good. If it brings more to the hobby it has to be all good, as long as it works! 

Bmurphy20, how well does it smoke and what exactly does Santa say\? Is it dialogue that specifically mentions the "Toymaker Santa Express' or rather just ordinary generic Santa dialogue that could be heard in any Christmas train? What exactly does the dialogue say???

Also, besides the photos, any chance you could also post video of it either here on the forum or on YouTube?

Anything that is ' Limited Edition" will never be worth anything.

BMurphy20,

   OK how much did you finally end up paying for the Santa Toy Maker Train set?

I just might have to have one of these new Christmas Trains, to add to my Christmas layout.

PCRR/Dave

Ogaugeguy, I created a short video and posted it on YouTube with dialogue and sound samples from the set...

http://youtu.be/0LOb1Jmg0Dk

Gentlemen,

   This Santa Train is listed at a cost of $399.99, does it come with FasTrack?  If so this looks better and better as a RTR Christmas set.

PCRR/Dave

My local Hallmark store had an open set on display behind the counter and it looked very nice, much nicer than I anticipated.  I would have seriously considered purchasing it, but I have enough 0-8-0 locos to last a lifetime

Garrett76,

    O Guage Trains are like fine Bomboo Fly Fishing Rods and fine double guns,

you can never own enough of them!  Go for it!

PCRR/Dave

I agree 1000%

Art

I agree 100%, but I didn't buy this set as an investment.  It looked like it would be fun for the holidays.

I wonder if we will see this set on sale after Christmas at other places then Hallmark card shops?

I really like the Hallmark set colors overall look, features of the LionChief and the Chase gondola. But I did not really want to spend that much for a set. Thanks for the video and photos.

I have a left over set (conventional 4-4-2) from a blow out sale a few years back new in the box unused and a couple of extra cars, a 1/4 of the cost of the Hallmark set.

Inspired by various Lionel Sets and the Hallmark/Lionel set, I set out to do a repaint into something that would suit me for a public display this will run at our railway museums Polar Express event with a # of other Christmas theme trains I have and eventually under the tree.

I used a few cans of Tamiya Silver Leaf paint over everything.

Then masked and sprayed with Metallic Red. Overall the color looks stunning in a bright light, much better then in the photos here, click on them for a larger view.

I went looking for some suitable stickers and loads for the flat cars. Was hoping to add some toy rocking horses somewhat to scale but cannot find anything, the presents will do for now. Found nice little wagons by Lemax and some sleighs.

I used the sparkly letters. I wanted them big enough to be able to see from a distance for this display train. Finished this painted and decal-ed over the last couple of days. Still trying to find the right Santa image sticker or photo to add to the side of the tender or box car. And perhaps some Snowflake or wreath stickers to the train in the empty spaces.

Had a little trouble fitting the lettering on the side for the space I had, tried to avoid the rivet strips where I could.

So excited to take it for a run tonight. Our little Santa loves it!

(darned the reverse unit quit after a bit of running, only goes to neutral and reverse no forward.) This set has the puffing smoke and air whistle. The Hallmark set with remote and sounds would have been nice but not for a show train.

kj356,

  Now that was a great idea and no doubt about it your boy loves the Santa Toy Shop Express Train, and he can pass it on down to his kids when he has his own family, and tell them that his father made him his own Santa Train.  Great stuff sir, simply fantastic.

Mrs Santa here at our house has picked up one of the new Hallmark Lionel Christmas Santa Trains for our Christmas Train layout. I will run it and the Christmas Box car Train, on Christmas morning.

Can you imagine missing this kind of family time because some fool in our government thinks our trains are not safe for anyone under 14 years old.  The pictures of your boy running his Christmas Santa Train is what our hobby is really all about.  

PCRR/Dave

Tks grand daughter actually.

Can anyone share more photos of your Hallmark train sets? Some more detailed photos of the colors.

Sold out at our local store.

Here are some pics of my finished train with all the decals on;

and not on here but I added tea lights inside the caboose switches on bottom to turn on nice flickering yellow glow. Reverse unit stopped working at least forward so I removed and cut and respliced motor wires so I get neutral / neutral / forward. Like the puffing smoke and air whistle.

Perhaps some time may get the hallmark set if it comes up a bit cheaper but I really like my custom painted train very rich red colors and the sparkles look great.

Click on photos for a larger view.

I picked up mine today and will play after Thursday . I needed a new set for strictly for around the Christmas tree. Besides I like red.

The best way I can describe the engine color is Candy Apple Red.  Older generation probably understands that color better than the younger members.

It is a very BRIGHT red. Kinda neat for Christmas...IMO Some may have , but I have never seen a Lionel train that RED.

Larry

Larry Sr,

   I really like the bright Red (Candy Apple) color for a Christmas Train also, this is going to be a great addition to our Christmas layout no doubt about it, there is one other bright red Tin Plate Christmas train also, I believe it's the MTH P3 269E Christmas Train set, at any rate I will receive my Santa Toy Maker Express Christmas morning, like all the rest of the kids!

I did not realize this Santa Express set came with it's own controller, as I see pictured in Larry Sr post, will we able to control it with our Legacy Cab2 remote control also, or is this a stand alone Lionel train set.

kj356,

   Sorry about calling your Grand Daughter a boy, my bad!  Hay the Wagon & Sleds Flat car pictured in your post, on your Santa Toy Work Shop Train, is a seriously original new Flat Car, I have never seen another like it!   Great job on that one.

PCRR/Dave

Dave

I don't know about the control question. I don't think we can control it with our Legacy remotes. That's the Lionel Chief Plus engines I THINK.

This is the only chief set I have, so I'm not up to speed on these RTR remote sets.

Larry

Lionchief is controlled by its remote only.

Lionchief Plus is controlled by its remote or can be run in conventional

Legacy (or TMCC) does not "Talk" to either directly.