Operating accessories for kids

I'd suggest accessories that the child can operate. A personal favorite is the 182 remote control crane. Operating milk cars are usually popular with kids. I guess that's more an operating car than an accessory, but you do need to set up the platform.

I would say something that can load as well as unload, so a coal loader (97 or 497 would be my suggestions), and something with some whimsy and animation (445 jumps to mind, but your call).

The gantry crane is amazing. And i really like the culvert loader/unloader. 

I spent the weekend end helping with a modular layout at a train show. On my modules I have a milk car, sawmill, icing station, and a barrel loader. All have buttons on the outside for kids to push. My experience is the milk car and saw mill are the favorites, but they like them all.

I find the maiden rescue is a big hit with kids. Especially when it don't work and she get run over by the loco. Lol.

The 364  log loader and a log car would be a great accessory for a child to play with. I am not sure if the 364 log loader will line up correctly with Fast Tracks. Someone here will have to cover that.

Here is a video of my grandson and my daughter in laws niece playing with a Lionel PWC log car.

Thanks,

Richard

OK,  I'm biased but the 264 Forklift lumber unloader!   Great accessory and they seem to operate well especially around 11 volts.  The forklift grabs one piece of lumber at a time so all the action is not over in 3 seconds.  

Gantry crane is a huge hit with our 6 year old. Other items that get a good workout from the kids are: ice station, saw mill, milk car. Basically, the items where you get to touch it and move and reload parts. 

Have fun!

The gantry crane is "the one".

Rocket launchers beat it out for "cool". But for usefulness, PW or TMCC, the crane is king! (versions vary)

 Lots for cheaper though. The bubbling oil derrick, and news stand with dog, were my "simple" favorites. As was an operating luggage station.

 The lumber, milk, and culvert pipe operations had the next most use, in that order.

     A stand alone whistle house so any " cheap locos" have some sound too would be cool.

     A modern digital version is made for many of the old talking stations recordings.  That module mounted in a new, or old station, would be very cool have too.

Richard,
The children are beautiful God bless.
Ralph

What a neat project! May I offer something counter-intuitive? I put the 45 Gateman next to the track and activated by a button. The kids love to try to get him to pop out as soon as the engine goes by - I know this is made to be automatic but they spend a surprising amount of time trying to time it.  

Another thing the older ones love is the 785 coal loader - using it to pick up coal (aquarium gravel) and dump it in a waiting wagon.

I put all my working accessories along the front of the layout with step stools so they can get at them. Also, if making noise is an option, I put in one of those HO 'sound machines' with a slider for whistle and a knob for engine sounds. I also have one of those hotel reception bells for them to mash. (with parent permission, I also hand out those wooden whistles - for keeping)

     Definitely a magnetic crane. I have a prewar #165 that works very well, but I think the gantry crane may be easier to use.

     I'm not so sure about coal loading accessories. In my experience with my #97 they tend to be very messy and the loaded cars are a pain to clean up in the event of a wreck. For a similar unloading - loading action, I would recommend a lumber loader (#164 might be a bit too big for your table, but a #364 might work).

Regards,

When my son was younger and I had younger kids to see my layout they always liked the icing station, sawmill, log dump cars, and milk cars.

And the boys really liked the missile firing range and target box car!

--Greg