Seeking recommendations on additional items for starter set gift

How about the Lionel Plug 'n Play Santa Gateman accessory. Fun for kids as the Santa figure emerges from the house when a train passes. Note that you would also need a FasTrak activator section to plug the accessory into.

This one:

http://www.lionel.com/products...uto-gateman-6-82744/

I would not recommend Santa-themed accessories unless he will be restricted to using it only around Christmas.  However, a regular Gateman would be a year-round hit.

Thanks for those suggestions.  The Gateman sounds like a good idea.  It has always been Lionel's most popular accessory.  He loves my old 145.  Additional track?  Optional "Lionchief Universal Remote (sold separately)"?  Not sure what it is or if it is necessary.   It comes with the regular remote.

John

The universal remote is for more than one engine, so you don't need three remotes to run three engines. Also good if you lose/break the remote, but if all he has is one engine then I wouldn't worry about that yet.

Some other buildings like a train station or something.

Thanks Bill.  Train station sounds like a good idea.  Are they still made well?

Some additional track would be a good idea if they have enough space. A Fastrack girder and simple train station (like Plasticville that he can help assemble) and some people/cars are also suggestions.

I looked into some additional track, but am not sure which "bundles" to get.  Lionel says minimum curve for that set is 031.

Any ideas?

And with the girder suggestion do you mean one to be used at ground level or a raised section with ramps, etc?

@Craftech posted:

I looked into some additional track, but am not sure which "bundles" to get.  Lionel says minimum curve for that set is 031.

Any ideas?

And with the girder suggestion do you mean one to be used at ground level or a raised section with ramps, etc?

There are some FasTrak "expansion packs" out there. A good, yet simple, example is one that will expand your loop into a figure 8. Probably good for a 5 year old. There are also a few others. It's really dependent on the amount of  available space.

If it were me, I'd go fairly small at this point. If the trains continue to be a hit then expand the empire!

Edit: Meant to add that the Plasticville idea noted above is a great idea. Simple, snap together structures, no glue. And the right size to stick around the inside of a layout loop.

Small freight cars?

Can't go wrong with the gate man.

You are probably right about that John.  They don't have a lot of room. 

A few additional straight pieces probably wouldn't hurt. Beyond a certain size, the layout need not occupy the middle of an open space (like in one of the videos accompanying the Amazon listing), but run around a free-standing piece of furniture.

---PCJ

Great ideas.  Much appreciated.

John

How about an engineer's cap and some bib overalls?

A good 5-year old engineer worth his salt should not be running a train if not properly attired.

I started my grandson with more track for his FasTrack set. That was a hit!

Ed Boyle

I would skip the universal remote.  The engine you listed can be run with a free app so even if the remote gets run over by a truck it can still be controlled with nearly any blue tooth enabled device

@jhz563 posted:

I would skip the universal remote.  The engine you listed can be run with a free app so even if the remote gets run over by a truck it can still be controlled with nearly any blue tooth enabled device

And the engineer's cap is a must have!  I also think the gatemen is a great idea, with the news-stand a close second.  And track is great as long as there is room to set it up

Do the BlueTooth controls actually work?  Doesn't the sound then come from the phone or other BlueTooth dev ice?

My kids love the Fastrack Grade crossing. It replaces a 10" section (or you can add another 10" section to the other side of your loop). It will allow for your son to play with his cars as well as the train.

https://www.trainworld.com/man...k-10-grade-crossing/