Starter model train sets

[crankedup]

Christmas soon! we are looking to purchase our Grandson his first model train set. He is 4 years six months old and has shown interest in all things railway related. Something to do with Thomas the tank engine I expect.
Anyhow, we have been advised to go electric rather than clockwork, so a robust set to keep him happy to play with but crucially he can add to the set and build it up over time.
Budget about £150 is this realistic and any advise comments welcomed.

[C0ffin D0dger]

At that age you can't go too far wrong with the "Thomas and Friends" Trackmaster stuff. Our two have a fair bit of it and the eldest (6) still likes playing with it.

[crankedup]

C0ffin D0dger said:

At that age you can't go too far wrong with the "Thomas and Friends" Trackmaster stuff. Our two have a fair bit of it and the eldest (6) still likes playing with it.

Thanks, the lad has the push along thomas the tank and loves it, feel that he is ready (or is it me that’s ready?) for an electric set.

[Horsetan]

crankedup said:

...Budget about £150 is this realistic and any advise comments welcomed.

It's been a long time since I was in a model railway shop (they have been dying for years as the retail landscape has changed, and most of them are web-based nowadays), but if you have a look at the websites of Hattons, Cheltenham Model Centre, Rails of Sheffield, etc. you may find something that just about squeezes into the £150 budget.

Train sets - in the traditional sense - are quite expensive nowadays, as the models inside them would have been considered exhibition standard 40 years ago.

If you go into European HO scale, you can expect to have to spend at least double.....

[gazzarose]

Have a look at the Hornby Thomas sets.
https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/shop/all-sets/thomas-...
I'd been itching for an excuse to buy a train set for years, so I bought one for my son just after Xmas last year, except at the time my boy was 5 months.lol. But they were on sale so it would be rude not to. I bought the cheaper Thomas set and the Perry set. It's all standard Hornby stuff so cab be used to make a proper layout and upgrade as your boy gets older to 'proper' locos and stuff. At some point next year I'm going to get the ones I've got mounted to a board and do a basic layout so me and my skn can play with it, and my nephew is nearly 3 so he can join in as well. Once my son is about 4/5 I'm planning on starting a proper layout in the loft. He'll then be able to rub his Thomas stuff on that to make it more interesting for him.

[crankedup]

gazzarose said:

Have a look at the Hornby Thomas sets.
https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/shop/all-sets/thomas-...
I'd been itching for an excuse to buy a train set for years, so I bought one for my son just after Xmas last year, except at the time my boy was 5 months.lol. But they were on sale so it would be rude not to. I bought the cheaper Thomas set and the Perry set. It's all standard Hornby stuff so cab be used to make a proper layout and upgrade as your boy gets older to 'proper' locos and stuff. At some point next year I'm going to get the ones I've got mounted to a board and do a basic layout so me and my skn can play with it, and my nephew is nearly 3 so he can join in as well. Once my son is about 4/5 I'm planning on starting a proper layout in the loft. He'll then be able to rub his Thomas stuff on that to make it more interesting for him.

Perfect, exactly the type of thing I have in mind. It’s important that the lad can, if he wishes, add to the layout. It also fits in with a budget that, if worst comes to worst, he gets to find that it’s not his thing, not too much money is lost. Thanks for link.

[MiniMan64]

The basic Hornby Thomas pack with a loop, siding and coaches is about £70, saw one in Hawkins Bazar last weekend.

Well inside budget and enough left over for a bit of extra track and some trucks!

[MiniMan64]

There you go:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B018DTL454/ref=mp...

And with trucks and a siding:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B018SYNO34/ref=mp...