Diecast Toy Vehicles - A New Blog

Just wanted to let our readers know that we have expanded our blogging into another great group of collectibles: Diecast Toy Cars

We will be discussing diecast vehicles from many of the popular manufacturers: Jada Toys diecast cars, Johnny Lightning cars, Corgi Diecast Cars, Maisto diecast cars, and Ertl diecast cars, to name a few. Also, we will be featuring a good number of diecast cars and diecast trucks for sale from each manufacturer.

Do, please do pay us a visit to learn all about diecast collectibles and browse some great deals on diecast toys!

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Trip to World's Greatest Hobby Train Show

We went to the World’s Greatest Hobby Train Show last weekend, and it was really the best model train show that I have ever attended. The kids had a great time on the ridable Thomas the Train, then we were able to see model train layouts in every scale possible – from Z scale layouts to G scale layouts, with lots of HO scale layouts and O scale layouts, of course. One that I especially enjoyed seeing was an O scale tinplate train layout with some neat old tinplate locomotives, coaches and freight cars.

There was also a kids’ room with hundreds of Thomas the Train Trackmaster sets for the children to play with. Also in that room were many Thomas the Train Play Tents, which my kids had a ball playing inside.

And, of course, there were many vendors – both from train shops and from train manufacturers, including: Atlas Trains, Bachmann Trains, Lionel Trains and MTH Trains.

I ended up buying one of the new Atlas Trainman N Scale Starter Sets. N scale has been one of the few scales that I haven’t dabbled in so far, but those Atlas Trainman train sets are a really good value – including a diesel locomotive, 4 freight cars, a power pack/controller and an oval of track.

The World’s Greatest Hobby Train Show is touring the nation, so chances are it may be in a location near you soon. If so, I would highly recommend it as fun for the whole family.

World's Greatest Hobby Train Show

This weekend I am hoping to go to the Worlds Greatest Hobby Train Show. I have heard lots of great things about this show. The train show is supposed to be for everyone -- from those new to the model railroad hobby to those expert model train enthusiasts. There are supposed to be many model railroads set up to enjoy, as well as plenty of vendors where you can buy trains (any type you like).

It is also supposed to be a good train show for kids, with both a rideable Thomas the Train and also a hundred or more electric Thomas the Train sets for kids to play with. My kids have never been on a ridable Thomas the Train before, so they will love that -- wonder if it's big enough for grown ups too? :-) I'm really looking forward to the train show, and if I'm able to go I will let you know how it is.

LGB Christmas Train

In my last post I was considering the different kinds of Christmas train sets that I could set up for our train under the Christmas tree this year. After considering Lionel Christmas train sets, Bachmann Christmas train sets and LGB Christmas train sets, I had narrowed my choices down to the following:

1. Lionel Train Sets: For a while I really thought I was going to get a Lionel North Pole Central Train Set or a Lionel Polar Express Train Set. The North Pole Central set comes in O scale, while the Polar Express set comes in O scale (see last link) or the Polar Express G Scale Train Set. Those Lionel O scale trains are electric train sets, while the Lionel G scale Polar Express is a battery operated train set.

2. Bachmann Train Sets: I looked at both G scale and HO scale Bachman train sets. In HO scale, I especially considered the Bachmann Grinch Train Set and the Bachmann Thomas Christmas train set.

3. LGB Train Sets: I looked at several different LGB Christmas train sets. If you browse through the listings in that last link, you'll see that there are many great LBG train sets out there to consider.

So, what did I end up going with? Perhaps the title of this article and the photo at the start might have given it away. I ended up going with an LGB train set -- specifically an LGB passenger train starter set. Here's a nice shot of the whole set:


The passenger cars on this train set have working doors, and the set comes with several plastic figures you can put in the passenger coaches. The locomotive for this set is a neat little LGB Stainz locomotive, which comes with many of the LGB train sets (which include the engine, train cars, a circle or oval of track, a power pack and controler). The LGB Stainz engine has some nice detail in the side rod assembly -- which makes it fun to show the kids where the pistons push the rods, which then rotate the wheels. This engine has a smoke generator and steam sounds that vary with engine speed. Here's a close-up of the LBG Stainz locomotive:

What about you -- have you set up a Christmas tree train set this year? If not, it's not too late to get one. If you have, please let us hear about it by commenting below.

Thinking about a Christmas Train Set

Lately I've been thinking about buying a new Christmas train set for under the tree. I find that a Christmas tree is just not complete without a train running around the tree. We used to have a Christmas tree train set, but our old one was cheap and quit working (and can't be fixed). So, lately I've been looking around at Christmas trains.

We still have a Lionel Christmas trolley that we can run back and forth on a ledge around our family room. It is in O scale and just runs back and forth -- when the bumper at each end of the trolley hits the Lionel Fastrack bumper, the trolley automatically reverses direction.

Because we've been happy with the trolley, I've been browsing Lionel Christmas Trains to see what I like. Now, I'm having a tough time deciding: I like the Lionel North Pole Central train set, but also like the Lionel Disney Christmas train set. I looked at the Lionel Polar Express train set as well, but our kids haven't seen the Polar Express movie yet and I don't know that they are ready to see it yet.

Though I'm leaning toward a Lionel train set, there are also some pretty neat LGB Christmas train sets and Bachmann Christmas train sets as well. Though most of my model trains are in HO scale, I'm definitely thinking of either an O scale or G scale Christmas train -- because I think the large electric trains tend to hold up better when handled by kids.

Bachmann Train Sets

Bachmann trains are one of the most popular brands of trains in the United States. You can find a Bachmann train set in almost any size you want: Bachmann N Scale trains, Bachmann HO Scale trains, Bachmann On30 Scale trains and Bachmann G scale trains. One reason for the popularity of Bachmann trains is that many Bachmann train sets are less expensive than some of the other brands of model trains that I have written about.

This is especially true with the Bachmann Thomas the Train electric train sets. These are quite reasonably priced "toy trains" that have controls that are very easy even for toddlers to use (an adult should supervise, since these are electric trains). Bachmann also produces many other cheap electric train sets in the "toy train" or "hobby grade" category -- not nearly as detailed as "model trains".

However, Bachmann also produces some nice model trains marketed as the Bachmann Spectrum train sets. I purchased the Bachmann Acela train set, which is from the Spectrum line of Bachmann HO trains, and have been pleased both with its quality and smooth running.

Bachmann also makes some G scale Christmas trains that are pretty affordable also. So, whether you are looking for an inexpensive toy train set for the kids, or a more expensive model train set, you should check out Bachman trains -- they have a train set for every budget.

A Great Place to Buy Trains!

I recently started this site with a wide selection of electric trains, from inexpensive toy trains to detailed model trains, with brands such as: Bachmann Trains, Lionel Trains, LGB Trains, Marklin Trains, Fleischmann Trains, Aristo-Craft Trains and more! As we get closer to the holiday season, I'll be featuring Christmas tree train sets. So, please come by and browse some of the great bargains on trains!