Train sets

[Tools]

One of my boys has asked Santa to bring him a train set this year. He is only 5 and not really ready for a top of the line set but needs to move up from his wooden track set. Does anyone have any suggestions for something in the middle? The ones I have seen in places like toys r us just seem a little crap really.

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[P.W.H.]

I was going to suggest Marklin HO, but then I had a look at what they go for in Australia, and: holy whatsit, Batman.
I just sold my whole setup here in NZ on Trademe over the last few months. I'm sure someone(s) in Oz will have
some for sale 2nd hand. $150-800 seems like a load of money for a new model railroad loco.

Marklin is good, because they have an AC system with the pickup in the centre of the track: the dc systems like Trix
that have left rail/right rail conduction tend to have a lot more trouble - at least that used to be the case 45 years ago.
The Marklin stuff is also very robust.

[q9]

Interesting timing! I just bought my father a heap more N-Gauge stuff...'tis the season. Tons of good stuff is made, and heaps available over here, if I get a chance I'll add some pics of what I see.

[Chesand]

I am into model railways but do not know what is currently available in sets suitable for your son in the "toy" stores.
Have a look at Train World in Brighton - they are the biggest train store in Victoria.
You can make up a model railway on an old door as a starter. My son started 40 years ago with a battery operated set but I soon bought a transformer/controller which I wired up to his set using a TV plug on the 12volt side so that the AC and 12V wires could not be interchanged.
Good luck and welcome to the other slippery slope of model railways.

[Tools]

thanks for the suggestions guys. I didn't go to train world but it sure looks impressive on the net. I ended up buying him a Hornby set from metro hobbies in Swanson st. Didnt know they even existed until I went looking. Anyway my boy loves it and sits for hours and hours just watching it go around in circles. He is already putting in his order for more track so I guess birthdays should be easy for the next couple of years!

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