Deciding to get started with model trains is one of the most joyous moments in life. However, finding the right Train set can be a confusing – especially with so many reviews and opinions all over the place.

Our goal in this guide is one and only one – to help you pick the right starter train set – that is fun, ready-to-go and durable.

Best O-Gauge Starter Train Sets

All ten train sets described below are easy-to-setup and ready-to-play. Depending on your personal preference, buy the one that most ‘clicks’ with you.

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1. Lionel Polar Express Steam Engine Remote Train Set

Lionel Polar Express Train Set is one of the easiest ready to run out of the box Train Set on the market.

And if you are fan of the movie The Polar Express you are going to love this train set.

The train comes equipped with the official “All Aboard the Polar Express” and other  announcement clips from the movie.

You’ll love the sound it makes. The song syncs with the speed of the train making it more realistic. It has a puffing smoke unit  that syncs with the speed of the train and blows out smoke that simply looks awesome. The train set comes with a small (0.3 oz)  bottle of smoke fluid. You add a few drops (4-5 drops)  at a time into the engine to create smoke. The bottle should last you a while.

The train must be operated at two-thirds to full throttle for the smoke element to get warm enough to convert the fluid into vapor and have smoke ejected from the smoke stack. The train will not smoke running a low speeds!

It also has an operating headlight in the front.

Lionel has started shipping their new train sets with the new LionChief remote control system.

The remote control makes it very easy to control the train. You can easily go forward reverse the train or bring the train to a complete stop. The remote also lets you activate the bell sounds comma the whistle sound comma and the  conductor announcement which include “All aboard the Polar Express!”, “Tickets Please!”  and other announcements that were part of The Polar Express movie.

The engine itself is beautifully done. It is heavy and quite beefy. This die cast metal electric Berkshire style Locomotive is not only pleasure to look at but also works beautifully whether you are hauling a bunch of cars up the slope or running the cars around and around your Christmas tree.

The engine is a 2-8-4 locomotive, which means that it has one unpowered leading axle, usually in a leading truck, followed by four powered and coupled driving axles, and two unpowered trailing axles.

The Lionel Polar Express train set also includes four character figures from the movie.

The set ships with three Passenger cars. The cars have warm yellow interior lighting.  There are multiple silhouettes in the window. The rounded observation platform and the decorated drum head on observation car give these cars a more realistic look and feel.

Lionel has come up with a proprietary track system called FastTrack that makes the process of laying out and connecting tracks incredibly easy.  

The train set ships with enough tracks for you to create of 40 inch by 50 inches layout. Included tracks are:

• Eight curved O-36 FasTrack sections
• One 10″ straight FasTrack section
• One FasTrack wall-pack terminal section

In order to power the tracks and the train, you connect the terminal track section with a jack from the wall pack power supply.  Then simply plug the wall pack into a power outlet and you are ready to go.

I should note that you can use this Train Set on any O-gauge layout that supplies 18 volts of constant power.  If you already have an existing power supply and a controller that comes with the item to make it function,  you should be able to run the Polar Express train set line in the setup.

Overall The Polar Express Train Set is a well made said that’s what last you a lifetime with a little bit of simple upkeep and maintenance.  the tracks are quite sturdy and can be used on any surface including carpets without any issues.  I am having a ton of fun with my Polar Express Set, hope you do the same.

Read some reviews by customers who recently purchased this train Set.

Items in the box:

• Die-cast metal electric Berkshire-style 2-4-8 locomotive
• Coal tender
• 2 coach cars and 1 observation car
• 8 curved O36 FasTrack sections
• 1 straight track section
• 1 terminal wall pack section
• 4 Polar Express character figures
• Polar Express decorative bell
• LionChief Remote Control (3 AAA batteries not included)
• Wall pack power supply
• Smoke fluid
• Replacement traction tire
• Replacement light bulb
• Owner’s manual

Check Price on Amazon

2) Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer O-Gauge Steam Engine LionChief Remote Train Set

The Pennsylvania Flyer is another ready-to-go remote controlled train set.  This mighty steam locomotive features a user-activated whistle, bell sounds and special announcements. The headlight is operational.

The engine is a 0-8-0 locomotive, which represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and no trailing wheels. Locomotives of this type are also referred to as eight coupled.

The steam engine also features puffing smoke, on/off switches for sound and smoke, and RailSounds RC sound system with steam chuffing and background sounds, whistle, bell, and user-activated announcements. It has operating couplers and a maintenance-free motor that is designed to last a lifetime.

The rolling stock includes a three-dome tank car, a boxcar and a caboose. The boxcar has opening doors, the tank car has metal handrails and ladders. Each piece of rolling stock features fixed couplers and Pennsylvania Flyer deco.

It also comes with the The LionChief Remote that features a forward and reverse speed control knob. There are three buttons for whistle sound, bell, and special freight crew announcements. The remote control requires requires three AAA alkaline batteries (not included).

It ships with enough tracks to create a 40” by 50”oval. Tracks included are:

• Eight curved O-36 FasTrack sections
• One 10″ straight FasTrack section
• One FasTrack wall-pack terminal section

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxtx7KLgGM4&feature=youtu.be

Items in the box:

• Powerful 0-8-0 locomotive
• Coal Load
• Boxcar
• Tank car
• Caboose
• 8 curved O36 FasTrack sections
• 1 straight track section
• 1 terminal wall pack section
• LionChief Remote Control (3 AAA batteries not included)
• Wall pack power supply
• Smoke fluid
• Owner’s manual

3) Lionel Hogwarts LionChief Train Set – O-Gauge

If you are fan of Harry Potter, you’ll love this Train set. Like every other train set we have discussed in this article, it is a ready-to-run train set, which includes:

• 4-6-0 Steam locomotive and tender
• Two passenger coaches
• One combination car
• Eight curved O36 FasTrack® track sections,
• One 10” straight FasTrack® Plug-Expand-Play power lock-on section,
• One FasTrack®terminal section,
• Two 10” straightFasTrack® sections.
• 54W wall pack power supply
• LionChief Remote Control (3 AAA batteries not included)

The beautifully  designed die-cast metal  locomotive can be easily controlled by the remote control.

The locomotive is a 4-6-0 steam engine, which represents the configuration of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading bogie, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and no trailing wheels.

The realistic sound system is complete with steamchuffing and background sounds, horn,whistle, bell and user-activated announcements.

Interior lighting and operational headlight make it beautiful to look at and fun to play with. Powerful, maintenance-free motor and traction tires make sure the train keeps chugging along.

The cab window of the engine is made from glass.

It features puffing smoke and the on/off switches for smoke and sound are discreetly located.

The chuffing sounds are in sync with the puffing smoke to give even more real-world-like appearance.

There are separately applied marker lamps, coupler air lines, brake stands, driverlinkage and buffers.

The tender has die-metal frame. There is an operating coupler at the end of the tender.

The passenger cars, though made from plastic, are beautifully created. The cars feature interior illumination and operating couplers. There are soft molded diaphragms between cars.

The dimension of the layout using the tracks provided is an oval measuring 40” x 60”.

The remote control has the forward and reverse speed control knob and three buttons to activate announcements, whistle and bell. The remote control (only) needs 3 AAA batteries to operate. The batteries are not included.

So, climb aboard the Hogwarts Express and head on to discover Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Read customer reviews.

Overview video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYPeXkj21Y0

[[check price]]

4) Lionel Junction Pennsylvania Diesel Engine Remote Train Set – O-Gauge

This is a great starter O-Gauge model train set and not quite expensive as the others.

Items included:

• Diesel switcher
• Boxcar
• Gondola
• Bobber caboose
• Seven curved O36 Fastrack™ track pieces
• One curved O36 Fastrack™
• Wall pack power supply
• LionChief remote for locomotive (needs 3 AAA batteries, not included)

The heavy and sturdy diesel switcher is controlled by LionChief Remote which has several features that can be activated by the conductor – forward and reverse motion, whistle, bell, and special announcements.

It has an operating headlight and on/off swich for the sounds.
The powerful, maintenance-free motor ensures that the engine is designed to last for a long time.

There are fixed coupler on the front and the rear of the locomotive.

Traction tires help the locomotive easily pull uphill.

The freight car is made from durably constructed plastic and has fixed couplers.

The included tracks create a: 40″ x 40″ circle of FasTrack, with 7 curved O36 FasTrack pieces and and 1 curved O36 Fastrack.

Read Customer Reviews.

[check price]

5) Lionel Junction Santa Fe Steam Engine Remote Train Set – O-Gauge

This is another great starter train set that includes everything you need to  get started, including track, remote, and power supply.

Items included:

• 0-4-0 STEAM SWITCHER
• Gondola
• Boxcar
• Bobber caboose
• Seven curved O36 Fastrack™ track pieces
• One curved O36 Fastrack™
• Wall pack power supply
• LionChief remote for locomotive (needs 3 AAA batteries, not included)

The locomotive features a 0-4-0 steam switcher:  0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven.

The electric locomotive is fully controlled via remote – with user activated sounds that include bells and whistles and special announcements.

The motor on the locomotive is a Lionel’s signature –  powerful, maintenance-free device that is guaranteed to keep it chugging for years to come.

There is a fixed coupler on the rear of the locomotive. An on/off sound switch is located at the back as well.

The locomotive also features separately applied bell and whistle details, plastic frame and traction tires.

The tracks included create a 40” by 40” circle of FasTrack with 7 curved O36 FasTrack pieces and and 1 curved O36 Fastrack.

Read customer reviews here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heep3gLbDYk

[[check price]]

6) Lionel John Deere Steam LionChief Train Set – O-Gauge

John Deere is another 0-8-0 locomotive that features a beautifully designed steam engine and a tender and is ready to haul right out of the box.

Items included are:

• 0-8-0 Steam locomotive and tender
• Flatcar with two removable die-castmetal tractors
• Gondola with crate load
• Square window caboose
• Interior illumination
• Eight curved O36 FasTrack® track sections
• One 10” straight FasTrack® Plug-Expand-Play power lock-on section
• One FasTrack®terminal section
• Two 10” straightFasTrack® sections.
• New 54W wall pack power supply
• LionChief Remote Control (3 AAA batteries not included)
• Smoke fluid
• Replacement traction tire
• Replacement light bulb
• Owner’s manual

The die-cast (frame and body)locomotive is controlled by the remote and features puffing smoke, operating headlight and on/off switch for smoke and sound.

Realistic RailSounds produce beautiful steamchuffing and background sounds including bells, whistles, and conductor-activated announcements.

The smoke puffs in sync with the chuffing sound of the engine.

The locomotive features, like other engines, a powerful maintenance-free motor, traction tires, and operating coupler on rear of the tender.

The Freight Car has operating couplers,  decorated crate load in gondola and two removable 1:64-scale John Deere Tractors that are  included with flatcar.

A set of firemen and engineer figures are included.

The LionChief remote control features forward and reverse speed control knob, buttons to actiate whistles, bells and special announcements. You will need 3 AAA batteries to operate the remote. Everything else runs off the power from the wall pack that is carried to the locomotive and cars by the tracks. The power pack is a new 54 watt wall pack, which provides more juice to smoothly run your locomotive and cars. The standard wall packs that ship are 40 Watts.

The John Deere Steam Train Set includes FasTracks to create a 40” x 60” layout.

Read customer reviews here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_hnpxO24Dc

[[check price]]

7) Lionel New York Central RS-3 Freight Train Set – O-Gauge

Lionel’s New York Central RS-3 Freight Train Set is a beautiful, affordable and fun starter train set – and is great one to build upon, especially if you like a long hauling set of freight cars.

The freight cars included with this train set are specially emblazoned with the famous New York Central Logo (and name) and are create with high quality two-axle trucks.

Items included are:

• RS-3 Diesel
• Boxcar
• Square window caboose
• Eight curved O36 FasTrack track sections
• One 10” straight FasTrack Plug-Expand-Play power lock-on section
• One FasTrack®terminal section
• Two 10” straight FasTrack sections
• 54W wall pack power supply
• LionChief Remote Control (3 AAA batteries not included)

The locomotive represents a powerful RS-3 Diesel engine, which technically is a 1,600 hp (1.2 MW), B-B road switcher diesel-electric locomotive. It was manufactured by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) from May 1950 to August 1956, and 1,418 were produced — 1,265 for American railroads, 98 for Canadian railroads, 48 for Brazilian and 7 for Mexican railroads. It has a single, 12 cylinder, model 244 engine.

The locomotive is controlled by the LionChief remote and features a powerful maintenance-free motor, operating headlight, operating couplers, lighted interior and on/ff switch for the sound.

The sound system is a realistic, in-sync-with-motion RailSounds RC system that features diesel – revving and background sounds, horn, bell, and user-activated announcements.

The freight car features operating couplers and opening doors on boxcar.

The standard LionChief has forward / reverse speed control knob and three buttons to activate special announcements, bells and whistles. The remote needs 3 AAA batteries to operate (everything else runs off wall power).

The layout dimensions with the included tracks is 40” x 60”.

Read customer reviews here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-FSeBYqm8c

[[check price]]

8) Lionel Union Pacific Flyer Train Set – O-Gauge

This is another fun train set, especially if you like a long string of freight cars. The set features a bold and powerful 0-8-0 locomotive and tender that just beautiful to look at as they chug along.

Items included are:

• 0-8-0 locomotive and tender
• Walking brakeman boxcar
• Flatcar with piggyback trailers
• Gondola with coil covers
• Caboose
• Eight curved O-36 FasTrack sections
• Three straight FasTrack sections,
• One FasTrack terminal section
• CW-80 Transformer
• Smoke fluid

Please note that this set does not come with a remote control – it instead comes with traditional Lionel 80-watt  transformer. You control the locomotive (forward, reverse and neutral) using the 80-watt transformer.

The locomotive features a steam whistle with on/off switch on tender.

There is a die-cast operating coupler in front of the locomotive and the rear of the tender also has an operating coupler.

The locomotive has a die-cast metal body. It also features an operating headlight, puffing smoke unit, silver and metal rims on wheels and traction tires.

There are upgraded valve and drive rod assembly on the locomotive.

A set of engineer and fireman figures are also included with the train set.

The rolling stocks feature operating couplers, two removable trailers on piggyback flatcar, two removable coil covers on gondola and interior illumination in caboose. The brakeman figure walks along the roof of the brakeman car.

The rolling stocks also have die-cast sprung trucks (except caboose which instead has metal trucks).

Read customer reviews here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCNDhCY_ixQ

[[check price]]

9) Lionel Mickey’s Holiday to Remember Disney Christmas Train Set – O-Gauge

This is a perfect train for you if you love anything “Disney” and want to have a train set under your Christmas tree that is holiday-inspired.

Items included in this train set are:

• 4-4-0 General-style locomotive with wood tender
• Boxcar
• Animated gondola
• Square-window Caboose
• Eight curved O36 FasTrack track sections
• One 10″ straight FasTrack Plug-Expand-Play power lock-on section
• One FasTrack terminal section
• Two 10″ straight FasTrack® sections.
• 54W wall pack power supply
• LionChief Remote Control (3 AAA batteries not included)

The ready-to-go electric locomotive represents a 4-4-0 style engine, which represents the arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, usually in a leading bogie, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles and no trailing wheels.and is controlled by an easy-to-use remote.

The locomotive features an operating headlight, puffing smoke, powerful maintenance-free motor, traction tires and operating couplers on rear of tender.

There are separately applied details including bell, handrails and headlamp.

The sound system is the realistic in-synch-with-engine RailSounds RC system which features steam chuffing and background sounds together with bell, whistle and special user-activated announcements.

The chuffing sounds are in-sync with puffing smoke and the speed of the train.

The freight cars feature operating couplers and operating doors on boxcar. When the cars are in motion, Mickey and Minnie figures circle the gondola for added fun.

The LionChief remote control has a speed knob for forward and reverse speed. It has three buttons to activate horn, bell, and special user-activated announcements. The remote needs 3 AAA batteries (not included) to operate. Everything else runs off the wall-power.

The layout dimensions of the included tracks are 40” x 60”.

Read customer reviews here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JsyJGhUXIY

[[check price]]

10)Lionel Thomas & Friends Christmas Freight Train Set – O-Gauge

Nothing could make your child happier than Lionel’s Thomas & Friends Freight Train Set under your Christmas tree. This holiday spirited train set includes  Thomas the Tank Engine with removable Christmas hat that fits on the smokestack  and a wagon car with trees and presents.

Items included are:

• Thomas the Tank Engine with removableChristmas hat
• Wagon car with trees and presents
• Bobber-style caboose
• Seven curved O36 Fastrack track sections
• One curved O36 Fastrack terminal track section
• Wall pack power supply
• LionChief™ Remote for locomotive

The remote controlled electric locomotive contains a maintenance-free motor with operating coupler on the rear of the locomotive.

It features realistic RailSounds  sound system with steamchuffing and background sounds, whistle,bell, and conductor-activated announcements.

The On/Off switch is located at the back of the locomotive.

It also features a traction tire and Removable Christmas hat that fits on smokestack.

The freight car features operating couplers, removable trees and presents in wagon car.

This easy-to-get-started and ready-to-play train set features standard LionChief remote that controls the forward and reverse motion of the train.

The remote also has buttons for whistle, bell, and special announcements. Remote needs 3 AAA batteries to operate. Everything else operate off wall power.

The included tracks create a circle with dimensions of 40” x 40” to get you going.

Read customer reviews here.

[[check price]]

FAQ

How to use CW-80 transformer?

Here is a good CW-80 Operation Instructional Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ9Lq1MznrE

Run more than one locomotive on the same track!

• Distinct frequencies available for different LionChief locomotives allow for multiple remote engines to run at the same time

• LionChief locomotives can also run on any track powered by a conventional transformer at a constant 18 volts

• LionChief locomotives can operate at the same time as any Legacy or TMCC-controlled engine on the same 18 volt-powered layout and track

Read this first if your ambition is to extend your starter set of tracks further (different post with FAQs for beginners?)

said, before I list trains I want to highlight one important aspect of model training that beginners often overlook

That being ed and end up becoming a huge source of frustration. and, the problem is not connecting the tracks properly. In other words not making sure that all tracks are getting  a good flow of electricity through out.

Consistent flow of electricity through all the trash is generally not a problem when you are simply using the starter set of tracks that come with the the starter packs.  However most of us usually end up buying extra tracks because we want to get creative with our layouts and expand it further.

So, here is my suggestion if you are planning on expanding your tracks –  get a  set up black and red intertwined 14 gauge wire from your local homo hardware store. Run the wires under the track all around. then it connect to red to the middle of the track in the black today outside track add 3 or 4 different spots depending on how long your track is. the red is the Hotwire in the black that connects to the outside rails is the ground wire. Supplementing the flow of electricity this way insures that you train runs smoothly on all  tracks without any hiccups.

• Introduction to FasTrack (different post)

• FAQ about lionel express train set (different post – base it on Amazon Q&A)

• Common types of locomotive styles (2-4-8,0-8-0)

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