| Brand: | Lionel | ||
| Average Rating |
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All aboard the Polar Express! Perfect for inspiring imagination, this electric train set features ultra-realistic start-up and shut-down sequences, and is loaded with authentic train sounds including a bell and whistle.
Train set has a Berkshire Steam Locomotive, Passenger Car and Observation Car. Features include bell, whistle, fixed knuckle couplers, IR R/C remote control and 50L x 70W oval track. Requires two AA batteries for controller and six C batteries for train, included. more info
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Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is a great train but Note it does NOT have smoke and it is the Plastic Toy version of the O-scale electric die cast metal one. it is battery wich makes it safe for younger children my 3 year old son loves it. and if you use the 9.6v battery option it with run faster and longer.the range on the wireless remote is very poor.
Santa Failed w/ This Train
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
We are so upset with this train. My husband bought it about a month ago just thinking it would be fun for he and our 3-year-old to play together on christmas morning. Then by chance our son has started asking everyday for the Polar Express Train. We were thrilled – couldn’t wait until this morning. HA – the joke’s on us. This train is junk. It doesn’t fit on the track well at all to start and the worst thing is the couplers won’t stay connected EVER. When family arrived later this morning all he could tell them was “I got a Express train and it falls off!!” It wasn’t just the 3-year-old, none of us could make it stay connected. You can only use the engine and tender and it makes it around one time before falling off. VERY POORLY CONSTRUCTED. I am a LONG time Amazon shopper and have NEVER felt the need to review a product in years… until now.
Beautiful Toy Train
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have loved trains since I was a child. I own both the “O” Guage and now the “G” guage versions. There are differnces between the two, but those who love trains usually know what they are buying before they purchase it. This G guage is plastic, not metal like the O, but it is wonderful nevertheless. It has all the magic of a toy train, beautifully built, great sounds, nice electronics that make the engine slow and speed realistically, and the wonderful extras like the ghost on the roof who disappears when you flip him over. I love this train and anyone who know Lionel, will understand and love this train. I give 4 stars because the track does not snap as good as it could, but no problem.
Exeeded My Expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was surprised to see the negative reviews on this product, but after reading them I think most of them were from people that did not read or understand the product description. This is a ‘G’ scale toy plastic train with plastic track that is battery powered and is controlled by an R/C unit.
I have not seen another ‘G’ scale set with better quality equipment and features for the price. The engine has built-in sound that makes a steam ‘chuff’ noise synchronized to the speed of the engine. It also makes a steam brake release noise when it stops. It has a bell sound and whistle that you can control from the R/C unit. It has 3 speeds in both forward and reverse directions. The speeds seems very prototypical. The speed is also momentum controlled – the train speeds up and slows down at a measured pace just like a real train. The detail on the engine is quite good for a ‘toy’ train.
I had the same experience with the included batteries as others – they barely moved the train for a few minutes and then conked out. I replaced the standard batteries with alkaline ones and it ran for about 10 hours before needing replacement. I have switched to a compatible 9.6v rechargeable battery that works great, is cheaper to run, and environmentally better.
The packaging states the set is for kids 4 years or older. Both my 4-1/2 year old and 2 year old can run the train with the R/C controller (and did not stop playing with it for almost a week). However they do not have the dexterity to couple the cars or snap the track together. I would guess that a 5 or 6 year old would be able to assemble and operate everything without adult help. They have banged the engine, thrown the controller, and knocked the coaches around quite a bit without any damage.
For model railroaders or anyone who wants to tinker, you could add lighting to the coaches fairly easily. I think the train would work well outdoors if you want to try creating a garden railway. I do wish Lionel would make more track options – an ‘X’ crossing and R/L hand switches would allow expansion to a true train layout instead of just an oval or circle.
I don’t think you could find a better quality radio controlled toy ‘G’ scale train with so many features for such a low price.
DO NOT BUY FOR CHILDREN UNDER 6
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I purchased POLAR EXPRESS G-GUAGE train for my youngest boy. It was relatively easy to assemble and is very nice looking – but for the money you get short-changed on the amount of track with it. Important note is that it only runs on batteries.
However, my son continues to want to lay or sit next to it and with the slightest touch it CONSTANTLY FALLS OFF THE TRACK!!!!! Also if you accidently touch the track it unsnaps. I have put this entire thing back together so many times I have lost count.
I will keep it because he loves it anyway but I would not recommend buying this for any children under 6 – this item only designed to look at only.
Magical at Christmas!!!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Santa brought this for my oldest son 5 1/2 yrs old and he just loves it. The G scale train came with a remote control fair amount of track and the engine, tender and 2 passenger cars. My son loves this toy train so much that while visiting family in town for Christmas was begging to go home and play with his Polar Express.
Great for a 3 year old train NUT!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My grandson is kookoo for any trains, Thomas, Polar Express, toys, movies, YouTube videos… any trains in any form.
I thought I’d get him a junky train for fun for Christmas. I figured it would last the season. Unfortunately, I picked up a cheapie at ToysRUs for $[...]. Not only did it break after one week, it was pretty cheesy. Cars didn’t really hook together, battery hookup from the coal tender to the engine was junky, etc. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to get credit for the dumb thing since my daughter-in-law inadvertently threw the receipt away. But my grandson was nutty about the thing.
So I started a desparate search last night Dec. 19th, and everyone was out of the junkier trains. I did an extreme internet search and found nothing. By today, just about everyone was out of the better trains too. I finally had success at Target and got the Polar Express Battery Powered train G Scale. My grandson absolutely loves it and it is made so much better than the cheap ones. The cars securely hook together, it has 3 speeds forward and 3 reverse. My daughter-in-law is thrilled that it doesn’t really make a big racket; just enough noise to please my grandson without irritating everyone else in the household. I am planning to get him two 9.5 v. battery packs and chargers so he won’t run out of batteries. This train is definitely the hit of Christmas 2008.
Get the O guage version instead
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This review is of the G-gauge version of the Polar Express Lionel train set.
This train was a real disappointment. This set is just unremarkable when comepared to the slightly more expensive ($20-$30 more) O-Gauge version.
This G-gauge version runs on batteries instead of an external transformer; which makes for a limited run-time before it is tme to replace the batteries.
I now have the O-Gauge version of this set and am delighted by it. But the G-gauge version is a second class wanna-be version.
Won’t run
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Santa got this for my boys for Christmas (ages 5 & 7). Packaged well, durable. The track goes together easy and is sturdy. Comes with batteries which is a big plus; however, after getting everything together and pushing the button, it will only move a couple inches and then stops. How disappointing is that to two little boys who want to play with it on Christmas. So now I have to get 6 more C batteries and hope that that will fix it.
polar express train
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This was just what my 4 yr old son wanted. He is crazy about trains of all kinds but especially loves the Polar Express. He is very happy with it and it has held up to his “crashes”, so far!