Reddit mentions of Bachmann Trains - Thunder Chief DCC Sound Value Ready To Run Electric Train Set - HO Scale

Toddler, 1-4 years old, yes wooden trains. For ages 3-4 there are also battery operated push button locomotives and Brio even has locomotives with remotes. Great for playing with them together as well as independant play.

At 2-4 my son loves playing on an old neglected 4x8 HO layout on the floor I found for free and and a bunch of junker locomotives and rolling stock I found for $1 each that he pushes along. Then he also runs my DCC N and HO table layouts with full supervision.

For the holidays, the Lionel sets come out for around the tree. He can push play with an inexpensive set, or we run my nicer sets together powered.

He loves Legos as well as trains, so a Lego train is next.

Where are you looking at used DC locomotives for $50 to $100?

Clubs and train only specialty hobby shops only often have higher end products and don't often carry entry level with low margins or the entry level stuff is often at or higher than MSRP.

You won't find beginner level Bachmann at clubs or many train only specialty hobby shops, however it is great for getting started with a kid. (If looking for sound, skip the EZ App phone control, the sound is from the phone and not the locomotive, and get DCC with sound)

You can find lots of affordable beginner products online. Check out Train World. Lots of beginner to higher end products and lots of items %25 off MSRP or more. Sign up to the email sale list.

Much of these starter sets can also often be found on eBay new for less and even less used.

• HO DC sets starting at $89.
  
• Lionel O guage sets starting at $99.
  
• HO DCC with Sound $199.
  
• Lionel #6-84709 New Haven RS-3 Lionchief Set $199 with Lionchief remote control and Bluetooth.