This page, updated for 2009, provides an index to recommended trains that are usually available in December, including a few Hawthorne Village train collections that usually come to your house one piece at a time, but are now temporarily available in "super sets" so you can get enough of a train to run between now and Christmas. All of the products on this page are all of very high quality, and will look great in your home this Christmas. In addition, the Bachmann, Hawthorne Village, and AristoCraft trains all have limited lifetime warranties so you'll be able to get service and parts years from now. Note about Suppliers: While we try to help you get the products you want by recommending suppliers with a good record of customer service, all transactions between you and the supplier you chose to provide your trains or other purchases are governed by the published policies on the supplier's web site. So please print off any order confirmation screens and save copies of invoices, etc., so you can contact the appropriate supplier should any problems occur. (They almost never do, but you want to be on the safe side.) Note: We do this sort of thing for your convenience, especially when you're in panic mode. But we should also note that just putting this sort of page up often causes a "run" on the products we feature. We try to check periodically for links that are no longer valid, but it's probable that several of the products listed below will be very hard to find by the end of the year. In fact, one of the Hawthorne Village super sets we placed on this page on December 2 was sold out by December 3, so don't wait too long! Really Big Trains (Large Scale), for big Christmas trees and public displays (inside and out): Large Scale Christmas Trains - the biggest Christmas trains you can buy - jawdropping around a Christmas tree, sturdy enough to run outside. Classic Lionel Holiday Tradition Express Train - a "new classic" train set so unique it deserves its own page. Lionel's best Large Scale Christmas train by far. Bachmann Garden Trains - non-Christmas colors, but look great under trees or in public displays. Fairly Big Trains (Lionel), for Christmas trees and holiday villages (if you have a big table for them). Check out these buyers' guides: Lionel(r) Christmas Trains, including the Polar Express(tm) - This page includes many popular Christmas trains, including one of the most popular Christmas trains of all time, the Lionel Polar Express, which was developed in conjunction with designers for the great Christmas movie. Lionel(r) Year-'Round Trains - This page includes classic favorites that have been reintroduced plus several brand new Lionel sets, some of which are now drawn by a realistic 0-8-0 "road switcher" locomotive that hasn't been available for many years. Pretty Big Trains (On30 Bachmann) for smaller Christmas Trees and all holiday villages - If you are looking for trains and buildings that are suited for holiday village displays check out these buyers' guides. Bachmann On30 Christmas Trains - These trains were specifically designed to look good with Christmas villages, but will also look great under a small-to-medium sized tree. They are about 2/3 the size of Lionel trains, but they run on HO gauge track. Bachmann On30 Trains These On30 trains are painted for real railroads, but will still look great with your Christmas village or small-to-medium-sized tree. Pretty Big Collectible Trains (On30 Hawthorne Village) for smaller Christmas Trees and all holiday villages - Hawthorne Village(r) artists take Bachmann On30 chasses, and add special paint jobs and detailing to create heirloom-quality collectors items. Usually you have to order these trains one piece at a time, like, say, a Bradford Exchange collection. But at the moment, Hawthorne Village is offering two On30 trains, one HO train, and two collectible villages in "super sets." For the sets below, you order and pay for the first 3 or 4 issues all at once, giving you enough train to run or village to set up before Christmas. Then the collection continues within a few weeks, with the next train car or house, and so on. We have described most of these trains and villages in other parts of our sites, so we won't put an extended description here, just a picture you can click on to go to the Hawthorne Village page and learn more. Of course, you can always contact us directly if you have any questions. (Sold out) Thomas Kinkade Christmas Express Electric Train Collection With Super Starter Set (This train was sold out the day after we posted it on this page - sorry.) Thomas Kinkade's Village Christmas Collection With Super Starter Set M&M'S Holiday Express Christmas Train Collection With Super Starter Set COCA-COLA Through The Years Express Christmas Train Collection With Super Starter Set Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Christmas Town Village Collection With Super Starter Set Holiday Village Accessories You Can Get Now - This section contains some other pieces which you can use to "fill out" the corners of your Holiday village. Nature's Frosted Splendor Realistic Snow Landscape Village Accessory Bring Nature's Frosted Glory to Your Village Christmas - Nothing makes the holidays more beautiful than a dusting of snow, on the rooftops, the ground, and, of course, the trees. Recreate the magic of holiday snow in your village display with this picturesque landscaping package from Hawthorne Village Collectibles. These realistic accents are sure to enhance many Christmas displays, so be sure to order right away. Each set contains hand-crafted deciduous, fir and pine trees that are hand-finished to ensure contrast, texture and crisp natural detail. A generous amount of Frosty Snow Ground Cover is also included, making these delightful landscaping accessories from Hawthorne Village Collectibles a wonderful addition to any village displayMeasures 4" to 6-3/4" high Animated Crossing Gate - The $29.95 Hawthorne Village crossing gate adds charming action as the arms go up and down each time the train passes. This package includes four "block" signals that you may set around your mainline to give a little more detail, as well. This product is available from Collectibles Today. For more details, pricing, or availability, please click on the button. The O-Scale Accessories page includes many relatively inexpensive details such as bridges, fencing, and stations, that will bring life to any O-Scale or O-Gauge railroad. Click on the button to the right for more information. Happy Holidays As always, if you have any questions about any of the trains or villages on this site, contact us as soon as you can - we're starting to get backed up on our e-mails, too. Hope you have a TERRIFIC holiday season! - Paul

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