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Written by Paul D. Race for Family Garden Trains(tm)
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Includes 2008 updates!
For many Americans, "Lionel" means "big train fun," especially at Christmas. The mere sight of a Lionel train around the Christmas tree invokes all sorts of memories. And Lionel still offers many great "traditional" Christmas train sets. But Lionel hasn't been resting on its laurels, as shown by the exciting Polar Express train they introduced in 2004, the new cars they introduced in 2005, 2006, and 2007 can help you make your Polar Express train even more fun! And remember, all of the trains and cars on this page are compatible, so feel free to shop the whole page.
At the same time, one of trains that was on this page in 2007 has completely disappeared from store shelves. So, we invite you to learn and to have fun learning about the exciting new products. But we can't guarantee any of them will be in stock if you wait too long to order.
Note about Availability and Pricing: Although I try to keep an eye on things and to recommend products that are reasonably available, the model train market does fluctuate, and any product on this page may change price or become unavailable without prior notice. (In fact, I've inadvertently caused a "rush" on several products just by listing them on these pages.) When I have access to more than one source, I provide multiple supplier buttons to give you a better chance of getting the trains you want (as long as you don't wait until mid-December to make your choice, in which case all bets are off). Still, experience tells me that It will get harder and harder to keep up as the holidays progress. So please avoid disappointment and order early.
For more detailed information about why model train products seem to come and go and why I have stopped listing prices on my "catalog pages," please see my article "About Pricing and Availability."
Note about Suppliers: While we try to help you get the trains and other 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 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.)
 The Lionel(r) Polar Express Train Set - If you can get ahold of one, this new, reasonably priced set will give you everything you need to set up a Polar Express Train around your Christmas tree. According to reports, this train set includes a very large, solid, high-quality locomotive that whistles, as well as two lighted passenger cars with silhouettes that show scenes from the movie. Poseable characters from the movie are also included. Even if you don't see the movie, you probably don't want to miss this value. (P.S. I enjoyed the movie, too.) Rumor has it that the locomotive is based on a Pere Marquette Berkshire that ran on the real railroads near the author's home when he was growing up. This locomotive is one of the nicest O-gauge locomotives produced in a while.
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A note about the Polar Express train - These trains have already sold out two manufacturing runs and are on their way to selling out a third. The suppliers expect another shipment between now and Christmas, but if you really think you want one of these, don't wait too long before buying your own. P.S., this would be one killer train to have around your Christmas tree this year. This train is destined to be a "classic" - in its own way - it's an example of everything Lionel ever did right in a train set.
Please click on a button below for details, pricing, and availability.
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 New for 2008! Polar Express Disappearing Hobo Car - Add even more excitement to your Polar Express(r) train, with the Disappearing Hobo Add-on Car. This car is being snatched up fast, so don't wait too long. In addition to the fellow on the roof, this car includes interior lighting, silhouettes in the windows and Lionel knuckle couplers to attach to the rest of the train.
Please click on a button to check price and availability.
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 New for 2006! Polar Express Hot Chocolate Car - Expand your Polar Express(tm) train set with the Lionel Polar Express(tm) Hot Chocolate Add-on Car, with interior lighting and silhouettes in the windows. This car includes Lionel knuckle couplers to attach to the rest of the train.
Note: This product's stocks are getting low in late 2007 - I just had to remove another supplier for this car. Please don't wait too long to order if you want one this year.
Please click on a button to check price and availability. | |
 Polar Express Dining Car - Lionel has added a dining car to make your Polar Express train even more fun. This lighted car has Silhouettes in the windows and Lionel knuckle couplers to attach to the rest of the train. | |
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Please click on a button to check price and availability. |
 Extend the fun! New for 2007 Polar Express Baggage Car - Lionel has also added a lighted baggage car for your Polar Express train.
Please click on a button to check price and availability.Please click on the button to check price and availability.
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 Extend the fun! New for 2007 Polar Express Elf Hand Car - If you want to give your Polar Express a break from time to time, set this on the track and watch the comic action as the elves try to reach the handles to pump this car. Not many stores seem to have this in stock, so if you want one, order early.
Please click on a button to check price and availability.Please click on the button to check price and availability.
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New for 2007 (and Going Fast)! Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express® - At long last, an model of the Hogwarts Express™ that is big enough for small hands to operate. Fantasy lovers will enjoy a magical journey that is portrayed in J.K. Rowling's enchanting Harry Potter series. Train lovers will enjoy a truly historic event in the world of toy and model trains. This is the first European train ever modeled in O gauge by Lionel! And it includes a newly-machined model of the real, historic "Hall Class" British locomotive that was repainted for the Harry Potter movies. (If you are from the UK, you're probably used to seeing these Great Western Railways locomotives in green, but all of the other details and proportions will be familiar.)
Okay, a "Harry Potter" train may not quite seem like a "Christmas" train, but it will look great around your Christmas tree. In fact, we were impressed enough with this train to give it its own web page.
Update, November, 2008! Special Reduced Pricing available on this set. Several of our advertisers are currently offering this fine set at significantly reduced pricing. To learn more, visit the Lionel® Hogwarts' Express® page.
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Longer Trains Need More Track. All of the trains on this page come with Lionel's new "FasTrack," which looks better and goes together easier than traditional O-27 track. To give your train a little more room to run, consider adding a few pieces. This 10-inch Straight Track Section is the same as the pieces that come with the Polar Express and the Hogwarts Express. Please click on the button to check price and availability.
 
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| Lionel FasTrack Railer - The Railer is used to help you and your family easily roll your locomotives and rolling stock onto the tracks. No more fiddling with the wheels to get them on correctly. Instead, you set this on top of the track temporarily and "feed" each car through it to get it onto the track. Great for kids who are just learning about trains. This product works with all the train sets on this page. |
 Lionel North Pole Central Christmas Train This is the newest in a series of bright-colored, sturdy Christmas trains drawn by an Atlantic locomotive that actually smokes. (The 2004 version was green and is now virtually unavailable. I think I like the red one better, but this is a sign that these don't stay on the market forever.) The boxcar plays holiday tunes as an elf chases a reindeer on the animated gondola.
 A Freight Expander Package to increase the size and fun of ANY O Gauge Christmas train is also available. The North Central Christmas Train Expander Pack includes:
Note: This expander package is compatible with any train on this page.
 A Passenger Expander Package to increase the size and fun of ANY O Gauge Christmas train is also available. The North Central Christmas Passenger Train Expander Pack includes:
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 Special Value! Hammacher Schlemmer Musical Box Car A Unique Addition to Any Lionel Train! For generations, Hammacher Schlemmer has held a reputation for unique quality gifts. Not long ago, they added Lionel trains to their catalog. Now, through a unique agreement with Lionel trains, they are offering musical Christmas boxcars. Last year we had two of these cars, but one sold out in early 2007. For now, they have a few of the white ones left, and the last I checked, they were on sale. This car will bid you Happy Holidays as it plays 12 Christmas carols. With on/off switch. If you want a special value on a unique addition to your railroad, act now! Note: This add-on car is compatible with any train on this page. Please click on the Product Name Below for information about pricing and availability. |
 Improved! - Thomas the Tank Engine Set Lionel has upgraded their popular O Gauge Thomas set. Thomas's eyes move as he goes around the track, pulling Annie and Clarabel. Two Railway Workers and Sir Tophman Hat are included, as well as enough of the new, more attractive FasTrack track system to make a 40" x 60" oval, and the CW-80 transformer for more power.
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A Final Note about the Lionel Christmas Sets - Lionel issues a new Christmas train every so many years. The white Winter Wonderland set shown in the collage at the top of this page was replaced by the Holiday Tradition set (the one with the green locomotive), a couple of years ago, yet there were many trains in the warehouses until late 2004, when the Polar Express movie triggered a rush on Lionel(r) Christmas trains. I linked to one supplier after another throughout the month of 
December, but the suppliers ran out as soon as I built links. In the fall of 2005, Lionel announced a red "Tinsel Town" Christmas train. We even included a picture of a prototype on some of our pages, but the product never became available to my knowledge. Instead, Lionel introduced the Large Scale Classic Christmas train that takes bigger track but should provide even bigger fun. Then, in late 2007, they produced the red "North Pole Central" shown above on the page, although many of our suppliers didn't get them in time for Christmas. So the red set should be "good" this year, but it won't be around forever either.
Again, we apologize for any inconvenience.
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Note: Family Garden Trains™, Garden Train Store™, Big Christmas Trains™, BIG Indoor Trains™, BIG Train Store™, and Trains-N-Towns™ are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are
Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 by Paul D. Race.
Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically prohibited.
For more information, please contact us
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Lionel FasTrack Curves A set of four curved pieces, along with a few more straight pieces, will give you many more choices of how to set up your Polar Express Train. These are what Lionel calls O-36 curves, the same curves that come with the Polar Express. Please click on a supplier button to check price and availability.
