want medium to high end complete HO set

[gman]

I am looking for a decent set. HO scale. Do not want to be disappointed. Would be willing to buy individual pieces in order to get quality. Please help and thank you. Budget Up to $300 for engine and tinder. DC. Any links to recommended sets or individual pieces?? I am going to make this an ongoing layout.

[Tenwheeler01]

First I recommend setting a budget.  There is huge gap between trains sets and the ultra detailed locomotives. And prices to match.  I also recommend setting time frame you are wanting to model for this layout.   proto steam locomotives are twice the cost then proto diesels locomotives.

[Tenwheeler01]

Thinking about your question.  If it was me picking a train set.  I do steam area.  And looking over the Bachmann sets. The Durango & Silverton.  Is the only one I would consider.  It comes with a locomotive and cars that are usually sold separately. And the 2-8-0 was part of the first Spectrum line up.   

I was going to buy the Daylight Special set until I found out the locomotive is not the same as the one you buy separately. No tender electrical connection. Tender does not pick up power.  Same with the Overland Limited locomotive. 

I think today's HO train set selection is poor.  Just 15 years ago Bachmann had Spectrum level HO steam train sets.

Something else to think about are you really going to use the include track? 

[jward]

If you are looking for a higher end set pieced together than you probably want Atlas no Bachmann. That said, the locomotives and cars you get in Bachmann's sets are generally pretty good right out of the box. The cars are a little lightweight with plastic wheels. The Silver series cars correct the weight, and have metal wheels so they are an upgrade but still reasonably priced. For track, are you looking for a permanent layout? If so, then track without roadbed is a cheaper and much more flexible option. Are you going to run DC or DCC? If so, the controllers that come in the sets are low end, but there are aftermarket options that are much higher quality.

I have pieced together what I want and need for many years, and there are some things I look for before I even consider a locomotive or car. For me red flags are: truck mounted couplers of any type, traction tires on locomotives, and any drive system that relied on truck mounted motors rather than having the trucks driven through worm gears and drive shafts. Another red flag is a locomotive that doesn't pick up power off all wheels, or a diesel where not all wheels are driven by gears.

[trainman203]

$300 new only gets you fair to middling steam locomotive models. 

eBay is loaded with deals, but if you're not experienced, the chances of getting a dud are pretty high.