Complete steam train set?

[[email protected]]

I have been looking at the trains listed in the steam and HO section.

Is there a steam train set with a train, tracks, DCC, sound, and transformer?

[Len]

See this page: https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=258_269_620

Len

[trainman203]

That looks like a very nice complete starter package . 

[[email protected]]

See this page: https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=258_269_620

Len

Thank you. I saw these two. I saw it has steam sound but I did not notice in the description the production of actual steam. I also notice I sis not state actual steam production in my original question. Do they produce actual steam?

[bbmiroku]

No, it's not actual steam. Never has been, except for small live steamers from the 1920s.

Lionel and others, I believe back in the 40s, came out with the "steamer technology" to make model railroad steam engines puff using a pellet or a very low-temperature-smoke-point oil-like substance in a special compartment either under the bell or in the smoke box. The technology has pretty much stsyed the same with minor tweaks and improvements over the years.

Pour a few drops of smoke juice into the reservoir, let the unit heat up a bit, smoke exits from the smokestack, kids all over enjoy it.

It is completely safe, even if it chuffs directly into your face (although I wouldn't recommend it... it doesn't smell nice). It does eventually lead to more cleaning of the top of the engine, though.

Some companies even come out with scented liquids, like coal, wood, or pine trees for Christmas. A couple bucks will net you enough smoke juice for a lifetime.

[Len]

Those DCC sets do not include any smoke capability, and it's not really recommended for HO scale trains. "Smoke" does not scale well, so it doesn't look right. There's no "puff" mechanism like in the old Lionel O/O27 or American Flyer S locos, so "smoke" just kind of streams out of HO locos equiped with a smoke unit. And the smoke residue leaves a film on the track that requires constant cleaning.

Len

[bbmiroku]

But for those with an interest in just "watching the thing go around and around", it adds some magic to it, Len. Remember that not everybody is into the "prototypical and to-scale only" stuff. Some people just want to have fun with a toy train.

[Tenwheeler01]

No.  And this set does not include a locomotive with a smoke unit.  The most common smoke units are heat elements that burn oil to make smoke.  Bachmann has a few locos with smoke units but I do not think they are DCC. And smoke units is HO are not great.  More like a cigarette burning.  I think there is now only one manufacture with a fan drive smoke unit in HO.

There are a few water vaporizers starting to show up.  But the only real steam "Live Steam" available are G gauge and larger models. And have the matching price tag to go with the size.

I do have two of the OO scale "live steam" locos made by a UK company several years ago.  These are no longer made.       

[Tenwheeler01]

The real question is "how much are you willing to spend on a train set?"  You may want to go O/O27.  HO is mainly a models scale.  There is very little available in the "Toy" class in HO scale.

[[email protected]]

Thanks everyone for your responses. It is for my 7 year old. He has been to a couple train museums with large setups, ridden on a Polar Express train ride, and seen a Big Boy in person. He has a couple generic train sets and I purchased a set from Amazon that does puff. However, I was looking to get him his first expandable set. He wants a steam train that puffs. Doesn't have to be real steam. I was hopeful I would find that on this site. His passion for trains is growing and he asked for a train with steam. I already have that at home but I was hoping to replace that one before Christmas with something he can expand.

[Len]

If you can find one at a local train show, or on-line, a post war American Flyer S-guage Hudson with a piston smoke unit would be best for a 7 year old. The piston unit actually makes a 'chuff' sound without any electronics involved and makes a decent 'puffing' smoke. As can be seen here (shell removed so you can see the smoke unit):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWtdQkaPvtc

Len

[[email protected]]

Thank you!