Well, I figured now is as good of a time as any other to talk about something that I don't think I've really brought in discussion for a while now, starter sets. I haven't done a post devoted to starter sets in a really, really long time. Part of the reason why I have been inspired to do this post, comes from a recent meeting I had with a former student and his dad who are looking into the Hobby. The student is nonverbal, but his dad was telling me that he wants to get his son started with HO but said that he would be interested in a starter set that featured another locomotive besides just Thomas. In the past, it's been stated that sets that feature other characters besides Thomas, don't usually sell well, which is why there haven't been sets devoted to other characters in HO for a really long time.
However, the N scale range seems to have broken that boundary. Last year, a Percy was announced, and this year, an Emily set is now being introduced. Maybe Bachmann is being a little more ambitious with the newer range since it's a good way to get people in N scale? Who knows. Because of these newer sets, and the idea of introducing a new generation into the hobby, I figured that Bachmann could really benefit from adding to their starter set diversity. Especially since, for the most part, most of the engines and stock I am about to suggest in these sets are already present so it's not like it will cost much production wise. So, in honor of this, I figured it's time I shed some light on the subject on starter set ideas again, starting with HO.
The first set is technically not new, it's a re-introduction - the Percy and the troublesome trucks set in HO.
![](https://i.gyazo.com/9c6b7b09ca0b55d4ebc535e3d4d7e817.jpg)
The Percy set was one of the first train sets announced during the range's launch in 2002 and has been around for a couple of years, only to eventually get discontinued in the late 2000s alongside sets for other characters like Gordon and James. I feel that if Bachmann are reluctant to introducing starter sets in HO to other characters again, I feel doing so with Percy would be the least risky since Percy is still a very popular main character on the show as well as being an icon for the Thomas brand. As per the original, this set would consist of circle of track, Percy, and troublesome trucks #1 and #2.
The second set, I'm about to suggest, is a little bit more ambitious, it is a DCC and sound Thomas and Percy set.
![](https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/images/HO_Scale/00501box.png)
Bachmann has introduced DCC sets with more than one locomotive in the past (as shown above), to show modelers how they can operate two different locomotives on the same track at the same time at various speeds. If Bachmann really wants to encourage fans to get into the hobby, or let alone something as niche as DCC, why not make a starter set devoted to DCC and sound? This set would include an oval of track, plus a switch and a couple of additional straights and a bumper to park one of the locomotives while running the other. This set would include both the upcoming DCC and sound Thomas and Percy locomotives, in addition to some rolling stock, whether that is the same troublesome trucks #1 and #2 alone, or including both of the trucks plus Annie and Clarabel. It would definitely be an expensive set for sure, but I feel this would really help people get into this rather niche side of the HO Hobby. Even if they did a set with just the upcoming DCC Thomas, with the two trucks, that could easily take place of the current Thomas and troublesome trucks set. Out of all of the sets I'm mentioning, this one is probably the least likely, but I figured I would throw it out there just for some good measure.
The next set is something that I am genuinely surprised has still never happened yet which is a starter set for narrow gauge.
![](https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/images/HO_Scale/58601.jpg)
On a similar point to the DCC set I mentioned earlier, introducing a starter set for the narrow gauge range is a really smart idea and one I'm still surprised Bachmann hasn't considered. OO9/HOn30 is an incredibly niche part of an already incredibly niche hobby that not too many people are going to be familiar with, let alone understand how it works. Heck, even a small number of fans think the Skarloey range is considered N scale and would get the engines and stock mixed up with one another which I feel attributes to why a starter set for the narrow gauge line is a necessity.
The narrow gauge range has been out for almost a decade and still sells really well, but if Bachmann wants to continue to encourage a younger generation to get into the hobby, a good way to get people into this side of the hobby would be to introduce a starter set devoted to Skarloey. This set would include an oval of Bachmann's N scale track, Skarloey, and 3-4 pieces of rolling stock. Personally, I would recommend one of the slate wagons, one of the upcoming box vans and a brake van of a color contrast to the box van included in the set for some further diversity.
The next set I want to talk about is for the already expansive N scale range, which is a set devoted to the upcoming Gordon model.
![](https://i.gyazo.com/48c8553ff1da12368b2a35775afedca9.png)
Gordon had a set introduced in HO previously, similar to Percy and Emily. And just like those previous sets, they ended up getting discontinued some time later after introduction. However, I think introducing a set for Gordon in N scale would not only be a smart idea, but also a great way to hype up an exciting model making its way into the range. What a better way to honor a long overdue introduction to an N scale Gordon model than to give him his own set too? The only current drawback is that there are currently no express coaches announced in N scale, but something tells me we may not be that far off from this introduction. This set would include an oval of N scale track, Gordon, Gordon's express composite coach, and Gordon's express brake coach.
And the last thing I want to talk about is another re-introduction which is a Thomas starter set in large scale.
![](https://i.gyazo.com/545f4a872cd5b41c5d1a890bd4ae3379.jpg)
In Bachmann's current 2023 catalog there are only three large scale sets in production period. Not one of these sets is dedicated to the Thomas range. On some level, I understand why. Large scale is already a niche and, quite frankly, a dying part of the hobby with the appeal being fairly limited. But on the opposite end of the coin, I truth be told don't really see the harm in re-introducing only the Thomas set in large scale but just leaving it at that. As I've stated earlier, starter sets really help with getting people into the hobby. Bachmann doesn't need to make a few sets for the large scale range (or narrow gauge either for that matter). But, when there are basically no real starting ground to get people started with large scale Thomas, it in some ways alienates their consumers from getting into collecting this range, let alone large scale as a whole. It might be a risky gamble since the price will likely be high, but that's the nature of G scale and I think consumers who want to get into large scale, or get their kids into G scale probably know this in advance already. It's a risk, sure, but it's one that I think will pay off long term. The contents would be the exact same same as the original release in 2009: a circle of G scale track, Thomas , and Annie and Clarabel.
And that's pretty much it! I know that this is a bit of a tangent, but I feel that getting a younger generation into the hobby is so crucial to keeping it alive for both generations to enjoy together. And the fact that a parent told me he was struggling with options, strikes me as a red flag and is something I feel Bachmann needs to take into consideration, or in some cases, re-consideration. The worst thing that could happen with these sets are that don't sell and collect dust on shelves or in storage. The best case scenario though, is getting more people, particularly a new generation, into the hobby which I feel would benefit everyone involved, Bachmann especially.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts. Which sets do you think could work?
However, the N scale range seems to have broken that boundary. Last year, a Percy was announced, and this year, an Emily set is now being introduced. Maybe Bachmann is being a little more ambitious with the newer range since it's a good way to get people in N scale? Who knows. Because of these newer sets, and the idea of introducing a new generation into the hobby, I figured that Bachmann could really benefit from adding to their starter set diversity. Especially since, for the most part, most of the engines and stock I am about to suggest in these sets are already present so it's not like it will cost much production wise. So, in honor of this, I figured it's time I shed some light on the subject on starter set ideas again, starting with HO.
The first set is technically not new, it's a re-introduction - the Percy and the troublesome trucks set in HO.
![](https://i.gyazo.com/9c6b7b09ca0b55d4ebc535e3d4d7e817.jpg)
The Percy set was one of the first train sets announced during the range's launch in 2002 and has been around for a couple of years, only to eventually get discontinued in the late 2000s alongside sets for other characters like Gordon and James. I feel that if Bachmann are reluctant to introducing starter sets in HO to other characters again, I feel doing so with Percy would be the least risky since Percy is still a very popular main character on the show as well as being an icon for the Thomas brand. As per the original, this set would consist of circle of track, Percy, and troublesome trucks #1 and #2.
The second set, I'm about to suggest, is a little bit more ambitious, it is a DCC and sound Thomas and Percy set.
![](https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/images/HO_Scale/00501box.png)
Bachmann has introduced DCC sets with more than one locomotive in the past (as shown above), to show modelers how they can operate two different locomotives on the same track at the same time at various speeds. If Bachmann really wants to encourage fans to get into the hobby, or let alone something as niche as DCC, why not make a starter set devoted to DCC and sound? This set would include an oval of track, plus a switch and a couple of additional straights and a bumper to park one of the locomotives while running the other. This set would include both the upcoming DCC and sound Thomas and Percy locomotives, in addition to some rolling stock, whether that is the same troublesome trucks #1 and #2 alone, or including both of the trucks plus Annie and Clarabel. It would definitely be an expensive set for sure, but I feel this would really help people get into this rather niche side of the HO Hobby. Even if they did a set with just the upcoming DCC Thomas, with the two trucks, that could easily take place of the current Thomas and troublesome trucks set. Out of all of the sets I'm mentioning, this one is probably the least likely, but I figured I would throw it out there just for some good measure.
The next set is something that I am genuinely surprised has still never happened yet which is a starter set for narrow gauge.
![](https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/images/HO_Scale/58601.jpg)
On a similar point to the DCC set I mentioned earlier, introducing a starter set for the narrow gauge range is a really smart idea and one I'm still surprised Bachmann hasn't considered. OO9/HOn30 is an incredibly niche part of an already incredibly niche hobby that not too many people are going to be familiar with, let alone understand how it works. Heck, even a small number of fans think the Skarloey range is considered N scale and would get the engines and stock mixed up with one another which I feel attributes to why a starter set for the narrow gauge line is a necessity.
The narrow gauge range has been out for almost a decade and still sells really well, but if Bachmann wants to continue to encourage a younger generation to get into the hobby, a good way to get people into this side of the hobby would be to introduce a starter set devoted to Skarloey. This set would include an oval of Bachmann's N scale track, Skarloey, and 3-4 pieces of rolling stock. Personally, I would recommend one of the slate wagons, one of the upcoming box vans and a brake van of a color contrast to the box van included in the set for some further diversity.
The next set I want to talk about is for the already expansive N scale range, which is a set devoted to the upcoming Gordon model.
![](https://i.gyazo.com/48c8553ff1da12368b2a35775afedca9.png)
Gordon had a set introduced in HO previously, similar to Percy and Emily. And just like those previous sets, they ended up getting discontinued some time later after introduction. However, I think introducing a set for Gordon in N scale would not only be a smart idea, but also a great way to hype up an exciting model making its way into the range. What a better way to honor a long overdue introduction to an N scale Gordon model than to give him his own set too? The only current drawback is that there are currently no express coaches announced in N scale, but something tells me we may not be that far off from this introduction. This set would include an oval of N scale track, Gordon, Gordon's express composite coach, and Gordon's express brake coach.
And the last thing I want to talk about is another re-introduction which is a Thomas starter set in large scale.
![](https://i.gyazo.com/545f4a872cd5b41c5d1a890bd4ae3379.jpg)
In Bachmann's current 2023 catalog there are only three large scale sets in production period. Not one of these sets is dedicated to the Thomas range. On some level, I understand why. Large scale is already a niche and, quite frankly, a dying part of the hobby with the appeal being fairly limited. But on the opposite end of the coin, I truth be told don't really see the harm in re-introducing only the Thomas set in large scale but just leaving it at that. As I've stated earlier, starter sets really help with getting people into the hobby. Bachmann doesn't need to make a few sets for the large scale range (or narrow gauge either for that matter). But, when there are basically no real starting ground to get people started with large scale Thomas, it in some ways alienates their consumers from getting into collecting this range, let alone large scale as a whole. It might be a risky gamble since the price will likely be high, but that's the nature of G scale and I think consumers who want to get into large scale, or get their kids into G scale probably know this in advance already. It's a risk, sure, but it's one that I think will pay off long term. The contents would be the exact same same as the original release in 2009: a circle of G scale track, Thomas , and Annie and Clarabel.
And that's pretty much it! I know that this is a bit of a tangent, but I feel that getting a younger generation into the hobby is so crucial to keeping it alive for both generations to enjoy together. And the fact that a parent told me he was struggling with options, strikes me as a red flag and is something I feel Bachmann needs to take into consideration, or in some cases, re-consideration. The worst thing that could happen with these sets are that don't sell and collect dust on shelves or in storage. The best case scenario though, is getting more people, particularly a new generation, into the hobby which I feel would benefit everyone involved, Bachmann especially.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts. Which sets do you think could work?