no i meant north pole central. polar xpress has its own thing.  guess i will have to buy that piece of crap made thing

o scale.

wanted to buy a christmas train for my son.  seems like the north pole is the only one in existence.  man  what they make a  million of the things.  was wondering if bachmann had one or any other alternatives.  thanks

hi, i am a investment consultant.  but i wasnt asking the question because i was using this as an investment, just i was wondering.  i just bought a lionel 11700 conrail limited set c-8 and c-9 boxes for 154 out the door.  i believe that set was around 500 bucks when it came out.  now im getting it for a price of a entry level penn flyer.  i think the key is buy nothing new at all.  wait a couple of years and get it for a ton less.  oh yea any opinions on that set?  thanks

thanks guys.  those were some really really good answers.  things i did not think of.  im new to the hobby and i think i am going to dabble in both.  i really like bachmann the best today of o gauge stuff,  but i also am attracted to post war stuff from the 50's.  currently i have my dads train he got when he was 8 years old running on my layout and i have a stereo underneath with a train cd in it for sound.  sounds great to me.  i still dont understand how a diner passenger car can be 60 dollars and then add sound to it and its 139.  i mean i can talk thru a walkie talkie and have it recorded out the other end and it sounds just like crew talk or my train cd for the chuf chuf.  seems like there really upping the price on those things that probally cost 5 bucks to put in.

trains in the past, pre war and post war are for the most part collectible and worth something.  my question is are the trains they make today going to be worth anything.  the reason i ask is because unlike the trains of yesterday the trains today have all kinds of technology in them.  the problem with tech is in 6 months or a year its old.  i can amagine my son opening a trains from me when he is 40 only to find out that it is a dinosour and the tech is so old he cant even find the stuff to run it.  it would be like a kid today not playing with his xbox 360 live and play with a commodor 64.
what do you think?

thanks santa fe for all your help.  i found it for 92.88 at trainworld.  thanks again

thanks but thats just a catalog.  its not for sale

i wanted a bachmann train and a guy from the bar wanted a k line.  we played pool.  so anyway im looking for 6-21185 k line 2pk b&o passenger set.  not on ebay or craigs lists and my hobby guy cant get it.  anyone have any insight on where to get it.  thanks

i have been learning about the hobby and i learned certain things like the 6417 caboose has a more rare caboose without the new york zone on it.

my question is in todays market do they still do things like that.  does bachmann or other companies make a more rare version of things.  or is that a thing of the past. 

thanks

thanks for everyones imput.  he has no idea what he is going to do or what theme he will have for a layout.  he doesnt have a single train.  i just know he is going to stick with one company.  he doesnt like to mix breeds.  i guess i will just tell him to ask the hobby dealer at the store.   

i know that and i love em.  thats why i came here for help.  what, you cant ask for some guidence for a buudy who is going ho.  you know just bc

hi jerry, he does rc cars and he gets everything he wants from one company.  i was going to tell him athearn because i think they do strictly ho but then i didnt know for sure.  is there a company that just does ho.  if so which one

which ho company do like the best.  thanks

sorry bout that jim, i did mean because.  in the latter of your statement thats whats he is going for.  so i will rephrase the question.  your personal opinion, which ho company would you recommend.  and yes you have to choose one.   thanks

i am new to the hobby and just completed my 1st layout.  my buddy came over to see it and now he is going to do one.  the hobby just got one person bigger.

here is my question.  he is going to do ho bc thats what he had when he was i a kid.  he is into rc really big and he likes only one company and he is going to be the same in trains.  so is there a leading company in quality when it comes to ho. 

thanks