Lionel Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train Set - G-Gauge

This is very cool tho bigger than I expected. I knew it wasn't the smaller model but I didn't expect it to be as large as our old Xmas tree Santa express type train >_>; so was a bit disappointed in that it's for an 8 yr old and not a younger child. He seemed very pleased with it, tho it did eat up the battery quickly (even tho we bought the rechargeable battery pack, tho that may not have been fully charged when we tried it out). The track is a good size. Oval so a bit more than just a little round run. It makes sounds but no steam and NO lights! was disappointed since I thought it at least had a working headlamp. Does run backwards as well and has a handheld remote control, rather than the type attached to the track.I will likely save up for the smaller model some day. I think he'd enjoy playing with that more as this seems a bit more for little kids, say 4-6? (with supervision of course)overall ..Great for Harry Potter fans though (who don't have the $300- $400 to get the smaller, more detailed/light up train set.

I really wish I could give this train a 5-star review. I'm new to trains, so maybe all trains have these issues.1. The tracks come apart very easily, without even touching them.2. The cars separate very easily without even touching them. I'd say, 4 out of 5 times that we run the train, the cars come apart.3. We bought this to put under our Christmas tree. The tracks are seemingly much wider when compared to our tree and tree skirt, so it kind of looks silly. Maybe it's just our tree skirt. I don't know.It's a good looking train. And it's a Hogwarts Express, which makes it 100x cooler. But, be prepared for some frustrations. My husband is a very patient, relaxed person who can figure out how to make almost anything work, but even he has been frustrated with this train, and he can't figure out how to get the cars and tracks to stay put.

To celebrate my granddaughter's first Christmas at my house, I purchased this train for my son (an avid Harry Potter fan) to share with her during the holidays. It was to replace the Christmas tree trains he had as a child, now very old and unsafe. His face just lit up when he saw the box and he began setting it up within 20 minutes of his arrival from the airport. It's a great looking train and fits nicely around the tree. Unfortunately, the second car which holds the batteries had deformed wheels unlike wheels on the other cars and it would not stay on the track - of course, without that car, the train can't run. You can imagine our disappointment and I was particularly upset that my special surprise was ruined as there was no time to order another before Christmas. I have no idea if the bad wheels were a fluke or a basic design flaw. If I could get another with proper wheels, I would.

As a regular guy who just wanted a train to put under the tree, I'll have to say I'm generally happy. I like the large size, easy for the kids to control. It uses like 6 "C" cell batteries so plan on buying the rechargeable packs. That just seems like a strangely large amount of batteries. Maybe in like 1955 that would be ok, but in 2015....has there not been much advancement in toy train engine tech? Plus the tracks come apart too easily when the kids play with it, so I took a star off for that.

I had higher hopes for this train. I bought it to go around the Christmas tree. It comes with plenty of track for that - no need to buy extra. But it comes off the tracks fairly often, the remote has to be very close to the set to work, its cheap plastic, and its very loud. I was tempted to return it, but the kids liked it so I didn't. Although they got tired of its noise and falling off the tracks too and it just sat there under the tree not being used.

This is a GREAT starter train. We've had so much fun with it. It's easy to assemble and fun to operate. We haven't had any problems with the remote transmitting. We use it with a rechargeable battery as so many other reviewers have suggested and that works very well. Just wish it was easier to find extension for the track so we could expand its route!

I set it up the moment we got it. This train is plastic and not the metal version. I didn't expect the train to be other than advertised so we are thrilled with the price point and condition. A good train, now to figure out how to arrange our place to have it fit come Christmas time... Looking forward to hearing and seeing it circle the tree!

We knew the batteries that came with the set would be dead from reading reviews. But the remote does connect well with the train. It says it works up to 10' away, but we've had to hold it about a foot from the train. We'll probably return it. (following the train around the tree with the remote isn't very fun)