Best Hobby Train Sets of 2025

"I love my pre-war and post-war Lionel trains, but my 18-month-old isn’t quite ready for them yet. This set is meant for older kids, but he enjoys watching it run. I gave him the remote, and after just a day, he mastered all the functions. The wireless remote is a great feature for him. It has survived several drops on tile floors without any damage. The details are impressive, and it runs smoothly at maximum speed. We're having hours of fun with it every day!"

"I bought this train set for my grandson who is really into trains. He absolutely loves it, and it’s easy for him to use the remote control. It's been played with a lot, and I can confidently say it works wonderfully!"

"We received the set sooner than expected. The cars look great and it’s the traditional nostalgic train set we wanted for our kids. They were thrilled with the smoke options and the bells, and they love taking turns controlling it with the remote. Unfortunately, the tanker had a faulty connection right out of the box, but Lionel sent us the replacement piece quickly. I was a bit disappointed in the quality, though. After just a few days, we faced more connection issues."

“I bought this set for my 9-year-old grandson as a Christmas present, and it's a great starter set! I'm thrilled that I can add Bachmann track and cars to it. Plus, the shipping was super fast!”

“Having never owned a train set before, I purchased this to go around our Christmas tree. I had some trouble setting up the track, as I had to be careful with the metal pieces. However, my daughter loved playing conductor and figured out how to run it. It really completed our tree!”

“We bought this as a last-minute gift for our son, who is fascinated with trains. The setup was super simple, and the quality is impressive. The engine is powerful and quiet, even while pulling multiple cars. I’m very pleased with Bachmann and would definitely buy another set.”

"I purchased the Santa Fe Flyer set about a month ago to test my interest in model trains. I've had no issues with wheels coming off. Initially, setting the engine took some effort, but since then, it has been great. The HO Scale is perfect – not too large and not too small. The set included an engine and three cars, along with enough track to create a circle. Although the engine's design makes it tricky to see the wheels initially, the rerailer is helpful. The other cars are lightweight, which some might find a downside, but it's necessary for the engine to pull them effectively. The details on the cars are impressive, and once on the track, it runs smoothly. I recommend getting extra curved and straight track for more interesting layouts."

"After two years of ownership, I still LOVE this little train set. I don’t understand the negative reviews. The wheels have never fallen off unless I accidentally knocked a car off the table, and putting them back on takes less than a second. The track is easy to assemble, and its connections are strong. The quality for the price is impressive, though the engine might be a bit loud for some. I highly recommend purchasing the extra Bachmann track set, as it makes setup easier and allows for a better experience. It includes re-railer pieces that align the wheels perfectly. My kids love it, and we have great fun with it!"

"We bought this set five years ago, and it’s still running strong. It has withstood play from two kids aged 3 to 11. Although both couplers on the locomotive broke from being dropped, replacing them was simple with a $3 part. Every year, we add a new expansion set of tracks, which now fill a 4x8 sheet of plywood with loops and ramps. It’s basic, with just a headlight, but that’s enough for a six-year-old to enjoy. The simplicity is likely why it’s still working after five years of holiday fun!"

"I found this DCC starter set to be awesome as a newbie. I really had to pay attention when assembling the track because it's easy to misalign the rail connectors, which can cause the train to derail, especially at turnouts. I took my time to check all the track before running the trains, and it worked great right out of the box. I've already ordered additional track and DCC turnouts because the oval track gets boring very quickly. The digital command control is straightforward to use, allowing me to program individual trains, switches, and lights. All aboard!"

"I've had this starter DCC set for about two months, and I've used the locomotives frequently. I purchased the Bachman Track Pack, and it fits perfectly in my 4x8 layout. I replaced the standard turnouts with DCC-powered ones, and I've used six of the ten EZ Commander DCC addresses so far. I'm usually hard to please, but I'm genuinely satisfied with this set as it introduced me to DCC HO gauge model railroading. While I wouldn't repurchase it to expand my layout, I appreciate the experience it provided."

"I was a bit disappointed with my initial set as it had a faulty power pack, but Amazon replaced it almost immediately. The second set is running smoothly now. The appearance of the set is a bit cheap-looking but adequate for a toy quality set. The speed control works well in both directions, and the track has stayed assembled without any vibrations. I had no prior knowledge of DCC before buying this, but I found it easy to understand thanks to the informative instruction DVD. However, I deducted a star because the electric motors are quite loud and the couplers don't match in height, which are minor issues."

"I remember having a train under the tree during Christmas. Now, I wanted to share that tradition with my grandkids. This train is perfect! It reminds me of my dad's old HO train set and works wonderfully! It's small yet noticeable, and I'm eager to add village pieces over the years."

"As someone who hasn't been into trains since the Tyco days, I was surprised by this product. It sets up quickly and runs smoothly. We even left it up in the corner for entertainment. Just a tip: check track connections before using, as they may seem attached but aren't. Overall, a great choice for both newbies and seasoned hobbyists!"

"My 6-year-old saved his birthday money for a model train, and I found this set. The easy track system is fantastic! Even though we've had a few broken couplings, repairs have been inexpensive. It's a nice little train set that I would recommend for all ages."

"I really love this train set! The main engine is metal and feels solid. The track was easy to assemble, and I appreciated that it fit perfectly around our Christmas tree. The lights in the passenger cars make it even more enchanting during the holidays. I do wish the app worked better, but the remote control does the job just fine."

"I bought this train for my son's birthday, and he was absolutely thrilled when he opened it! The train looks great and works smoothly. However, we noticed our version didn't have the Bluetooth feature like some others mentioned. Despite that, it was simple to set up, and he loves playing with the figures that came with it."

"I was looking for a quality train set, and the Lionel Polar Express exceeded my expectations. The engine is heavy and feels like a premium product, unlike those flimsy plastic sets. The sounds are fantastic, and the smoke feature adds a nice touch. I’m confident this train will be a cherished part of our Christmas traditions for years to come."

"As a first-time buyer, I found this set to have everything needed for setting up an oval track. My kids and I enjoy adding more cars and creating different layouts together. Sure, it’s fragile, but it’s a model, not a toy, and it’s been a fun hobby for us."

"I have always wanted a train for my Christmas village, and the Bachmann Thoroughbred Train Set delivered! It’s beautifully detailed and has added the perfect touch to our holiday tradition. I even bought a track expansion kit to enhance our setup!"

"I was really impressed with the Bachmann Trains Thoroughbred Ready-To-Run set. It includes everything I need to get started, and the quality is top-notch. The train runs smoothly, and the track pieces are easy to connect. It's a fantastic choice for anyone looking to start or expand their collection."

"I recently bought the Bachmann Trains Jingle Bell Express and I'm absolutely thrilled with my purchase. The easy setup and smooth operation of the trains on the tracks really impressed me. The attention to detail on both the locomotive and cars adds so much charm. It's the perfect HO scale for display on a bookshelf or mantel. I appreciate the ready-to-run convenience, and the included power pack works wonderfully. Overall, I highly recommend this set for anyone who loves trains or wants a festive holiday display!"

"We decided to get this train set to add some magic to our Christmas season. It does what we need it to do, and the plastic material is typical these days. However, I think it's important to note that this set isn't really suitable for younger children. The caboose has delicate railings and the cars can be tricky to place on the rails. If your child is under eight, I would recommend waiting a few years for them to handle it properly. Once set up, I had no issues with derailing!"

"I was really disappointed when one of the train tracks arrived broken, making the train unusable. It was a letdown, but I appreciate that the product arrived on time and intact otherwise."

“I purchased this set for my son, who absolutely loves playing with model trains. It arrived in excellent condition and was straightforward to assemble. He even added extra track pieces, and everything ran perfectly. I would definitely recommend this set.”

“I wanted a ready-to-run train all in one box, and I'm really pleased with my choice. The detail on the locomotive and cars is impressive, even better than what I saw online. The track fits well together, and the train runs smoothly without any issues. It's perfect for the holidays!”

“I got this train set for my six-year-old grandson. It was well-packaged and in good shape when it arrived. He enjoys running it on the dining table, and we’re already planning to expand the track. It’s great fun for any train enthusiast!”

"After a year of our kiddo begging for a new train set, we finally decided to get this one for Christmas 2023. No regrets! We added some extra track and created an oval. It fits perfectly on a counter, and he’s busy building a city around it with Legos. It’s a fantastic starter set for both kids and parents, and setting it up was quick and easy. The train runs smoothly, and I was really impressed with the speed controls."

"I found this train set very easy to assemble! I needed something small for my village display, and this was just the right fit. It’s tiny but sturdy! The only issue I had was with coupling the trains; it claimed to be an easy push, but I had to lift one train to connect it to the other. Once I managed that, it ran beautifully, and I couldn’t be happier!"

"I bought this train recently and was disappointed to find it missing parts. The foam insert to hold everything was gone, and the train arrived in pieces. I managed to reassemble it, but for $100, I expected better quality."