O gauge is a great size to make an impact under a tree, it won't get lost amongst the presents. One word of advice, don't let the puffing smoke go on too long or you will need to open windows. Won't set off a fire alarm, but can get a little foggy.

Not much of a deal; Amazon has it for 219 and free shipping, so all you are saving is 5 bucks.

Yep, it's a video.

Where's the Fruitcake?. I just git this off woot like two weeks ago for about $50 more, unless im mistaken?

Amazon has it for $10 more and its new. This is a rip off.

This was $199.99 a few days ago on Amazon.

http://camelcamelcamel.com/Lionel-Trains-Polar-Express-Train/product/B0006GYMTI

ThunderThighs wrote:Uhm, ours is new too.

Nothing like a nice little Holiday "screw you" to us suckers who bought it last week for $249.

As others have noted, it was 200 with free shipping at Amazon a couple days ago and it's 220 at Amazon now... also no shipping charge. What's up Woot?

Make it the Galaxy Express 999 and I'd buy it.

I bought this on woot on 11/24 for 249.99, now it's 209.99. i'd like a price match.

It looks like the track can be made into an oval, a circle or a squarish circle. Perfect for a pot-bellied tree.

Based upon experience, no one should buy this today, as it will likely be sold for $169.99 in ten days on Dec. 15th.


Everyone, hold out for the price drop! Dont buy today!

Buyer Beware, this is plastic garbage.

A good O gauge engine like this would sell by itself for more then $200

This thing is all plastic and junk and not worth it new or used.



[MOD: From the features: Painstakingly designed to be true to the original, this exclusive Lionel train set features a die-cast metal Berkshire steam locomotive with a larger pilot, a headlight lens cap, and a unique whistle]

sbogden wrote:Not much of a deal; Amazon has it for 219 and free shipping, so all you are saving is 5 bucks.

Since Amazon owns Woot don't you think there's at least some pricing coordination going on?

Based on the customer photo on the mother ship, you would have to have a pretty small Christmas tree. But fortunately, you can buy more pieces of track.

dagast2 wrote:Based upon experience, no one should buy this today, as it will likely be sold for $169.99 in ten days on Dec. 15th.


Everyone, hold out for the price drop! Dont buy today!

Huh, so it will make a lovely Christmas decoration...for next year? There's a reason for that price drop.

Well, the description indicates that it's die-cast metal, not plastic. I am sure it's not even remotely close to being as well made as the older locomotives, but unfortunately, nothing is made like it used to be anymore...Is this made in China?

MrSmoofy wrote:Buyer Beware, this is plastic garbage.

A good O gauge engine like this would sell by itself for more then $200

This thing is all plastic and junk and not worth it new or used.

As a post-war Lionel train collector, these sets are nothing like Lionel's sets from the 1940s and 50s. They're good for modern standards, but if you really want to find a great model train looks at older Lionel sets from the 40s through 60s. There's actually a huge market for these out there and you can generally find a "beginner" set for around $200-300 that will hold it's value. If you buy something post war for that much you could turn around and sell it for the exact same. O-gauge Lionel trains are highly collectible and sought after.

sbogden wrote:Not much of a deal; Amazon has it for 219 and free shipping, so all you are saving is 5 bucks.

I saw the same thing. My 4yr old would love this but with the shipping cost it just isn't a great deal. :-(
http://www.amazon.com/Lionel-Trains-Polar-Express-Train/dp/B0006GYMTI

www.livesteamers.org

yes i volunteer there.

I just attended a Lionel Warehouse sale this past weekend. They had this exact train and this is a pretty decent price. Factor in that you don't have to wait in a hour long line like I did, and I'd say pull the trigger on it. Maybe Amazon did have it a few bucks cheaper, but stop crying in your milk.
It's a nice train, O gauge, etc. May be worth it just for the track.
Contrary to what some are saying the engine is cast iron not plastic. With that said, these are NOT like the Lionel trains your Dad had as a kid. Those trains from the 50s were great but there is a real collector market for them, so unless you want your kids playing with it, I'd say go with this instead.
This is a nice set for the family to put around the tree, good detailing, etc.

It's deja vu all over again.

I thought I saw this last week.

I'm sure that most, if not, all Lionel trains are now made in China. I believe this one is made in China.

pssnyder wrote:Well, the description indicates that it's die-cast metal, not plastic. I am sure it's not even remotely close to being as well made as the older locomotives, but unfortunately, nothing is made like it used to be anymore...Is this made in China?

sbogden wrote:Not much of a deal; Amazon has it for 219 and free shipping, so all you are saving is 5 bucks.

You're right, I'd better go spend $5 more and get it at Amazon!

sbogden wrote:Not much of a deal; Amazon has it for 219 and free shipping, so all you are saving is 5 bucks.

So you can buy it from Woot (owned by Amazon) or you can buy it from Amazon (who owns Woot)...

Pgentry wrote:So you can buy it from Woot (owned by Amazon) or you can buy it from Amazon (who owns Woot)...

Wow, I must be under a rock ... I didn't know this. However, I always check Amazon before clicking any "buy" button ... and other sites too.

You would think that Amazon would allow you to use the Prime free shipping on this site ... strange world we live in now where everyone is owned by two or three companies.

Yep, I also jumped last week and paid too much. Figures. Did it with some tools a couple months ago. Someday i'll learn.

Amazon has it for 219 with prime/free shipping so not that great of price currently.

wuntimer wrote:Yep, I also jumped last week and paid too much. Figures. Did it with some tools a couple months ago. Someday i'll learn.

I've been wooting for a while now, but I've never really been burned on a deal quite this bad. $40 price drop in ten days is pretty significant.

I will take this as a lesson to not jump on stuff that is new to woot until it cycles through a few times and builds a price history, or to just skip woot all together and buy from Amazon. Anymore, the price difference is trivial.

This will likely end up saving me money in the long run, to the detriment woot.

One of my kids loves the book and would love this train set.

My other kid has seen seen the film and would hate this train. The movie is a toddler horror film, with most of the sheer terror taking place on the train.

Polar Express is the penultimate example of how a book and a movie can differ. One is charming for a Santa-believing child. The other almost seems sadistic.

Still, remove the toy figures (that I see associated with this train set in product photos on other retail sites) and kids who love the book should love this train.

sbaker7846 wrote:I'm sure that most, if not, all Lionel trains are now made in China. I believe this one is made in China.

Correct, this is made in China, however the quality and detail is amazing. I paid almost double for the same set a couple months ago, and believe me this is a GREAT deal. The included track is plenty enough to put around an average size Christmas tree, however, if you plan on running the train more than just the holidays you will probably want to purchase more track.

I've meant to comment on previous offerings for Lionel trains (I have this set and a couple others), but for anyone who doesn't have one yet - they are extremely fragile and finicky. The couplings break relatively easily and the deck on the observation car will crack or fall off if you so much as look at it. Every so often, something will bend my a nanometer and the current will be dropped between tracks or the engine won't make contact properly.

Young kids have trouble with the controls, so the train will come throttling down the track, hit a curve, fall off and possibly break.

This is definitely a look but don't touch toy for any kid under 7. And I would keep it on the floor until you're sure the kid can control it.

As others have noted, these are not the toys of your (or your grandfather's) childhood. It's not even the same company. That said, as a Dad, it has the same always having to fix it attraction that old cars, etc do.

Why would you sell this for $40 today, than when you sold it a couple weeks ago?! I now have zero desire to buy from W00t now. Just got robbed out of $50 by your site. Thanks!

nickkrose wrote:Why would you sell this for $40 today, than when you sold it a couple weeks ago?! I now have zero desire to buy from W00t now. Just got robbed out of $50 by your site. Thanks!

Because you wanted it now.

Because you don't know if Lionel will try to ditch a bunch more at a lower price in a few weeks.

Because $50 is not a big deal to a buyer of frivolous purchases.

ERock73 wrote:You're right, I'd better go spend $5 more and get it at Amazon!

Well yeah! Considering shipping from Amazon takes 2-3 days to ship to the Pac NW while Woot takes 2-3wks...yeah, buy from Amazon. Also, Woot is known for great pricing, that's why you come here and read forums.

Nothing sadder that seeing my son's disappointed face when we couldn't get the locomotive to work, except the lack of customer service from Lionel in trying to get a replacement.

Deal or no deal, that's the last Woot/Lionel product I'm buying.

wamozes wrote:Nothing sadder that seeing my son's disappointed face when we couldn't get the locomotive to work, except the lack of customer service from Lionel in trying to get a replacement.

Deal or no deal, that's the last Woot/Lionel product I'm buying.

Childhood disappointment is rough. Please be sure to contact support@woot.com - it is unfortunate Lionel customer support could not come through for you, but perhaps we can help make things better.