Train advice

[Brandon Miller]

My son got some money for his 8th birthday. Along with it and money he has saved, he's dying to get a train. He likes the 60051 passenger train, but I'm trying to convince him to save about $25 more and he can get the 60052 cargo train. I've told him it has more play value for him. Any suggestions on which is the better choice?

[v6TransAM]

Nice, like to see other parents teaching their kids how to save, its getting rare these days.

My son is younger than yours by 4 years, so he is much more into the "train" part rather than the cars/trucks/accessories with the sets, so I would have to imagine your 8 yr old would be more of a fan of the playability the new cargo train offers.

Just wish the prices on both sets didn't go up with the new releases......

[dr_spock]

Is he a passenger train or freight train fan? When I was around that age, I prefered passenger trains and convinced grandpa to get me an HO Amtrak set.

[peter_m]

You can always build passenger cars for 60052 engine - but you can not use 60051 as cargo train. Maybe you can use this argument :)

[zwiep]

In the future, do you want your kid to be prone to influence, or do you want your kid to have a mind of his own?

In my experience kids have great imagination and they'll play with a passenger train just thesame as a cargo train. Whilst I am a cargo train fan myself and the engine is nice, why not let the kid decide what it wants most.

Edited August 27, 2014 by zwiep

[naboo]

Another issue is the time he has to wait. He can buy the passengertrain now and strat playing, but how long will he have to wait until he have saved enough to buy the cargo train. If its months I'll go for the train he wants. He can start saving for the train station after that.

[Brandon Miller]

He wants both trains but wants the passenger train now because he can buy it. He loves the cargo train too. He's all about hauling stuff in trucks he has built. I'm going to let him decide which he wants, but I don't want him to buy one right now just because he can. He's been coming up with chores of his own to do around the house so he can earn a few extra bucks. He's saving so he has enough for the cargo train. When he gets to that point, we will take him to the store and let him decide which he wants.

[*thomas*]

I would let him save money until he has enough to buy the cargo train, then let HIM decide which train he likes. That way he learns to choose (because he has 2 options) and he learns to save a bit more.

[Brandon Miller]

Fast forward to 2 days ago. Our son got a little bit more Birthday money a few days late, he did chores around the house he wasn't asked to do, and he searched everywhere for loose change. In all he saved $256. He was ready to go to Toys R Us. He decided on the cargo train. He got TRU to price match Walmart, had a $5 Rewards cash coupon we gave him, and a $5 off coupon. He got the train for under $165. He also bought an Ultra Agents set. He did not spend all of his money and stated he is going to save the rest to get another big set he wants. He's a happy boy. The train is built, and I'm not sure who likes it more, me or him.

Edited September 19, 2014 by Brandon Miller

[Hrw-Amen]

That is good news that he was able to choose which to buy. Maybe he will save and get the station or passenger train. If he is saving for that and he likes building his own stuff, (You said he built some cargo trucks I think?) then maybe he could build his own station and concentrate on geting the other train, but at the end of the day it is up to him what he does with his own cash, at least under your sound guidance.

[tedbeard]

Thanks for sharing the ending. He sure looks happy and looks to be well on his way to good financial management.

[amd762mpx]

Thanks for sharing!

[cgarison]

He looks happy. That set is fun to build and even provides for hours of fun after the build is complete.

[Pop Bumper Pete]

Cool, glad he is happy

you have to remember, a kid does not mind it if a passenger loco is pulling freight

now you have to buy more track and build up some sidings, freight trains need to pick up freight and deliver it

[Ashi Valkoinen]

Lovely story, thanks for sharing it with us!

[Heavy2600]

I'd buy another sticker sheet while cheap on ebay/bricklink to be saved for your son's children or as an adult he wants to refresh the look with fresh stickers. Just zip-lock bag em' with a note for next generation and keep with the instruction manuals.

Edited September 23, 2014 by Heavy2600

[greysonbuilds]

I have both and he made a good choice. Both are great trains, and really fun to build. My son chose the cargo train with money he saved plus birthday money. A few weeks later I bought the passenger train to add to the new train table I built in the meantime.

[bayutheoz]

Fast forward to 2 days ago. Our son got a little bit more Birthday money a few days late, he did chores around the house he wasn't asked to do, and he searched everywhere for loose change. In all he saved $256. He was ready to go to Toys R Us. He decided on the cargo train. He got TRU to price match Walmart, had a $5 Rewards cash coupon we gave him, and a $5 off coupon. He got the train for under $165. He also bought an Ultra Agents set. He did not spend all of his money and stated he is going to save the rest to get another big set he wants. He's a happy boy. The train is built, and I'm not sure who likes it more, me or him.

This remind me of my childhood, when I saved enough money, my father take me to toystore and let me decide which lego to buy, I'm happy for you and your kids

[antsiranean]

Great! He's probably about as happy as I was when my parents gave me 7939 last Christmas. And I'm 34... Lego: making boys out of men.

[snowvictim]

Great! He's probably about as happy as I was when my parents gave me 7939 last Christmas. And I'm 34... Lego: making boys out of men.

Depends on how you treat Lego. Personally, I treat it as a tool. Dimwits say Lego is a toy. Well it isn't. Lego are components, pieces, materials, resources, call it whatever. You buy a Lego train. Okay, that's a toy. But what ignorant people don't understand is that you can disassemble whatever you build and then build whatever else you can imagine. I think treating Lego purely as a toy is a serious misunderstanding of the product.