For those with boys 8-11 yrs old

[Anonymous]

Do they love or really like model trains? As in, worth it to invest in one?

[Anonymous]

Mine doesn't. But that's him. Do you have a particular child you want to buy for?

My dad and uncle loved their model trains and kept them forever. My uncle is now 70. So it could be an amazing gift for the right child.

[Anonymous]

My son doesn't care about trains at all.

If the boy you're thinking of loves trains, it may be a good gift, but if it's a shot in the dark, I wouldn't risk it.

[Anonymous]

No. My mother gave us her antique German electric train set and my 8 yo has no interest in them.

[Anonymous]

Not at all. Sorry!

[Anonymous]

Nope. All about the legos and minecraft.

[Anonymous]

With Thomas being so popular with the 2 - 6 year old set, I feel as though many kids have moved past trains by the time they're 8. I wonder if model trains would have seemed more special if they hadn't played so much Thomas earlier.

My kid did enjoy slot cars at that age.

[Anonymous]

2 boys, 8 and 13. Neither has ever had much interest in trains at any age, in spite of having been around them (and 2 grandfathers who worked with trains). Sorry.

[Anonymous]

We bought a high end train set when he was three. He's now 8 and zero interest. Minecraft and Legos.

[Anonymous]

He likes having it around the Christmas tree and he likes going to the Choo Choo Barn in Lancaster, but he wouldn't play with one if we set it up in the house.

[Anonymous]

We bring it out for Christmas to put under the tree.

All the boys enjoy playing with it for about 3 days, plus Christmas Eve and the day we put it away.

My nephew loves his though.

I think that if you get him a train board and let him do the buildings and landscaping you could really create a long lasting hobby.

[Anonymous]

No, not at all.

[Anonymous]

I have 4 boys between the ages of 7-14.

The oldest was OBSESSED with Thomas the tank engine from about age 2-4.
The others played with Thomas a little at about that same age, but they had different favorites.

By age 5, they were completely over Thomas and trains in general.

I think PP brings up an interesting point that maybe if the very young kids didn't have so much Thomas stuff, they would be more into trains as older kids?

[Anonymous]

Nope. Ditto the Minecraft and Legos.

[Anonymous]

I have two boys this age and a 5 year old but none of them like trains. My parents gave them a very expensive set a couple of years ago and I think they used it three times.