HO Spectrum Acela Express Set, Amtrak Review

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(More customer reviews)We stretched and got the Acela express for our 8yr old's bday, he's a big rail fan but not super careful with his stuff yet (not to mention a jealous younger brother AND a toddler in the midst). So it was risky-- it's a lot of money for a birthday gift for a kid. Even if your kid lives for trains like ours.
Right on the first day the pantographs on the dummy engine were broken. They are very delicate and easy to break off. Tip: if the spring wire on these disconnects, you can repair it by holding the engine upside down and folding the pantograph in while somebody with good eyesight (your kid!) reattaches the spring wire. I wish I'd known this sooner or we might have working pantographs on the dummy.
Additionally, a few tantrums occurred due to the couplers. These are special on this train only and quite difficult to master. Make sure you look for the couplers in a separate bag in the box; they need to be installed in the cars separately. Then, the best way to get the cars coupled is by placing the cars on their side next to your track, coupling them all, and then rotating the train up onto the track and placing it on the rails car by car. It is impossible to couple the cars once they are on the rails so don't try it.
It's best to get the rails onto a hard wood board, nailed down with track nails, as soon as you can, before the ez-track joints begin to fatigue from assembly/dissembly. This train derails easily if the track isn't tightly fitted together. We had track from another bachmann set, but mix-and-match is NOT advised. Keep to nickel track throughout that comes with the set.
The box the train comes in is junk. We're still using ours, but with curses. Ideally we'd have a special box that could hold these delicate trains when not in use, and ideally, a room where they could be permanently set up. But if you live in a small apt like we do, it's best to get some sort of a soft case for them.
Once running, they are a dream. The cars all light up, the engine lights look awesome, and it roars along the track like a true bullet. Our son needs to just run them for a half-hour a day to get his fix, they're so satisfying.
Just be aware that the price on all fronts is steep.

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