Review! - Menards O Gauge Train Set

[@GettingBackonTrackwithSteve]

This is the scale my Dad runs. I like the size of the trains and the detail of this size. Oh what fun!!!

[@NixCrossing]

Thanks for the great review! It’s always interesting hearing a review from a different perspective.

[@vader6972]

6:21 none of that will matter if you weather your stock 7:20 jack the german shepard is kinda like the logo of menards (at least menards trains) he's represented on almost all of the buildings they sell also (a figure of him) 16:32 virtually all O gauge locomotives and rolling stock past and present have metal wheels. I've never heard it brought up as an issue until this video 21:09 most modern O gauge stock starts $50 and up most menards reviews come to the same conclusion as you; it's not MTH premiere (or even Rail King) but its pretty great for the price Great thorough video and cute kid!

[@shawnvanhorn3754]

Thanks for the review... I was looking at this train in the store the other day... it is hard for me to go from my Lionel down to something cheaper, but it is Milwaukee Road and I live in Sheboygan north of Milwaukee about 50 miles, that is why I am interested in this. FYI, the dog is Jack... Jack is the owner of Menard's dog, he appears in all the sets, check out the buildings, you will find there is always a Jack the German Shepard figure standing or laying some where in the scene. But speaking of the owner, he is a huge Lionel fan, I am not sure why, but you know, years ago Menards carried Lionel they even had some specific sets made for just Menard's. I don't think the relationship went soar, I think the owner of Menard's thinks he can do it better and cheaper. Menard's does this with a lot of things, their outdoor furniture and kitchen's, they actually bought the companies so they could control the prices better. Now it isn't going on right now, but it is good to keep in mind, a large portion of the year, Menards has going their 11% rebate, that includes these. So if you look at it that way, you could get one of these sets for around $222.50, which for O scale is an amazing price for what you get. They may not be for the Lionel collector, but I love the idea of entry sets that people can easily afford that will get more kids into the hobby. Not to mention, if you spend the $400 to $500 for a Lionel starter set you might cry if a kid tore it up, if it was one of these, not nearly as bad.

[@MFRailroad]

100% As I have spent more time with it and my son has spent more time playing with it, Ive grown to like this set even more.

[@RABSTRAINS]

Awesome Review for you especially when you don’t usually run O. Very Comprehensive Review!👍 You Are Spot on! Many buyers of Menards rolling stock gorilla super glue each individual coupler permanently closed. They also use rubber O rings slipped over the couplers and onto the shafts. I have a video discussing this and they are various one out on KZbin discussing this issue. The only rolling stock that have the better couplers/trucks are the box cars and covered hoppers, maybe their caboose’s.

[@yardhog]

Your son will won't be four years old but once. My two boys out grew their four yr old rough train handling and it didn't take long. If your Menards engine is like my Lionel engines that my boys played with, it will survive. Enjoy the time with your boy, get on the floor and watch him and the trains from his level. Good to see you passing your train enthusiasm on to your son.

[@Eyrrll]

Menards engines will commonly have a couple of paint blemishes but your example is a bit worse than usual. I’ve never seen anything like that masking thing on the red stripe. They pull surprisingly well for something that cheap. The dog is “Jack the German Shepherd” and you will find him on almost every structure made by Menards. Overall, Menards trains can be flawed, but they are still fantastic for O scale considering the price point.

[@luvindemtrains]

Nice review. The dog is the mascot of Menard's train stuff. I believe his name is Max and he comes modeled in many Menard's train buildings.

[@OldLow1361]

His name is Jack the German Shepard

[@luvindemtrains]

@@OldLow1361 right!

[@Dusx809]

I’d love to hear a update video with Adam Huber and you. I hope you both are doing well 😊

[@Matt_Forcum]

Not sure about Adam, but I am doing good!

[@johnmagnusson7545]

I like all the menards trains, there very nice, so just FYI, the dogs name is Jack, the German Shepard, great video

[@OldLow1361]

If you are interested in plastic wheel freight cars, I would suggest looking for early 70s Lionel stuff as they cut costs and made most trucks and wheels plastic

[@BobSchaar]

I just purchased this same set at Menards a few days ago. I am hoping to add it to my 2025 Christmas village diorama. I've already ordered the "sold separately" Soo Line caboose.

[@justn2trains]

Great review! I was wondering about that set

[@davidballoid2118]

if you wire the motors in series, you can slow them down. Also weighting the cars down is a good idea to keep them from flying off the track.

[@jamesdenny4734]

In case you didn't know, HO stands for half 0. That's the size difference! 😃

[@rodrossi9749]

You spent $ 250......less the rebate. (Available on all Menards trains and most accessories) So with that factored in you looking at just over $ 200 dollars ! No other 0 gauge manufacturer comes anywhere close to that. You can barely get a base N or HO scale locomotive for that price. Longevity of Menards locomotives hasn't been determined so it's hard to figure it's overall value. I've had a beta release Santa Fe for just over 2 years now and it's running just fine. Again, for the price point you will NEVER do better.

[@garybyrne2605]

I like it. It's very nice. Thank you.

[@richardsobieck9660]

I like Menards stuff but I’m not sure what’s worse, selling a “set”, with only a loco and caboose or one with two cars and no caboose. My trains will always have a caboose. Especially a train from the 1980s or earlier.

[@Matt_Forcum]

I’ve got a Milwaukee Road caboose on order!

[@beardedgaming1337]

how long do you run these for? i have mine going at a lower speed for days at a time

[@monochrome_sea]

The sounds are nearly identical to the Lionel "ready to play" R/C F unit set, obviously not the talk functions but horn/bell/engine sounds are basically copied straight from Lionel's cheap plastic sets

[@LukeRobinson]

There is a way to have it run slower by running the Motors in “series” instead of “parallel”. I will probably try it on my Menards loco sometime. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6aVc5yheM13eq8si=S-h4bNRPxGyZXXx9

[@Greatdome99]

Ya gotta like a guy who talks with his hands. All over the place.

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Tell me why does everyone bash down menards for the price you any best it if you don't like this locomotive then go spend 1200 dollars for lionel or mth I happened to like menards trains

[@jamesdenny4734]

In case you didn't know, HO stands for half 0. That's the size difference! 😃

[@richardsmith4403]

O scale is 1/48 HO is 1/87. How is that half?

[@jamesdenny4734]

@richardsmith4403 is not 48 half of 87(it doesn't have to be exact). The smaller the size, the bigger the number. Google it, that's where the name comes from... H0= half 0