The Worst Quality Train Set Ever? | Mehano Western Train Set | Unboxing & Review

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0:00 Introduction
3:52 Unboxing
13:38 Loco "Detail"
15:59 Wagon "Detail"
18:36 Building a church
22:13 Testing
26:11 Normal track testing
30:11 Ratings
33:31 Conclusion

[@joem314]

I love how the "Western" train set has 1 piece of American rolling stock, and it is in Penn Central paint.

[@bowser5678]

Which makes the railcar from the 1960s.

[@joem314]

@@bowser5678 Yep, and from the northeast

[@SamsTrains]

Oh wow, from the 60s?! That's a bit naff then isn't it?! xD

[@thomasoates3003]

Penn Central came into existence in the 1960s, and never ran far west.

[@bowser5678]

Sam'sTrains Penn Central was a merger between two Titan railroads on the East Coast, The Pennsylvania, and the New York Central. It only lasted two years before the new company went bankrupt. The financial fallout was so bad, the US Government stepped in and salvaged what was left into Amtrak and Conrail.

[@snuk8977]

"The worst quality train set ever" Christmas trains at garden centres: *Am I a joke to you?*

[@SamsTrains]

haha that's true - I should have said worst electric train set! ;D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Larry]

If you think this is bad, you need to check out the "Christmas Train Sets" Garden centers sell, vastly overpriced tat that wouldn't even pass the quality in Pound Land.

[@ScottsRailroadVideos]

or these cheap battery powered toys with plastic track and horrable wagons

[@railfilm]

I also do not think that somebody has to complain about a starter set for kids from 8 year of age. How do you want to win them for our hobby when not with a cheap and running models or complete sets. This set for a price of single coach gives the kids an entertaimant for several days building the houses, and basically it runs like every even high end model. I do not understand why Sam emphasises the bad quality? It is not worse as any similar starting set. Of course you cannot get for this price a high quality moldings and 4 color printing, but basically you get a toy train for the kids and maybe one or more kids will discover the hobby what is basically our goal. Everybody must start at some level.

[@SamsTrains]

Oh god really?! Maybe I will try one of those! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@jimbell6367]

Haha defo

[@ScottsRailroadVideos]

@@SamsTrains hey sam i got just the line for your channel (Sam's Trains: Buying crappy trains so we don't have too) ;)

[@blackstone1a]

>Western Train >Only has one car from an American Railroad >Said Railroad didn’t exist till the 1960s, was an east coast railroad, and likely didn’t haul ore. I know I’m nitpicking, but I gotta defend my ‘Murican trains.

[@SamsTrains]

haha, I wish I'd known this, lol! xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@DADeathinacan]

Penn Central operated some ore trains, but the other two points of WTF are sure accurate! :P

[@the4tierbridge]

Steamloco, PC is an ore measurement as well.

[@bigmart932]

@@the4tierbridge That is correct, but there's also a Penn Central logo on it. It was definitely intended to be a Penn Central livery.

[@harrybriscoe7948]

when I was 7 years old my Matchbox Gray Hound bus shared town with red London double deckers .

[@Uptownloki47]

They failed terribly at making a “Western” train set. Being an American I know exactly what a “Western” train should look like. A 4-4-0 or a 2-6-0 in bright colors with a Russian iron boiler and 30ft boxcars or passenger cars.

[@WhatAboutTheBee]

American here too. Where in the heck is the cow catcher? It looks, frankly like a European loco, without any pretense of western notes. And the "caboose"? Not even close! A rounded roof?

[@raymondleggs5508]

They made Spaghetti western style set instead

[@boblatzer]

I had heard that small shunting type locos were used in some remote regions around coal mines and lumber camps. That’s what this looks like to me.

[@random0clock]

Not in black and red with electric lighting. The locomotive looks more German than anything else.

[@WhatAboutTheBee]

@@boblatzer Hi Robert 👋 The logging locos were typically Shay locos, which really don't look like this at all. They had a longitudinal crank shaft with gear driven axles to handle the steep inclines and heavy loads. It was all low end torque, with no need for speed.

[@CymruJedi]

I would have loved this when I was a kid. My family never had much money and couldn’t afford any of the Hornby models that were too expensive, but this would have kept me busy for so long and for the price this is something my parents could have afforded. I get it’s not for the serious modellers

[@bentullett6068]

I must admit this set does at least teach kids how to set up a layout, run trains and build card building kits. I would say it's already ahead of a hornby set even though it looks terrible.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah I see what your saying - but the other mehano sets cost less and were much better quality - so I couldn't recommend this! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@CymruJedi]

Sam'sTrains completely understand what you mean mate

[@vladcopeti1357]

As a kid I remember seeing this train set being advertised every single Christmas season in Romania. The price at the time was 200 romanian lions (£40). I remember asking my parents if they could ask Santa to bring me one, instead I've received a DB narrow gauge G scale train set with a radio controller and it was a lot better.

[@SamsTrains]

Wow really?! £40 is much more like it actually - I think I would have been much kinder if this had cost £40. But sure - the G scale one sounds better! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@vladcopeti1357]

@@SamsTrains they've stopped advertising the Western Train Set in Romania from 2010 because not many people could afford them and no one right in their mind will buy one because they could buy more toys for that price.

[@Drewioawesome]

Tango And 1361: *We Have The Worst Ratings* Mehano Western Train: *I Don't Even Know Who Yall Are*

[@SamsTrains]

haha!! xD

[@thunderfox53]

Thats funny

[@midmissourirailroad]

The things you were calling 'Teepees' are actually totem poles. The teepees were those cone shaped things.

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh yeah of course - oops! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@tempestfury8324]

And wigwams are dome shaped and not meant to be travelled with. What a totem pole is doing in the wild west is beyond me. Totems were exclusive to tribes in the Pacific Northwest. But hey, it's a toy not meant for any kind of accuracy.....after all how much do Chinese manufacturers really know about American history? This looks like a perfect candidate for the Gomez Addams treatment!

[@toad6565]

It reminds me of old Italian Spaghetti Western movies that are supposed to take place in the Wild West but were filmed in Europe. The trains in those films always gives away the fact its not really American.

[@SamsTrains]

haha yeah, that's what they were going for I think! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@vekkerandras]

Ant they are filmed in Yugoslavia, and this set was made in Slovenia, which was also part of Yugoslavia :D

[@TheEldritchHyena]

@@vekkerandras I'm pretty sure most of the old Spaghetti Westerns were actually filmed in Spain (The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly was at the very least).

[@zetmoon]

@@TheEldritchHyenacorrect but also some films in Yugoslavia.

[@importednascar]

*Penn Central: I exist!* Bankruptcy: I'm about to end this railroad's whole career.

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

Thank you for the chuckle!

[@SamsTrains]

haha! xD

[@catgirlsteam5972]

PC stands for Penn Central, it was a 1970s american railroad, so very inaccurate for a steam era set.

[@SamsTrains]

Duly noted, thanks for this!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@That_Thicc_Cat]

And Pennsylvania is most certainly not a western state lol

[@IS-2_1944]

That engine is a 1920s switcher used in mines and logging railroads

[@iron1349]

@@SamsTrains also it was formed from the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroad merging, neither going west of Missouri.

[@HarryC_640]

“Let’s go at 50% speed then” Takes off like a jet launching into the sky😂😂

[@SamsTrains]

haha it certainly did, lol! ;D

[@triskellian]

🤣😂🤣

[@Elfnetdesigns]

Thomas was behind schedule....

[@jeffreymcneal1920]

Looks spot on for the train in the Spaghetti Western, "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," by Sergio Leone (one of the most iconic, and excellent, Westerns ever filmed). To save money, the film was shot in Italy, and a key scene with a Western American train was exactly the above.

[@thequietestengine]

I cant believe I'm saying this, but THIS train looks more steampunk then the Hornby steampunk range 0_o someone get some cogs and gears on it, stat!

[@SamsTrains]

haha right?! That's true of most steam models actually xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@railwayjade]

This set is certainly for kids. Good starter set for them I think.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah no doubt - although I wouldn't give this to a kid of mine, not with that build quality! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@VolfMark]

Sam, you should try and find the same 0-4-0 locomotive and those cars from the Yugoslavia time (prior to mid 90s). Mehanotehnika produced really nice and teliable locomotives, but the economy crisis and the breakup of the coutry led to cutting corners. That locomotive used to have a lead weight in its boiler - the cheaper new version you have there has some kind of an aluminium alloy for the weight, which is much lighter. The cars also used to have metal plate weights - now they have none. All this contributed to better stability, pulling power and contact with the rails. The new version is simply lighter and "plasticy". I have an older rendition of a train set with identical models, but from the time it was built with more quality. Since you too like Mehano's trains, if you need any info/stories on Mehano's trains, contact me any time.

[@HeavyTanker-vx4oq]

Mehano clearly don't know what American steamers look like that loco looks nothing like anything here in the states

[@PHsRailwayVideos]

It looks more like something from Germany

[@rayvenkman2087]

HeavyTanker1945 Don’t you remember that scene from Back to the Future III where they used this exact engine? Seems legit to me.

[@Lt.Foulke]

That’s what I thought...

[@SamsTrains]

haha yeah - everyone else has said the same thing! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Elfnetdesigns]

I guess they use what they have to work with, maybe they bought all the injection molds from Tyco, LifeLike, and other manufacturers of yesteryear and are using those..

[@fredrich9841]

Thanks Sam! Between this video and your one on building the card kits I’ve had a right good laugh for the first time in ages during this pandemic! My wife says I need to comment that as an encouragement to you, and a thank you! 😀

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Fred that's very good to hear - let's hope this is all over soon!! Thanks for your kind words, Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@MemeReviewer]

I always love your content man, it always feels appropriate to just sit down and watch your videos with some popcorn!

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks so much mate, that's lovely to hear!! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@MemeReviewer]

@@SamsTrains Of course, thanks for replying.

[@lukeslocomotives]

Heljan 1361: *"Finally, a rival worthy of competition!"*

[@SamsTrains]

haha exactly!! ;D

[@palamj2]

"The cheap and nasty dial has been turned up on this" Pure gold Sam.

[@SamsTrains]

haha thank you John! xD Merry Christmas - Sam :)

[@seagraverailwaysandmodels2408]

I was literally looking at these on Amazon 2 hours ago with the view of getting one. Never has one of your videos been more timely!

[@SamsTrains]

haha perfect, lol! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@kiarablake93]

Ooh i got this for Christmas about 10 years ago and it's how i got into model trains and all of it still works although i don't use the track anymore obviously. Aslo mine had 2 straight track pieces, the loco doesn't have any molding errors but both of the open carts were in the lighter colored version

[@ACLProps]

So glad you did this review, I was very tempted by this set but it's clearly no cargo train. I was wondering if you've ever been tempted by Z scale model railways? Theres something so cute and novel about them, but they seem expensive

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Andrew! I have been interested in that in the past - maybe I'll try some one day! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@jeannedarcalterberserker8620]

Your train set reviews are my favorite. I like the rolling stock, especially the brown post van, I don't know why but it's my favorite. The PC wagon looks kinda out of place but the others look good together. The weakness of this set is definitely the loco. It looks like a deformed Lima tank engine with a very weird looking funnel. Maybe it's the wheels and the weird proportions like the lamp size you have mentioned. It's a shame because the rest of the set doesn't look too bad for the money. I can definitely agree with your rating. It's a shame because some parts are very decent like the controller. Great review as always, Sam 👍 definitely deserves a thumbs up from me.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks so much!! Yeah that brown van was an interesting one! Thanks so much for your thoughts and support, appreciate the comment! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@leilacentral1883]

I love watching these cheap set reviews that you do. Was very surprised to see the wagons looked pretty well detailed for their price. "It's hideous isn't it?" ha perfect word. That shiny plastic is really cringeworthy to be honest. A simply re-spray with an aerosol can might make all the different with their appearance if people wanted tho. The lifting track as the train went around was hilarious tho! All the best and keep well, Clint

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you, they are good entertainment at least! Yeah the shiny plastic sucks - never a good time for that, lol! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@psanderbrand]

This set is oooollld. I got this exact one when I was 7 years old (19 now) so I had something to play with while visiting my grandparents. I had a proper layout at home at the time with really good Piko trains . We actually put this set on a proper table too and I remember having quite a lot of fun with it. Probably more because I now had a second layout that I could bring my better trains to and run them, but I had my fun with it nonetheless. And finally one has to say that this engine does not need maintenance at all, it just runs. I've never cleaned or oiled it in the last 12 years (exept occasionally blowing the dust out between the contacts and the wheels) and whenever I give it to my little brother or my cousins, it just runs.

[@SamsTrains]

Wow! It has been around a long time then - buildings and all? Thanks for sharing! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@PHsRailwayVideos]

Sam: I don't think any kids would look at this and go, 'oh, that's low resolution!' Me: well Sam, that's 'cause you've never met me.

[@SamsTrains]

haha probably not! They'd probably just look at the train instead, and see the filth! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Seasonal50]

The loco looks interesting. Haven’t finished watching yet but maybe it would make a good shunter?

[@Veneno2911]

Yes it could also be a good explosin lol :)

[@SamsTrains]

haha yeah - one or the other! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@drewcambage7061]

It pushed my up cupola caboose of my rable

[@sdmedia1323]

It could be a good scrap piece. Paint it up and take it to pieces and place it somewhere.

[@journeythroughtherails5294]

Another great video to make my day brighter! Cheers, -Nick

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks so much Nick, that's lovely to hear! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@trainships1795]

Reminds me of Old Marx Deluxe Starters Sets with the card stock buildings. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane in America of 1969.

[@SamsTrains]

haha!! No problem mate! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@blackterminal]

I have children and I know they would love this. Kids see the world different to Adults. One of the beautiful things about children

[@SamsTrains]

That's true - but even kids need a degree of quality - you want toys to stay together and look good, that's a basic requirement! xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@the4tierbridge]

If it was sold as a “South American train set” then I think they did an Ok job (not the scenery). But they marketed as U.S.A western, so bad. No cow Catcher, it’s a tank engine. We barley even use tank engines, and during the period they were trying to represent, they didn’t EXIST in the country, not to mention the west, where lots of water would be needed due to how long the journey is, and how hot it is out here. The most popular tank engine in the U.S.A was the saddle tank anyway!

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah everyone is saying that - doesn't look very American! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@ronclark9724]

No caboose either... The saddle tank were used on urban branches serving warehouse and industrial areas, tank locomotives are for short range. Unfortunately the West is large with large distances...

[@matic713]

When I got my first model train 6 years ago (It was Mehano Moutain Special) it was very good, and it is still working perfectly fine. It doesn't have any problems with moulding or paint work and it wasn't dirty. Every thing was in palce when I opened it. And there were two straights in this and western set. Maybe Mehano started to care less. They were very good in producing model trains. i Mehano produces Prestige series, they are something between Hornby Railway and Hornby Railroad. And loco is based on German narrow guage loco W.N. 12 and W.N. 11.

[@SamsTrains]

Interesting! Lots of these Mehano sets are really good, just this one sucked :( Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@diedertspijkerboer]

I'm sad that this train set did so badly. I really like that Mehano make really affordable train sets. I still think, though, that this set could still be a good first set for a kid of about 7yo to see if the hobby is something for him / her.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah sorry about that - I wouldn't want a beginner to have this as their first experience in the hobby - would you?!? Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@masterofsouthern5427]

To be honest if I was 5 years old I would be buzzing about this train set despite being low scoring one. Great review Sam 🙂🙂

[@bentullett6068]

I think its great. The Mehano sets do seem to teach children how to construct card building kits.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah me too - but obviously the poor quality could easily ruin things - I definitely wouldn't risk giving this to a 5 year old! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@_LLevi_]

I love vids whit cheap trains. Suggestions : Try to find one on wish XD

[@SamsTrains]

OH god - I don't know if I'm brave enough! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@skuula]

Haha those Wish train sets will POSION you. If you eat more than 50 of them.

[@rd4902]

Sam, you could follow this up with another episode showing the models after improvement and explaining what you did i.e. painting, fitting handrails etc? you could also ask viewers to submit any photos of their attempt to improve it especially the caboose?

[@SamsTrains]

You definitely could - I don't think I could reasonably get another video out of this though, haha! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@nastynate4916]

I like that the map on the box shows the Midwest and the east coast, about everywhere but the west

[@jjmac3561]

Great starter kit, cheap enough to discover whether a child will be interested long-term. The elephant Pat could be used as a mold for expanding foam.

[@britanniaolivercromwell5006]

Why does it look like it could disintegrate at any time

[@Veneno2911]

Because it could

[@SamsTrains]

Exactly - I'm sure it could! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@davidchambers7508]

Sam, thanks for your entertaining review of this naff trainset. I love your description of the scenery with this trainset.

[@SamsTrains]

haha thanks a lot David! :D

[@Shr3dd3r2k8]

Definitely a set that nobody would be upset if you took it apart and completely customized it just for the fun of it, and likely you could find it cheap used/bargain bin. Looking at the shiny plastic just makes me want to get out my paint, but then I paint miniatures and don't do trains. Yet.

[@raymondleggs5508]

looks like 70's Jouef/Lima/playart reproductions from very worn out molds and low quality plastic.

[@bentullett6068]

I have the Lima 040 and it looks a lot better than the loco in this set. Can't believe Hornby haven't found the tooling for it to use as a Hornby Railroad model

[@SamsTrains]

haha could well be - so is the lima 0-4-0 based on this?? Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@bentullett6068]

@@SamsTrains the Lima 0-4-0 is based on a American Model power locomotive and for a budget model looks better than this loco. I think this cheap loco might be one of the other budget locomotives from Jouef or Playart

[@survivingworldsteam]

Yes; this set reminds me of the Western Themed train sets put out by Tyco, Marx, Lionel, and others in the late 1950s to 1960s to try to cash in on the popularity of Western themed television shows and movies. Some were pretty good, but many of them were like this; the one thing Mehano forgot to do on this one was put a huge spark arresting smokestack and a pointed cowcatcher on the engine; in some instances that was all they did to turn a conventional engine into a "Western" engine. Most of them were poor sellers.

[@johnstewart9745]

Bought one. Me aged 71 and four grandkids aged 4 to 12 ,had a great day doing the buildings painting and glueing and put I all together . Still working fine in my garage .after 18 months .SAM did a shoddy job .....only 50 quid well spent 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@crystalrock18]

What I find interesting is that mega o labeled the hopper car under Penn Central railroad company colors. Penn central was formed in the early 1970’s (I could be wrong) as a merger between the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad. These companies were East Coast railroad companies and the fact that Mehano labeled this set as an “American western set” is quite, well humorous. If it was labeled: Union Pacific Southern pacific Western pacific Denver and Rio Grande Then this would make sense. What can I say Sam, I love everything that deals with trains. Also the amount of fellow American viewers on this channel is also quite impressive. Just shows you how much us “Yankers” love trains.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that is odd - wonder if it was literally just stock left over from something else?! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@williamsquires3070]

(@9:22) That’s a bit of the track. You can tell by the molded-on “spike” detail. Somewhere in that set, is a curved piece with the end bit broken off.

[@furripupau]

Reminds me a bit of the old Playart train set with what were obviously German prototype wagons and tank engine, just painted in bright colors.

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh interesting! I'll have to google those! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Cutelatinguy2]

If I had this as a kid in the 70s, I would have spent HOURS imagining I was in a western town! Great beginner's set for kids who are old enough for an electric train set.

[@lapiswake6583]

An interesting set. Bit surprised the loco didn't have any issues going over points based on how low the bottom of the chassis looked. Btw, got my q6 on my main layout yesterday, hauled my 43 16t mineral wagons and 2 brake vans ok but slipped to a stop on the slight incline at one point. So not quite as powerful as my o4/30xx and g2a, but I wouldn't say it was as bad as yours seemed (couldve been since all the 16t wagons are modern spec)

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that is true actually - it performs surprisingly well, but still not brilliantly! Glad to hear the q6 isn't too bad - pity they're not a bit heavier though :( Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Narrowgaugefilms]

The hopper is actually an ore car, They operated in the iron ore country around the Great Lakes. They made for very interesting trains: often solid consists of over a hundred of these and a caboose. Motive power was often very large articulated steam engines.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks very much for the info on the hopper! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@freebrickproductions]

The Penn Central ore hopper seems to be a mold copy of an American model, and I wouldn't be surprised if it and the caboose have NMRA-spec coupler mounts. Also amusing the steam locomotive came with ditchlights, don't believe many (if any) steam locomotives here in the US would've had them, as ditchlights didn't become standard until the 90s, IIRC. Also, is it just me, or is there a 12 molded right next to the cab windows?

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah I think you're right, others have said the same - it certainly doesn't have NEM couplings are anything though! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@rolandvonthun1403]

I'm an American, and a "western" train would have a 4-4-0, and a bobber caboose, a couple of 30 foot boxcars

[@RzMK]

Ohh, I waited for another Mehano trainset review, I started my hobby with that cargo train you reviewed, but in BN livery (back in 2008). Pleasure to watch as always! Greetings, Kacper :) PS. The face at the back made me think of a robot showing you middle finger xD

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh very nice! The Cargo set was admittedly much better - glad you enjoyed it! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@jamesdunloptrains]

Awesome video today Sam I have got a hm 2000 and my turntable works now

[@SamsTrains]

THanks a lot James - great to hear that!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@TomPrickVixen]

My brother got a very similar set in 2000's Xmass when he was 7.5 years old (same loco + that ugly mail car, with 2 green coaches - passenger set - , no carboard stuff, but a small plastic platform with roof, came with it). He had a lot of fun with it; with the addition some LEGO and other toy buildings and stuff, + 2 points and some straight tracks from me (i was 16)! The loco many years later was still working despite we do tried to kill it. We just called it "Somerset" do to when u switch direction on a controller at full speed (without slowing it down) it does a front-flip! I think i still have that ugly mail-car in my junkyard, but we sold the rest 1 by 1 more than 12 years ago! We kind of miss that loco; it was funny! BTW those non NEM socketed wagons can take the older style US horn hook (or X2F) coupling, loco too I think (and the open wagons are clearly EU style)!

[@SamsTrains]

Very cool Tom, sounds like these have appeared a lot over the years, thanks for sharing! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Sam, Good Review, where do you find these things, couldn't stop laughing, (nearly spilt my tea,) All the Best Brian 🤗

[@SamsTrains]

haha I know - it was an entertaining one, that's for sure! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@SodorTrain1225]

Your loco may need a repaint, some new lamps, and a good clean. Brunswick green on the boiler with a white smokebox and funnel would look lovely.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah I think so, lol! ;D

[@ivovanzon164]

The wagons might be re-used Lima ones from the early 70s. Mehano does use some very old Lima tooling for their big passenger wagons, and the same might be the case for the freight wagons. Is it an idea to do a comparison series with a bunch of cheap starter sets? Like the Piko 57113 vs this one and a Hornby set

[@SamsTrains]

Interesting idea - I didn't know they had any connection to Lima's stuff! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@ReadingAreaRailfan]

The PC one is an ore car. Basically a hopper they use to carry iron ore and stuff like that. PC is the reporting mark for Penn Central, the merger of Pennsylvania railroad, New York Central Railroad, and New Haven Railroad.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks a lot for the info, appreciate it! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@TheloniasBrowntail]

The locomotive and cars kind of look like the kind of train you'd find at a rickety old mineshaft. One could spruce it up to look rusty and sooty. Poke some parts of plastic with a heat gun or something to make it look more banged and dented to give it that "salvaged and repaired after a cave-in" look.

[@22763344]

Este tren hubiera sido para mí, un deleite cuando tenía 6 o 7 años de edad. Despertar la imaginación y el espíritu del juego. Esa marca hace una oferta, algo distante en cuando a realidad, de lo que fue LIMA, a inicios de los años 70s, donde en comparación con MARKLIN o FLEISCHMANN, ofrecían juegos completos y accesorios, a un precio competitivo. Al ser esto un tren a nivel de juguete, pues no se puede pedir mucho, pese a que vi dos góndolas, que se aproximan más a los vagones de mayor precio y otras marcas. Aunque MEHANO, también fabrica modelos a otro nivel más alto. Gracias por su review.

[@trainguy111]

I think the PC on the coal wagon stands for Penn Central. The Penn Central was a railroad that was formed when the Pennsylvania, the New York Central, and the New Haven and Hartford railroads merged. Eventually, the Penn Central became part of Conrail.

[@SamsTrains]

It does indeed, thanks for the info! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@samuraifool912]

Hi Sam. Great review. Guessing at this price the set is something you could let your kids play with, without fretting if they Destroy it. Introducing my young son to My Hornby set was a Nightmere of "Please be Careful.!"& "Gently Gently.!" This Kit..! "Go for it, Kid..!!" So Thx for the Review, maybe one for the Grandchildren..!! Thx for your efforts. Kim in Oz.😎

[@SamsTrains]

Let's be honest, this wouldn't take much destroying! If Hornby is easily destroyed, this is 10x worse! Check out the 'cargo train' - that's actually much better quality for your grandchildren, and cheaper too! :O Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@williamnichols467]

PC stands for Penn Central, a railroad formed between the merging of some railroads, most notably the New York Central and Pennsylvania Railroads

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks for the info William, appreciate it! :D

[@franciscovergara2902]

Another great video Sam. I guess Mehano trains seem to be directed more to toyish trains for kids rather than actual hobby trains. I still think you should shoot at the Piko ICE3 train set. Probably the best money for value you can get now on the market. As always keep making great content man!

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you! Yeah that's certainly true, but even kids need a degree of quality - this stuff wouldn't be much good for a kid! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@q.se.yo.lrcdmm]

I'm starting whit the hobby and 5 months ago I bought the mountain special from mehano (same loco, different wagons) so yea, I donno what to do now What cheap set whit nickel silver track would you recommend me?

[@SamsTrains]

haha - how did you get on?? Any of the Hornby ones really - they have decent quality, which is what you want! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@engineerskalinera]

The only good thing about this set, and the loco in particular, is that they come a dime a dozen used, making them perfect for customisation practice. This was my 2nd ever trainset, and out of the box it didn't run well at all. The engine had some problems and the track is poor quality. But ots dirt cheap, and once you get it running, it will run for years.

[@williamsquires3070]

The Penn Central hopper is the only model of a U.S. prototype; the engine and the two gondola wagons are British/European, while the remaining one is - maybe - a brake van? Also this type of hopper was usually run in unit trains hauling iron ore in the Great Lakes area. The dead giveaway (other than the Penn Central livery) is the roller bearing trucks. This should be relatively easy to convert to Kadee couplers; then Sam can run it with his other HO Scale stuff. Probably the only decent bit of kit in this entire set. Put a magnet on the track. If it’s really steel, the magnet should stick. If it doesn’t, then it’s probably Nickel-Silver.

[@AndreiTupolev]

"Quality control was nil ": sounds a pretty good summary of the actual Penn Central, from what I've heard of it

[@SamsTrains]

haha yeah, I'm hearing a lot of that!! xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@brettcampbell1674]

Hey, Sam! I’ve just started to get into the hobby and I’ve just recently purchased some wagons with coal load props that fit inside the wagon. Unfortunately, they are stuck inside and I can’t get them out. Do you have any advice for something like this or could you possibly do a video about it? Thanks!

[@SamsTrains]

Hmmm that's an annoying issue isn't it? Could you use blu-tac to grab onto the load (if they're plastic) and pull them out?? Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@andrewpalm2103]

Hmmm. A Penn Central iron ore hopper car is a weird choice, but a prototype exisits (probably from the 70's). I wonder if the two-axle wagons also have a prototype. I dont' think I'll be investing in this train set, but your comments on the controller have peaked my interest. Cheers from Wisconsin.

[@SamsTrains]

A very weird choice indeed - the controller is the only strong point, for sure! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Redjintyman]

This video is amazing! Also maybe the 0-4-0 could be a shunter?

[@SamsTrains]

Thank you! Yeah it could do some shunting maybe! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@billyp.9603]

17:11 I think the number belongs to a real coal wagon as bachmann produced a small penn central coal wagon with a close number 501273

[@agriben7591]

2:52 looks like a game of snakes and lasers Sam 😂😂 if you land on the train your out 😂😂 Thx Ben ;)

[@SamsTrains]

haha!! I love that idea actually, lol! ;D

[@felixfelix9062]

Putting quotes around detail was the most subtle, yet devastating insult ever. Nice vid!

[@SamsTrains]

haha thank you, glad you noticed that, lol! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@diedertspijkerboer]

My first train set was a high quality one made by Märklin and given to me for my 9th birthday or so. At first, I was really happy with it, but then I realized how expensive Märklin products were (which I had to buy due to their proprietary system). This led to years of disappointment and frustration and, eventually, giving up the hobby for decades. If I had received a set similar to this one, I might not have been as excited at first, but I would have enjoyed the hobby much more in the long term, realizing that there are much cheaper ways to enjoy it. If I were a parent, I'd buy this set or something similar for my kid, see if the model railway bug really bites and, maybe later, give some gifts that will outlast childhood.

[@SamsTrains]

Ahh blimey - this definitely won't stack up well to Marklin - they are expensive, but you get what you pay for! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@diedertspijkerboer]

@@SamsTrains I agree that Märklin is good quality but it is still far, far too expensive for me to buy new. PS thanks for taking the time to reply!

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

"steam locos are dirty in real life" fireless steam locomotives that we have here in the United States: "AM I A JOKE TO YOU?"

[@hollyruston2444]

Everything that a kid could want for Xmas. Enough to keep Junior busy until lunchtime 😁

[@SamsTrains]

haha very true!! ;D

[@nilo70]

Great train for kids ! Not so great for older folks. Thanks Sam , you never disappoint! CHEERS FROM CALIFORNIA !

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks Olin, as long as the kids don't mind the horrific quality of course ;D Thanks a lot mate! :D Cheers, Sam :)

[@trainnerd399]

Hey bro, have a question how much does the entire train set weird

[@thefountainpendesk]

You can keep steel track and weather it up to create disused sidings or fake loads for trains etc. if thats something your in to

[@SamsTrains]

That's true actually - there is some value to the tracks then! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@RoadsterRyan23]

Purchased the "I'm not a train Enthusiast... ...I'm a model train enthusiast" T-Shirt in blue Sam! Arrived today and I love it! Cannot wait to wear it.

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks so much for your kind support mate, really hope you enjoy the shirt!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@halfofacouch2397]

In the U.S, a basic Bachmann HO Scale starter set with a transformer, circle of track, a locomotive, and some rolling stock costs around $80-$90. Those sets are better quality, and they have more detail than Mehano train sets, but they don’t include as nearly as much things, such as buildings or mats.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that's right - when mehano get the quality right, they're a fantastic option! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@lukeslocomotives]

8:35 ironic how the top one is the same colour as Duke from ttte and the bottom is Bertram from ttte and they were the same model to

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh really?! I didn't know that! :O Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@billyp.9603]

9:29 that is a penn central wagon due to the logo though it operated in eastern USA (and own GG1s) I was a merger with the Pennsylvania railroad, the new York central railroad and and new heaven railroad it later became Conrail and currently the tracks are owned by CSX transportation and Norfolk southern

[@peteryoung4957]

I'd of loved this when I was 4. (60+ now) . I really enjoy watching Sam, when you do "oddities" BTW it should be 9 cacti .

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah maybe I would too, if it'd been built properly of course! I love the oddities too! xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@paulsmith3452]

Sam's trains,Saturday evening light entertainment at its best.good review,I like the picture on the front of the box it looks exciting but when you opened the box it lost its sparkle.😀

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks a lot Paul - yeah, the sparkle died really fast! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@jonswinfield9336]

Hi Sam I’ve looked up on ‘OO works’ website They currently have a Southern loco in production that you might consider buying and reviewing It’s the LSWR 0330 class saddle tank It’s available in 4 different liveries Although the price is a bit steep! £279. ! I see you’ve got a real variety of engines by different manufacturers I thought you might find this one interesting 😊

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh that does sound excellent - I'd certainly like to try that! :D Thanks for watching, Sam :)

[@Jimyjames73]

Hiya - Don't worry about the church spire (not that you are any way!!!) being 'cock-eyed' b/c the Church in Chesterfield - With the tower at the top the spiral - the inside frame when they built it back-in-the-day - the frame was built with wooden beams - & over the many decades the wooden beams slowly warped & now the Spiral now leans to 1 side a bit

[@SamsTrains]

haha yeah that's very true actually, lol! ;D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@jetmec]

Hi Sam do you have a link for the waggons you did for Ali express as I can't find them

[@SamsTrains]

I don't unfortunately - search HO Gondola on Ebay, they should come up! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@alexandertodd595]

Hi again Sam there is another mehano set with an 040 but more of a European version, Mountain Special or similar. Are you likely to be reviewing that,?

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah you're right I did see that one - might try it some time!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@q.se.yo.lrcdmm]

Hey Sam! So I found in Mercado libre (the eBay of Argentina) a Hornby train set from...I dunno, 2010? whit: an 0-4-0, two wagons, 3rd radius curve, and a straight and power track for the price of (not joking) 12£ Since I'm new in the hobby, should I buy it?

[@SamsTrains]

Wow!! If you don't mind maybe having to fix it up a bit, that's an amazing price!! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@OwenBudd1]

I actually got this same loco in a train set when I was a child, would have been 1989/1990ish? I seem to recall it was also a Mehano, so quite an old tooling

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh cool! Yeah I have heard that this was around a looong time! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@SodorBrony]

Maybe next year, only restricted for train sets, Play Value could be an option. Mainly cheap starter sets. I think that’ll be interesting, when you compare this set’s play value to something like Hornby.

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah that would be nice - I'll think about it! :D Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@Fatduck-nm3jj]

For a expiriment vid I think I've heard you say that tri ang locos have magnets and only work on steel track so you could use mehano track and do worlds strongest engines

[@SamsTrains]

Ooh that's true - I wonder if they could beat rubber tyres?! Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@liamcalder1385]

"Looks like we have another massive elephant pat so I will look forward to that" you just love your elephant dung don"t you Sam HAHA. I thought maybe el cheapo could be in the background. He was probably busy. When i first saw the loco it was different in not a good way. Thanks Liam :)

[@SamsTrains]

haha thanks Liam - yeah it didn't disappoint did it?? lol! xD Thanks for watching - Sam :)

[@peterlutz7191]

Designed in Slovenia, Mehano was/is a children's toy company and sold to a company in China,

[@SamsTrains]

Thanks for the info Peter! :D

[@alexandertodd595]

Hi Sam do you intend to take the review any further to setting up the layout as Nd running the train?

[@SamsTrains]

Yeah! I did a bit of that during the initial review - all done now, no more, lol! ;D Thanks for watching, Sam :)