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Large Scale Christmas Trains and 
Accessories. Large Scale trains are usually used outside, but at Christmas, they're also used around Christmas trees and on display layouts in bank lobbies, museums, etc. This is a real outside railroad decorated for Christmas. Click to see other photos from the Cincinnati-area Cranberry and Linville Railroad. Bachmann Garden Trains: Narrow Gauge models designed to run well in your Garden Railroad
O Gauge Christmas TrainsOn30 Christmas Trains
On30 Display Trains

Written by Paul D. Race for and

This is the newsletter to get if you want to run big trains outside.Order Some Really Big Fun for the Holidays! Large Scale is the name garden railroaders give to trains that are made to be run in outdoor railroads. These trains are two to six times the size of trains people usually use indoors. They are sturdy, and they are big fun. Don't plan on setting a Large Scale railroad up on your coffee table, though.

The trains on this page are included simply because I've owned versions of each of them and think you would like them, too.

Note about Availability and Pricing: Although I try to keep an eye on things and to recommend products that are reasonably available, the model train market does fluctuate, and any product on this page may change price or become unavailable without prior notice. (In fact, I've caused a "rush" on several products just by listing them on these pages.) When I have access to more than one source, I provide multiple supplier buttons to give you a better chance of getting the trains you want (as long as you don't wait until mid-December to make your choice, in which case all bets are off). In many cases, the Amazon button will give you a choice of vendors as well. For more detailed information about why Large Scale railroad products seem to come and go and why I have stopped listing prices for certain products, please see my article "About Pricing and Availability." Click to visit Family Christmas Online(tm)

Announcement for July, 2013 - Some of my favorite Large Scale Christmas trains were in very short supply in 2011 and 2012, due to the recession causing manufacturers to cut back on orders. So there were huge demands on the remaining product lines, and several sold out all over the country. The good news is that AristoCraft train sets, which have been unavailable for almost two years, are supposed to start arriving in September, 2013. We don't know if sets will be available in Christmas colors, though. Also, we moved this site to a new host server in 2012 because we were running out of space, then we were forced to move several of our "sister sites" to other host servers as well. This has forced us to spend hundreds of hours fixing broken links, and not being able to do the research we usually do on these products. Hopefully we will be back on track well before Christmas.

In the meantime, thank you for your patience. And if you have any questions, please contact us with any questions.

Note about Suppliers: While we try to give you get the products you want by recommending suppliers with a good record of customer service, all transactions between you and the supplier you chose to provide your trains or other purchases are governed by the published policies on the supplier's web site. So please print off any order confirmation screens and save copies of invoices, etc., so you can contact the appropriate supplier should any problems occur. (They almost never do, but you want to be on the safe side.)


Bachmann Large Scale Christmas Trains

Bachmann is one of the world's largest manufacturers of model railroad equipment. Their large scale line is relatively inexpensive, but provides excellent value, in terms of accuracy and reliability. Although the Christmas paint job may not be realistic, the trains themselves are accurate models of real railroad equipment of the past. One way they keep the price down is that their track isn't made to be used permanently outside. If you're just planning on a temporary railroad, or if you're just planning on running these trains indoors, this shouldn't be a problem for you, though. Also they WILL run on AristoCraft track, so you can use the trains outside if you have the right track.

Since we began featuring these trains on our pages, they have consistently grown in popularity. Unfortunately, Bachmann doesn't always make enough to keep up with each year's growing demand. So if you think you would like one of these trains this Christmas, order early to avoid disappointment.

Note: If you'd like a look at similar trains that aren't decorated for Christmas but would still look great around your tree or in the back yard, check out the Bachmann Garden Trains page.


Bachmann G White Christmas Express
Bachmann G White Christmas Express - Bachmann has reintroduced a favorite - their Christmas-themed passenger train. It's longer than the freight train below because the cars are much longer. The lighted passenger cars also allow you to see the train running even when the lights are turned off, for a magical experience. This train is built solid enough to run in the rain and snow, and they have been used on public display layouts. It will look great around a Christmas Tree. You will especially enjoy seeing your visitors' jaws drop when they see it running in your home.
  • To check on pricing and availability please the button below.

Also, if you like the overall look of this set but would rather use a more realistic railroad line, you might consider the Bachmann Trains Pennsylvanian Ready-to-Run Large Scale Train Set. This set uses the same molds as the Christmas-themed set above, but with more muted colors that might look especially at home with antique or Americana-themed surroundings.

Bachmann G Christmas Street Car with Santa (Season's Greetings)Bachmann Large Scale Christmas Street Car - Santa is driving the trolley on this accurate model of the short- wheelbase trolleys that were used in hundreds of North American cities and towns over 100 years ago. This car is certain to get attention outdoors, as well as indoors - it's over 15" long and nearly 7" tall. If you want a Christmas trolley to run indoors and you don't already have any Large Scale railroad equipment, you might consider an On30 set (it's smaller, so it won't take over your house.)

For more information about this trolley or to check on pricing and availability through Amazon.com, please click on a button to the left.


Bachmann G Night Before Christmas Train Set (North Pole & Southern)Bachmann G Night Before Christmas Train Set - This train is big and colorful. It is based on the Bachmann Big Hauler series of trains, whose slogan used to be "Any bigger and you'd have to buy a ticket." In spite of the Christmas lettering, the locomotive pulling this train is an accurate model of a Baldwin locomotive that ran on many American railroads between 70 and 140 years ago. For other information about this train, or to check on pricing or availability, please click on a "check stock" button below.

Although the Bachmann track is best kept indoors, the trains themselves run reliably and look great inside or out.
To check on pricing and availability, click the button below.

Note: If you like the idea of having a really big train, but you want something in a paint job that you can use all year round, you might consider other Bachmann Large Scale trains.



Lionel Large Scale Christmas Trains

In addition, Lionel is currently making some battery-powered toys that will run on Large Scale track, so they are marketing them as Large Scale trains. They ARE toys, not model trains. And if you order a set, be sure and pick up some extra alkaline batteries - the ones that come with them have no shelf life to speak of and in most cases won't even start the train. Six alkaline C cells will get you started. Twelve is better. That said, these trains have great play value for youngsters and are far better made than most plastic toy trains.

For a review of these trains, click here. As the review says, they are fun, even though they are almost 100% plastic and much smaller than the electric trains on this page. I'll give you a couple links if you want to take a look. Please don't judge all Large Scale trains by these toys, though. Clicking on any of the links below will take you to an Amazon page that shows you the train:


AristoCraft Christmas Trains

Note for 2013: The AristoCraft train sets were completely gone at the beginning of 2013 to the detriment of garden railroading everywhere. We hear rumors that they may be avaiilable again in September, 2013, though we don't know if the Christmas-themed versions will be available. I'm leaving them posted because they're still among my favorites, and in the meantime, I wanted you to be able to see my reviews of these delightful products. My apologies, but as we used to say when I worked at Radio Shack thirty-odd years ago, "We can't make them here."

AristoCraft Christmas Train - This cheerful, well-detailed and very solid little Christmas train is from AristoCraft, who makes more kinds of Large Scale railroad equipment than the next several manufacturers put together. In addition, AristoCraft has added a Crest Train Engineer remote control that you can use to speed up, slow down, or stop your train from across the room. No more crawling under the Christmas tree to adjust the power pack. And you can use this system to run ANY track-powered Large Scale train, even in the garden (providing you don't get over 30' or so away from your railroad.

This train is too large to use with Department 56, Lemax, or Hawthorne Village structures, but it will look fine with most Dept. 56 or Lemax figures and accessories. Like all of the trains on this page, it will really get attention around a Christmas tree.

The 0-4-0T locomotive is based on a real Pennsylvania Railroad prototype, the A-5. This version of the model has been reengineered to provide years of trouble-free service indoors and out. If it sounds like I'm a little prejudiced toward this train, you should know that I've owned several different versions of this train, and have been quite pleased with each of them.

Missing in action - this version is a good value, but it has become very hard to find in late 2008.Note about the freight version, October, 2008: - The freight version of this train has become very hard to find, and my last supplier who had it in stock just went out of business. In the meantime, I apologize for the inconvenience. If you are interested in the freight version of this train, please contact me and I'll either help you track one down or put your name on a list of people to contact if I find a source again.

The Christmas Eggliner is another hard-to find product. We posted this photo in case you like it enough to have us try to track one down for you.In addition, the AristoCraft Christmas Eggliner is pretty much "missing in action" this year. It's a four-wheeled passenger carrier that is a lot of fun as it zips around under its own reliable power. Again, please contact me if you'd like me to help you track one down or put your name on a list of people to contact if I find a source again.

Again, this is a reminder that trains "come and go," especially near the Christmas season, so if you have your eye on a particular train, don't wait too long . . .

Click to see quality Christmas collectibles with railroad themes.


















Click to sign up for the 'Trains-N-Towns?' newsletter, with articles about display villages, indoor railroading, and much more


What if this stuff looks TOO big? If you don't already have any Large Scale equipment, and you are looking mainly for something to use with a Christmas Village, Bachmann On30 Christmas Trains may be a better choice - for one thing, they're half the size, and they're made especially to look good with Dept. 56 or Lemax buildings.


































Click to see On30 trains and display villages inspired by the paintings and designs of Thomas Kinkade(r)


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Return to Big Indoor Trains Home page Return to Family Garden Trains Home page Big Indoor Trains Primer Articles: All about setting up and displaying indoor display trains and towns. Garden Railroading Primer Articles: All about getting a Garden Railroad up and running well Garden Train Store: Index to train, track, and other products for Garden RailroadingBig Christmas Trains: Directory of Large Scale and O Scale trains with holiday themes
On30 and O Gauge trains to go with indoor display villages and railroads



Visit any of the links below to see quality collectible Christmas gifts and
decorations that have been popular with our readers.

Click to see collectible table-top trees, including animated ceramic trees from Thomas Kinkade(r) and other world-class designers. Click to see collectible Christmas wreaths designed by world-known artists. Click to see classic nativity sets, including collections from world-known designers. Click to see collectible Christmas ornaments by world-known designers. Click to see Christmas collectibles with railroad themes - designs by Thomas Kinkade(r).

Note: Family Garden Trains?, Garden Train Store?, Big Christmas Trains?, BIG Indoor Trains?, and BIG Train Store? are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically


For more information, please contact me

Click to see exclusive, licensed train collections in your favorite NFL colors!