The first is the Lionel O gauge Hogwart's Express. I've been wanting one since I saw it at a local hobby shop over a year ago. It's not a Harry Potter thing with me- I've only seen one of the movies, and then only because it was my mother's birthday. I did spend my first two years in England, so I do have an interest in English stuff. Including, of course, trains.

The second is the Lionel G gauge Snowflake Express. I surprised myself with this one. I was aware of them before Xmas, when they were $100. I saw one at Target yesterday for half price and bought it- never mind that I don't have the room for these monsters! I'll probably tweak it all up. That's the way I have fun with lots of my toys. ;)

That Hog set is really very nice after you get over the Potter thing.
They are making some more of those (forget engine name) right?
Thought I seen some, about time if you ask me.

Did not get any sets this Christmas (thats a first).
Some fill ins though and our first "Beeps" from Ready Made Toys, RMT.

That Hog set is really very nice after you get over the Potter thing.
They are making some more of those (forget engine name) right?
Thought I seen some, about time if you ask me.

I was buying a nice-looking, presumably good-running, British prototype train. At a nice price. Who's Harry Potter? ;)

And yes, Lionel has made at least two more sets from the same tooling: one is an Irish train; another is decorated for Great Western Ry(Shakespeare Express.) The latter is supposed to have a more British-sounding electronic whistle.

I recently bench-tested the Snowflake Express, and I'm even more impressed. The engine has three forward speeds, and three in reverse. There's a smooth transistion from any change in speed setting on the remote, which simulates the momentum effect. It also appears that the speed is continuously variable; a nice little trick!

There's a remote button for the whistle, another for the bell, and another still for the Xmas music. It's actually a totally functional walkaround throttle. And the engine has realistic stationary sounds, along with speed-dependent chuffing. One down side: the engine is even uglier than the O gauge General.

Even so(or, perhaps, because-) it's a great set for tinkerer's. If you can find one at your local Target(it's one of their exclusives,) it'll probably be marked way down. They were $100 before Xmas, and I got mine afterwards for $50(including batteries!) I was at another store just a couple days ago, and they had at least one left- so they're still out there.

Ok, I will bite.
What is wrong with the General?

"the engine is even uglier than the O gauge General."

Otherwise, thanks for the good info.

Ok, I will bite.
What is wrong with the General?...
As far as I am concerned, toys need not be scale models to have charm. This includes toy trains. It's a matter of design. Unfortunately, toy design in modern times has been dominated by concessions to manufacturing cost and expediency.
These concessions lead more often to an uglier, rather than more attractive, toy.

Anyway, in particular, the first thing I find offensive is the grossly disproportionate taper section of the boiler. Then the oversized cab, especially the bulged-out front. Also, the overhang of the rear drivers, both to the rear, and the side. I don't like the placement of the handrail stanchions, or the bogus slide valve chest on top of the actual slide valve chest, or the raised engines. I don't like the inward taper of the front part of the running board, the extension of the headlight bracket below the pilot beam struts, or the obvious bend in the struts where they meet the pilot beam. Also, I don't like the brass extension of the headlight bracket under the headlight, or the extensions of the headlight molding itself under the headlight. I don't like the ribbing and riveting on the boiler lagging. Early versions of the General had the E-unit lever sticking out of the boiler's tapered section. I really hated that.

I'm not a fan of the bonnet-type smokestack anyway, but I dislike the particular variety Lionel used, with the crowning detail on the top rear.

There is more, but I'll let this suffice for now.

I would prefer this one http://www.smrtrains.com/general3.htm

Certainly more authentic. I wish I could say it's more attractive, too.