Some model train hot takes and opinions

 On one hand, I do spout a decent amount of opinions and thoughts on this blog. 

On the other, I thought it would be fun to celebrate 50 blog entries with some hot takes and opinions. Probably not the most special way to celebrate 50 blog entries, but what the heck? Feel free to drop hot takes and opinions in the comments below and let me know which ones you agree with, or think I'm insane for having. 

1. Lionel should have held off on getting into HO scale until they were ready, as it feels like their attempt to get into the line was quite rushed and sloppy. 

2. I'd like to see woodland scenic work with the faller car system folks to bring said system over here and maybe even popularize it. 

3. Speaking of Fallers car system, I really like it. I know moving cars isn't anyone's cup of tea, but the system (have a diecast car run on a wire laid out) is really simple and worth looking into for anyone who wants to add more realism to the layout. 

4. More of a holiday ceramic house hot take, but I kind of wish Department 56 and Lemax would make a separate line of houses that were smaller for those who wanted a Christmas village but were tight on space. 

5. I miss MTH's one gauge trains 

Especially the M&M's train 

6. Speaking of One gauge/G-scale, I think a garden railroad would make for a great retirement plan. 

7. Can NASCAR train sets make a comeback please? 

8. No offense to Bradford Exchange but I really don't like their business model of "for $69.99 a month you get a piece of a train set!" Just give me the full train set guys...

9. I have a soft spot for battery operated trains. Sure they won't be as realistic as the electric ones, but their easy to set up, a good battery operated set runs well, and no need to find an outlet or get tangled up in wires. 

10. Cobblestone Corners (Dollar tree's Christmas village series) needs to do a train set again. Hey why not? Nothing at the dollar store cost a dollar anymore so...

11. It bothers me how both "The Blue Comet" and "Texas Special" are rarely done in a scale that isn't O. 

12. The hook couplers that used to be on all HO scale (and N) trains aren't that bad. Unrealistic yes, but I have hook coupler stock that runs smooth as butter. 

13. I kind of wish E-Z street got more attention then it currently does. Again, I like the idea of having an option to have moving cars on the layout. 

14. And while we're on that subject, Bachmann since you were kind enough to buy E-Z street tooling from Lionel, can you please track down whoever has ownership over Tyco's US-1 slot car trucks and bring that back to? I'm sorry but it's just too cool of a concept to let get memory holed. 

15. I love Northlandz, but really wish it's old owner would keep up with the layout or change the track layout a bit, as there's so many twist and turns on the layout that it feels like it can only run trains that take an 18 radius curve. 

16. It kind of bugs me how there's a decent amount of HO scale Christmas train sets out on the market, yet no Christmas houses or accessories that scale to go with them. And yes Cobblestone Corner I know you're closest one. 

17. Speaking of Christmas trains, why oh why has no one tried to bring these MTH HO scale light up cars back? 

18. I really like Woodland Scenic's just plug lightning system. I understand model railroading has a lot of DIY elements to it, but there's nothing wrong with having tools that make it simpler or help along the way. 

19. I have some serious concerns about why no one has attempted to re-release Lifelike's KFC building kit, or even do anther one. 

20. Battery operated trains are good for those who are lukewarm about getting into the hobby, but too old for Thomas. 

21. I wish Brio's battery operated trains with smoke (via water vapor) were a thing when I was a kid 

22. I'm just as big of a fan as smaller layouts with a big personality as I am massive train layouts

23. While I agree having any type of real water layout on a feature is risky (water and electricity don't go together), a part of me would like to have a small water feature the size of a table top fountain on my layout. 

24. I don't know why no one has made a Norfolk and Western J-class in G scale, but I hope that changes soon

25. Yes it's risky, but buying trains on Ebay is great for someone who's OK with possibly having to fix the trains up to get them running again.