Lionel Hot Wheels Electric O Gauge Model Train Set w/ Remote and Bluetooth Capability

My son recently turned 9 and we gave him this train for his birthday. It simultaneously killed two birds with one stone, as he is a HUGE train enthusiast (he's autistic and they are his great passion in life) and also indulged his love (albeit not as passionate) for Hot Wheels tracks and cars. We have a dozen Lionel LionChief O scale sets now and while the build quality is the same, this one is different from all the others in a couple significant ways. First, the fast track that comes with it is neon orange instead of the usual dull grey, to simulate Hot Wheels track. My son LOVED that! Second, instead of the typical chuff, engine noises and whistle/horn of his other trains, all of the sounds made by this train are sounds that you would hear on a race car. The engine revs, the horn is a car horn etc. It's a delightful little detail. The train itself looks and runs great and is recognized and easily controlled by both the Lion Chief app which he has on his iPad, but also by his universal, multi-train remote.So why the 3 stars? Right out of the box, 2 of the cars would NOT stay coupled while the train is in motion. Because I'm not new to these train sets, I knew right away what the problem was. There is a pin that holds the coupler closed that is very sensitive and enables auto uncoupling for compatible track/devices, but that's not a feature we use. ANYWAY, if this pin isn't properly positioned, it will jiggle out of position with the vibration of the moving train and cause the coupler to open, releasing the car. This was the case on not one but TWO of the couples in this set! The easiest way to fix this is to get some thin wire and tightly secure the pin to the coupling mechanism so that it cannot slip down. This is what I did so he could play with the train right away. However, I think this is totally unacceptable for a brand new train set in this price range. This is a known issue by Lionel and it's really frustrating that they haven't fixed it yet. If I weren't familiar with the trains I would've sent it back and rated it 1 star, but fortunately it was an easy fix even though it shouldn't be something we should have to deal with in the first place.Had the couplers worked right out of the box, I would've rated this set 5 stars! The train itself and accompanying cars are awesome, bright and fun! It's also the fastest train he has now. Just be aware of this problem with the couplers before you buy.I sincerely hope this review has been helpful to someone else! And yes, I paid full price for it. Feel free to ask any questions!

Everything is perfect! I really like the freight cars and love the locomotive. I like the orange track. The train also can go very fast. I love the voice features as well. Best train ever! (This is from my son)

Other reviews call this a light-weight toy. It is nothing like that at all. The engine is heavy, powerful, and solid. Remote works great and I’m looking forward to adding extra rolling stock. Most importantly, it has inspired my grandson’s interest in model trains. First attempt to acquire this themed set was a less expensive, previously owned set. Not up to par with what I expected from Lionel. After returning it, I ordered this NEW set and it was everything I expected in quality and function. Of course, for the purist, Hot Wheels cars are not Lionel scale, but the fun factor for kids 8 and 70, it’s great!

Great price most sites i have search are over priced. The loco is heavy plz note this is deff not for any one under 12 yrs of age

the train came quickly and damage free. the train is easy to set up. the children love it!

This was a Christmas gift for my 3yrs old grandson. He LOVES it! A combination of his favorite toys, Hot Wheels and trains!

Good product good price. Fast delivery

Connecting arm bent and non functional upon arrival.