>>10647892I wouldn't count The Bradford Exchange since they're not really a Model Train manufacturer, they just use some old Bachmann and Life-Like molds and pump out novelty trains painted in tacky colorschemes in a subscription-based model. No one trying to get into the hobby is going to pay 4 installments of $90 to get an engine, a tender, a coach, and a flat car with a loop of Power-Lok track when you can find an actually decent Bachmann starter set for half the price.
I second the Marklin notion, but only if you're actually in a part of Europe that actually has it readily in stock. The only US place I know that stocks their HO stuff in decent quality is Reynaulds and boooooy is it pricy there compared to what domestic HO costs.
