GOLDLOK VS. WAL-MART WETERN EXPRESS TOY TRAIN
Many gamers bought the Goldlok Western Express battery powered toy train at local stores. About the right size for 25/28mm figures it was much cheaper than going with O-scale trains (you could buy a whole set for the price of one O-scale train car). The detail wasn't great, but good enough for the gaming table. Now those Goldlok trains are available only on Ebay for too much money.
But there is GOOD NEWS
Walmart has release their own Western Express battery powered toy train!!!
But there is GOOD NEWS
Walmart has release their own Western Express battery powered toy train!!!
The bad news is that is not exactly the same as the old Goldlok trains, but it is compatible with them.
First, and foremost is the track. We all have been limited by the number of straight pieces of track that came with the Goldlok set. Does the track match?
First, and foremost is the track. We all have been limited by the number of straight pieces of track that came with the Goldlok set. Does the track match?
No, the Goldlok track uses triangle connectors while the Walmart one uses square one. But amazingly they will connect together!!
How well you ask? I built a circle of track using alternating curves from both sets and was able to run a Engine on it.
The pieces of track with the Walmart train are shorter than those of the Goldlok train. The Walmart comes with six pieces of straight track.
So how do the trains compare?
So how do the trains compare?
The Walmart engine is actually nicer than the Goldok engine. The details of the top of the train are much finer (the Walmart engine has a bell that looks like a bell, not a funnel stuck to the top of the train). Both have the cabs covered with the housing for the batteries.
But as you can see above, it is possible for someone with my limited modeling skills to build an adequate open cab (capable of holding a couple based figures) from the Goldlok train. I am sure that the same could be done with the Walmart train.
The passenger cars are a different story. The Goldlok (top car) came with proper platforms, the Walmart passenger car platforms are molded on and it will take work to make them look right.
The open cargo wagon and the coal car are about the same in quality for both sets. I suspect they were both made by the same company, because the attachments between cars are exactly the same.
In conclusion the Walmart Western Express has many compatible features with the Goldlok Western Express. If you have a set of the Goldlok train, or missed them when the came out, the Walmart Western Express makes a good purchase. It would be good for ACW or Wild West Gaming.
AND THE PRICE IS ONLY $10
The open cargo wagon and the coal car are about the same in quality for both sets. I suspect they were both made by the same company, because the attachments between cars are exactly the same.
In conclusion the Walmart Western Express has many compatible features with the Goldlok Western Express. If you have a set of the Goldlok train, or missed them when the came out, the Walmart Western Express makes a good purchase. It would be good for ACW or Wild West Gaming.
AND THE PRICE IS ONLY $10