A reader in the UK writes:
I am looking for an outdoor train set to go round my outdoor Christmas tree on my patio. I would appreciate advice on sets I could purchase.
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Thanks for getting in touch.
To get a complete working set, you might try PIKO Large Scale, LGB, or Bachmann Big Haulers. These are often classified as "G scale" or "G gauge" trains, so you might find them listed that way in local dealerships.
PIKO and LGB trains are built in Europe. Bachmann Big Haulers are the entry-level Large Scale train sets from Bachmann; they are built in China, but they are distributed in Europe - I just don't know where you can get them locally.
The Bachmann Big Haulers are more impressive, and less expensive, but they come with track you're not supposed to use outdoors. (It should work outside for a limited time, like a Christmas display, though.)
The PIKO and LGB trains are sturdier and come with a small circle of track you CAN use outside indefinitely. If you go to my Large Scale Christmas Trains and Large Scale Starter sets page, you can see photos of the sort of things I'm describing. However, you'll be better off if you can find the set you want locally.
https://bigchristmastrains.com/ls_xmas/ls_xmas.htmhttps://garden-train-store.com/begin/ls_starters.htmAll of these trains are made to withstand some inclement weather, and they're all eye-catching. I've even run them in the rain, though I wouldn't do it all the time. Anything smaller like O gauge or OO gauge looks dinky outside.
Best of luck; please let me know if I can help in any way,
- Paul