The Polar Express, the classic children’s book and movie, tells the story of a young boy’s struggle to solve the mystery of Santa Claus while aboard a very special train called the Polar Express. Led by a massive Berkshire locomotive, the train transports wide-eyed kids on a hair-raising adventure to the North Pole.

Now, you can own the Polar Express train featured in both the best-selling book and the hit movie, done as only Lionel can do it. Painstakingly designed to be true to the original, this exclusive Lionel train set features a die-cast metal Berkshire steam locomotive with a larger pilot, a headlight lens cap, and a unique whistle. The engine and tender are painted in a dark, matte finish to complete the image.

Behind the locomotive and tender are two lighted coach cars and an observation car that features a new, rounded observation platform - just like in the movie! Silhouettes in the windows depict scenes from the movie, including the scary marionette car and the joyful coach car where the kids get their fill of hot chocolate and candy.

Four main characters from the movie are included as articulated figures with turning heads, movable arms, bendable waists, and jointed knees. They can be posed and placed on areas of the locomotive, tender, and passenger cars to replicate your favorite scenes from the movie.

With beautiful craftsmanship and styling that evokes a bygone era, the Polar Express Train Set will appeal to everyone in your family. Designed for children ages eight and older, this train set is based on the Caldecott Award-winning book "Polar Express," and the movie that followed in 2004. The gorgeous train set is relatively easy to put together, although parents will probably need to supervise. Even kids younger than eight can enjoy the Polar Express, if parents help them with it.

The Polar Express O Gauge Ages: 8+ Requires: AC outlet

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Lifelike details and optional smoke that comes from the locomotive when it's running. The Challenging: Learning how to drive the train both backward and forward takes some practice. In a Nutshell: A beautifully designed and expertly crafted train set that will delight kids and adults both.

The stylish engine bus has a nostalgic, old-fashioned design and is impressively detailed. View larger.

The set comes with figures modeled after characters from the 2004 film. View larger.

Otherwise, the toy is a delight to set up and play with. Most of the parts are reassuringly heavy and durable, including the impressive transformer that powers the train. There is a small learning curve associated with learning to drive the train, especially for electric train novices, but kids will quickly catch on with their parents' help. The small figurines that can ride atop the cars are a nice entertaining feature. However, they are small and can get easily lost, as well as pose a choking hazard to younger kids.

Attention to Detail Creates a Lifelike Experience
The Polar Express has some especially nice features, like the smoke fluid that you can add to it so that it emits puffs of smoke as it chugs along. The realistic-sounding steam whistle is also a great touch. The transformer that powers the train is heavy and solid, with a big throttle that's easy for little hands to operate.

Testers found the train easy to assemble, and once charged, it went smoothly around the oval track. At 60 inches long and 40 inches wide, the track is not particularly big, but you can extend it by purchasing more track pieces from Lionel (sold separately). In general, we enjoyed the old-fashioned quality in the train set's well-crafted parts, as well the numerous design details (such as interior lighting, retro styling, and a working headlight) that made the Polar Express come alive.

What's in the Box
1 die-cast steam engine; 1 coal tender; 2 coach passenger cars; 1 observation car; 1 CW-80 transformer; Santa's Bell; 4 articulated movie characters; 1 bottle smoke fluid; 40- x 60-inch oval track (with 8 curved sections; 3 straight sections; 1 power terminal section); and instruction book.

The train puffs smoke and makes convincing whistle sounds as it makes its way around the track.