[Santa Filter] Help me find this super-generic toy

December 7, 2013 8:08 AM

My toddler loves watching train videos on YouTube, and this morning we ran across this one, featuring a kid playing with his new toy train, purchased in "Chinatown". Toddler has now expressed a deep desire to have Santa leave one of those under the tree. I *think* I've IDed that train as the Kids Athority High-Speed Train Set, but no one on the Internet seems to sell it. So, I turn to you, my friends in the green - any thoughts on how someone who's not really near any random Chinatown might acquire one of these in time to have Santa drop it off?
posted by hanov3r to Shopping (4 answers total)

Best answer: "Kids Authority express high-speed train set", yes. I saw it on a price runner-type of site in India that confirmed that there's a blue version as well, so your ID is correct. But it seems out of production (other trains, yes, see here for instance - three pages of varied goods and a few trains among them.)

[I understand the wish and everything, but I daresay Toddler isn't missing out on a long-lasting quality event in any case.]
posted by Namlit at 8:34 AM on December 7, 2013

If you're looking for something similar (i.e., blue, pointy nose) maybe try searching for EMU or commuter train models like these MARC sets. Those are some higher end sets, so if you're looking for something geared more for toddler play, here's a Universal Harmony high speed EMU on ebay. It's gray, though instead of blue.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:48 AM on December 7, 2013

Also, Walthers Model Railroading seems to have a lot of good info for starter sets.
posted by Dr. Zira at 8:57 AM on December 7, 2013

I couldn't watch the video with sound, so I don't know if the train has music, but if it does, this train looks similar. Please click on "description" to see photos of children playing with it in the dark and a cat with sad tears.

This other train listing mentions it going around obstacles, which sounds like the action on the YouTube one, but the lights are different (better?) and you'd have to check the size.

Good luck; I found aliexpress trying to replace a $3 taxi we got in Chinatown that plays party music and automatically opens and shuts its doors.
posted by xo at 5:51 PM on December 7, 2013