Lionel 7-12130 O Gauge Santa Fe Flyer Battery Operated Train Set
by Lionel
$169.99 suggested retail price.
Available from many retailers for much less

The (delayed by the CloudFare outage) second pick today in The 2025 PopCult Gift Guide is the perfect gift for the young train enthusiast who may have outgrown Thomas, but isn’t quite ready for the complicated wiring and AC/DC conversion of a full electric train set yet.

From Lionel’s newest line of battery operated O-Gauge train comes the classic Santa Fe Flyer, complete with the classic “Warbonnet” engine, plus three cars and a caboose. This is a battery-operated set, but the cars will run on existing 2 or 3 rail O Gauge layouts too.

In addition to the train itself, the engine is Bluetooth Equipped so you can operate your train using the Lionel Cab3 APP or the included remote. The battery Powered Locomotive (Requires 4AA batteries, not included) cars and caboose look great and bring a new level of realism to the set. This set comes with a hopper, a boxcar and a tank car.  Lionel’s Battery O-Gauge trains feature a water vapor “smoke effect” which simulates the authentic look and feel of diesel exhaust, producing realistic and safe puffs of “smoke” for an immersive experience. This is water-based and does not have the traditional and offensive stank of the old “smoke pellets.”

The Remote is designed for easy use. The Remote Control requires 3AAA batteries, not included). The plastic track, which does not carry a live current, and is safe for younger kids includes 10 straight, 16 curved, 2 right interchange switches, and 2 left interchange switches, plus 1 figure 8 crossover.

Sets include an operating headlight on the engine. Battery operated O-Gauge sets also include an assortment of trackside accessories including expansion track, road signs, and trees.

This is an O Gauge set, despite being battery-operated, and the cars are compatible with traditional O Gauge sets, so you could run most Lionel cars on this set (just not the engines or powered cars).

If you shop around the online hobby shops you ought to be able to find this set for under $150. Remember to buy tons of batteries. You know some kid (or adult) will love this set.