jward
Thanks for the Info.  I am pretty sure my old engine is next to dead, and the other one the body will fall off just leaving the motor and wheels.   The set I bought is DCC and I will get another for my other son that is not DCC. I will have them in the same set but on different tracks so burning them out should not be a problem.

I will look for the couplers and make an "adapter" car that can hook the two together.  I know the cars are keep but I like the idea of my kids using my old ones.

Thanks for the info, I will post pictures of the layout but it may be a while.  I will do as I go pictures, I think my kids will like that as well.

Are the coupler easy to replace?  Figure it s depends kind of answer.  Where can you get couplers at?

I probably will try 1 and make it an adapter car.

Cool I hope so.  I haven't unboxed the new Set it is still in my truck.  Will unbox it tonight or tomorrow to make sure the train/controller work.

Now if I can convert the car connectors some how I will be set.

Thanks

My kids 7 & 8 loved Thomas the Train and like watching the show "I love Toy Trains".  So we decided that we were going to a train layout (4x8 sheet).  Then I remembered my brother and I had trains sets from when we were kids, so I did it out of my parents shop.  I remember my engine not working well and my brothers had lost the body.  I currently have them in a box with some bug spray (Black Widows were in the shop). 

So I went by hobby lobby get some train sets for the Engines and tracks since they were on clearance.  I bought the Digital Commander for 80$ (was 230$)

Now that I look at the tracks are different then my old set and the connectors between the cars are different as well. 
Once they de-bugged I will take pictures.  But the old tracks are just tracks with a little piece of metal that hooks them together on each track.  The new is the E-Z Track.  Is there away to hook them together?  I really want to use the bridge from the old set as that one feature the kids really want.

Also the connectors on my old train are like and angled T  (looks like this -\ ) is there way to swap these out?  I have about 15 cars or so and I want to use them instead of buying new ones.  I have no idea what the old brand is, we got them in 81 or 82. 

Once I unpack them I will take pictures if it will help.  I assume the tracks and connectors were an "standard" type at the time.

Any whelp would be great.

Thanks
Jon

The DCC option may not be out.

I am new to this was well.  I have two boys 7 & 8, and we are getting them a train set for Christmas as well.  Not sure of your location but if you have a hobby lobby (www.hobbylobby.com) in your area (Southern US)  but they are down sizing their train section across all locations. I just got the Digital Commander Deluxe set for 80$, was marked 230$   It came with two engines.  They had one I wanted to get call the Overland limited for 70 (was 200) but it had been sold. 

Also every other week the have an online coupon for 40% every other week you can print out.  I tend to buy things on those weeks.

Track design will be interesting.  They want everything Bridges, tunnels, water, and even a bomb out WWI section , and this and I know the two tracks can't cross or there will crashes yells for me to come fix it.