Hey Guys,

My name is Mike and I live in NEPA.  Use to mess around a bit with HO scale trains back in my younger days with my Uncle, but after losing everything in a flood I haven't in years (probably 20-25).

I have a son who turned 3 in April and a soon to be step daughter who is going to turn 3 in August.  After being in a local train shop I have decided to buy them a Lionel O Gauge train set for under the tree this year.  I grew up with one under the tree and would like for them to do the same.  Probably going with a Polar Express or Harry Potter set to start, but I am also considering the possibility of getting back into the hobby and leaving a layout up year around in my "man cave."

While in the shop I saw an engine I really liked, it was similar to the HO one I had growing up.  Not knowing anything about it I started trying to find it online and have determined it is the ES44AC.  It seems as though there are 2 different versions of this engine and am curious what the difference.  One is listed as having Legacy and costs about $450, while the other is listed as Non Powered and costs about $250.  Obviously the Legacy one has more features, but I was curious what exactly the difference is?  What does the term Non Powered fully mean?  Is it worth it for a guy like me just starting out to spend the extra on the engine?

Thanks
Mike