Looking to start a Lego train set

[Rob Lee]

Hi there, new to these forums so I guess a bit of background info is required.

I've been reading about Lego these days on the web and in particular Lego trains, and I'm what I gather is termed an AFOL.  Although I don't currently have any Lego I had some during my childhood (I'm 39 so that was back in the 80s/early 90s), not loads but enough that I could custom build a few things.  Among many individual parts I didn't have (a U joint being one), one thing I never had was a train set.  For my 40th this year I'd like to start a Lego train set.

I'm more interested in building my trains as an accurate (as accurate as Lego can be) representation of real world trains for display but also for occasional "play", and I'm more interested in UK trains as I live in the UK, but the US trains look OK.

To start my Lego train set I plan on buying set 60052 as that seems the best "bang for buck", but after that I plan on buying only parts, not full sets.  I have about a 6ft square space to put tracks down in.  I am on a limited budget though, locos in the region of £200-£300 parts cost would be way out of my reach.

 

With that in mind there's some things I'm looking for info on -

1.  How much would it cost/what bricks would I need to turn the loco in 60052 into a more realistic looking EMD GP40 or GP40-2?  I have seen the Conrail version by Benn Coifmann (zephyr1934), and have downloaded the instructions but can't tell what extra bricks I'd need.  There is a parts picture on page 40 of those instructions but it's a bit unclear to me if that's the extra parts needed.

2.  Are there any other EMD GP40's out there with instructions (besides the limited edition, and no longer available (unless you buy the Chinese knockoff), Maersk one)?

3.  Could the loco in 60052 be turned into a more modern SD70ACe or SD70M-2 with a minimal parts buy (are there any instructions on how to do that?)?

4.  I've seen a few builds around of a great looking BR Class 37 (and 55) - does anyone know of any instructions and a parts list to build it?

5.  Are there any other great looking MOC British locos around with instructions/parts lists?  Would love to build a Mallard or Coronation class Steam loco, although I'm guessing they'd cost me multiple £100s for just the loco!

6.  Is there an application I can use on my PC (running Windows 7) to design my track layout that includes dimensions so I know how big it is likely to be?

7.  When buying parts is there somewhere/someone that I can just show a picture to and they'll know what I'm looking for?

8.  I don't really like the idea of using batteries, and I don't like the cost of Lego's rechargeable pack - so is there a way I could easily use (i.e. very few mods/very little work) the old 9V transformer system but still use the Power Functions remote?

 

Thanks in advance, really hoping someone can help me here as I'm a bit lost on how to proceed after buying set 60052.

Edited January 26, 2017 by Rob Lee

[koalayummies]

60052 can be easily modified to make it a little longer which really helps it look more realistic. I believe member paperballpark did that and it looks fantastic. 
 

Here's another option since you like the GP-40 builds, this member made a how-to with instructions and a lot of tips on how to make one as inexpensively as possible using common less expensive colored bricks:

"(2) With the lack of a "Creator Expert" train on the market right now, provide an affordable "gateway" build for new AFOL train fans looking for something more meaty than the city train sets.

(3) Since this is meant to be a gateway MOD, keep the parts costs as low as possible. As of this writing, probably over $100 worth of the parts for this build can be found in set 60052."

 

Edited January 27, 2017 by koalayummies

[Capparezza]

15 hours ago, Rob Lee said:

Hi there, new to these forums so I guess a bit of background info is required.

Hello there and nice to see you in the Trains forum

 

5) Take a look around in the Trains section, there are a lot of nice builds here on EB (also from British locos)

6) I use BlueBrick a lot. Nice application for creating your track layout.

7) There's a dedicated thread here on EB: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/67887-help-with-identifying-partssets/.

8) I've seen modifications done to old 9V motors, so they can pick up power through the rails and distribute it to an IR receiver, from there it goes back to the motor. But this is not a simple mod and you will need some way to either create your own power pickup or modify an older 9V motor (preferably defect, as they are very expensive) - and you would need conductive rails, the older ones from the 9V system. Why not take the battery case for AAA cells and buy some rechargeable batteries?

Edited January 27, 2017 by Capparezza

[Rob Lee]

Thanks guys.

I have had a look around here in the Trains section, it is where I saw the BR Class 37, I think it's made by a user called Bricktrix?  People tend to post just pictures of the final result, rather than instructions and part lists though.

I found out about how to do a few 9v mods and still use PF functions, sorry I answered my own question on that.

I also found out about BlueBrick, and made a couple of layouts that would fit in a 6 feet by 6 feet space last night, one was 6 foot by 3 foot and double circle plus a couple internal sidings, one to place the 60052 set's crane at, based on someone's I have seen on here, the other was the same but with a "train yard" added on to it that feeds into the main section of tracks (I'm not very inventive). 

Thing is I just remeasured the space I would put the tracks down on (the middle of the floor of the biggest of the rooms in the house I live in) and the available space in the middle is actually only 60 inches by 60 inches (with a few inches either side to walk round), so 5 feet x5 feet (roughly 1.5m square)...

 

...that brings this idea to a head I think - I am actually considering giving up on having a Lego train set before I've even started.  I can't feasibly put a decent layout in a 5 feet square area, I can just about fit into that area the track layout from 60052!!  Plus I costed up the extra track I'd need even for the 6 feet by 3 feet layout I made in  BlueBrick and even though I would have the track from 60052 I would still need nearly £50 (or more) worth of extra track, the most expensive being straight bits which seem like gold dust!!!

The cost of parts just seems horrendous, particularly track sections given the amount needed.  Even looking on places like Bricklink (it's fine saying a straight piece of track is £0.99, but if you need 27 of them that soon adds up).  And even before I've considered what parts I'll need to "accurise" a loco or build an "accurate" loco!!

I have my eye on a 60052 set at a low cost, for the moment, it's on an auction site though which means the price will probably sky-rocket to in excess of £100 in the final seconds, but I'm just not convinced that a Lego train set with a decent/fun layout is within my means.  I don't think I have the room and I don't think I have the finances.  I can understand why my parents never bought me a Lego train set as a child.

 

EDIT - However having said that I've just had a play around in BlueBrick again and come up with a 1.5m square layout.  Haven't costed it up yet though (for the extra parts that don't come with 60052) and I don't know if the left most "siding" would even work, at best I think I can put a loco down it then back up again on the furthest left spur.  The crane from 60052 would be placed on the siding furthest right.  I've had to use several of those flexi-track bits and I'm not even sure the track entirely fits together properly in those places.  I'm also thinking of putting another single crossover on one of the sides because I can't see a way the train would "get out" of the inner loop without reversing.

Here it is  -

Edited January 27, 2017 by Rob Lee

[pirzyk]

To get out of the inner loop I would suggest another crossover as a mirror of the one you already have.

Many of us who do this have modified (I.e. cut) the switch turnout so it fits in a 32x48 space.  Ballasting the track keeps them aligned.  You will find deals on parts but I personally avoid the auction sites as i feel they are usually overpriced or the sets are "hot".

I would look at bricklink.com to be able to buy individual parts.  It takes a while before one has enough stuff for a decent layout.

Also you will find the use of flex track problematic and we avoid it where possible.

Edited January 27, 2017 by pirzyk

[*thomas*]

Having a 'loop' of track is fun for a couple of minutes, but I sense that you'd like more realistic trains and therefore I think you should worry about track layout later on. The layout I plan on having is just very large switch yard, with 3 parallel straights and some switches.

I'm also wondering if you should spend 100£ plus on an original LEGO set if you plan on using custom sets. You can have a very realistic looking train for not to much money. Just look for some webshops that offer custom sets or even custom instructions.

Always make sure that someone isn't trying to sell somebody else's instructions ;).

[Rob Lee]

38 minutes ago, pirzyk said:

To get out of the inner loop I would suggest another crossover as a mirror of the one you already have.

Many of us who do this have modified (I.e. cut) the switch turnout so it fits in a 32x48 space.  Ballasting the track keeps them aligned.  You will find deals on parts but I personally avoid the auction sites as i feel they are usually overpriced or the sets are "hot".

I would look at bricklink.com to be able to buy individual parts.  It takes a while before one has enough stuff for a decent layout.

Also you will find the use of flex track problematic and we avoid it where possible.

 

Thanks.  I've read about the flex track not being too good.  I'm finding in BlueBrick that the way I'm placing switch points throws the connections of the tracks out so I have to fudge it and add flex track to make it look like they meet and join.  I'm hoping that when it comes to putting the actual tracks down I won't need as much flex track.  I've revised the layout to add a mirrored single crossover though (although I've just seen that I've let the bottom of the bottom left siding overrun!!) -

 

It's the best I can come up with for a 5 foot (1.5m) square space.

 

36 minutes ago, *thomas* said:

Having a 'loop' of track is fun for a couple of minutes, but I sense that you'd like more realistic trains and therefore I think you should worry about track layout later on. The layout I plan on having is just very large switch yard, with 3 parallel straights and some switches.

I'm also wondering if you should spend 100£ plus on an original LEGO set if you plan on using custom sets. You can have a very realistic looking train for not to much money. Just look for some webshops that offer custom sets or even custom instructions.

Always make sure that someone isn't trying to sell somebody else's instructions ;).

 

I would like to run the loco I get right from day 1, or at least have the track to do so.  At this point I'm trying to put together a set so I have a loco I can use as a base to create a new one from the ground up or modify into a more "accurate" looking loco.  Buying a set such as 60052 seems the cheapest way to achieve that basic starting point, certainly the easiest at least.

Edited January 27, 2017 by Rob Lee

[Capparezza]

@Rob Lee If you are buying 60052, you end up with: 20x curves, 8x straights and 1x each of right and left switch. Why not build a simpler layout with the inventory you have (and maybe some additional cheap curved ones) and expand later on? It's not H0 rails, you can always detach and rebuild with LEGO

That switch connection on the bottom will not work out. You should always see to it that all yellow dots do line up neatly, if the dots disappear you're doing it right. The dots mark open endings of your rails.

PS: Create a new brick layer beneath your tracks and place 2 EU Tables 150cm x 75cm on it, so you know your boundaries you will have to stick to.

[Rob Lee]

Thanks..  I plan on modifying 4 switch points into the switch connection on the bottom of my layout above as per this thread -

Hopefully once I've done that the real layout will all fit together nicely.  The BlueBrick made layout is just to show me roughly what I need, I think if the switch points crossovers were correct to represent the modifications to the real track that everything would fit in BlueBrick.  I guess I could just put in two double crossover pieces as they're roughly the size of the modified switch points crossovers, then it'll close up in BlueBrick - but I'm certainly not spending upwards of £150 on a pair of them when I can modify cheaper track sections to do the same job.

OK I think this'll be the final draft in BlueBrick unless I can come up with some other layout...

 

It all joins up nicely in BlueBrick now.  I've added the cargo crane that's closest to the one in 60052 and I've added the Maersk train (my 60052 loco will probably be converted into something similar eventually anyway) to show what it'll look like with a train on it.

It is 6 inches wider and 3 inches taller than I'd like, but I think I have that amount of room spare around what I measured up earlier.  The double crossovers will be replaced with modified switch points when I build the track for real, so perhaps the layout won't actually be as wide.

Guess I need to start seeing about getting a mortgage to get all the extra track pieces now...

Edited January 27, 2017 by Rob Lee

[ALCO]

Set 60052 is the first bunch of track I got. Whit it is not very much, it is a great starting point because it come with the switches. I actually got an second 60052 for my birthday and it really is a great set for parts and track. I really would not mind a couple more...just for parts and track actually... Sounds exciting! Welcome to the community! 

[darkhorse00]

Hi, I am in the progress of building my own MOC train too, after my poisonous purchases of the city train 6005* series. Just sharing my temp rail setup. (Refer to link below). The tracks are all used up from sets 60050, 60051, 60052 and 7499. Since you are doing moc, you can consider including a moc cross track junction too? Got that moc cross track junction from some fellow's thread in Eurobrick too.

https://youtu.be/fgOendvRm-Y

Edited January 27, 2017 by darkhorse00

[Bernie56]

1 hour ago, darkhorse00 said:

 after my poisonous purchases of the city train 6005* series.

Why "poisonous purchases"?

[BurkusCircus]

On 1/27/2017 at 8:28 AM, Rob Lee said:

I am actually considering giving up on having a Lego train set before I've even started.  I can't feasibly put a decent layout in a 5 feet square area, I can just about fit into that area the track layout from 60052!!  Plus I costed up the extra track I'd need even for the 6 feet by 3 feet layout I made in  BlueBrick and even though I would have the track from 60052 I would still need nearly £50

...

I don't know if the left most "siding" would even work, at best I think I can put a loco down it then back up again on the furthest left spur. 

Rob - Don't give up on the Lego! My first train was in '12 with the Red Passenger train 7938, and right now my 3 trains (I've added the Horizon Express, the Holiday Train, and 60052 (great set btw!) and accidentally subtracted 7938 in what the people of Brickerington simply refer to as "The Incident") and can only have a 6' x 9' table that's shared with my Lionel stuff and I still have loads of fun! Also, if you have an Incident of your own, you can simply make your MOCs from the aftermath...

As for the far left siding, have you considered simply turning it around?

Stay brickin' - it's worth it!

-Burkus

Edited February 10, 2017 by BurkusCircus