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Not many LEGO fans may remember the Spiderman theme, and even fewer LEGO Train fans may recall 4855 Spider-Man's Train Rescue. In fact, I think we can call it "the forgotten train"; but today on Train Tech, I'm going to share a review of the Forest Hills city subway train.
NOTE: I was very close to posting this review in the License Forum, but as it is a train, I'm going to share it here in Train Tech.
Set Number: 4855
Set Name: Spider-Man's Train Rescue
Year of Release: 2004
Pieces: 294 (according to box)
Minifigs: 4
Price: $30 USD
Extras: Two spiders, five spiderwebs, two road signs, slammer, and more
In looking at the nice boxart on the front and back of the box, the backside actually provides an alternate model that offers train fans an idea for a building a hand car:
For Spiderman fans, the back of the instructions show a few other Spidey sets:
Here's a close-up of that alternate model as seen toward the end of the instruction book:
In breaking out this set after a few years, I discovered the sticker sheet still intact within the instruction book:
Minifigs include Spiderman, J. Jonah Jameson, Doc Ock, and after researching, the Train Conductor played by actor Tom Carey:
Here's a close-up of Doc Ock with his mechanical tentacle arms:
The set includes some useful accessories including a nicely printed Daily Bugle newspaper:
The highlight of this set, at least in my opinion, is the subway train car:
The front and rear sides have both yellow and red light bricks:
The roof has three round printed grill tiles and easily lifts off the train car:
Three red chairs allow figs to sit down; and I've always loved the 1x4 control tile with two moveable levers.
The track assembly has six straight tracks, a slammer mechanism, and a few barriers:
Slamming the mechanism causes the train to lunge forward on the track:
The first barrier is two road signs (STOP sign stickers not attached). They are only attached to the track, with the other side placed on a 1x2 grey tile:
At the end of the track is the web barrier with five spiderwebs and a white "Ninja-rope" for Spiderman swing play:
Lastly, another view of the subway car on the track. It would look better with stickers:
COMMENTS
So, what do you think of this little train car and accessories?
You don't have to be a Spiderman fan to appreciate a city subway car and track assembly. I may just create some custom decals, replace the small wheels with train wheels, add buffers, and see how this train car looks in my Train Town. I think the train car offers some nice train windows, 10 2x2 light grey, 2 2x4 light grey, 2 2x2 dark grey, and 4 2x3 dark grey, and I really like the rounded ends of the car. The additional pieces used to make the track assembly can certainly be used in one's city.
Many of the Spiderman LEGO sets were on clearance in the U.S. I think I picked this set up for $12-$15 at the time. I felt that the value (on sale) was well worth the money, and it offers a train for adults, and some Spiderman fun for the kids. What are your thoughts?
This was my first and only spider man set that i bought. I had forgotten that there were some stickers in the set. 
I bought Doc-Ock's hide out as the only set of the Spiderman series merely because it was on clearance and contained an excellent parts selection. Which kind of indicates how interested I was in the Spiderman line. I always found the subway car an interesting design from the looks of the catalog/box images. Now that I see it in more detail in your review, I must say I'm not too impressed by it. It's a bit blocky and simple. The color scheme is nice though and with a few touches, like opening doors and some more exterior and interior detailing, this would make a very good subway car. I still hope TLG makes something like this or a tram for the City theme sometime.
The set looks ............................good(maybe) 
The only real highlight of the set is the train car, Thats my opinion.
