Lego 7740 set, upgrading/repairing track options

[beyondtool]

I just discovered my stash of Lego from when I was a kid and the first rebuild project I'm working on with my 5 year old son is Lego Train 7740 (rebuild in progress) and the Postal Carriage 7819 (100% complete). I'm missing one metal conductive rail and two curved rails and two sleepers from the 7740 set (see image). I do have the original motor but it's missing one wheel and I don't have the transformer so I can't even test out what works.

I am thinking of selling all the track and motor and investing in newer Lego rails, engine, battery, RF system and controller as this old set isn't compatible with the newer battery powered stuff, and it looks like my son is going to be as nuts as me for Lego trains. Are there any issues converting this train to run with the new train system? My son is interested in set 60052 and Christmas is around the corner..

I'm rather out of the loop with the value of these older sets and it's not in A1 condition as I played with it as a kid. I'd say it's it pretty good nick for it's age though and only signs of yellowing are on the locomotive clear windows, and a few tracks rails are slightly damaged, no box or instructions. Is it possible to source the missing track pieces for a reasonable cost (I did manage to find a transformer on ebay that was pretty cheap). Or am I better trying to build as much of the set as I can, then sell it to a collector and invest in a newer train setup?

Any help from those in the know would be most appreciated. Cheers.

[*thomas*]

I have some older 12V sets to, including the 7740. If I were you and you'd use the train for yourself and your son to enjoy, convert it to PF. If you have the cash, put modern wheels on the carriages to, they'll insure a much smoother ride.

[legoman666]

You can probably find all of the missing pieces on bricklink for very cheap. Just navigate to the catalog page for your set, and view the inventory. Then add the missing pieces to a wish list and find a store with all of the items.

[dr_spock]

Welome aboard.

You can find the average selling prices of the individual items on BrickLink -> http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=7740-1

The 12V motor is the item that's worth the most, assuming it works and is complete.

[marook]

Welcome - That looks nice!

I only have a few power-conductors left, but more rails. I use them in bridge designs, as they can be hidden in plates and tiles much better than the new tracks.

But all my trains runs with PF. Convert it, and be happy :-) Maybe get a few Sbricks as replacement for the IR-system from LEGO.

Sell the tracks if you like on eBay or Bricklink.

[dr_spock]

SBricks may be overkill for a 5 years-old to play train in one's living room. Unless he has his own smartphone or tablet with Bluetooth 4.0, it may get annoying having to share your or your wife's phones.

[Gideon8]

For the sake of keeping the looks of the original 7740 while updating some of the power components, you can refer to the video from YouTube below. It involves some tweaking of the power function and 12volts cords. Hope you can find and complete the other two carriages. :)

[beyondtool]

Thanks for the help everyone, given me something to think about. I should be able to build at least one more carriage but I know there are a few damaged pieces (1x boogie plate) which will prevent a 100% complete set unfortunately. I was very happy I found all the pieces for the postal carriage though. Once I complete with a full inventory I may look at the replacement costs for the missing pieces and see if it is worth investing to fix.

I would most likely be looking to remove the conducting rails and selling them with the old motor and replacing it will new RF kit. I'm sure it could all fit where the engine is if I remove it and the two weight blocks (or are they essential to keep the train on the track). And there are no issues with the new engines on old tracks? Even when the new the original motor had issues connecting to the conducting rails properly and/or getting stuck on them.

Is there a way to test the motor still works without a Lego transformer?

Edited November 2, 2015 by beyondtool

[kungpo]

Don't sell anything unless you really have to - one day some nostalgia might hit and you'll regret selling all that (classic) 12V stuff. Still worthwhile converting it to 9V or PF if you want, but there is a charm in seeing (and hearnig) the old 12V stuff working.

The bits you are missing should be easy enough to find on Bricklink or eBay.

7740 is a classic - definitely worth hanging on to.

Where are you based?

[beyondtool]

Gold Coast Australia based. I've had a chance to do some more digging and have built all carriages now and the train station, except missing three bogie plates, a few magnets, 6 wheels and a couple of other minor pieces. I haven' finished all the minifigs, but not too worried about them as they can be readily replaced. I was actually surprised how much I did find. With a small investment I could get the set 100% complete sans motor and working track.

I think the motor is only going to be good for parts as it's missing a wheel. Since I don't have the transformer and need to buy a few missing track pieces it's basically going to cost the same to upgrade to the new PF system as it is to repair it to original 12v status.

I'm tempted to sell the mail van and old track because it would pretty much fund a new train set complete with track and the few missing pieces. I need to do a full inventory still but it's been a fun project so far.

Edited November 8, 2015 by beyondtool

[Heppeng]

I think the motor is only going to be good for parts as it's missing a wheel. Since I don't have the transformer and need to buy a few missing track pieces it's basically going to cost the same to upgrade to the new PF system as it is to repair it to original 12v status.

Wheels are easily available from bricklink, and I would expect the value of a complete motor is much more than the value of an incomplete one plus cost of a wheel:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=bb12v2&ColorID=11

Transformers are not expensive either:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=7864&ColorID=9

Although any 12V train set/model railway transformer would do the job.

Extra conducting rails need not cost much:

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?P=3242&ColorID=9

Even if the cost was more than going for PF, I suspect the added value of a complete set would more than compensate.