Basics of train-building?

[The Middleman]

I'm picking up a lot of train parts (the skeleton of Railway Express and TONS of track) on Monday, and along with that and my POA Hogwarts Express, I plan to build a model of the fabled LEGO Express (to reenact our murder mystery ;)). However, I've never had a motorized train before - just the Hogwarts Express. What basic pieces do I need, and where do they go? Are there any neat little tricks I should know about?

Thanks,

Bloody Jay

[Wolf04]

Well you need tracks, a motor and the speed regulator.

http://shop.lego.com/product.asp?p=4548&cn=52&d=12&t=5

http://shop.lego.com/product.asp?p=10153&c...&cn=52&d=12&t=5

+ different tracks and obviously the train.

[The Middleman]

I'm getting the regulator/motor, I basically need to know how to construct the carriages. Couplings, bumpers, all that stuff.

[WesternOutlaw]

Cool Bloody Jay. Neat idea. With Lego models, I pictured the Lego Express with a MOT Steam Engine (10205 w/out the coal car) with numerous 10015 Green Passenger Cars (pictured behind my avatar) - more my western influenced version.

The real Orient Express (from the 1974 movie) is far more luxurious with a European black and red steam engine with blue or teal and beige Pullman coaches; blue bottom half, white/beige upper section and roof. Some nice MOCS have been created and pictured on Brickshelf. Orient Express has a nice gold crown emblem too if you decide to make decals. Here's a nice image of the real think at Brickshelf: Real Thing

Sorry to digress, but I thought about building a MOC myself a few months ago when I was planning a summer vacation and looked in to the American Orient Express. It's a very rich and sharp-looking train.

To answer your question though, in terms of the basics:

1) Base Plate: Plates come 6x 24 or 28 studs long. 28 would look better for a train like this. The Santa Fe cars add another 4 studs (2-studs at each end to make the 28 long plate 32).

2) Wheel Assembly: A basic wheel assembly is two sets of wheels placed next to each other with a 2x6 holding them together. A buffer is attached at one end with a boggie plate (4x6) covering the entire assembly. Usually, the wheel assembly works best on the outer hole of your train plate.

3) The train body: generally 5 bricks high (2 for base and 3 for windows and an additional flat on top to hold everything together. I prefer big train windows (3x3) rather than the small windows used in the SF cars or the 2x3 windows on the green passenger car. They look more realistic and let you see inside the cars better. Don't use the Hogwart Passenger Car assembly. It's better to have a removable roof on top (using flats as mentioned above) rather than a car that separates in the middle like the HP train.

4) Roof: I like the look of the SF roof (2x3's with rounded end rather than the basic 2x4 lego roof piece. The more rounded curve gives your train a more realistic look. The roof pieces (2x3s) are connected by a base 4 studs wide leaving an overhang of one stud all around the base. This simply allows you to easily place it on top of the train body and remove it when you want to create those Murder Mysteries.

5) 28 stud base plates with wheel assemblies (2) are available at SAH for $14.99 (US). If you need more base plates or wheels, I'd recommend you just pay a little extra and buy a complete passenger car (10015) for another $5. The base plate is only 24-studs long, but it comes with bricks and the thin train windows.

I hope this helps you a little bit and I look forward to seeing what you come up with if you complete it.

[WesternOutlaw]

PS. I like a lot of different themes but I notice that trains and city/town has the least activity on Eurobricks (esp. compared to Star Wars), but it's really neat to see that Murder on the Lego Express has created some additional interest in trains. I have a lot of fun with them and look forward to seeing what you build.

[The Middleman]

WOW! Thanks for all the tips, Brickster. That really helps! :')

I'm thinking about theming it differently (the real Orient Express is too generic). I was considering theming it LEGO (it is the LEGO Express), Eurobricks (why not?) or theming passenger cars to their occupants (i.e. I would have a dark red car with Viking paraphernalia) and having the rest be generic. I'm more considering the last option - it'd be a lot of fun and be original (if a little unrealistic :-D). Would you be alright with that? It is your story, after all.

[WesternOutlaw]

That's a great idea. I was thinking about doing something similar by building a Clue board (maybe the next mystery...). Some pictures of Clue characters are posted on Lugnet as well. A train; however, would be very original and I certainly don't mind. What's neat is all of us frequent users have a different favorite theme (ie. Viking, Pirate, Wild West, Castle, Star Wars, etc.). Neat!

[WesternOutlaw]

Your idea would also make for a great contest. Each participant could build a coach/wagon to their favorite theme.

[The Middleman]

I think Clue is a great idea - you should still do it!

And maybe Sarg could pick up on that contest idea - maybe with train carriages as prizes?

[WesternOutlaw]

Could you imagine what Phes would come up with? I'm picturing a coach with the front end of a ship and a mast in the middle of the car. Pirate flags all over! |-D

[The Middleman]

Brickster, meet me in the chat! I'll be there until midnight, just in case it takes you a while to get around to this message. See you there!

[WesternOutlaw]

I'm getting ready to sign off. I'll see if you're on later this evening if I make it back to the computer. I'm on Pacific so I think your three hours ahead of me. Talk to you later.

[The Middleman]

Alright, I'll be on until about 2 this morning (the forum that is). Just reply to the topic when you're on.