2020 Trains sets - Rumours and discussion

[Klaus-Dieter]

Hello everybody!

Since there have been several hints in the web - even some of Lego itself - that there will be some sort of new elevated train (like the Airport Shuttle Monorail, but this time of course with the rollercoaster tracks), I thought that it is time to open a fitting topic to discuss this year's Trains set(s).

One question which keeps myself busy is:

• Will the new elevated train be sold as a Creator Expert set? The Maersk Container Train and the Horizont Express were released under the Creator Expert theme, too, although it's clear that most people use them in combination with City sets.
• Or will it be the rumored D2C City set? The set will for sure not be cheap. So an Exclusive might be possible.
• Or will it be a regular set as part of the City summer wave? - Some years ago the Heavy Haul Train was sold as part of the City wave although there were already two Trains sets in the same time in the City theme, too. Plus with the City Square in 2015 we got a very huge non-exclusive City set, too.

What do you think?

[izx]

Care to share where one might find these hints as to an elevated train set, other than the prominent featuring of the monorail in the first episode of the US Lego Masters show?

[Klaus-Dieter]

There's a whole article about this at https://zusammengebaut.com/lego-monorail-feiert-in-lego-masters-in-den-usa-ihr-comeback-warum-87657/.

Lego startet a whole tweet at https://twitter.com/LEGO_Group/status/1225242334348161025?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1225242334348161025&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F writing "Raise your hand if you remember the first Town monorail set released in 1990". Why should they write "first" if none was coming next (as second one)?!

Plus someone told that the person had seen the set. Sorry that because of security reasons I can't give you the exact source.

 

Edited February 11, 2020 by Klaus-Dieter

[AMD]

If this is true, then its time to save some dough.

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

A city monorail set? Wow! Personally, I think the unknown D2C set is a mega set. But I could be wrong!

[f2k]

Sounds more like wistful thinking, to be honest.

With the train theme having been on life support for years, and most of the attention given to franchises, I can't see monorail returning any time soon. I would love to be wrong though...

[Klaus-Dieter]

News on the prices for the next two Creator Expert sets ("upcoming Creator Expert sets") due to insta:

10273 - 250 Euros and 10274 - 200 Euros.

I bet that the new elevated train will be one of these since it would be exactly the price range I think of (a bit more than a regular Trains set due to the brick-built columns needed and two stations instead of only one).

[AMD]

3 hours ago, Klaus-Dieter said:

Plus someone told that the person had seen the set. Sorry that because of security reasons I can't give you the exact source.

 

At least tell us on what color scheme they are using for the actual train.

[Klaus-Dieter]

@AMD: I don't more / can't conclude more than I already did mention. I only read the sites I linked plus watched a video in which the subject was told.

 

[AMD]

14 minutes ago, Klaus-Dieter said:

@AMD: I don't more / can't conclude more than I already did mention. I only read the sites I linked plus watched a video in which the subject was told.

 

Fair enough. Hope for the best that this set would be good or if possible, great.

Edited February 11, 2020 by AMD

[Carefree_Dude]

Seeing a monorail on roller coaster track will be odd 

[dr_spock]

A couple of years ago, LEGO® released a Friends set calling the "people mover" on coaster tracks a monorail in the product description on S@H:

The LEGO® Friends 41347 Heartlake City Resort is the place to hang out and have fun in Heartlake City! The hotel has a lobby, restaurant, juice bar, terrace with a DJ stand and 2 bedrooms. Drive the monorail round to the water park with changing room, 2 waterslides and a splash bucket, plus a beach area with a water scooter, parasailer and a lifeguard stand. This amazing LEGO Friends set includes 4 mini-doll figures plus a dolphin figure.

41347-53 by DrSpockFriends, on Flickr

 

[LegoDW]

A new mono rail would be interesting.  PF 2.0?  

I'm  not sure this will be a strong seller for TLG.  Would think a more kid friendly theme would be more financially rewarding.  

 

[Digger of Bricks]

4 hours ago, dr_spock said:

A couple of years ago, LEGO® released a Friends set calling the "people mover" on coaster tracks a monorail in the product description on S@H:

The LEGO® Friends 41347 Heartlake City Resort is the place to hang out and have fun in Heartlake City! The hotel has a lobby, restaurant, juice bar, terrace with a DJ stand and 2 bedrooms. Drive the monorail round to the water park with changing room, 2 waterslides and a splash bucket, plus a beach area with a water scooter, parasailer and a lifeguard stand. This amazing LEGO Friends set includes 4 mini-doll figures plus a dolphin figure.

Yeah, until something suggests otherwise, that's the most I'm expecting to see from this rumor, and I'm betting it's gonna tie into a City set rather than Creator.

[izx]

23 hours ago, Klaus-Dieter said:

There's a whole article about this at https://zusammengebaut.com/lego-monorail-feiert-in-lego-masters-in-den-usa-ihr-comeback-warum-87657/.

Lego startet a whole tweet at https://twitter.com/LEGO_Group/status/1225242334348161025?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1225242334348161025&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F writing "Raise your hand if you remember the first Town monorail set released in 1990". Why should they write "first" if none was coming next (as second one)?!

Thanks, Klaus. I wouldn't read too much into the tweet...may not be the best phrasing, but it is literal (since the other two monorails were from the defunct Space theme). Although the monorail actually featured in the show is the white 6990 from 1987!

I agree there is some smoke, but no fire. IMHO, the major obstacle for a powered train on the roller coaster tracks is the need for a new Powered Up motor. A number of excellent existing MOCs use M-motors with either oddly-spaced regular train wheels or small wheels which grip the sides of the roller coaster track (somewhat similar to the original monorail). But such a solution would be at least as complicated as the Emerald Night drive mechanism---something I don't see Lego doing for a non-Creator Expert set.

[SteamSewnEmpire]

I don't regard monorails as trains (or roller coasters pretending to be monorails, for that matter), so I guess I hope there's something else.

[Carefree_Dude]

There is always that 40 years of trains anniversary set. 

[Matt Dawson]

On 2/12/2020 at 9:13 AM, izx said:

Thanks, Klaus. I wouldn't read too much into the tweet...may not be the best phrasing, but it is literal (since the other two monorails were from the defunct Space theme). Although the monorail actually featured in the show is the white 6990 from 1987!

I agree there is some smoke, but no fire. IMHO, the major obstacle for a powered train on the roller coaster tracks is the need for a new Powered Up motor. A number of excellent existing MOCs use M-motors with either oddly-spaced regular train wheels or small wheels which grip the sides of the roller coaster track (somewhat similar to the original monorail). But such a solution would be at least as complicated as the Emerald Night drive mechanism---something I don't see Lego doing for a non-Creator Expert set.

I think the only way they'd do a monorail with the current track is to have it using a road-railer style mechanism (powered road wheels with train wheels to guide it) or by a whole new element to act as final drive - after all, none of the current roller coaster equipment would have the ability to be motorised...

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

I'm surprised that Lego hasn't gone the rapid transit route with its trains though. The only sign of one we got was that piece from the early 2000s Spider-Man sets. 

[Pdaitabird]

@Brandon Pea I suspect it may be that modern rapid transit-style trains aren't that visually interesting, but I might be a bit biased...if it isn't steam powered, it doesn't interest me!  I guess more modern-looking trains like you've mentioned would be a better fit with City, though.

[zephyr1934]

11 hours ago, Brandon Pea said:

I'm surprised that Lego hasn't gone the rapid transit route with its trains though. The only sign of one we got was that piece from the early 2000s Spider-Man sets. 

There was also the streetcar/LRV in 8404, but still sparse

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

2 hours ago, zephyr1934 said:

There was also the streetcar/LRV in 8404, but still sparse

Yeah! Though I meant "rapid transit" as in "subway". 

Edited February 21, 2020 by Brandon Pea

[izx]

23 hours ago, zephyr1934 said:

There was also the streetcar/LRV in 8404, but still sparse

And the similar "tram" in 60097 City Square (2015)... I wonder if the fact that subways/light rail are NOT a fact of daily life in the US outside of NY/Boston/Chicago/LA/SF, etc. has anything to do with it. Although they are pervasive throughout Europe. and these days I assume throughout China as well.

20 hours ago, Brandon Pea said:

Yeah! Though I meant "rapid transit" as in "subway". 

Maybe LEGO will accept the recent 'Toronto's Pride' Ideas submission and grant your wish ;)

[legotownlinz]

I wonder why it takes four years to release new City trains. Products of any other theme chance more frequently, why not trains?

[Driver Brandon Grumman]

8 minutes ago, legotownlinz said:

I wonder why it takes four years to release new City trains. Products of any other theme chance more frequently, why not trains?

That's likely because trains isn't really something that Lego City designers really want to push right now.