Space78 Posted May 26 Posted May 26 7 hours ago, TeddytheSpoon said: What did cross my mind: buying 2 would get you a four-wagon train, and should give enough parts to mod the shunter into a bigger 4-axle loco, which the power hub could probably sit inside. I'm not sure I'll do it myself but I'm almost expecting someone here will! Hmmmm... I like that idea. As is, the train looks really small to me. I don't like train cars with only two wheels at each end, which seems to be the direction Lego is moving to cut costs on the train sets. I mean, the passenger car is technically a passenger car, but I don't think Lego could have made it any smaller! Quote
TeddytheSpoon Posted May 26 Posted May 26 (edited) 2 hours ago, LL1982 said: True that is possible. You can make it like a big V60 locomotive. Front end for the hub, those doors at the side of the hub. Use some slopes to round of the top. Hub will be pretty 'fixed' so changing batteries is shit. The cab can stay relative similar I reckon, kind of depends on the overall height. You cant the windows to be just at or tad lower than the front nose. Rear end can be short 6 studs rectangular. You would need a proper train base to make it the easiest, but indeed good catch it can be done. Maybe a few parts from your own collection. A hub is 5 bricks? And those doors at the side will be 3 or 4 high, so you need something in between before you use slopes to round off the top. There is an old 9V train (green one) that looks fairly similar you can use as reference. Oh yea, my brother had that green train as a kid! Great set. Perhaps that's what I was thinking of subconsciously 1 hour ago, Space78 said: Hmmmm... I like that idea. As is, the train looks really small to me. I don't like train cars with only two wheels at each end, which seems to be the direction Lego is moving to cut costs on the train sets. I mean, the passenger car is technically a passenger car, but I don't think Lego could have made it any smaller! True, I suppose you could make them bogie cars too. As for the passenger car... the Christmas train caboose wants a word Edited May 26 by TeddytheSpoon Quote
idlemarvel Posted May 26 Posted May 26 2 hours ago, LL1982 said: ... A hub is 5 bricks? And those doors at the side will be 3 or 4 high, so you need something in between before you use slopes to round off the top. There is an old 9V train (green one) that looks fairly similar you can use as reference. FYI The hub is 4 bricks high (4x8x4) Quote
zephyr1934 Posted May 27 Posted May 27 21 hours ago, Driver Brandon Grumman said: How did he get his hands on those trains? Those are not supposed to come until June (August for the US). They release in Europe June 1, then in the US a few months later (!@#$%) I think someone said it on the last page, but yeah, when you put the hub in the tender of the steam train it doesn't look great. But it shouldn't be too difficult to modify it into a better tender 10 hours ago, TeddytheSpoon said: Oh yea, my brother had that green train as a kid! Great set. Perhaps that's what I was thinking of subconsciously The harbor freight locomotive has echos of 3677 from 2011: Which has strong echos of 4512 from 2003 g Which then has strong echos of 4564 from 1994 Quote
LL1982 Posted May 27 Posted May 27 14 hours ago, idlemarvel said: FYI The hub is 4 bricks high (4x8x4) Thanks. 4 for the hub, 2 for the windows, maybe a plate or something to get cables underneath the hub for lights. It does get a bit high for a city train, but I can work with a hub in it. 5 hours ago, zephyr1934 said: I think someone said it on the last page, but yeah, when you put the hub in the tender of the steam train it doesn't look great. But it shouldn't be too difficult to modify it into a better tender I saw that in the movie someone linked :D. Those parts are available. I think I am going to buy it next week and mod it if there is a good price in the local store. That tender can be made red and dark green and just a tad longer and higher and then the hub is hidden. Not sure how the proportion would look like. I also wondered if you cannot give the locomotive a small coal bucket at the back. Forgive my non train technical terms haha, not a true train fanatic. But you have those steam trains that have the coal compartment at the rear. I think you can motorize it with those small motors and that blue hub. Forgot the brand. I bought it for my kid but stealing it at the moment to build a small diesel shunter. Quote
TeddytheSpoon Posted May 27 Posted May 27 4 hours ago, LL1982 said: I saw that in the movie someone linked :D. Those parts are available. I think I am going to buy it next week and mod it if there is a good price in the local store. That tender can be made red and dark green and just a tad longer and higher and then the hub is hidden. Not sure how the proportion would look like. I also wondered if you cannot give the locomotive a small coal bucket at the back. Forgive my non train technical terms haha, not a true train fanatic. But you have those steam trains that have the coal compartment at the rear. I think you can motorize it with those small motors and that blue hub. Forgot the brand. I bought it for my kid but stealing it at the moment to build a small diesel shunter. I presume you mean Circuit Cubes? That's what I'd been thinking to motorise the shunter with at first. Since it's only a shunter, speed shouldn't be much of a problem, and it might even be possible to fit two motors into it. It might be possible for the steam train too? You could definitely fit the hub in the tender, I imagine at least one motor would fit in the loco. As for converting to a tank engine with a bunker rather than a tender (which is what I assume you're getting at with the coal compartment thing!), it could also be doable, but the bunker might end up quite bulky if that's where the hub goes. Quote
LL1982 Posted May 27 Posted May 27 1 hour ago, TeddytheSpoon said: I presume you mean Circuit Cubes? That's what I'd been thinking to motorise the shunter with at first. Since it's only a shunter, speed shouldn't be much of a problem, and it might even be possible to fit two motors into it. It might be possible for the steam train too? You could definitely fit the hub in the tender, I imagine at least one motor would fit in the loco. As for converting to a tank engine with a bunker rather than a tender (which is what I assume you're getting at with the coal compartment thing!), it could also be doable, but the bunker might end up quite bulky if that's where the hub goes. Thanks for the name. Indeed circuit cubes. Those can indeed work perfectly on the shunter. That hub is 4x4 and not that high. The motors are 2x4 I think. You could even put them in the frame at wheel level and directly power the wheels with less gearing. A bunker.... thanks sorry for the heresy on not having proper train terminology. But a bunker indeed with that circuit cubes hub in it and partly in the cab area. You will loose the driver position though. Quote
zephyr1934 Posted May 27 Posted May 27 4 hours ago, TeddytheSpoon said: I presume you mean Circuit Cubes? That's what I'd been thinking to motorise the shunter with at first. Since it's only a shunter, speed shouldn't be much of a problem, and it might even be possible to fit two motors into it. I'm sure the Circuit Cubes mod would be similar to what is necessary for the Hogswarts 76423 BTW, any confirmation that these sets come with metal axles? Quote
L-Gauger Posted May 27 Posted May 27 8 hours ago, LL1982 said: A bunker.... thanks sorry for the heresy on not having proper train terminology. No trouble! All train nerds have been there... there's still plenty of terminology I don't know! Regarding the steam train hypothetical MODs, I wonder if the engine would be a suitable candidate to turn into a 0-6-4T or 2-6-2T. Either option might create enough space to fit a motor and battery box (be it LEGO or third-party) while enlarging the locomotive enough so the necessarily large bunker doesn't look too out of place. Quote
idlemarvel Posted May 27 Posted May 27 (edited) 5 hours ago, zephyr1934 said: BTW, any confirmation that these sets come with metal axles? Yes, the spare parts lists for the vintage train and harbour train sets have metal axles. The tram uses Technic axles. Edited May 27 by idlemarvel Quote
Darkkostas25 Posted May 28 Posted May 28 19 hours ago, L-Gauger said: 2-6-2T Yeah or cute 2-6-4t Quote
Shiva Posted May 28 Posted May 28 I'll imagine that 60511 Steam locomotive having inside cylinders, as some had in real life. Quote
Dav1d Posted May 29 Posted May 29 Its a pity thast the Vintage Steam Train doesn't have a coupling on the front, as often steam trains had to run tender first as there wasn't a truntable at each end of the line to turn the train - I will have to add one. It is also a pity that the for Harbour Freight Train, that the motor cannot be easily slotted in, especially as the designer mentions it is easy to motorise. Quote
zephyr1934 Posted May 29 Posted May 29 6 hours ago, Dav1d said: It is also a pity that the for Harbour Freight Train, that the motor cannot be easily slotted in, especially as the designer mentions it is easy to motorise. True that, but I think the designers said that the original specifications was for a strictly push train so the fact that they worked in a motor option is still better than none Quote
DAN42BR Posted May 29 Posted May 29 (edited) Hi, I built a replica of the locomotive a few days ago! And I made a yellow version with a hidden HUB in the car! There's now a review of the Harbor Train! Train Edited May 29 by DAN42BR foto Quote
LL1982 Posted May 29 Posted May 29 On 5/27/2026 at 11:21 PM, L-Gauger said: No trouble! All train nerds have been there... there's still plenty of terminology I don't know! Regarding the steam train hypothetical MODs, I wonder if the engine would be a suitable candidate to turn into a 0-6-4T or 2-6-2T. Either option might create enough space to fit a motor and battery box (be it LEGO or third-party) while enlarging the locomotive enough so the necessarily large bunker doesn't look too out of place. Now I had to look that up 🤣. But I think you are correct. You could even do that 6-4 and then use a train motor as the 4 rear wheels but the hub in the tender. Or just use circuit cubes. It would give it more body overall. Just scrap some parts of the tender and most likely you are there. You're giving me ideas now. Quote
idlemarvel Posted May 30 Posted May 30 (edited) My preordered Classic Beach Tram #60506 and Vintage Steam Train #60511 arrived this morning! I've already built the tram, I'm going to have a go at motorising it with PuP. It looks very possible, although you would have to lose some passenger seats to make room for the hub. I'll try and do it using only parts from the set (apart from the hub and train motor of course!). I'm saving the Vintage Steam Train for my birthday in a few weeks, but I had a look at the instructions. The bit on motorising that does not come with the printed instructions, there is a QR code you scan to download an alternative book 4 to build the tender differently to accommodate the motor and hub. Or you can download it from the lego.com Building Instructions page for 60511. The loco stays the same. Edited June 1 by idlemarvel Updated to show alternative source of instructions Quote
Dav1d Posted May 31 Posted May 31 13 hours ago, Darkkostas25 said: It would be good to see your Vintage Stream Train after you have modified it. Quote
idlemarvel Posted May 31 Posted May 31 23 hours ago, idlemarvel said: My preordered Classic Beach Tram #60506 and Vintage Steam Train #60511 arrived this morning! I've already built the tram, I'm going to have a go at motorising it with PuP. It looks very possible, although you would have to lose some passenger seats to make room for the hub. I'll try and do it using only parts from the set (apart from the hub and train motor of course!)... Success. I have motorised the tram. My goal was to retain the appearance, and I have managed to do that. Visually it looks exactly the same except the compartment behind the windows is full of hub. The cable can be tucked behind the driver's seat. Still room for passengers in the open compartment. Underneath you can see where the motor goes. Any red bits you can see around the motor are extra pieces. It's easy to get to the hub switch via the removeable roof. It might be possible to add lights but hiding the cable would be tricky. Quote
zephyr1934 Posted May 31 Posted May 31 3 hours ago, idlemarvel said: Success. I have motorised the tram. My goal was to retain the appearance, and I have managed to do that. Visually it looks exactly the same except the compartment behind the windows is full of hub. The cable can be tucked behind the driver's seat. Still room for passengers in the open compartment. Good job! Quote
idlemarvel Posted June 1 Posted June 1 19 hours ago, zephyr1934 said: Good job! Thanks @zephyr1934. If anyone is interested I have produced some very basic instructions for experienced builders to motorise #60506 here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_bUJE5d6wxi8nt1LN61bENwR8VOSXc7k/view?usp=sharing Quote
idlemarvel Posted June 7 Posted June 7 If I read the alt build motorization instructions for the #60509 Harbour Freight Train set correctly, it's a pretty poor show. I get why they couldn't fit the hub in the loco but: a) the train will run backwards if you use the remote control + button b) the hub is "bricked in" and you have to dismantle the container to change batteries Both of these issues could have been addressed with a bit more thought. Time for some "alt-alt" instructions! Quote
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