My first 9v experience...

[WhiteHexagon]

Well over the weekend I was back home visiting the parents. At some time the topic of my ever growing LEGO village MOC came up, probably because I'd ordered castle 10193 for delivery while I was there (A huge saving in GBP compared to the CHF price!). Anyway, my farther mentioned a heap of LEGO he'd bought but never got around to building. And so began my first adventures in 9V land...

I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the actual train designs, my favourite builds were a small red carriage 10014 'my own train' although it didn't list on the box just what the carriage was meant to be, and the black steam engine - not sure of part number.

As for the track, well that took me back to my younger days when I had the much older center metal rail system. Although in terms of sophistication it's a poor replacement. I hadn't realised it was quite so basic, with manual points and no lights/signals. Still I had lots of fun laying the track although on my first attempt I managed to ignore the instructions and had some complex crossover shorting the rails at some point.

I've attached the final result just because I had so much fun building it :) But it's made my mind up to wait, however long it takes, for LEGO to get back to something a little more advanced in terms of control system.

Peter

PS Anyone know the part number of the 2x1 gold plates used for gold bars? I'd sure like a few of them in my village :)

[soc399]

I missed out on 9V trains, but it looks like you had a lot of fun. Try these or maybe these as gold bars.

I have high hopes for the new power functions trains. If we're lucky, they will have the advanced controls and such that you are waiting for.

[dhaas06]

I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the actual train designs, my favourite builds were a small red carriage 10014 'my own train' although it didn't list on the box just what the carriage was meant to be...

That red carriage is a caboose, which classically is placed on the end of a train and is used for the crew to live (sleep, relax, eat, etc.). With modern locomotives, these amenities are provided without needing a separate carriage. Also, modern trains have smaller crews, so the caboose is rarely used anymore. I don't know if European trains had something similar or not.

PS Anyone know the part number of the 2x1 gold plates used for gold bars? I'd sure like a few of them in my village :)

You could also try this piece, if you're looking for the best shine!

I have to say that I'm quite impressed with the actual train designs, my favourite builds were a

[WhiteHexagon]

thanks for the links, maybe these gold bars will be my first brick link purchase! :)

Caboose - I'd never heard that word before today. My best guess was some kind of mail truck. But now that you describe it I can understand why there was a fireplace in there

[Freddie]

Cabooses were known as brake vans in Europe, and basically served the same purpose: it was a fail-safe in the event a train would separate itself, the caboose would engage the brakes on the separated half and slow it down to a halt. And they were always the last car on the train.

Today the cars usually have an automatic system, similar to that on trucks, that engages the brakes should the train separate.