New RC trains + Older 9v Trains.......

[paul]

Hi,please forgive me if this has been posted before(I tried a search and couldnt find the answer) as I'm the 'NEW' boy.I have just started to collect lego Town/City and trains and before I visited the various lego forums I bought a lego RC train set(high speed passenger) *sing* ,I now know that its not supposed to be that great but its a start and I dont know any better as i havent used a 9v system.Anyway I was wondering if any of the 9v sets that are still available on LEGO s@h could be used on the rc trains,SANTA FE 10020,BURLINGTON NORTHERN 10133 AND THE HOBBY TRAIN SET.I would also like the holiday train and the TRAIN ENGINE SHED 10027 but I am not sure if the RC train is too wide to fit through it.Sorry if I am being a total plank but I would like to eventually get a nice 9v layout but for now all I have is RC and I would like to expand on it .Cheers

[Mr Hobbles]

In short: RC trains will run on 9v track but 9v will NOT run on RC track. Out of what you mentioned, everything can be used on an RC layout, but only unmotorised. If you wanted to run the rest of the trains with motors, you will need to replace all your track with 9v track and buy a speed regulator.

[paul]

Thanks for the reply Mr Hobbles,I did realize that the 9v trains with a 9v motor installed would not run on rc plastic rails,but i wondered if the 9v models could be built onto the bases of rc trains and therefore run on plastic railed rc track (ie,are the bases of 9v trains the same size as the bases of the rc trains),sorry if i was unclear in my post.cheers

[Freddie]

Thanks for the reply Mr Hobbles,I did realize that the 9v trains with a 9v motor installed would not run on rc plastic rails,but i wondered if the 9v models could be built onto the bases of rc trains and therefore run on plastic railed rc track (ie,are the bases of 9v trains the same size as the bases of the rc trains),sorry if i was unclear in my post.cheers

The RC Train base is two studs longer than the longest regular base, the latter being extensively used for the rail-powered locomotives. There's also a 24 stud base, more commonly used for shorter bogied train cars but no less usuable for locomotives (and used as such on two occasions). The RC Train base is however less flexible in its use, as the battery box severly limits the body styles possible to use on it. There is however nothing stopping you to use it as an unmotorized tender (disguised as a box-car, maybe), running first in the train supplying power to the locomotive a head; this will also let you build small locomotives with unarticulated motors. This method is usable for the 10173, as the passenger car can, at the sacrifice of passenger space, be converted to a tender and provide the power to the motorized tender car (in a 9V conversion 10173's tender is actually motorized rather than the locomotive itself).

The Santa Fe locomotive is easily converted to RC-drive thanks to its 6-stud wide body, the BNSF locomotive however boasts a 4-stud wide body and as such can only be converted at the sacrifice of its overall looks, or will need a tender if you wish to keep the design intact.

Also, 9V motors can easily be powered by the RC-platform, but probably at the expense of battery-life (untested) - performance stays the same however (tested). The 9V rails also provide a better grip surface for both 9V and RC train motors.

Edit; Ooh, forgot to mention. The engine shed has more then large enough openings for the RC-trains to enter and commiunication inside it is not a problem.

[simonwillems]

I wondered if the 9v models could be built onto the bases of rc trains and therefore run on plastic railed rc track (ie,are the bases of 9v trains the same size as the bases of the rc trains),sorry if i was unclear in my post.cheers

The 9 volt trains use the same width of six, the same magnet-connections and practically the same wheels as the old 9 volt trains and the same bases.

Only thing is that the locomotives in the new rc trains have a new base (with some sort of block in the middle for the remote control), so apart from the locomotives everyting is rebuildable with old 9 volt parts.

Hoping this helps...

:-)

[Holodoc]

The 10027 train engine shed uses gate openings with arches. These arches begin at the height of 9 bricks and have a maximum at the height of 14 bricks. The gates leave an opening 8 studs wide (normal width of the tracks).

Have a look at Brickfactory, choose 10000-10099, then head to 10027 and go to page 32.

So every train that is less high than these dimensions can go in and through the shed. :-)

I

[UniqueBuilder]

I

[SavaTheAggie]

The caboose (set #10014), however, not only doesn't fit in the Train Engine Shed, but also won't fit under the overhead crossing in the Train Level Crossing (set #10128). I use the caboose to judge a good tunnel height whenever I build one.

--Tony

[paul]

WOW and thankyou all for the very detailed replies,I was a bit worried starting the train hobby with rc but now feel that it has got potential and may invest in some more sets(santa fe etc.) It will be very interesting to see how people adapt their 9v systems/sets to fit in with the rc line and vice versa.Just ordered the Train Engine House and cant wait to build it,with a couple of cold beers *sweet* .Thanks again everyone,you have been most helpful...

[UniqueBuilder]

Just ordered the Train Engine House and cant wait to build it,with a couple of cold beers *sweet* .

That's easy to understand, it's a WONDERFUL set, definetly in my top 5! ;-)

[alex54]

It will be very interesting to see how people adapt their 9v systems/sets to fit in with the rc line and vice versa.

Nothing more to say. Just that I confirm that it is easier to convert a RC train in a 9V version because of the base without the battery box.

Here a link to my 9V version of the IR cargo train: link!

[Freddie]

May I add that 7898, the RC Freight Train, is a recommendation. It's a fantastically huge set, and in my opinion the best freight train since LEGO switched away from 12v/4.5v. Great engine, cars with variation and three road-vehicles; and it's getting good ratings and reviews/comments at Brickset and LUGNET. Plus seeing as you already have a controller, you don't need batteries for the extra one as you only need to change channel to operate a different train.

I should probably add that the cars' long wheelbases (with the exception of bogied cars), causes a lot of friction in corners, and slows down the train a lot, so you might want to shorten that with two studs. The old standard was six studs between each set of wheels (eight studs between the axles), whereas 7898's cars have eight studs between the wheelsets (ten studs between axles).

The Hobby Train Set is; despite color inconsistensies with the red bricks, is a thumbs up, and in multiples, double and probably also tripple so depending on how many of it you buy. There's no motors or rails in it, but seeing as you are still fresh on the train scene, it's probably an advantage. Some of the locomotives in it doesn't even seem to sport motorization possibilities without completely ruining their design.

[highlandcattle]

Hi paul,

first off all, I'd like to welcome you on the Lego Train scene! It's a wonderfull hobby with numerous cool people. I only restarted the hobby this summer after a hiatus of 12 years (I'm 24 now). I can hartly recommend the BSNF it is an amazing set! (I can't comment on the santa f

[Holodoc]

One more comment to old/new 9V trains:

Although the battery-driven engines also run with 9V... :-|

:-D

[UniqueBuilder]

A useful link:

http://save.9vtrains.com/

;-)

[Holodoc]

http://save.9vtrains.com/

You

[UniqueBuilder]

Thanks, Holodoc. :-)

There's been some really nice train MOC contests around there, and links to very nice train wagons that you can buy at LEGO Factory.

My username is SanLegoFD. Hope to see you around some time. ;-)

[Landlubber]

Whats to stop someone from building a Moc freight wagon from the RC battery baseplate and using it to run an old 9V train with standard wheels? The motor doesn't have to be in the very front of the train. It should run fine if it's round the middle somewhere, although I find they do struggle a bit if they're on the very end of a long train.

[SavaTheAggie]

Whats to stop someone from building a Moc freight wagon from the RC battery baseplate and using it to run an old 9V train with standard wheels? The motor doesn't have to be in the very front of the train. It should run fine if it's round the middle somewhere, although I find they do struggle a bit if they're on the very end of a long train.

Nothing at all, except the RC is impotent in its' ability to pull load. The new RC train cars and locomotives are full of larger pieces or use very small cars to reduce weight. The more recent 9v trains and cars are much much heavier, especially the Super Chief. IIRC, one of the first people to get an RC train tried to pull three or four Super Chief passenger wagons with an RC locomotive and was unable to do so.

--Tony

EDIT:

Three Santa Fe Coaches:

http://www.iltco.org/library/articleShow.php?articleid=51

Or one MOC passenger coach added to the whole RC train set and sent through a switch

http://www.iltco.org/library/articleShow.php?articleid=52

Is capable of stopping the train entirely.

[paul]

Thanks again guys for all the replies,I have decided to get the rc cargo train as wall as some 9vsets so i can mix the 2 as I really want the hobby set and santa fe etc,one question,are there different shades of grey in the 9v track? cheers

[Holodoc]

Thanks again guys for all the replies,I have decided to get the rc cargo train as wall as some 9vsets so i can mix the 2 as I really want the hobby set and santa fe etc,one question,are there different shades of grey in the 9v track? cheers

That is a question we all were waiting for. :-D

Oh YES, there are two different shades of grey. One is called "(old) dark grey" and is the colour of all the older 9V tracks and trains. The colour was introduced 1978 with the space sets. The other and newer gray is called "blueish grey" or "bley" ("DarkStone" at peeron) and was introduced to the train system with the RC trains. In other sets it appeared since the 2004 sets.

There was a lot talk about changing the colours because of the discontinuation of the old grey (stockpiling for MOC

[Hobbes]

But when you buy sets, there will be only one of the two shades, you

[paul]

Thanks for clearing that up.I have been looking at the 4511 high speed set ,do you know if this is the newer bley ? cheers

[simonwillems]

Thanks for clearing that up.I have been looking at the 4511 high speed set ,do you know if this is the newer bley ? cheers

I believe all sets issued in 2001 or later have the newer colors (correct me if I'm wrong), so that includes the 2003 highspeed train 4511.

[Holodoc]

I believe all sets issued in 2001 or later have the newer colors (correct me if I'm wrong), so that includes the 2003 highspeed train 4511.

According to Lugnet, bley was introduced 2004. So the 4511 (released 2003) is made of darkgrey, not bley. Peeron seconds that.