Toastie

Well, Google has lots of photographs ... duh, I know. We had another interesting discussion here on EB some 4 years ago: Now, when you look at the very first photograph in that thread (which is a bit blurry, but it's all well discernible): On the diverging track, the left (curved) rail is covered with one piece of solid metal all the way through - as is the right (straight) rail on the straight track. The lever inside the body of the track does the switching, as it is partly plated with a metal piece. I believe this is discussed in the thread as well. If not, let me know, I have modified almost all of my LEGO switches, so there is less friction when throwing them with a motor. If you still need photographs, I'll take one apart again. Best, Thorsten

Holy smokes. Man, even after my 30th MOC I would not be where you are - ingenious!!! The OE carriages may look very OE'ish (I learned that this is a more of a philosophy than a train). And to top it off: I believe changing the blue you used to the OE blue - man. 8-wide, unique loco ... Thank you very much for sharing! All the best, Thorsten

There are more features provided by this web editor (in addition to all caps, bold faced and underlined text) to emphasize what you want to convey: Italics. and you can change the color and font size.

Yeah, sure: For you. So in essence, the Gods of the OE have approved this set - and they don't know anything about trains?

Which is a clear hint that ABS is far less tasty than polyethylene - despite the much better crunch factor ABS has Best, Thorsten

When you go here you'll find a (crude) schematic of the 9V LEGO switch and what it does in the very first picture. The remaining part of that reply is addressing an issue that came up in a very complex layout, discussed above that reply. Best regards, Thorsten

Chemistry@work! This is my favorite approach Well, he found the vacuum wrapping technology, so we have come to a solution, Best, Thorsten

Ever looked up this Bricklink store? Yes, 3-D printed - and even that makes the difference. But again: Fine with me!!! Best, Thorsten Yes, of course! And that is entirely OK! I have absolutely no problems with that. It is a smart move! But the loco sucks. Best, Thorsten BTW: I love this place, I love these discussions! Have all a good night! (I am on GMT +1) Thorsten

Ha! Hahaha! You have to change the country form "-" to "Austria". Here is to feeling good Austria - we never get any points from you guys in the ESC - and lost recently in a soccer game, didn't we? (OK: I could not care less about soccer - and the ESC) Best wishes, Thorsten

Don't think so, philosophy-wise: I have about €25k of LEGO bricks and plates here in my attic - mostly MOCs, and many sorted away in storage bins, I can easily access to "play" with. Many are of the Mindstorms variety and - trains ;) I have about 10 larger display models; the MK FD, TLG's Silent Mary, Saturn 5, Apollo 11 Eagle, the bust of Darth Vader, 42042 Technic crawler crane, 3 modulars and that's about it. I like to play as well despite being old. Best, Thorsten

Didn't the ones with three holes exist for long? Best, Thorsten Maybe ask: How long do you live? Stuff like a >luxury< OE whatever resort and experience may not be on the hot boilerplate for younger people? Well maybe for some, but certainly not the average. When I was 24 years old, believe me, "luxury" + "holidays on a train" was not once, not only once under my horizon. Regards, Thorsten

OK. Let's clear that up. And here as well. You have heard of the concept of exaggeration, I am sure of. Yes, it is not a DUPLO train, not even like, as the bricks are smaller and more diverse, and I do apologize for the "bizarrness" this phrasing created. Although ... Duplo bricks and pieces do also get more diverse ... OK, forget it. My first LEGO train was LEGO's #323; a push along train not even running on track, as there was no track, back in 1965. Since then, I am in love with trains. Both in real world and in brick world. From 1965 to 2023 there is naturally some time for evolution. On my layout there are 4.5V trains; 12V trains; 9V trains - the "BNSF", "Maersk"; I built Ben Beneke's BR23 from LEGO bricks only, motorized it, do run the Crocodile, pimped and PUp equipped, and operate all LEGO diesel "shunters" of the 9V and PF variety - and do enjoy all of them very, very much. The HR was the last train in that line, as it was just "reinvented" afterward - same for the cargo trains. There are also some MOCs cruising around, well, all TLG trains got some (serious) treatment. I also do look at stuff people create - here on EB and elsewhere. And then I do look at the OE steam locomotive. 58 years of evolution in the brick world. $300 as price tag: The shape and color of the side and main rods. Every Technic model has a new fancy mold - not the trains. Oh, sure - there is a hole missing in the connecting rod, and apparently that got patented. Then I look at the trains on my layout. All not the point: I >do< get that this set is not aimed at train fans, but at OE universe, for obvious reasons. I do get that some people may find the loco design slick and nice, because there is space for motorization, which in turn was turned down by TLG's QC. I am also aware of the fact that the "train" theme is a niche in LEGO world. I just don't like the praise for essentially (I am sorry, this is my personal view, others do voice here as well) - nothing - loco development wise. So: I stand correct: This locomotive is not DUPLO like. Regards, Thorsten

This. This is the core of the matter. Very nicely phrased! TLG is a for-profit, globally operating enterprise and not a small business toy manufacturer located in Denmark. It may have been that more than half a century ago. Why licenses? Read @Aanchir nice summary. Why this locomotive? It was about the carriage induced look and feel, and the loco is just a "thing" pretending to pull the carriages. The audience this set is primarily targeted at is certainly not the train heads. It is aimed at folks willing to shell out $300 for the OE feeling. And thus a Duplo-like loco is good enough. Absolutely fine with me! Saves me $300 - well, $160, as Santa spent $140 on the Steampunk Station with elevated train and carriage. Conclusion: All is where it belongs Best, Thorsten

Ooops, missed this one: No they are not. The MK Flying Dutchman is a pure display model. I rigged her up quite a bit. Also, the bow and stern sections really benefit from that stronger clutch power - there is absolutely nothing wrong with the molds, in contrast. I'll never take that beauty apart. Yes, this is not in the sense of true LEGO, but the folks over in Billund themselves have abandoned ship on that one with all their black boxes sets. Yes, could be - too old, who knows. I was building for 4 1/2 decades with LEGO only. Over the last decade, I ran into some other companies as well. And eventually reverted to vintage LEGO (mostly parts, not sets; the latter usually have insane price tags, for obvious reasons). As said elsewhere, 58 years of building with ABS bricks results in some sort of experience or better "familiarity" with the product. There is hardly any space left up here in my "office" - but I could not resist asking Santa for the Pantasy Steampunk Train Station (85007), which includes a suspended train + one carriage. I sure hope for >very< strong clutch power, as I am entertaining the idea of doing a little automation project with that one Best, Thorsten

What I am saying is: This "nice fan service" may translate to: the fans blow the motors out, as per TLGs QC. My view of "nice fan service" is: "Don't. Internal QC says: Don't; it may blow the motors. Our motors are expensive, and you don't want to do that." Well, in the rich men's world it may be visioned as: Who on Earth cares? If one of these motors blows out, we put in another one in. Done. It is simply on us. And of course forgetting that we were tempted to do so ... as well as folks who may >not< live in that world. Again: I simply don't care about this train. All I look at is the way TLG (the "company" (heads), the marketing department, the legal department) is operating in recent or not so recent times; I am old. 58 years "playing" with LEGO. And counting. Best, Thorsten