2010 Train Sets

[MojoLego]

Hmm... you're right. Let's hope this is Version 2 of the rechargeable battery pack...

Like most people, I was hoping that this was a Li-ion battery. I also thought Lego would not go to the trouble of designing yet another battery box (they are trying to keep things simple, right?).

But the lack of a DC input on the new battery box has changed my mind. And there are advantages to Lego. Not only is it much less expensive, there is nothing about the set that requires country customization (i.e., the DC transformer). It is the same set worldwide.

[The Green Brick Giant]

It's probably a regular battery pack, one you have to add batteries too in order for the sets to be cheaper. This new battery back could take $30 off the price of the set if it's not rechargeable.

[peterab]

It's probably a regular battery pack, one you have to add batteries too in order for the sets to be cheaper. This new battery back could take $30 off the price of the set if it's not rechargeable.

I agree, but am greatly disappointed. The $30 dollar saving makes this set far less attractive to me. I still can't obtain a rechargable battery with a recharger for my region, this battey box probably uses 6 AAA's which will be hopeless for shows, and the predicted price of this set in Australia is such that I'm better off ordering the parts I want from bricklink or in the case of PF bits, US S@H via a remailer. Had it included the rechargable that would all have been different.

Edited May 7, 2010 by peterab

[Ashi Valkoinen]

Check these pics:

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=7937-1

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=7939-1

http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=7938-1

Edited May 7, 2010 by Ashi Valkoinen

[Anders Nolberger]

I think it looks as if there are two motors on the cargo train. There are rubber bands on all wheels and it looks like the "train decorative side" on both front and rear.

[HoMa]

Hi,

The train motor has a fixed wire:

The new AAA battery box:

See more pictures at: www.holgermatthes.de/bricks

Holger

[Cwetqo]

Thats a disaster...

I lost interest in both of the trains. AAA-s are more expensive then AA-s , running time will be significantly shorter (unuseful for club events) and worst of all, I have all rechargeable batteries in AA format (I use them for technic models, RC cars, camera...). And for us 9v users also the tracks are not usable, so we end with just engine and two (or three) cars.

The only option for buying this will be if they will be sale (80euro or less for passenger). And even for that money I would rather buy TS3 train (maybe even HP one).

[Captain Zuloo]

What a disappointment, this news of a AAA battery box totally destroys any chance of me buying these new trains. Well done LEGO, you've annoyed a lot of people with this one.

It really makes you wonder why the bothered producing the rechargable battery box in the first place...

[jonwil]

I dont think its just the cost, also with the rechargeable battery it has to be recharged by the parents (there is a risk also of the kid looking for where the parents plugged it in so they can take it and associated risk of kid electrocuting himself by playing with power outlet where his toy is plugged into)

With the new AAA battery box the parent has to just buy a packet of batteries and put it in the box. Minimal risk of injury or electrocution for the kid.

In any case AFOLs can always buy the rechargeable battery box and recharger from Shop @ Home. Aussies can order the recharger (which would presumably come with a Euro plug on the end) and buy an adapter as the voltage will be the same. (or you could go to Dick Smith or somewhere and buy a generic adapter that outputs the correct voltage and polarity like the one I have for my music keyboard which has a voltage selection switch and a bunch of reversible plug tips)

[Cwetqo]

They hope that we will buy Cargo Train for 180euro AND Battery with charger for additional 83euro for combined value of 263euro. Way to go LEGO, better and better every day. I will probably buy just the battery and charger for my emerald night and skip on new train line completely (ok, I will maybe buy train station)

[roamingstop]

Hmm does that new motor show a new hole meaning you can also drive a 3 axle system ? Flange - Blind - Flange? This would be quite nice...

As to the AAA box - well this may not be great for AFOL - but agreed with Jonwil, the use of batteries really help make the train a toy... for children to use. Anywhere a mains voltage is concerned is under tight EU regulation - especially for Children. And some Li-on AAA batteries can be powerful.

Perhaps they even becomes available online - a cheaper option for some parents no doubt...

Edited May 7, 2010 by roamingstudio

[MojoLego]

I think it looks as if there are two motors on the cargo train. There are rubber bands on all wheels and it looks like the "train decorative side" on both front and rear.

Check post #481 and earlier. One is a motor; the other is a technic built bogie with decorative side. Both the cargo train and passenger train use them, though the latter places the motor look-alike bogie at the other end of the train.

Rob

[Whittleberry]

Well, that's gone and destroyed chances of me leaping off to the shops to buy the passenger train. The main appeal of the PF trains to me was the fact that I wouldn't have to continually buy batteries for it.

Congratulations LEGO....if I'm going to have to buy a rechargeable battery box on top of that then a 9v trainset from the secondary market is looking VERY appealing.

LEGO said there was "not sufficient demand for the (9V trains) to be profitable and competitive", and yet now they are investing all this money into designing new elements specifically for trains - the PF train remote, train motor, flex track and small battery box - and they have decided trains are suddenly going to be in sufficient demand again. IMO when the metal-crimping machine broke (which I believe is what happened) they should have just moved the factory responsible for crimping the metal rails on the track to China and continued like that, in terms of cost it would have been likely similar to devising a whole new system from scratch, and would have caused minimal fussing in the AFOL community.

I guess one way LEGO could redeem itself is to have some sort of swap scheme, where you can mail back your battery box and a cheque for some small amount and receive a rechargeable one?

[WesternOutlaw]

"Where did I put those extra 9V motors"? comes to mind.

[Captain Zuloo]

"Where did I put those extra 9V motors"? comes to mind.

As does "Where can I buy more under $60 each?". TheBrickster, I'm interested in your opinion on the battery box since you own one of the EN battery boxes. Do you think you'll be purchasing any of these new sets to use your EN battery box in?

[MojoLego]

The train motor has a fixed wire:

Does this have a new part number or is it 8866 version 2?

[WesternOutlaw]

Do you think you'll be purchasing any of these new sets to use your EN battery box in?

I'll most likely buy the Cargo Train, but I'm not a big fan of "Big Red" (the passenger train). I utilize a 9V layout (because most of my track is 9V), but I currently have the R/C Cargo Train Deluxe running on the layout because it's able to make the climb over the bridge pulling a lot of cars. I also like lots of cars/rolling stock, and LEGO passenger trains just don't afford that opportunity (unless you make them yourself). The Emerald is a bit short. I also like the R/C aspect and the (beep beeeeeepppp) horn of the Cargo Train Deluxe.

I suppose the Power System isn't as important to me as the set itself, because one can always slap on a 9V motor without too much difficulty. I still think it's the better system, regardless of the additional functionality with PS (that's just me though). LEGO did need to provide a more economical solution to the rechargeable battery - I suppose this is it.

[HoMa]

Does this have a new part number or is it 8866 version 2?

Hi,

sorry, I can not tell. The dimensions of the body are the same, the axle holders are orange in this new motor and the cable is "build-in".

I also recieved following information from LEGO to pass on: „... the new LPF Train Motor looks much like the former from the outside, it has been reengineered from the inside. It has more motor power and is more efficient. The new train runs as long on AAA batteries as the former did on AA batteries.“

I personally see the new battery box in a positive way. Now we have two different power resources with the same dimensions to power our trains or other MOCs. Either we use one-way batteries which might be cheaper in a short term perspective or we use the rechargeable battery which is expensive if you have to buy one, but on a long term perspective it will be worth it.

Overall I am happy to see a choice rather then one or none solutions offered from Billund. From the LEGO City perspective the new trains are great and especially the cargo train comes with lots of extras e.g. track, switches, crane, truck, containers ... kids will love that and there is a high playability in this set. And we as AFOLs should see sets like this either as collectible items or as random assortment of elements which are used for our own mocs.

Holger

[lightningtiger]

You mean to say that AAA batteries will produce the same performance as AA batteries, AAA's can not supply the same amount of current than AA batteries. So torque might not be as good with heavy rolling stock, higher the current - stronger the magnetic strength inside the motor, better the torque - if my studys at school of electronics 25 years proves me right.

I'm a conformist! everyone.

[Melfice]

The only thing that comes to my mind is "I'd better order a few more rechargeable battery boxes, before LEGO Shop at Home runs out and I have to spend double on one."

[Duq]

Gosh what a negativity. Reminds me of the grey/bley panic.

I'm with Holger on this. The Power Function battery box for 6 AA batteries is way too big to put in a train. LEGO realised that (with some AFOL pressure) and has produced an alternative. You now have two interchangable battery boxes. A cheap one for AAA batteries and a more expensive one that's rechargable. It keeps the price down for the initial purchase of the new train sets. That should help sales to children (remember, they're still the core market) and more Lego train sales can only be a good thing for all of us.

At a later time you can replace the AAA box with a rechargable one without any modification to the model. Yes, that'll leave you with a spare battery box. That can be used to power the level crossing. Or the lights in a building. Or....

You mean to say that AAA batteries will produce the same performance as AA batteries

Nope, read again. You need to include the improved motor in the equation. The new motor on AAA will produce the same performance as the old motor on AA batteries.

[Bricktrix]

Nope, read again. You need to include the improved motor in the equation. The new motor on AAA will produce the same performance as the old motor on AA batteries.

So if you use the new motor with AA batteries, in theory it will perform better and last even longer than AAA's?

[The Green Brick Giant]

Well AAA is a pretty stupid choice by LEGO.

Everyone has rechargeable AA batteries they use for remotes, cameras, anything around the house. I have 30+ AA rechargeable batteries that I lose and find all the time. I don't have any AAA ones.

[Brickthus]

For AFOLs, a AAA battery box is better for occasional use, with a LiPo battery for shows.

Since I have many trains, having a LiPo battery for each would be too expensive.

Therefore designing trains to have hot-swappable battery boxes is best.

Remember also that the child market keeps the AFOL market afloat, so the AAA battery box is a must for families.

There is a claim that the new motor means that AAA batteries will last as long as AAs used to with previous motors, but that's something to test!

Apart from that, the smaller-capacity AAA batteries would run out in a mercifully short time for parents!

Unfortunate that AAAs are more expensive per mAh than AAs, but the lightness goes some way to offset that, having advantages in efficiency and in lowering the centre of gravity, for better cornering. I buy AAAs and AAs in bulk anyway (24s or 36s), so that helps offset the cost. I feel sorry for families who buy batteries in 6s at premium price.

I have faith that the new motors will be more powerful, like the 9V motors, and not rubbish like the RC motors, but I will have to test them to prove it.

Perhaps some of you will have learned from my earlier hints

Mark

[MojoLego]

Brickset is slowly posting a build of 7939 on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmillington/s...57623887501399/