M_slug357

Man, those controllers where HUGE compared to the PF ones we enjoy today! Also, I still haven't figured out a good way to use those all-in-one train bases that came in those sets... I still think it's interesting how trains went from battery operated to electrified rail, and then back to battery operated....... does this mean that in another decade or so we'll be back on some form of electrified rail..?

New hospital set???

I agree, we need some up-close shots of your work @FLBRICKS!

where's this 10th battery going? has to be the controller, can't be the batt box?

Yah, it helps to have a description of the links' contents @dario76

That would be sad indeed! Might be interesting if they released a 'modular' station, like one of those smaller building sets that have the swap-able rooms? But, maybe the WV Station is supposed to tide us over til 2019...?

Those dark grey 2x6x2 windows did exist at one point, and since I happen to have a pair lying around, I might have to give this build a try! Thanks!

Thanks @JEB314 (James) for all of this info, not to mention being as detailed as possible/allowable. To help determine the potential size of the freight cars, can you tell us how long they appear to be,-- like 16, 24, 28 studs long, or longer? And, maybe how many axles does each freight car have?

That's a nice rendition, but it doesn't seem to support the track in any way-- did I miss something?

*ahem* I believe you mean the 52nd state, after Puerto Rico...? Is there really no way to get lower import taxes? Is anyone over there a tax specialist? There's got to be a path or two left that is still uncharted...

Oh please Lego, don't change the connectors!! I'm still grieving the death of 9V.......!

Wow, you made an account just to say that? So what if Switzerland isn't part of the EU, it is still in Europe. That's half of the battle right there! And, if the Swiss pay only 8% for imported items, I imagine that those initial savings can be passed on-- even despite exchange rates & shipping fees, etc.-- to the end consumers throughout Europe.

Seems like Switzerland would be your best choice? According to the internet, Switzerland has a very low rate of 8%. If the VAT rate is determined by the country of origin (versus the destination), then this would cut most European customer's VAT rates in half or by 2/3rd's. I hate to say it, but there's probably a gimmick or catch to this low rate though Switzerland seems to be a good place to start? Anyone in Switzerland on this board?

@Ludo There's got to be some way around these heavy import & VAT taxes!! 25% is downright ludicrous!! IF there aren't any exploitable loopholes within the EU, maybe: 1) @coaster could have a promotional deal for 1st time buyers in the EU? Like a 30% discount on orders over 500 euro? 2) Some sort of partnership with a store that's already in the EU, either physically or on BrickLink? I would imagine taxes to be less severe in the EU for business-to-business sales versus business-to-consumer sales. 3) Set up a Kessel Run to smuggle the tracks into the EU, and maybe airdrop the crates of track...?

Uhmm... Really? *ahem* Knowing Disney, they'll probably do a dvd re-re-re-re-release of Dumbo a few months before Tim Burton's oddball remake. If you look at the plot synopsis on Wikipedia, it sounds like his new vision will focus more on the circus people rather than the titular elephant. I wonder if the remake will still have that trippy sequence after dumbo drinks that bucket of 'sauce'.

Hmmm... seems pretty clear that 9V stuff is the most savory. I'm curious as to what might happen to the 9V aftermarket once @coaster floods the market with 9V straights... lol I think that the r104 switch should be released next tho, whether 9V, PF, or both if possible?

@Digger of Bricks, the only realistic alteration to the Emerald Night set........... would be the price! Especially if the Taj Mahal re-release is any indication. So that means it would be around 120 to 130 usd. And that stings a bit. Also, I'm curious as to where Lego stands on the recoloring of train wheels? The steam drivers and axle wheels come in two colors at the moment, but what about the rolling stock wheels? They've never had an alternate color before, and it would be interesting to get them in some other color like dark bley...

lol, sell both the kidneys and the ballasted track on ebay! That should cover the tooling costs I think

Ok, so roughly 1000 people need to buy/preorder 4 switches each!! Shouldn't be too hard I think...

I'd say that if you could roll out those r104 switches in conjunction with (or a bit before) the 2018 wave of Lego train sets, that would be ideal. My wish list consists of: - triple switches in r104 - wye switches in r104 - crossovers at 45 and 90 degrees - switch variants in r72 (for those of us that don't have much space) - curved track in r200 (that's like a 13' diameter circle!) - switch variants in r200 (for those of us that have too much space) Personally, I can hold out a bit longer for 9v offerings b/c most of my engines are PF, but I'd say that 9v stuff is what many people may be holding off for. Did you ever settle on how you were going to go about making the 9v tracks??

I think the real problem with the Super Chief and the My Own Train series of products was that TLG tried selling them as individual cars and engines first and then tried to sell them in various bundles second. Also, consider how many Lego Brand retail stores have popped up in the last 10 years or so, which in turn allows sets to live a bit longer on shelves than those at other retail stores. I think if Lego were to do a wave of additional rolling stock sets, I think it would make the most sense to sell them at physical retail stores in 2-packs, much like the way road baseplates or those Mighty Micros sets are sold, but in the online shop you could purchase individuals-- a caveat to this system is that the 2-packs would be $65 each while the singles would be $35 each. Using the Super Chief as an example, the various 2-packs would be: 1) A-unit and Observation car 2) B-unit and Dining car 3) Dome car and Sleeper car 4) Passenger car and Mail Car

What are they being replaced with??

The one thing we need to praise TLG for the 2018 wave of trains this time around is No. Flippin. Helicopters. Can we get an 'amen'??? ((a 'hurrah' if you not religious???))

That's exactly what I meant earlier! Not to make fun of or shame BrickShowBrian, but the descriptions he gave are pretty dry. Is this on purpose (signed a NDA?) or just how he describes... anything? I only criticize because I salivate at details about upcoming train sets, so I need more to go on than "green & white and has wheels". (( just sayin')) And thanks to @grimrecka for the lovely (photoshop?) image that indeed gives us a better understanding of what's to come. I'm curious to know if you meant to recolor it green or turquoise? From your paintjob, I'd say either "medium" green or turquoise, but I can't be certan.

Well the last few pages have been an exciting explosion of information! At the very least, it's time to start squirreling monies away for these new train sets.......! I'm hoping that the new passenger train will do... something different? I haven't bought one since 2010's 7938. I'm not too jazzed about the color scheme of yellow and gray; I guess it's asking too much for a BLUE passenger train?? :/ As for the rumored freight set, it sounds incredibly lazy to re-release what's essentially the same engine in different colors... but lego has already done it before 60098 & 7939, so why not again with 60198 & 60052? ((Although, I would jump for a recolored 3677 to get the battery box cover in a new color)) Lastly, I am curious as to the quality of the leaked images that BrickShowBrian has allegedly seen, as well as to his personal ability to describe said images. For the images themselves, is this an "android vs iphone" style debate, and/or were these images taken at extreme distances- either too close or too far? And for BrickShowBrian's processing capability, is it like pictionary with friends or Adobe Illustrator? p.s. Would it be a bad time to launch a train-themed project on Ideas?