WesternOutlaw

Continuing along the tracks, the forest seems to open to a small clearing. The tracks end at an old dilapidating flatbed wagon. Railway Deadend by Maciejd

Over the past few weeks, I've been expanding my Lego train builds and now have over four trains built in addition to some of the My Own Train rolling stock collection. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room for Willoughby and Jeb's Farm, so I had to remove a number of the baseplates as well as the barn and silo to make room for more track. The picture isn't the best, but this gives you an idea of the new Train Town:

Thanks for sharing FB. Great detailed pictures. My box has the flat side boxcar - no sloped bricks. Sounds like they had a few versions of the box as well. I tried building the car in blue with the sloped brick design. I think it came out pretty well. - Boxcar Blue

Understand, and I didn't mean to knock your pick, just express my opinion of the set. I completely understand how some of these sets can bring back a great feeling. Many classic town sets do this for me from a "nostalgia factor". It's about what YOU like that really is important. Some sets are just fun and can give you a "warm fuzzy".

If you don't care what others think, then don't bother asking. Railway Express in one of the lowest rated train sets on Lugnet (4560 = 51 and 4561 = 63). You can check out both versions here. Having purchased this set for around $50 USD and building it, I would tend to agree with the low ratings. However, if this set got you into Lego trains, I would have to say that it can't be all bad. The accessories and platform (plus track, motor, and transformer) are a pretty good value for the price. It's the overall set design that I'm not impressed with.

The group chooses Northeast and Herman leads the way. The forest is getting a bit heavier as the direct sunlight begins to fade through the thick trees...

I like all your picks except this one. I bought it for someone as a gift and think it's Lego's worst train ever made. I respect your opinion though, just don't like this train:

I love it AJW! I'm really enjoying your redesigns of these classics. I notice the track as well - fantastic! The complete train looks really good. I like the crane wagon and the boxcar as well. Great job! This deserves a BLOG.

Fantastic! It's great to see these old classics being re-designed with the new PF system. Nice job.

This topic has been added to the TRAIN TECH index as Cyclone mentioned above.

Great topic! I love discussions like this, esp. when you really like the theme. While I love the Super Chief and the BNSF engines, I really like Classic Lego Trains sets. Unfortunately, the only one that I own is 3225 Classic Train. It's funny. After building sets like the Super Chief and the new Emerald Night, which are fantastic models - they just don't have the play value or the fun that comes from Classic Train sets. Two sets that I looked into buying were 4563 Load & Haul Railroad and 4564 Freight Rail Runner, but the prices (MISB) of these sets are horrific. I like the overall fun and play value of sets like the 9V sets mentioned above, that don't take three hours to build. I think this is what Lego is about, even though I appreciate the design of sets like the Emerald Night. Complete sets that have minifigs, vehicles, and lots of accessories (esp. freight) add to the quality of the set. While 3225 Classic Train is not the most nicely designed set, it's a train that I find myself repeatedly breaking out - and inspiring me to build similar smaller Classic trains (like this one, and this). It's among my favorite!

The group continues to follow the tracks past the old fuel tanker, then past the wooden "danger" sign that points back toward town. The tracks begin to lead into a rather thick forest, but the sun can still be seen above. With the humid temperature from the rain and the sunny elevation of Willoughby, it's been a hard walk. The group have a burning thirst for something cold to drink and Scruffy begins panting feverishly. Looks like Ruff's got a case of the mange! - Poor boy, needs a drink. Did anyone bring a divining rod? The track eventually comes to a fork that leads Northeast and Southeast. Which direction will the tired group decide to take?

Congratulations! It's great to see Eurobricks represented well.

Jim flips the 7th switch on and off, but nothing happens. The others decide to walk back toward the farm to follow the "Danger Tracks". Herman leads the way singing, "it's a Johnson Rod I'm look'n for... tiddly-dee, tiddly doo... along the Danger Tracks, tiddly-dee, tiddly da"...

An irritated Herman insists upon going to the "Danger Tracks" next. Max and Jim begin flipping the switches to the On/Off positions as the small green/red LED switch lights turn on/off as they watch the four large bulbs. Switch 1: On - led light turns green Switch 2: On - green The first large bulb turns GREEN. Switch 3: Off - red Switch 4: On - green The second large bulb turns GREEN. Switch 5: On - green Switch 6: On - green The 3rd large bulb turns GREEN. Switch 7: Off - red A sizzling sound is heard just as the 7th switch is turned off, then the 4th large bulb pops. All the lights to the system flicker for a moment, then the four large bulbs go dark. The small LED lights remain on. There's no telling if the sequence was successful..

Thanks for the feedback guys, despite the pictures not really doing it justice. I like the slopes as well. Everything I build seems to turn out like a Classic Town build (can't get past it). You got it! I still say it's Mountain Dew. Really, black? I don't think I've seen a black boxcar in the Western US. - although I have seen many in HO scale trains.

Nice! I love the little short car at the end of the Emerald. This is really a great display you guys created. Great job!

Attempts to pull out the metal object in the tanker are unsuccessful, even with a short-strawed rope that Austin weaves. The group is rather split as to what to do next, but Eleanor has pursuaded the group to first visit the Switch Tower. At the Switch Tower, the control system stands ready...

That's one for going to the "danger tracks", one for returning to the switch tower, and one for moving the tanker (perhaps with a tractor)? Anyone want to 2nd a proposed plan?

Great car Simon! I especially like the wheels. This deserves a BLOG!

And that action is...

I'm really enjoying my latest train purchase, 7898 Cargo Train Deluxe. After building the little red boxcar contained in the set; I thought, this would be a nice boxcar to replicate with train pieces from 10183 Hobby Train. Using blue instead of red, and adding some sloped bricks with ladder pieces (like the proto-type images of set 7898), here's the end result: Proto-Type 7898 Boxcar with sloped bricks: My "Blue Version": I may add some decals similar to 7898, but I like the overall design of this little boxcar. One of the nice things about set 7898 is the cargo size which is the same as that found in 7733 Truck and Forklift (4x6 plate with two 1x4 plates), as well as 4512 Cargo Train. This makes the cargo interchangeable for added play value. Comments welcome.

I liked the sloped version better as well. I think it gives the boxcar a more unique look. In fact, I've built a similar boxcar that I'll share soon. Strangely, even the main picture on Lego SAH shows the boxcar with the sloped bricks.

All the passengers, Emerald crew, and townies are gathered at the fuel tanker. It is very difficult to tell what the object is within the fuel tanker. It does look like a rusty plate of some kind (definately not a Johnson Rod). It would be difficult to get the object out of the tanker without letting the fuel out. It would have to come out of the top hatch as it will not fit through the drainage hole. Upon further inspection of the grounds near the tanker, you do find a few pieces of straw (or) hay. NOTE: if you'd like to move the tanker, I need to know how you plan to do so (specifically). Lorraine's truck is just about out of fuel.

I recently had an opportunity to pick up train set 7898, Cargo Train Deluxe at a Lego store in Downtown Disney, and was a bit surprised to discover a variation in the boxcar. In looking at a few high-resolution images of the set before purchasing, I noticed this unique boxcar that had two upside down slopes and black ladder pieces: In addition, images of this set with the "sloped" boxcar even appeared on ILTCO: Image 1 Image 2 Upon building the set, I soon discovered a flat-sided boxcar with a mere 3x4 wall-piece used on each side of the wagon. Although a minor variation, I am a bit surprised to find a different model then these picks. For those of you who own this set, I would be interested in knowing if you have the sloped boxcar variation or the flat-sided? Perhaps these images were only proto-type versions?