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If it were still available today, and at its original price of US $19.99, it would be a good deal even if all you cared about was the 4 straight pieces of track and the crossing. As far as "too many excavators" is concerned, just throw those yellow parts into a spare parts bin. You'd be able to use the windshield and wheels for any vehicle based-MOC you wanted. The part # 2376 (Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Lifting Ring Thin) would be great to have in excess, as it can be used for freight yard crane exploits. The tiny train wheels might even have a use for a hand-car, or something similar.

When I was still not-quite-emerged from my dark ages, I bought an Ebay lot of mostly City stuff for my kids. It was a jumbled mess of parts, but after sorting everything, I ended up with several bricks that had stickers affixed -- their set numbers, as I later learned. One yellow brick had 7936. After researching, and figuring out what a cool set it appeared to be, I set forth trying to build it. With just a couple exceptions, every piece I needed was contained in that chaotic mess of pieces from the lot, save for the tracks that had not been included. My point is, sometimes you take the path less traveled, and are the better for it. My experience, starting with just one stickered brick, led me on a journey that I wouldn't have experienced had I just bought the set outright. I find the research-and-build aspect fascinating. In my mind, I call this phenomenon "LEGO archaeology". Now, I'm cobbling together the occasional MOC, and I'm finding that incredibly rewarding, too! If those small sets like 7936 didn't exist, those adventures would never have taken place. We need more official sets like this! If TLG released a 24-stud train base, two magnet buffer couplers, two bogie plates, two 2x6 plates, two 2x4 plates, and four 2878c02 wheelsets as a barebones set, for a reasonable price, they'd have a winner on their hands! They'd sell millions of them. Everyone who wanted additional flatcars for their trains could buy as many as they want. Those who aspire for something greater, like a boxcar, livestock car, gondola, etc, would merely have to add their own bricks and MOC up whatever car they wanted from the pre-fab flatcar base. It's a win for everyone! This is the exact small set that's needed...

I have considered lights, but I don't currently have any. If I did light it, I'd have to change the way the front (or rear) panels attach to the locomotive. Currently I'm using part 44728 - Bracket 1x2 - 2x2, in pairs to attach the front panels. Since those brackets are solid, I'd have to modify the design in order to incorporate some headlight or technic bricks for the lights, while still providing a SNOT connection for the rest of the front panel. One of these days, I'll place a bulk order for lights from SAH. I'm also not really pleased with the LBG from the IR receiver, as it distracts from the congruity of the color scheme when comparing both hoods. But it was very challenging to incorporate the IR receiver in such a way that all of the wiring stayed hidden and space inside the cab for a minifigure was maintained. The only other possible alternative was to rotate the IR receiver 90 degrees and position it inside the cab. Since the minifig is offset to one side anyway, there might be room for the IR receiver AND the minifig to share the space, but it would be really tight. The most deterring factor for that arrangement would be that the IR receiver window would be buried inside the cab, and I wanted to maintain as accurate PF control as possible, given this locomotive's intended job of switching (shunting) cars in the yard. It will see frequent speed and direction changes in normal use. Fighting to maintain line-of-sight with a buried IR window would be a recipe for disaster...

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In preparation for starting up a LEGO Train and City layout, I wanted to create a small, Power Function controlled center-cab switcher for use in a train yard. I used the GE-65 Ton center-cab for inspiration, but it's not an accurate model of that example. I wanted to utilize 4-wide hoods on both sides of the 6-wide cab. This presented challenges with the incorporation of Power Functions components. Utilizing lessons learned from LEGO 3677, I did my best to "hide" the PF components as much as possible. Working from the DBG color of the battery box, I used that as the primary color, with red as the secondary color, and some accent lines in LBG. I used a 24-stud train base, and didn't lengthen it at all, since the desire was to keep this as short as possible. The cab section is least realistic, however, I was working with parts on hand, and wanted to ensure that a minifig and some controls were able to fit. Constructive criticism is welcomed.

I love the GG-1 MOCs you've done! That bloody nose paint scheme is quite fetching. I remember seeing several GG-1 in the Harrison (NJ) yards as a child, as I passed by on the nearby highway. I've always been rather enamored by the design. Nice work!

It should use the same track as has been in use since the end of the 9V era. From what we have been able to determine, the buffer is a brick-built structure that attaches to a normal piece of track.

Based on that video, you need to implement signal blocks and Positive Train Control!!! In all seriousness, welcome aboard, Charette!

My story is similar, but much funnier! At family Thanksgiving, I think in 2015, my kids were playing with my cousin's kids' 60051, which had been set up in a loft above the living room. In fairly typical LEGO train fashion, they had it going too fast, and the engine jumped the tracks. Now, here's the funny part-- The engine powered along the floor, threaded between two balusters, and plunged 15 feet to the living room floor below. CRASH into hundreds of pieces. Uh-oh, crying cousin's kid! "Your kids destroyed my train!" I was firmly ensconced in my dark ages, not having touched LEGO in, perhaps, 15-20 years. I asked for the instruction book, which they readily produced. All pieces were located. Nothing looked broken. Within 20 minutes, I had the 60051 engine reassembled, and it was running on the track again. IT RAN ABSOLUTELY FINE!!! Talk about robust, try a similar stunt with any traditional model railroad gear, and you'd be looking at an expensive trip to the hobby shop, at best. (At worst, someone's year-long scratch-built bauble is gone forever...) Based on their experience at Thanksgiving, my son asked for LEGO for his birthday later that year. It started out innocently enough with a couple small city vehicle sets. But then we took the plunge and got 60052 for his birthday the following year. 60051 arrived for the winter holidays in 2016. Since then, we've added 60098, for my daughter's birthday. I've been bitten hard. Through Ebay, when I've seen the right deals, I've acquired 7939, 3677, 10233, 10219, 79111, 10194 (several, incomplete--but I have been able to get at least one 99% and running), and most recently, 7898. My kids don't know about all of those yet, although they've seen some. I've also bought parts to create our own MOC rolling stock, etc. I've recently dug my vintage sets out of storage, and relived my youth reassembling 497 and 6929. I never had LEGO trains as a child. I'm learning now just how much I missed out on during my dark ages. For holiday 2016, I also got 10254, which I surprised the kids with by setting it up around the tree on Xmas eve, after they had gone to bed. Bring on the new sets!

I believe the signal mast from 60197 is extremely similar in design to the one that was included with 7938. It's nice to have it included, but it's nothing innovative. IMHO.

Thanks for the correction! I should've noticed the perspective difference in length. The stack of straights behind the flex tracks (center of the box) wouldn't be longer than the track in the foreground, if they were the same actual length. That stack in the foreground must therefore be two layers of three flex pieces attached together. I did discern the two stacked single flex pieces on the left. Initial thoughts were that the blurry stack of track in the center foreground was 4 curves...

From what I can discern from that tiny image, looks like 8 straights, 8 curves, and 2 flex per box.

60198 could also be modeled after an EP-5, like this one: https://www.google.com/search?biw=1445&bih=1058&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=_LVfWtzTH8SZjwT1yIXgCQ&q=EP-5+locomotive+small+file&oq=EP-5+locomotive+small+file&gs_l=psy-ab.3...5175.5911.0.7338.2.2.0.0.0.0.188.288.0j2.2.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.XAlD89NeGCA#imgrc=pBXFgMJd2Md6DM:

It's not bright yellow. I did a MOC of the 60197 engine based on the leaked video. I used bright yellow on the MOC, because that's what I had on-hand. But both the video and the prelim photo appear to be slightly darker. I think the yellow 60197 uses is the same as the trim color on 60052's engine. Adding: According to brick link, 60052's trim color is bright light orange. I'm thinking that's what 60197 will use.

The corrugated container side pieces (23405) are newly recoloered as red. Previously they have been olive green, blue, black, or shades of lavender (according to bricklink). I'm glad to see consistency in container style with 60169. We can use its truck and trailer for road transport of the 60198 containers. I built a MOC a few months ago of a train car which could handle all four of 60169's containers at once. I'll post a pic of it later. So far, 60198 is looking like a solid set. Not quite as good as 60052, IMHO, but still lots of quality play to be had.

I rather prefer the look of the presumed-final 60198 engine. Pull off those pantographs and do a little roof rework and it might make a serviceable class 55 Deltic! 60197 looks great. I'll eventually have two of those! However, with a four year life cycle, my priority will be to get additional copies of the current ones, before taking the plunge on the new ones.

Thank you @JEB314 (James) for your information. I have a few questions, if you're still answering them: 1) for 60197, can you describe the carriages? How long, color scheme, what train base, and do both appear identical? 2) for 60198, how does the crane car compare to the one from 7898 (2006) Cargo Train Deluxe in style or design? That was the last time TLG offered a crane car. 3) for 60198, are the log car and container car both using the same train base? Or, is the log car a shorter, single axle at either end design? What color are the cars themselves? I am a little concerned about the rumored price on 60198, appearing to jump ~$50 from the 60052 price of $199. From the description, there doesn't appear to be more volume of product, comparatively. 60052 had an engine, three train cars, forklift, cargo truck, AND a complete freight depot with overhead gantry crane. 60198's engine and train car consist compare favorably, as do the bank van and forklift. But instead of a depot there's a signal tower and grade-level crossing? Where's the extra value? 60052 had 20 curves, 8 straights, and one each Left and Right switch points. 60198 has 16-ish curves, 8-ish straights, and ONE switch point, but includes a buffer stop. See where I'm going here? Seems like TLG is asking for more money in return for less product. I'm assuming the new, replacement "power functions +" is a wash, since 60052 had power functions, too. Is there anything else you can glean from your photos that might represent more value? Thank you again for your insight and advance knowledge.

I'm ok with a new receiver and a Bluetooth based connection scheme, so long as the battery box, connectors, and train motor all remain the same. Imagine a new receiver that you could bury inside a train and not need to expose an IR window. Gone would be the issues with daylight interference. If all connections remain the same, we could retrofit existing trains to the new Bluetooth receiver merely by replacing the current IR receiver. So long as there is a robust addressing scheme and easy programming, it might be possible to have 16, 32, or more trains all controlled from one application on iPad, PC, or some Lego-supplied controller. I'm starting to get excited about these possibilities!

Living in NJ, I see these regularly. While I have seen trains of all single-level and all bi-level cars, I haven't seen them mixed in actual commuter use. Really nice job! I see these ALP45's in use on NJT regularly. My family would love it if I built one of these for our nascent railway, but I'd have to adapt it to 6-stud wide, and no longer than 34-ish studs long to navigate the R40 curves and close structures. Food for my creativity... Thanks!

You could use a simple spring for self-centering alignment, which would work fine on straight tracks, but might prove problematic on curves. It's an alternative to the magnet method, at least.

Is it possible to add a locking mechanism for the trailing axle of the last car? If the train goes in reverse, and the axle is locked, it acts like a rigid axle, which should prevent bunching in that direction. I realize you're trying to create a solution that works without modification in either direction, but that might not be possible. This seems like it might be the least-intrusive method to correct that "last car" issue.

I prefer to think of the reason from a more fantasy-esque perspective: You're installing "the heart of the beast"-- Sometimes it's red, or yellow, or blue, but it could also be gold... Logistically speaking, I'm sure it's to make reference easier for complex builds or younger age-groups, as speculated above.

Let's hope the pattern does continue, and that there's a store to sell it! 3677 (2011), 60098 (2015), ...? (2019) As far as the Horizon Express, I still WANT to get a second one to complete mine... :-) That said, TLG could do a "cab car" where there is a small driver's compartment, with exterior horn and lights, on the end car. This arrangement is pretty typical for commuter railroads, especially when their right-of-way isn't (entirely) electrified with catenary systems. A diesel, or dual-mode diesel+catenary locomotive unit provides the train's motive power at one end. When operating in the forward direction, the engineer operates the train from the locomotive itself. Upon reaching the end of the line, the engineer walks to the back of the train, and uses the controls in the cab car to operate the train in reverse direction. The locomotive would be pushing the train from behind, but the engineer would have a clear view of the tracks ahead, and complete control of the train from this compartment. The "cab car" arrangement would yield two usable passenger cars, but with slightly different builds. They wouldn't look considerably different, and could be coupled to another set without looking too out of place.

Perhaps this picture had something to do with the "like 60052, but green" description: If you look carefully, just to the right of the 60052 lashup, there's a green locomotive. However, I believe the green loco to be a one-off recolor of the Maersk 10219 for this display at LEGO World Copenhagen 2015. The Maersk 10219 is behind the mystery green engine, and the details on both are identical, save for color scheme. Might this have been the image leading to the "like 60052, but green" description from an admittedly non-train-savvy informant? I'd say it's more than plausible. Now, if TLG decided this green 10219 recolor was the basis for an engine to lead the likely 2019 summer TRU-exclusive train due to replace 60098 next year, then I wouldn't complain... It looks great! But that's only speculation. Thanks for the kind words on my speculative MOC. I believe this to be just the motive power for the next passenger train, not the actual passenger coaches. If this, or something similar, is the basis for the 60197 passenger train, I'd actually prefer the "engine" not to have windows, as that design makes it a far more likely scenario that we'll get at least two actual coaches to pull behind the motive power. It makes it far easier to lengthen the train by purchasing a second set. With 60051, (and also 7938 and 7897 preceding it) the "rear car" was essentially the same form as the engine, but non-powered, and festooned with seats for passengers. I'd prefer to get two actual coaches, pulled by an engine. A second set would give you four coaches, with an engine at each end. That's a much nicer looking train, from an AFOL perspective.