Dav1d

I am still using the 9V system, so one end carriage will have a 9V motor and the other (shown) has a brick built bogie using the original wheels and decorative sides. I will probably extend the centre carriage to be 28 rather than 24 studs long (as the centre carriage(s) look too short in comparison to the ends.

Here is my version of 60167 using part of the buffet coach and a few spare bricks. The photo is not very clear - from the rear there is a 1x1 'blue' brick, 2x2 window, 1x2 'blue' brick and buffet sticker, three 2x2 windows, etc...

I find a train can go up hill with not too much difficulty - but the trouble is going down hill and having a curve at the bottom - the train will come off the track if it's going too fast.

I realised the with above circuit - that a single signal on it's own is not very useful - you just need to turn the power off. You really need two or more signals on the same circuit. Everyone says how good the 12V system was but the 9V system where switching the points cut off the power was a better method of control - you could easily stop trains in sidings or passing loops. I suppose the PF & P-UP are probably better as they control the train rather than the track.

I would have three separate 12V circuits. On one circuit I would have a passing loop with a pair of signals - you could then run two 12V trains and swap them when you want. On the second circuit I would have a passing loop with the third signal, you could then run a 12V train and stop it in the loop then a PF train(s) could then run. On the third circuit just have a 12V train running. If you have spare track and PF trains they could run them on a fourth circuit. I think it's best to keep them separate and have trains running. If you have a 90 crossing you could have a figure of eight track layout - that looks exciting. You do not have to have all four 12V trains on the track at any one time - you could keep one off the running tack and swap it around as required.

I happened to come across Brickset https://brickset.com/sets/list-15965 'Sets designed by Jens Nygaard Knudsen' - it says he designed set 7710 the push along steam train with 4 wheel blue & yellow passenger coaches. I wonder if he designed other. One of the characteristics is that all the sets fit together as one collection.

Looking at the video of the system is shows different sounds - that is disappointing as they get annoying after a few minutes - is this all that LEGO could think of? The old Duplo inteli system was more exciting. Maybe we need different functions to be controlled by different coloured bricks on the track. Also it showed the train coming off the track at full speed. From my 16 years experience of children with LEGO trains at exhibitions, there are two speeds - fast forwards & fast reverse. There needs to be a way to limit the maximum speed. Also my experience with the current system is that young children do not know what to do with a hand held controller. Currently every one understands a dial - the more you turn it the faster it goes. I noticed recently that the digital display for better new cars are still including a dial for the volume control. Maybe when all children are given an I-phone at birth then they will be able to use it. You want a train to be able to go, stop at a station and go again, maybe in reverse. There wants to be control of signals, points and level crossings. The cost is too high, including everything in one box and charging £180 is beyond many parents - especially if they are not sure if their child will like a LEGO train - this is the feedback I received at the week-end.

For a 3 year old I would keep the 9V train system if it works. Having a large controller with a big yellow dial is just right for a young child. I have found that young children do not understand how to use a hand held controller - maybe in years to come children will be given an I-phone at birth. Also keep the 9V system and run it with the Power Function system - you can have two loops of track each controlled in their own way. Later you may decide to change but don't do anything rash.

As the box art does not appear to contain the text 'batteries not included', does that suggest that there will be a rechargeable battery & battery charger included? Sorry I was wrong - it does say 'batteries not included'.

https://brickset.com/sets/60197-1 The 'Blueprint' images of the track and trains is different. The passenger train looks especially strange as its drawn straight on a section of curved track.

I'm sure you have seen the set 10261 Roller Coaster on Brickset at £299 it's expensive - you can add LEGO power functions and LEGO Boost for the chain lift and sound effects. It includes 44 pieces of track and seven different rail elements. https://brickset.com/article/35749/10261-roller-coaster-press-release

Therefore I expect there with be 2 points,2 point levers and 4 curves - but isn't that the same as 7895-1?

The straight & curved track each come in fours.

I will buy both trains but will probably modify them a bit. I will buy extra 'front bricks' to make a three car train (with sloping front & rear) and for the freight train I liked a wrong(?) leak of the loco with the front/back window 'upside down'. I'm still using 9V, but would like to see what they come up with. I've been buying al the trains since 1985 and they have been a mixed bunch so I won't stop now. I would prefer them to be good designs and not too 'toyish'.

I liked your original design - I think it looks better than the real set - we will have to wait and see.

'Sequel follows …' Looking forward to it

Isn't there a Eurobricks ambassador? - How do we contact him/her?

Mine doesn't have the axle hole.

There are still some sets from 1986 to round off the 12V train era. The Shell Tank Wagon 7813, Container Depot 7823 and Car Transport Depot 7939. I remember the dark days of 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 when there were no new trains, I did think it was the end of LEGO trains. For the 9V trains I wrote a Bricklist https://brickset.com/sets/list-20985 entitled 'All the LEGO trains from the 9V era'. It is not just a list but gives some background to each set - it could be a start for a more detailed history. We still did not get any details on the Secret History of the grey/12V/4.5V trains. The amazing thing about the era was that it was one system, today the sets appear to have no thread linking them, just disjointed sets. Who was the LEGO train designer from the 121V era? Is there an interview with him/her? David

I checked my dates from 2014. 15/01/2014 poor quality photos of a leaked trade catalogue. 21/01/2014 one picture from the London toy fair (photos are not allowed). 27/01/2017 lots of pictures from the German toy fair. 16/02/2014 more pictures from the American toy fair. 15/023/2014 pictures of the trains in action at a show in Copenhagen. 24/04/2014 official LEGO pictures. Therefore we wait until January. Nuremburg toy fair is on 31st Jan to 4th Feb. New York toy fair 17th to 20th Feb. I remember in the days before the internet, everyday in January going to the local toy shop to look for the new LEGO catalogue then trying to study the small pictures to see all the train details.

Thank you.

It was good to read the article by Carrera124 about the history of LEGO trains - after translating it using Google. Please post on the forum when you add more sections. I was surprised that you wrote 6 sections but only covered the first year (1980) of the 12V system, it would be good to hear your comments on the rest of the range. I hadn't realised that the single blue/red passenger carriage 7818 was no longer available when 7715 the push along steam train with blue/red carriages was released. With the buildings, you could not see any logic with the included track sometimes including conducting middle rails – I think the more advanced buildings had 12V track, the simpler buildings had the non-electric track. You suggested that the train station 7822 and bus station 379 could be combined – they could but so could most of the train and LEGOLAND buildings – the Fire Station 6382 was also similar but I think this is more to do with the limited colour palate and the flat roof design. I couldn't understand the section on the remote controlled elements about how there had been a change in design – maybe all my sets are of the older style. Everybody comments on how good the remote control elements were but I think there were several disadvantages. The wires are messy (a conventional model railway has them hidden under the base board). The points (turnouts) are not self isolating therefore to run two trains on the same track you must have at least two signals 7860 – they look nice but are an expensive addition. The remote controlled de-coupler 7862 was omitted from the discussion – maybe because it was released in 1981. Looking back over the 12V range I'm impressed with the consistency of the sets – it does appear as if they were designed by one person. The same also looks true for the start of the 9V system. It would be good to also know about the secret history of the 9V system!

It would be good to hear more about the background to the 4.5/12v trains. I think that someone high up in LEGO was very keen on trains. Looking at old catalogues there was always a high proportion of trains compared to what is available now. I also liked that some of the different sets were linked by using red & yellow as a colour scheme. I wrote an article for Brickset a few years ago about 12V trains - https://brickset.com/article/11351/classic-lego-sets-12v-trains also about the blue track era https://brickset.com/article/11954/classic-lego-sets-blue-track-trains and the 9V era https://brickset.com/article/11532/classic-lego-sets-9v-trains

I have a 9v layout and I let the children control the trains. I normally have 3 separate loops so three children can control them. Depending on how busy it is they can swap train over in a passing loop or even do some shunting. I stop them playing with cars on level crossings. Everyone enjoys, it its good to let the children have a go. I don't think it would work so well with power functions. You need a least a tablecloth to hide the table.

A friend has asked if I could get an old Duplo train working. It is the train from set 2741 or 2745. I managed eventually to remove the battery cover and put in new Duracell AA batteries but nothing happens when I press the red button on the top. It is in good condition - the contacts are not corroded. It looks very difficult to open it up and look at the actual motor. Does anyone have any advice on what could be the problem? Thanks