Brickimad

I would suggest buying a pack, to try them out. As they are quite cheap, anyway. I don't have the tracks, as I have loads of 9v and 12v stuff, and is not required. What's good, is they are compatable with the 9v/ rc tracks, and are an alternative, or should I say, the only choice now Lego have stopped making curved units.

Of course, everybody is entitled to his or her opinion. I reckon the minifigs are pretty good, for what they are and hard to tell them apart, unless you really look. If anyone wants me to "review" the other enlighten train stuff, I have almost all of them (except the Xmas clone). leave a post here on this thread, and I'll do it.

As it's not a good day for model flying(my other hobby). I'll use my new camera to get some inside pics of the enlighten trains. I know some people might not like "clone" brands, and believe this is Blasphemy. Once one has bought all the Lego, this is the next best thing... One interesting fact, they use doors! Saves the passengers having to walk through solid surfaces to get to their seats. Quite novel design also on the windows. All the motifs are printed straight onto the bricks. Looks better and won't get unstuck. Even the windows have curtains and detail. I reckon Lego should "clone" some ideas from here.

This is a chance to obtain a load of 12v transformers. I didn't bid, as I already have half a dozen. But for £10 for three, plus P&P. Good value. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Lego-12v-4-5v-Train-Power-Supply-/290546057914?pt=UK_Construction_Toys_Kits&hash=item43a5e502ba

Ok, two sides of the argument: Enlighten stuff is a Lego Clone. Not as good quality, but they have done some unique designs, the green electric loco and carriages for one. Agreed, the wheels have more friction and the bricks are heavier. My solution is to either apply silicone grease to the nipple or replace with genuine lego wheels. I have no problems with the Enlighten Train, and gives a bit more choice, when Lego stop their designs, which are lost forever. Actually the BNSF rip-off is an exact copy of as real engine. It was in a film, I saw. If I remember what it is... Lego is much better - the original, and still brings out good models. just seems not enough, as the 80's, when you could buy carriages, all types of track and accessories. Now it is just main kits that are released. Both have their place, and it is up to the buying public if they buy it or not. This is using one lego 9v motor, pulling three carriages. Normal enlighten wheels, greased. At full power, derails on the curves. How fast do you want to go? I like it. Better internal detailing I've every seen on a lego train.

I kept all my Lego, and most of my Technics sets are still in their original boxes, with even the other item booklets still in it. I've still got the most of the train boxes. The others were either bought second-hand, without boxes, or later ebay buys, without boxes. It seemed in the 70's and 80's there were more choice, for example, there were items such as extra carriages, engines on their own, and specialist such as mobile crane platform and maintenance unit.

Adding PF to narrow trains, or for small engines is practically impossible!!! Of course, with the older 12v and 9v external power motors, it was only the motor, leaving space inside the cab for all the other bits. Now apart from the motor, and wire, there is the huge battery box and the IR sensor unit. "progress", I suppose. One way to get round the problem is use the next rolling stock as the "power module" and run the cable into the engine. Only thing is that you'll have a cable showing, and need to disconnect/reconnect the cable when re-coupling the train.

A friend I know, who got me into Lego and trains, as his father owned the toy shop and had a huge Hornby set in the attic. His day-job now is an engineer on a local miniture railway, at Rudyard Lake on the Staffs/Cheshire Border in the UK. He repairs and maintains the stock. His dad ownes several old tractors and Traction engines. Quite a spectacle on Carnival day! Website http://www.rlsr.org/

A lot of good answers. It seems most had once collected, then maybe gave up, then the flame was re-ignited once again. I never got rid of my Lego. Still have the 7725 train, complete, except a working 12v motor. Still had the motor, but the brushes were well worn, even though the motor still worked, if power was supplied to the connectors. Before eBay, older sets were impossible to find, unless you went to "swopmeets". Even then, it could've taken years to source a set. Apart from my other hobbies, such as flying, and I've got many RC models, even a couple of jets, which go over 200mph (and cost 1000's) - I always go back to Lego and Lego Trains. Suppose it is like going back to your childhood.

My favourites are the 12v 7725 Intercity train set 12v 7740 and the 7745. Also liked the cargo trains, which were two 7727 & 7735 and the push train 7710, which of course you could add a motor. In the 9v era, the Metro liner. I did like the ICE train, apart from the missing doors, as it looks sort of scale, even though the real one ran off the rails in Eschede, killing 101. Later still, the emerald night is the most realistic so far, the worst one I would say is the Railway Express - what a mess - at least it's good for bits! I wouldn't call the 1st Hogwarts a Lego train, as it didn't have the correct wheels to go on tracks - until users threw those silly wheels away and fitted flange wheels.

Never was into figures. Supposed if I had collected them, they are worth a fortune, and it could've gone towards more Lego. Still Lego is valuable. Some 12v sets are going more than 10x they were originally worth. The 12v decoupler sells for more than £100 on ebay, so far not got one, yet.

My favourite has go to be 7822 and 7824. Both classic in their own right, and used mainly standard pieces. The later 7997 was good, and looks like today's stations. The latest one is a bit rubbish, apart from the footbridge. Very poor.

I had a friend at Primary School, who's dad owned the toy shop in town. He had a huge Hornby layout, but I liked Lego, so trains it was. The toy shop had a good range of Lego, all the tracks, and if I was lucky, when I had a birthday party, I was given more train goodies, which came from the shop. We had a "bring a toy to school day", so I brought the lego trains, which took up quite a few desks, suffice to say, it was the best toy there that day.

I was wondering how did the people on here got into Lego? (lego Trains for this Thread) For an example: Myself, when I was younger, my cousin had a large lego Blue Era train, that we used to use. I was only young then, but he had loads of Lego. (It still is in the Attic now). After that, I collected the 12v era, Technics and town, obtaining many sets off a friend at school for a good price, such as the Car Chassis, etc. I liked Technics, but always been fond of the Trains, before I got into Aircraft, both models and full-size (going solo at 19 and had a PPL for a bit). We lived next to a train track, at the other house, and I suppose it all fell together. I did enjoy the experience of the trains, and worn a couple of 12v motors out. As I didn't have loads of pocket-money, I couldn't afford everything (the 12v Crossing for example). I remember my cat loved to try and derail the train. Adding remote points confused him for a bit! Great times... After giving it up, for many years. I moved house and re-found my old 12/9v stuff, got it going again and added more, thanks to ebay. Now 30 years later, got quite a collection! p.s. I managed to obtain a 12v crossing!

I don't suppose there are any Lego shows in the UK? Never been to one, as they all seem to be in the US, or Japan. There should be, but not advertised as the Model Aircraft flying shows I go to. If there are lego shows in the UK, are there traders to buy things?

NiMH Cells have a tendancy to self discharge over time. ABout 10% every fortnight-depending on the condition on the cells. Obviously this is annoying, if you have a camera you want to use and the cells are dead. I fly Rc model Aircraft, as well, and if you have a flat battery-especially in the air, than it's worse, a pile of expensive rc model, destroyed. We are using these cells. They are NimH, but keep their charge much longer. They say 95% after 6 months, whereas a normal NIMH would be empty. They are called "Enloop" or Vapextech. Both are available on the web, and do AA and AAA sizes. Very handy... Try them, they are well worth it! http://www.eneloop.info/home/the-new-improved-eneloop.html http://www.vapextech.co.uk/ On the subject of Li-po, they have a very low self-discharge, but if they go below 2.9v(per cell, therefore 5.8v for 2S pack @nom 7.4v), they will not recharge, and if they do, will have reduced capacity, and may "balloon" up, probably splitting the lego battery box.

I'm a Electrical Engineer, also like to play with Lego and messing with the electrics, lights, etc. Call me sad... Thing is, 12V Dc won't kill you 400-6000v does!

If I had the space, a table would be it. Have a large 12v layout in the attic, but it's cold and hot and not ideal. The 9v layout is only temporary, and has to go back into storage. Problem is that houses in the UK are small in comparison, to some countries and rooms are smaller, due to the weather and land space/value. I also have other interests which also takes up loads of space. Unfortunately Lego layouts eat space, and doing a tiny layout doesn't use all the bits up, and is no fun! Ideally I would have a large outbuilding, with space for all my hobbies!!!

I've got quite a large amount of blue, to 9v track. It is a shame that Lego are not continuing curved tracks, and other sections like straights and points are getting rare. Although I've got hundreds of track each, has anyone noticed the "clone" lego tracks? If you don't fancy making your own, how about this? It fits lego 9V and plastic 9v tracks, although it's brown, rather than blue/grey. Still you could spray it, or just paint the rails grey, leaving the sleepers brown, as in wooden sleepers, rusted rails? I know it's not Lego, but at least it looks like it... Here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/C-Enlighten-Train-Series-639-Track_W0QQitemZ260738082301QQcategoryZ19010QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%252BLVI%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%252BUCI%26otn%3D1%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7339297527938032692

It's a pity that Lego doesn't just sell the rolling stock on it's own. To make it scale, you need at least half-a-dozen units on the back not to make it look silly, but just pulling a couple of units. For example, on the City Train, I've had to use Ebay and pay quite a bit of money to obtain a couple of extra carriages, whereas if it was "off the shelf", so much the better. As most people do, they buy 5 sets, and sell the engines and other bits on ebay to recover their money. I've said this before, but Lego don't seem to be on the ball, selling-wise, as they would really make much more returns on their products. As least they've left the track out - no good to anyone, except to bung into a dark cupboard, never to be used. Most people would use 9v for this, as my layour will have two engines (motor each) and hopefull a dozen rolling stock, with a Brake Engine on the back (non-motorised).

I'm wondering if there is a low-discharge prevention circuit on the li-Poly pack. I also fly RC model planes, and if you over-discharge Li-poly cells, they are permanently damaged - won't re-charge, or give duration which it had before. I am thinking of making a 2s pack up and using my Li-poly charger to recharge, balance the cells as it charges) (2s= 2cell @ 3.7v nom x2, giving 7.4v nom, in series). Beware, though, short-circuiting can cause fire, which is nasty!

I've pre-ordered one, which is out on the 1st of April. (hopefully not an April fools' joke.) Thank goodness it hasn't got the naff power set in it, as I've got a few 9v motors spare, and would be ideal. Also swopped the PF motor in the City train to 9v - saves changing batteries and runs better.

I've got the new passenger train. Ok, the system works fairly well, but the main problem is endurance, the centre of gravity is way too high . (using smaller, \lightweight batteries and a higher CofG, resulting in derailment and wheel slip, when pulling more than a few coaches. The Rc system was quite good, the batteries were well low, so the ICE train could go at full chat round corners (with an extra carriage) and just stay on the tracks. Pity the new PF and RC systems are not compatable, but got quite a few older 9v motors, so I can remove the PF motor, but even leave the batteries in and run off mains. no power issues here, so can got all day... One problem with the 9v, is quite expensive, now and the new track won't work. I've got loads of 12v/9v track and some new RC track.

I use two, even on the newer 9V. Problem is, if the train is too light: 1. The wheels don't get enough grip and spin, especially with a few carriages. 2. On fast speeds, the weights keep everything on the tracks, otherwise the whole ensemble flies off the tracks. Not recommended. So I've been snapping up all the weights on ebay, and adding them to all my rolling stock...

Got the 7938 and put it together. Looks nice, but not really impressed with the powertrain. Still, it's easy to fit the 9V motors, which am getting more of. One thing: IS LEGO GOING TO BRING JUST THE CARRIAGES OUT?!! I hope so, it really needs two or three more trucks.