peterab

I don't know but I suspect that the initial sales for the yellow cargo train were faster than expected, so to ensure stock levels (of at least one cargo train) stretched till the end of it's planned life cycle, they introduced the red one. The red cargo train looks like it has been a success too, so hopefully that bodes well when the train line gets a refresh.

I remember wanting that before I had a train. Despite going on a post dark ages binge buying up a lot of the sets I wanted as a kid I've still not bought that one. It's sort of my holy grail. I do have one of the black hinges though :-)

I have to agree with Thorsten on this. While I'm pretty purist myself, it all depends what you want to get out of the hobby. Locomotive Annie clearly want's a running train layout that looks like her prototype. She uses anything that helps her meet that goal. I find the challenge of building out of pure LEGO is part of the fun, and I've seen the bar slowly rising on the level of detail we can achieve modeling real prototypes, but clearly there is a limit. I have no problem with using BBB wheels, am still a bit on the fence about the valve gear, but will probably use them in the future. If we look back at the level of detail in train MOCs ten years ago we've come a long way, and part of that is due to experimentation with cutting flex and stickers and third party parts, and modified electronics and power solutions. Continuing to do so will continue to grow the hobby.

While I share your pain, I think this topic failed because it tried to change the natural behaviour of new forum members. Most people will wade in before getting an idea of how a group works. If it saves you moderating work you don't like, let it die.

The 4.5V motors were designed to be opened and lubricated (there is probably a scan of the warranty card and lube instructions on Peeron). It's easy to do with a screwdriver. You used to be able to purchase replacement motors and the bearings for wheels too. While there is no harm in it, I'm not sure there'll be much benefit either. All of the motors I've seen either run pretty well, or the motor is burnt out and cleaning and lube won't help. They are not an expensive part to replace thankfully.

Yeah that seller has a habit of listing stuff at prices which will put off most buyers, though he has a bunch of very rare stock. Trying to sell on eBay for such a rare item might not get a good price either.

Even in large exhibition halls with high ceilings I've found the range of the PF controllers is limited to about 2 meters. At home they seem to be far more reliable.

While I agree in principle with the idea that there should be catenary masts and even wire, there is a point where you can just say it's too much effort and put it on the todo list for later. If everything has to be perfect we get less done, whereas incremental improvements encourage us along. Besides both those trains look like European prototypes which exist as diesel electrics as well as pure electrics so if the pantographs really bother you just take them off and build a bridge.

Because the Creator design team designed it. The Modular Houses are also designed by the same team, as were the previous exclusive trains, the Maersk and Emerald Night. The only real change here is they have chosen to put the creator branding on the box (and added expert).

Depends what and where you are comparing it to. I used to have a German HO layout. My LEGO layout is far cheaper partially because of the cost of the German rolling stock and buildings here in Australia. It takes up more room though.

In 7-wide 50 stud cars are about the limit for the LEGO track geometry, they have no problem negotiating curves etc, but their middle section hangs wide when passing around the curved section of points and can foul the point lever. Other than that they are fine, and since my club tends not to leave the levers on (since kids switch the points at shows) there's no problem.

The enlighten trains have some interesting parts but have a couple of drawbacks. The plastic colours are slightly different than LEGO colours, and the clutch power is also different and less consistent. Some pieces bind too well and others not well enough. Enlighten seem to be a lot better than other clones though. The real disadvantage of Enlighten trains for me is the track is brown rather than dark grey. The wheel sets also have a lot more friction than LEGO train wheels.

I was working on the assumption that LEGO brand stores are a franchise in which case TLG negotiates with the local franchise owners on a region by region basis. It's still wild speculation but it fits the observable facts and what we're told by TLG. I guess distribution cost could be a bit different between Germany (being the biggest market hence more efficient) and other European nations. For a while it looked like prices in the UK may have been discounted a bit due to the GFC. The other option is TLG is lying to us, but that's a bit too much like conspiracy theory for me. They've been very forthcoming in the past in saying that their pricing is set to make LEGO a luxury brand, and we know from their company reports they have a profit margin that is pretty much the envy of every other toy manufacturer, and most other industries. I can't see any real motivation to lie only about this particular detail.

From what I've been told, it is because the retail price is negotiated with local retailers on a country by country basis. Obviously your local retailers think not everybody is willing to go to Germany for cheaper LEGO :-)

I'm pretty sure they do. I've been told by a variety of TLG employees that the wholesale price of sets is the same around the world, adjusted slightly for taxes. The only exception to this is deliberately keeping prices lower in markets they see as important for future growth (the US was mentioned about 5 years ago in their company report). The retail price is negotiated with retailers in each market. Clearly Harvey Norman is not the only Australian retailer who hasn't worked out how the internet will affect their business model yet.

My apologies, I assumed the level crossing must have been OK, since it was a cheap way of getting straight track and some useful parts, in fact I bought a few of them. Seemed to sell Ok here but the whole train line didn't appear to be restocked. The older crossover was fraught but it is now sought after. Sat on the shelves at TRU here in Australia for ages.

I'm not aware of any online or I'd have linked them. I'll ask him if he has any up anywhere and post if he does.

The original discussion was about the crossover track piece, not the level crossing with vehicle.

Many of the trains in other themes (such as Monster Fighters) are not designed to take a motor, but LEGO being a construction toy, many people modify the sets to take a motor. The Ghost Train doesn't have proper train wheels on its carriages so you'll need to add them. Normally people will modify a train to be compatible with whatever system they have. I've seen a 9V Ghost Train, but wouldn't recommend that unless you already have the 9V gear and track. On the other hand the current PF requires you to be able to hide a battery and receiver in the train which the Ghost train is particularly unsuited for. The choice of which motor tends to be more about availability and compatibility with what you already have, unless you intend to pull very heavy trains. Pretty much all the train motors will pull 3-4 light carriages. If you really need more detail on each type of motor there is a comparison of them all linked in one of the older threads.

One of the guys in my train club has built a bunch of narrow gauge engines (see Puffing Billy) in 12 wide on L gauge track. It allows him to put in the detail he requires, and makes modding parts for the running gear pretty easy. His working valve gear also sits well rather than protruding as with the emerald night. He's a fireman on the real railway so he's more concerned with reality than LEGO purism. 12 wide allows him to get the scale right. Minifgs end up being children, and the old 70's homemaker figs are adults. The downside to it is powering such heavy beasts. He uses modified 12V pickups and track to drive XL motors. There's been a lot of trial and error in getting them running.

TLG making more small add on sets won't help this though. The large retailers only want to stock quick selling items. Even though expansion track packs are available from LEGO most retailers don't stock them for very long after they are released. Pretty much the same situation that made the Santa Fe coaches sell really badly. I was actively looking for them while they were available, but never saw them in a shop.

I think this observation clearly illustrates what most people forget when discussing the availability of LEGO trains. For a new train set to be successful, it not only has to sell well but better than any other idea that LEGO could make. Why sacrifice a new fire engine or police station for a poorer selling train carriage?

I have a reasonable collection of it as, for me, it's the era I grew up with. The newer sets are cool, but the real nostalgia of LEGO is sparked by the late 60's and 70's stuff. Every now and then I get it out and set up the track on the floor :-)

If I remember correctly 150, 151, 154, 155 are the blue track packs, straight, curved, crossings, and points/switches. The drawstring bag was available separately also. The easiest way to identify if you have a particular train set would be to include a photo of the parts. Many train sets of the 60's and 70's (the blue track era) had unique parts which pretty quickly narrow down which train it is. I like to use Peeron Instruction Scans to identify old sets. It's far more complete than most other sites. I've linked to the 4.5V trains. You may also have 12V if you've got the metal centre conducting rails.

Once the Maersk was released it wasn't long until the Emerald Night was no longer available. I'd guess once stocks run out of the Maersk that will be it. It is likely stock will last till after the release of this train till after January though. The Mearsk train has just moved firmly up my priority list though :-)