Melfice

Awesome review. One note about the triangular wings, however. They're not a new mould. They've been used in an older Space theme, called Exploriens from 1996. It's part 30036. After that, it's been used in several other themes as well. Also, regarding the containers from 7994, I'm sure it's not that hard to jury-rig some supports for those containers. ;) I see no reason why you couldn't. They're both the same dimension. If anything, you should be able to get a better performance out of the train if you do. The new PF motors are regeared in such a way that they give the same performance under 6 AAA's as the old RC ones gave under 6 AA's. The Rechargeable PF battery equals 6 AA, I believe (though not completely? Eh...). As such, more power to the motor.

This has been brought up before. There are several stations still in existence where, in the past, passengers could access the train from both sides. Over time, however, railway companies found out this brought more work for the conductors and increased danger. At such a point, the companies decided to ever only allow one side of the train's doors to be unlocked, and they barred off the other side of the platform that would allow access. Here are two examples from the Netherlands: Oldenzaal: Note: The other side of the left platform (platform 2) is still in use. You just can't enter the train on platform 1 from there anymore. Almelo:

No offence, but this walk well out of the "passing resemblance" territory, and straight into homage land. Anyway, I don't see how people are complaining. 1) You get twice the amount of platform you got from 7997. (Maybe a little bit less than twice, not sure...) 2) Keeping it as it is, with maybe some light alterations, means you can fit twice as many trains on the station as you can on (again) 7997. 3) If you don't like the station's build itself, you can use it to lengthen (you guessed it) 7997's platform, if you have it (or any other trainstation that is more to your liking).

Thank you for the welcome! Yeah, but the Emerald Night isn't a dwarf either, standing at 3-and-a-little trackpieces if you include the tender, so it's not like it's all that insane. Plus, it's pretty in-scale, really. The Crocodile was pretty huge in real life too, if I remember correctly.

You design and build them yourself. Models like these aren't generally for sale, due to the high parts-cost involved. I can imagine trains like these running somewhere between 300 and 500 Dollar.

Oh, hey. I never introduced myself here, now have I? Alright, let's see. I only really started with LEGO trains this year. Funny really... I mainly started due to a light depression, which lead to a HUGE toy-binge. A Masterpiece Starscream, a Masterpiece Grimlock, two Armored Core model kits, video games, and then... I started thinking. Well, hey. I like trains in real life. I like LEGO. I used to really want to own as a kid, but never actually got it, so let's look around then! Of course, I couldn't find ANYTHING in brick and mortar stores the moment I was shopping for it, while I knew I'd seen some not a month before. Shopped around on the internet, and found Set 66239 containing and a lot of track, and I knew I had to have it. And from there... it spiralled into madness. :P Earlier this week, this arrived and promptly got built. And just yesterday, I ordered , along with some supplies to power it. This will be my pet project for the future. While I will initially be building #22 pretty much to the instructions (sans necessary adaptations for the motor and battery box), the plan is to upgrade the train's shape as well as add more functions, such as interior lighting and the such.

If I get the passenger train, I know the first thing I'm doing is rearranging the seating arrangement. That's all fine for a first-class car or perhaps even a second-class as you'd find in an InterCity train, but horribly inefficient for a second-class car on a commuter train. :P Though... I'm very much drawn to the cargo train too. Choices, choices. >__<

Thank you! That'll all work out then. After motorizing it (which brings it's own problem, in the case of #22 I've already noticed. Should have ordered 2 of the RC motors to even it out, I suppose. Ah well.) that means 6 wheel parts then? Heh, spare tires. EDIT: Just printed the 83 pages for model 22, so I could go and build the model on the dinner table. Resolution's so low, I can't make out the a lot of the details. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF- On my bed with the LDD file on my PC screen it is then, I suppose.

So, I just recently ordered 10183, and I was planning on making the DMU (Model 22). I also have plans to tweak it considerably, including working interior lighting as well as front- and rear lights. That is something for the future. however. My question, for the moment, is: After I've built Model 22, would I have enough parts left to create, at the very least, a small shunting loc, or maybe a wagon of sorts? I'm happy enough with the DMU by itself, but if I can expand my "collection" of cargo wagons by just one (even a small one) I'd be even happier. Thank you very much for the answer! - Melfice

It does look like there's an extra axle-hole between the powered ones, so it should be possible. I wouldn't know if it'll actually take corners, though, considering the wheels. I have no experience with running trains or cars with a triple axle arrangement.

The only thing that comes to my mind is "I'd better order a few more rechargeable battery boxes, before LEGO Shop at Home runs out and I have to spend double on one."

Hmm... you're right. Let's hope this is Version 2 of the rechargeable battery pack...

Actually, that battery box looks exactly like the one that LEGO offers on it's website. So, I would assume it IS actually the same one. This is good news, indeed. The thing that looks more interesting... the motor. It looks like the buffer is permanently attached to the motor itself, though this is probably just for show... Hopefully.

Current 0x0 meters. Hopefully, by the end of the year we'll have the attic cleaned out for me. I'd be working on that now, but my younger brother is also claiming that space, so I'm giving him until his birthday (2 months) to get crackin', or I will. Anyway, I intend to set up a semi-permanent layout up there. Probably a main L-shape, with perhaps a shunting yard connected to it, track-pieces and room permitting.

Until you have to start paying for the fuel costs! ... lame joke? Yeah, I know. Anyway, the upcoming cargo train does, very much, look like a European-style diesel locomotive, so perhaps that's LEGO's acknowledgement of European railways. ;) But I know what you mean. Something more exclusive, like the aforementioned Santa Fe and BNSF trains. The problem with picking and designing a European locomotive/train is that there are 27 member nations to the European Union, and almost just as many different styles of European trains. Do you go with the UK, a country that almost seems a synonym for Europe (much to my chagrin... but that's a different topic) and that has some remarkable train designs; Germany, home to Siemens, Bombardier Transportation and the gods know how many other train designers/builders; or do you go with a mix-match of designs found all over Europe (Usually built or designed in Germany...)? Choices, choices. (That Class 66 you mentioned would be a good pick, of course. But so would trains built by Siemens (such as the EuroSprinter, and there's another one which I can't remember the name of...), which can be found all over Europe as well.)

Personally, I was more charmed by Version 1, but they both look pretty good.

Working signals? That'd be awesome. Preferably something that's customizable, so a Dutch person wouldn't end up with (horribly complicated) German or British signals. So that people could have their own look to their layouts, right? Other than that... not much on my wishlist, really. Maybe modular station sets? - Main station building. - Completely empty platform piece for complete customization. - Platform with an under- or overpass. - Platform with a kiosk - Platform with...? A single module would be as long as a single train car or locomotive. Three modules is enough to fit a single three-car train, like the upcoming 7938 passenger train. Six modules is enough to make a double-sided platform. Fourteen modules (twelve for the trains and two for the 7996 switches) would fit four trains with the realistic means to actually have four trains at the station. Sell 3 (basic) modules in a boxed set for... €100? Single modules go for €40-€45? (The main building would probably go for more, or be included with the boxed set) It wouldn't be a big seller (LEGO Shop at Home exclusive), but something for the more dedicated LEGO trainers with enough space, yet who don't have the bricks to build their own stations.

I have no idea if they have similar signals where you're from, but do you see those white triangles, low to the ground, in the right of the photo? Those are dwarf signals. Mostly used within (larger) stations and shunting areas. I have no idea exactly how realistic you want to go, but always an idea to keep in mind, yes? But, uh... let me not derail the thread any further, lest I get smacked with the banhammer.

I present to you: Oldenzaal Trainstation in the Netherlands from the cab of the Syntus operated LINT 41. In ye olden* days (around the 1970's), you could board the train from both sides (assuming the Dutch Railways (NS) still allowed that; see further down) since there was no fence on platform 2 to actually prevent that. Nowadays there's a black fence running the entire length of platform 2 on the side of platform 1's track. At some point in time, though, the NS actually did not allow doors on both sides of the train to unlock, regardless of whether there was a platform there. More generally, you'll see this kind of station layout on stations that have a cul-de-sac, though that depends, of course, on how many tracks terminate in said cul-de-sac. Almelo station (also the Netherlands) has a cul-de-sac with a platform on both sides, with one side fenced off. * Ooh! Witty! Disclaimer: The photo was found on www.nlwandel.nl and rehosted on ImageShack. I do not know who took the picture, however I do not claim to own the picture and all rights belong to the owner.

Personally, I find that the crane car is a bit odd in set 7898. No doubt everybody (who cares?) notices it's an e-loc pulling the cars. How does the crane avoid the catenary (or, Overhead Contact System) wires? o_0 I'm a bit of a train-nut so that was a bit of a "Wait, what?" moment for me. Anyway, when I let that set run a few laps, I generally don't have that car attached. I dunno. It just looks a wee bit out of place on it to me. Currently planning on converting it to a container car with either a 40 foot or two 20 foot containers loaded. I can only concur on the photos. Very nice work!

I'm figuring they DO have two motors under the train, both linked to one motor-block. I don't know why; maybe they just wanted some extra power there?

Regarding your comments on the station. Think of it like this: Instead of a single platform, you now have two plus a pass-over. Also, think of it more as a supplement to the older stations. Rather than a full station, you could use it to extend the older ones OR as a smaller station that serves the same city. Also, a link to a similar type of station in the Netherlands: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_Hengelo_Oost Directly behind the camera is another platform like it. It's certainly not an unrealistic idea for a station. Hengelo Oost (Oost meaning East) is the second station for that city, about 5 minutes from the main station.

I'm just starting in the LEGO train business. Just recently bought the super-pack that contained: 7898 (the actual train, the rest are track-packs and the station.), 7896, 7895 and 7997. This, in preparation for the new Power Functions trains that are to arrive later this year. I iz da newbie.

I know better than to closely look at the shape of LEGO that's supposed to represent, or is based off, real vehicles, but the nose of the LEGO train is too sharp to be the 425. Still, good point on the Jacobs bogies. A mix between the Talent and 425? Sound like a good compromise? ;)

As he said, the platform is yet to arrive. So, I would assume there will be benches for waiting passengers. Also, that looks less like a waiting room, and more like the ticket booth to me, but that might just be my imagination.