Next Expert Train?

KingDave

Now that the Emerald Night #10233 has been discontinued, has anybody heard anything about what the next expert train may be? I would guess it will be a steam train of some sort as the last two have been modern ( #10219 & #10233 ), but that is as much hope as anything. #10194 Emerald Night was a 2009 set (before I was buying Lego again) so surely 6 years is long enough to release another steam train.

msanders

KingDave said:

Now that the Emerald Night #10233 has been discontinued, has anybody heard anything about what the next expert train may be? I would guess it will be a steam train of some sort as the last two have been modern ( #10219 & #10233 ), but that is as much hope as anything. #10194 Emerald Night was a 2009 set (before I was buying Lego again) so surely 6 years is long enough to release another steam train.

You mean that the Horizon express has been discontinued? Yes, I really hope a steam train comes out. I didn't buy the Horizon express although I really liked the look of it and heard great things about the build itself. My wife said that she wants a steam train so I'm eager to see the next expert train.

PeteM

I'm crossing my fingers for a new steam train too - they appeared to be in a two-year release pattern, with the previous sets announced near the end of 2008/2010/2012 for release early in 2009/2011/2013, but not heard any rumblings yet. However, there have been a large number of new sets announced recently, so I'm hoping that it's just that they want to space announcements (and release dates) out a little...

KingDave

^^ Yes, Horizon Express, not Emerald Night (it is easy to mix up those two names!).

Shib

If there is a really nice looking steam train that might be the point that I cave and finally buy a Lego train set.

Robatron86

I too would like a nice steam engine. Or one of the many MOC engines turned into an official kit. An RS1 maybe?

maniac

Wasn't tempted enough by HE and dark age when Emerald was out.
What would tempt me is an A4 Class like the Mallard.

TXLegoguy

I am really hoping for a steam train also. I would buy a couple of them.

AdeelZubair

I didn't manage to get the Emerald Night train and hope for LEGO to release a similar train in the future.

GallardoLU

I would love to see one of the late era mountain steamers like the C&O 1604 "Allegheny" or the UP 1404 "Big Boy" both are arguably the largest steam locomotives ever completed. be I think I'd be happy with just about any steamer at this point.

madforLEGO

Well they did an old Steam locomotive (EN), a diesel loco (MS) and now a high speed loco(HE).
Unless they do an electric powered loco (like the croc engine) I'm guessing they are back to an old steam loco.

msanders

Monorail?

Ma1234

Horizon Express remains readily available from LEGO.

Matthew

It sold out in the UK over the Black Friday weekend.

TheLoneTensor

...because it was on sale?

Andor

A steam train would be great. I being wanting a LEGO steam train ever since I went to a friend's house and played with their motorized model train. And sadly I did not pick up the Emerald Night when I was still on sale.

drdavewatford

I think there'd be lots of AFOLs who'd love a new steam train along the lines of Emerald Night.

LEGO could do a lot worse than put out something similar to Carl Greatrix' superb Mallard model below....



:-)

Pitfall69

^That MOC is awesome @drdavewatford‌

I would like to "one up" that by suggest that Lego put out an Expert Hogwarts Express. A new movie in the works and with the success of Harry Potter World at Universal Studios; I think it would be a must have for EVERYONE!!!

AdeelZubair

Pitfall69 said:

^That MOC is awesome @drdavewatford‌

I would like to "one up" that by suggest that Lego put out an Expert Hogwarts Express. A new movie in the works and with the success of Harry Potter World at Universal Studios; I think it would be a must have for EVERYONE!!!

It better have LEGO Power Functions as well as a full track. They should make better and fully detailed than any Hogwarts Express they have made. A great Christmas present!

Pitfall69

I don't know about track and Power Functions, but it better be extremely detailed and come with Exclusive Minifigures.

Hardrada

The last steamer had a British style so I'd rather see something different now, maybe a classic German steamer.

Or maybe something with a funky wheel arrangement like a Mallet or Garratt type. Added benefit would be that these are better at navigating the narrow Lego curves.

KingDave

I know it was not an 'Expert' level of set, but the recent #79111 Constitution Train Chase was an American style steam loco. This probably reduces the chances of the next Expert train being a classic American loco style. I would love them to do a snow clearing train, like one of these;

CCC

I'd prefer a Lego own-brand one to a Harry Potter one, or any other film licenses.

crazycarl

Really wish i didnt pass on the Emerald Night. There is no way Im paying $400 for it now. Got tired of waiting for Lego so I made my own. Its a 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific. Since I had most of the elements it only cost me about $40. Sorry its a bad pic.

devilhead

I'm a big fan of the Creator Expert trains (or however they've been previously branded) and would be extremely disappointed of they went the Harry Potter route. It would be a must avoid for me at that point.

A Big Boy like this would be amazing.

madforLEGO

I would not lump a licensed set as a expert train set.
If they do or do not do a steamer I doubt it will be because #79111 was out.

crazycarl

Heres a somewhat better pic.....

madforLEGO

devilhead said:

I'm a big fan of the Creator Expert trains (or however they've been previously branded) and would be extremely disappointed of they went the Harry Potter route. It would be a must avoid for me at that point.

A Big Boy like this would be amazing.

The thing would probably be at least 300 USD

crazycarl

Not to mention it would look very odd taking a Lego radius turn, if it could....... But I would buy one :->

devilhead

madforLEGO said:

devilhead said:

I'm a big fan of the Creator Expert trains (or however they've been previously branded) and would be extremely disappointed of they went the Harry Potter route. It would be a must avoid for me at that point.

A Big Boy like this would be amazing.

The thing would probably be at least 300 USD

I said amazing, not realistic. But I'd pay for that before I'd pay for a Harry Potter train.

Paperballpark

I'd love a steam train, but the problem is that I can't think of any iconic ones that they could really do, given that the EN was apparently based on the Flying Scotsman.

BrickDancer

^The President's train, the Magellan, would be good choice of iconic, good looking and historically important.

Bandit

Snowpiercer! ;)

GallardoLU

another rather Iconic steamer is Southern Pacific 4449 also known as "Daylight Express"

Pitfall69

All you guys are crazy. I know you would buy a Hogwarts Express as soon as it came out. If no other reason than to resell it. I call shenanigans on that ,)

But...it was just a suggestion as are all of yours. I am not a huge steam engine fan. I am more a modern train guy, but I like the Emerald Night.

Shpadoinkle

Okay, I'll admit I freaked out and just ordered my second HE...I haven't even built my first from last year's TRU sale, but I just know when I do it won't look "right" without the other half and I will curse to the heavens that I didn't get a second one when I could.

This is absolutely one of my favorite themes, even though finding space to display them, let alone run them is a huge chore. Nevertheless, whenever we have kids over (and especially boys) they ALWAYS gravitate toward the trains I have set up. That's a pretty universal thing as the #4563 Load and Haul Railroad I had as a kid was my absolute most played with set. (Amazingly I found that I never applied the stickers for that as a kid...I hated them even then!)

I don't know what the next train will be, but I know I'll buy it. The addiction is strong with this one...

Pitfall69

@Shpadoinkle , I did the exact same thing today. I have (2) HE already, but I wanted one sealed. You need (2) to make it look right.

As you know, the railroad was a huge reason why the North won the Civil War. I know you would absolutely love a Civil War era Steam Engine.

ecmo47

3 Truck Shay!!

matticus_bricks

@Pitfall69‌ I would definitely buy the aforementioned UCS Hogwarts Express. But they've done it how many times? Four? Unfortunately I doubt they'd make another one. And the upcoming movie isn't really Harry Potter or Hogwarts, if I'm correct, it's more of a spinoff set within the same world. Still, it's a great idea.

I want a really futuristic or at least modern train. Maybe something like a Japanese bullet train. Oh, and I want it to have doors, so minifigures don't have to lift the roof off everytime they want to board the train.

Shpadoinkle

@Pitfall69 it's because of your posts talking about the HE needing two to look right that I ordered the second one! So you're completely to blame on this one (or at least that's what I'll tell my wife.)

And forget the Civil War era steam engine, I just want one of these bad boys!

TheLoneTensor

It's not an Allegheny (the most powerful, awesomest, steam engine of all time), but its little brother, the Berkshire 2-8-4 would make a good model for a future Expert train...

devilhead

These could be interesting choices:

TheBrokenPlate

devilhead said:

These could be interesting choices:

...

That top one would be hilarious, just to see the fury it would unleash among the train-heads.
A classic steamer would be my pick too, just not another Hogwarts please.

TheLoneTensor

As goofy as you may think it is, that top one was the very first American built steam train used on a normal line. It's quite historic. I'd love it.

As for what could realistically be coming next, a trolley/cablecar would be welcome.

madforLEGO

I'm guessing it could be an electric powered Crocodile engine, as there has not been one for some time (since #10183).

ecmo47

^ I could see the Tom Thumb as an Ideas set but not a Creator set. A trolley would be nice but wouldn't it be cool if they had a trolley barn to go along with it? Hmmmm....maybe that will be my Lego Ideas entry.....better get building!

crazycarl

TheLoneTensor said:

It's not an Allegheny (the most powerful, awesomest, steam engine of all time), but its little brother, the Berkshire 2-8-4 would make a good model for a future Expert train...

I was going to suggest that. Maybe a little Polar Express action?!!!

crazycarl

Also is that 8 stud wide or 6? Love the 765 decals. It still lives in Indiana.

Shib

matticus_bricks said:

@Pitfall69‌ I would definitely buy the aforementioned UCS Hogwarts Express. But they've done it how many times? Four? Unfortunately I doubt they'd make another one. And the upcoming movie isn't really Harry Potter or Hogwarts, if I'm correct, it's more of a spinoff set within the same world. Still, it's a great idea.

If my understanding is right the new films are set before Harry Potter by something like 60 years, and while it has been said that they will start in America the main character did teach at Hogwarts and had connections to Dumbledor, which does make another Hogwarts Express a bit more likely IF (and that's the big kicker) TLG get the rights to do sets based on the new films. Having spend a good chunk of last week at Brick 2014 helping Fairy Bricks I can certainly say there is still good demand for Harry Potter sets (even re releases) from the amount of parents and non AFOL types who started asking broader Lego questions when they realised I wasn't some guy paid to be there but someone with an interest in Lego volunteering my time.

I know that a Winter Village train is massively unlikely after the Holiday train but I'd love something that looks fitting with the Winter Village, so either a nice Red or Green Steam engine would suit me down to the ground.

TheLoneTensor

Shib said:

I know that a Winter Village train is massively unlikely after the Holiday train but I'd love something that looks fitting with the Winter Village, so either a nice Red or Green Steam engine would suit me down to the ground.

I don't think it's massively unlikely, because that thing was 9v, which was only used in trains at the time. PF crosses many themes these days (Creator, Technic, City), so I think it'd be a good move.

crazycarl said:

Also is that 8 stud wide or 6? Love the 765 decals. It still lives in Indiana.

8 wide, and yeah, the 765 visits us in Michigan regularly to meet it's sister 1225 (The Polar Express) for Xmas train rides.

Shib

^While I don't think anything is impossible I think a WV train is improbable, even if I really want one. The only way I can really imagine them doing it to really fit the theme is to do 2 sets, the train (with power functions and some track) and the station (again with some track.
Of course they could just do the train on it's own, but I think if they didn't include power functions they'll get the same level of criticism they had this year over the size of the Santa's workshop set. If they include power functions I can imagine a lot of complaining about the cost.

-slightly off topic but carrying on thoughts-

After 2 years of fairly heavily critised sets for the Winter Village theme I image that next year they will probably aim for something a bit 'safer' in being more traditional for a Christmas Village. I think probably an eatery of some sort, most likely a Cafe/Coffee Shop, I'd love to get a Winter Village Tavern, even if they have to call it Winter Village Inn to avoid the alcohol focus and make it more of a B&B but I'm not holding out hope.

-back on topic

It's nice to think there might be a pattern and that would mean a steam train is most likely, but to be honest I think we often look for patterns in what TLG do that aren't there.