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Advice on Trains

RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
in Collecting
With the upcoming release of a new train set and some YouTube and blogs talking about trains. I have been looking at it getting into trains and wanted some advice on how to go about it. 

Are there any trains to avoid/must buys? 
Is there a good way to display them? Or is a lay out best?
Buying second hand is there anything to look out for in regards to motors etc?
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Comments

  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^May God have mercy on your soul.
    gmonkey76RedbullgivesuwindSumoLegodougtsGothamConstructionConatro220vwong19
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    @Pitfall69 that bad?
    SumoLego
  • hanks75hanks75 Member Posts: 4
    watch for sales from amazon.uk.  for whatever reason, they tend to discount the trains a lot more than anybody else.  I've gotten the last two trains for $50-60 off.
    Redbullgivesuwind
  • BumblepantsBumblepants Member Posts: 7,637
    The Creator Expert trains are a joy to build. I love the Maersk and Horizon Express. However those will cost you at this point. I would still try and get a Maersk if you can afford it.
    Redbullgivesuwindbluemodern
  • MrMonsieurGreenMrMonsieurGreen Member Posts: 15
    Its hard to jump on the bus of starting to collect Lego Trains. Many sets will cost you an arm and a leg. I recently missed the bus on getting the Horizon Express and had to pay more than the retail value to get the set that I wanted. I have the EN and the Maersk train and love them, Lego puts real care into their advanced train sets. Don't worry too much about collecting every single train set unless you really want them but make sure to purchase and Creator Expert Trains to come!

    To display I have them in a case just because it is the most convenient to me. I do not have the room for a layout, especially since the turns take up so much space.

    Usually at one time in a Lego City Train's lifecycle it will go on sale, and when that sale hits, its usually a good one, so if you are into those, wait for the sales. 
    Redbullgivesuwind
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101

    -Avoid what you don’t like, buy what you can afford.
    -Decide if you just want to look at your trains or run them. I prefer to run them.
    -Always buy used/second hand to save a bit 'o cash. Who needs boxes and empty plastic bags?
    -The only thing I know to watch out for is the 9v motors have some clips on them that are frequently broken off.

    -Check out the following train links:

    http://railbricks.com/magazine/

    http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showforum=122

  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,696
    If you are going to buy the Power Functions, be sure to stay away from the Lego extra motor set #8866. It is notoriously under powered and can be identified by it's white wheel bushings as opposed to the better #88002 that has orange bushings.
    RedbullgivesuwindFarmer_Johnklatu003
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,229
    edited May 2015
    I hear collecting pre-Grand Emporium modulars is much easier and less expensive.

    Also, Faberge Eggs are similarly easy.

    And White Boba Fett rangefinders.
    roxioRedbullgivesuwinddougtsGothamConstructionCochibhawkvwong19Johnnyfinlandia
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    Decide whether to play or display - this affects whether you want a layout or just short track. If display, don't bother with motors, sell them off. Also don't bother with kids sets, you're going to need to moc to get detailed display pieces.

    Don't bother with 9V. Yeah, controversial. Look to the future and go for PF sets only. What is past is past. And expensive.

    Look to get most new sets at 30% off - Argos is a good source for this, or an Amazon price match. Once you have a basic kit and understand how the train part works, then moc. There is so much fun seeing your own blocky BOLOCs train zooming round a track. If you are going to moc, the kits still provide a cheap entry point to get the basic gear to start off. Buy some straight tracks. Lots of expansion packs, you'll need it.
    Redbullgivesuwind
  • mh3490mh3490 Member Posts: 329
    No train collection is complete without a santa fe super chief and possibly toss in a bnsf for good measure spent a fairlyrics high price for mine but don't regret it at all as they are beautifully done 
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    Thanks everyone for the tips. I'll have a look at the creator trains to see what I can get hold of. I will be displaying for now but with plans to run them when I get my own place. 

    Good to know about the discounts as well and who does discount them best. I tend to buy what I can from Amazon anyway. 
    SumoLego
  • Farmer_JohnFarmer_John Member Posts: 2,405
    oldtodd33 said:
    If you are going to buy the Power Functions, be sure to stay away from the Lego extra motor set #8866. It is notoriously under powered and can be identified by it's white wheel bushings as opposed to the better #88002 that has orange bushings.
    I did not know that. Thanks for the tip!!
  • PaperballparkPaperballpark Member Posts: 4,268
    Trains are expensive. Fortunately, once you've bought the retired ones that you want, it's one of those themes where there'll probably only be two sets released per year. For example, this year is the Heavy Haul Train, and last year had the two other City trains. The Maersk set is great - so much so I bought two of them MISB (and BL'd another two trucks) last year - a few years after it had retired.

    As others have said: with retired stuff, buy what you like and ignore the rest. I also use PF - the 9V stuff is not cheap, and won't get any cheaper.
    Redbullgivesuwind
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    That is what it am counting on! Most of the stuff that interests me is the steam anyway so it should be quick to pick up. 

    The 9v seems to be the part to avoid. I am hoping that if I avoid ones where the motor is included it will bring the price right down. Or allow me to BL it. 
  • madforLEGOmadforLEGO Member Posts: 10,791
    edited May 2015
    mh3490 said:
    No train collection is complete without a santa fe super chief and possibly toss in a bnsf for good measure spent a fairlyrics high price for mine but don't regret it at all as they are beautifully done 
    I would not say that. I mean no train collection is complete unless you have all the trains then.
    Buy what you want, and do not regret it if you cannot get many for the harder to find or costlier ones, like #10194, #10219, #10233, also #10001/#4558 are pricey.

    I would say also decide if you just want PF type trains, 9Volt, 4.5 V or 12V. Or all...
    Or just get the ones you can now and start collecting from there. But I think most 90's 9V train sets can be had for around 125-150 USD on eBay complete, but they are 9 volt. and 9 volt track is pricey, as well as engines.

    Redbullgivesuwind
  • danstraindepotdanstraindepot Member Posts: 172
    I would suggest buying the 9V track if you can.  Even if you do not use the 9V trains, to me it looks so much better with the metal rails.  But then again, I'm a model train guy.
    Pitfall69Redbullgivesuwindnatro220
  • PaperballparkPaperballpark Member Posts: 4,268
    See, I take the view that if I wanted to run trains that were completely faithful in every regard, I'd buy model trains, not Lego ones ;)
    Redbullgivesuwindnatro220snowhitie
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    edited May 2015
    ^ or both :)
    danstraindepot said:
    I would suggest buying the 9V track if you can.  Even if you do not use the 9V trains, to me it looks so much better with the metal rails.  But then again, I'm a model train guy.
    Of course, not to imply that metal rails are the choice of all model train guys, PF rail is quite acceptable as a choice to this model train guy.

    You should get one set (probably #60052 ), see how you like it, then go from there.
    Redbullgivesuwind
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,696
    Actually, if you want to try a really fun set, get the 10183. There are so many possibilities there it's scary. 
    EluneRedbullgivesuwind
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    The only reason to run metal rails is if you have a few 9V trains to run along with your PF trains. Obviously, PF trains will run on 9V rails. With a little ingenuity, you can convert 9V trains to PF. I haven't tried, but I am thinking about converting my Santa Fe Super Chief to PF, but I do not think the motor is strong enough to pull 8-10 heavy cars.
  • MrShinyAndNewMrShinyAndNew Member Posts: 283
    You might still be able to find the Lone Ranger Constitution Chase, which was my gateway drug into the train world. It's a fairly nice locomotive; the rest of the train is meh, but gets you the parts to build your own cars, plus some track.
    ReesesPiecesRedbullgivesuwind
  • ReesesPiecesReesesPieces Member Posts: 1,120
    MrShinyAndNew said:
    You might still be able to find the Lone Ranger Constitution Chase, which was my gateway drug into the train world. It's a fairly nice locomotive; the rest of the train is meh, but gets you the parts to build your own cars, plus some track.
    Did you happen to motorize yours?
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    I motorized my #79111 as well as others.  Here is a thread talking about it
    http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/11457/motorizing-the-constitution-79111/p1
    RedbullgivesuwindReesesPieces
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    @MrShinyAndNew you read my mind as to the one I was going to start with. Especially as it is really cheap on eBay. And I think my local toy shop has one left. 
  • graphitegraphite Member Posts: 3,275
    Thought I had posted it in that thread but I made a passenger car for mine and put the battery box inside it, put the IR receiver in the tender and the motor in the engine.  The gray technic liftarm on the engine wheels is black now, thats all I had available when I first built it.


    RedbullgivesuwindBumblepantsPitfall69ElunebluemodernsnowhitieReesesPiecesAndor
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    @graphite wow that looks really nice. Especially the carriages! 
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Yeah, you could still buy The Constitution and sell off the minifigures and parts you dont need to recoup some of your cost. 
    Redbullgivesuwind
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    The problem with trains is that at first you think your Emerald Night is pretty cool than you see this:

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/steampoweredbricks/sets/72157651100121668/

    and now it just looks like a [email protected]!# toy!
    EluneSumoLegoBrickDancerFarmer_JohnRedbullgivesuwindbluemodern
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    What an a$$hole posting that. Now I am going to take a bat to my train layout ;)
    SumoLegoJohnnyfinlandia
  • oldtodd33oldtodd33 Member Posts: 2,696
    HOLY S**T!  Who has time to do that?
    SumoLegoPitfall69Johnnyfinlandia
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    The editor of Railbricks, who else! :)
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,229
    The picture of the old man pouring milk for the cats amazes me.

    And the trains aren't so bad, either.
    Pitfall69Elunegmonkey76princedraven
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    Gosh, If I'm going to get called names, I might as well post this link to a really cool steam locomotive.

    http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=109327
    Farmer_John
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    I'm sorry buddy. I am drinking just a tad ;)
  • Farmer_JohnFarmer_John Member Posts: 2,405
    ecmo47 said:
    Gosh, If I'm going to get called names, I might as well post this link to a really cool steam locomotive.

    http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=109327
    Now if only someone would post the instructions to build these...what with the cheesy City Trains being released these days.
    TheLoneTensorRedbullgivesuwind
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    Farmer_John said:
    ecmo47 said:
    Gosh, If I'm going to get called names, I might as well post this link to a really cool steam locomotive.

    http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=109327
    Now if only someone would post the instructions to build these...what with the cheesy City Trains being released these days.

    The builder told me that he was considering making LDD instructions of his mallet. I told him I'd be the first in line!
    EluneFarmer_John
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    Yeah when you see that picture of the model then look at the number of bullet like trains lego release. I do think lego need to make more of the older models.
    Farmer_John
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    Taken my first steps just ordered the Emerald Night and 7937 Train Station.
    oldtodd33BrickDancerEluneprincedravenFarmer_John
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    ^ Look for my thread on improving the power function of the EN.
    RedbullgivesuwindbluemodernFarmer_John
  • RedbullgivesuwindRedbullgivesuwind Member Posts: 2,117
    Thanks I will do! 
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    I need to update the thread with the addition of an "sBrick" to replace the IR controller. It's a giant step forward for the control of any motorized Lego creation. Runs on Bluetooth from your smart phone to greatly increasing the range and control sensitivity.

    https://www.sbrick.com/ 
    thenos
  • thenosthenos Member Posts: 444
    https://www.sbrick.com
  • chuxtoyboxchuxtoybox Member Posts: 711
    graphite said:
    Thought I had posted it in that thread but I made a passenger car for mine and put the battery box inside it, put the IR receiver in the tender and the motor in the engine.  The gray technic liftarm on the engine wheels is black now, thats all I had available when I first built it.


    Could you show us your whole layout? I'm particularly interested in your bridge. :smile: 
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937

    ecmo47 said:
    ^ Look for my thread on improving the power function of the EN.
    Your thread...you mean the one where you copied an entire post of mine regarding the big 3 improvements for the EN, where I consolidated a couple other improvements from other folks?  Then added in the improvements from my Berkshire gearbox?  Is that the thread you're talking about?

    Btw, the Berkshire gearbox changes aren't completely necessary for making the EN run better, but it'll help.
    SumoLego
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,229
    ^ Details, details. 
  • ecmo47ecmo47 Member Posts: 2,101
    http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/15407/emerald-night-10194-running-gear-improvements

    Here's the thread which I started in which I gave you credit in the first post.

    Are you really upset? Can’t tell from the tone of your post. I thought I gave credit where credit was due but if I didn’t, I apologize.
    SuperTramp
  • TheLoneTensorTheLoneTensor Member Posts: 3,937
    At the end of the day, people end up with an improved version of the Emerald Night as a result, and Lego train tech is advanced.  It's all good.
    Pitfall69Redbullgivesuwind
  • SumoLegoSumoLego Member Posts: 15,229
    Yes, an Emerald Knight.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^Did he sit at the Round Table?
    SumoLego
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    ^^Or have a Green Lantern ring?
    SumoLegoPitfall69
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