First train - which one?

CCC

^ how are curved rails retired? They still come in #7895 with the switch track. While it is only 4 it appears it is the only way they've been available for almost 2 years.

They have also been available in cargo train, red cargo train and passenger train. And they are cheap on bricklink.

The_Mack

^ I think LegoFanTexas was saying is, buying curved rails just by them-self are retired. Yes you can still get them in the sets, but getting extras are not as easy as ordering them from LEGO.

graphite

^ LFT was just mistaken which he realized above. The RC curved have never been available by themselves so outside of the train sets its been either in the pack with straight, or the pack with the switch track. I couldn't see LEGO not offering both curved and straight. I suppose they could replace the curved with the flex track but they probably are aware of the negative feedback on the flex track. Not that that would stop them from doing it if it was financially beneficial.

LegoFanTexas

http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-City-Straight-Curved-Rails/dp/B000EHREPI/

This is the retired set I was thinking of... $130 for that is just nuts!

luckyruss

^ That is nuts. The parts are now on PaB, at £1.91 in the UK (and I guess $2 / $2.50 if they're available in the US?). So to buy 8 of each new and direct from TLG would set you back $40 maybe, but why do you want a box for spare track???

Not to mention they're then cheaper on BL.

hleonffu

As mentioned by @luckyruss, LEGO S@H PAB has straight (4279714) and curve (4279717) parts at $3.00 per piece. They also have flex (4535745) for $1.50 per piece. Find them under the Transportation category.

Pitfall69

I am partial to #10020 Santa Few Super Chief. It's my favorite train. It is a 9V train, but im sure it can be converted to the current system. The train itself is little short and so are the rail cars that came with it.

The curved rails for the 9V are cheap and I'm sure they will work with current system.

Check out this link on how beautiful the Santa Fe Super Chief can be with some effort.
http://www.carneycastle.com/Trains/index.htm

madforLEGO

I agree with romdam, the Yellow Cargo train is the most "complete" train out there right now (the Red Cargo train is a bit smaller, and Maersk is awesome but lack Power Functions and track.) However, if you want to end up getting them all eventually, I would pick up the Maersk train as it'll probably go away first.

The yellow train has been out for a while now. Im guessing that the Yellow train will probably be gone before the Maersk, but it is just a guess..

ringleheim

So the plot thickens...

I didn't catch that curved track is included in the swich track set, and I have definitely never stumbled across track bits through the pick-a-brick system. Thanks for that. Very useful information.

graphite

^ the PAB option is definitely the more expensive route though.

ringleheim

A brief follow up...

2 days ago my Emerald Night arrived and now it is completed. I thought I would share a few comments for the benefit of other train shoppers new to this genre, who might discover this thread and be wondering which route to take.

Let me say I love it! I don't think I realized that it is almost devoid of studs in finished form. This is high praise for me as I am not into studs showing. Viewed from a short distance, the set looks like a finished model train product, not a Lego set.

It was also a varied and really fun build, using advanced SNOT techniques.

It is also a bit more petite than I might have thought. Not too wide, not too tall, and each car including the locomotive is not overly long.

As just a static display piece, this set is superb. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "classy".

Today my power functions bits are due to arrive from Lego Shop@home, and track is on the way as well. Then I can start the conversion so this baby can run on some track.

Within 30 seconds of finishing the train, my honest thought was "Now it's time to order the Maersk train!" as I wanted to continue the train building fun immediately.

Throughout the entire build, once I was getting the hang for how Lego engineers the wheel assemblies on these things, I started thinking about all the parts I am going to need to get so I can start to MOC my own train cars.

I'm a big fan of Lego trains now, and I haven't even run one on track yet!

LegoFanTexas

^ Glad to hear you liked it! I agree, the EN is one of the finest Lego sets TLG has done, not just in trains, but in anything. It is a 10 out of 10 in my book, one of the first sets I show off to guests, everyone "gets it" and is very impressed that Lego bricks can build that.

samiam391

^^That's great to hear! I hope you continue to enjoy the train and train theme as you expand your collection!

Pitfall69

I should have gotten EN, but I'm not a huge fan of steam engines. The trains have gotten more detailed over the years although I do not like the Power Functions.

Bosstone100

It's been a while since I thought about the EN train. I picked up power functions set #8293 . Is this all I need to convert EN when the time comes?

LegoFanTexas

^ No, actually that set has nothing you need to convert EN to power functions.

8870 Power Functions Light
8878 Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box
8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control
8882 Power Functions XL-Motor
8884 Power Functions IR Receiver
8887 Transformer 10VDC

The 8878 rechargeable box is actually not required, you can use 88000 instead, which uses 6 AA batteries, and then you wouldn't need 8887 either since there is nothing to recharge.

Worth every penny to watch it go round and round... :)

LegobrandonCP

I believe you can get bulk track in LUGBulk orders. ;-)