Bring back 9V trains!

JBricks27

I've been collecting Lego trains since the 4559 set (1995-96ish), and just can't really get into the newer power functions sets (although I did pick up an emerald night and maersk train, but have yet to motorized them)

Is there any hope of the 9V style coming back?

BeardedCastleGuy

Not to put too fine of point on it but, No, there is no hope currently for the old style 9V trains to return. From what I recall the big issue is the track, the metal combined with plastic track. It was expensive and a pita to produce and that was the major reason the 9V system went bye-bye. With the Power Functions it allows the to 'multitask' their designs for motors and whatnot beyond trains, aka they can Leverage the design expense into more than one (Train) line of products.

madforLEGO

Yeah, it is a bummer, especially since one of their chief arguments was pricing, that RC track would make train set pricing go down, but I have yet to see this.. it only skyrocketed... granted you get a bit more for that money, but I think LEGO would do better at keeping train sets at around 100 US and that has not occurred, then they wonder why not many people buy trains at 180 160 and 130 bucks...

Laziter

I used to own this set #7740
It was close to impossible to keep it running due to cleaning of the current leading rails, I had to clean them over and over again.
It was a nice train though, but I'd much rather it had a built-in battery compartment so I didn't have to clean after 2 hours to keep it running.

JBricks27

I'm kind of upset that they merged the trains theme into city, but I guess it was kind of inevitable.

graphite

I never had a 9V train but the first one I had was #7722 which had the 3 battery box as the tender car and I love the RC trains compared to that. Converted 7722 to RC along with my EN, Maersk and HP trains. I just wish they'd put out a few more varied track pieces or re-release the 9V cross track or the double switch track. Things go for like $70 on ebay which isn't really feasible when you want like 10 of them.

LegobrandonCP

I wish they would bring back 9V since I wouldn't have to be buying batteries all the time.

The_Mack

Being a LEGO train user, I can see advantages to both sides. 9V vs PF. The main one for PF is being able to control multiple trains at different speeds. Main disadvantage is it eats batteries or you have to recharge after awhile. While I don't like the size of the IR receiver and the battery box. I see these items eventually getting smaller. Along with an easier rechargeable battery box. Maybe even a battery box with an IR receiver built into it? As for conversion it's harder to put PF into older sets. While taking newer trains to 9V is much easier. I think there is still a lot of room for improvement in the PF world. Which the way PF is setup gives them that kind of flexibility. I think we would see a different solution before they would decide to return to 9V trains/track.

LegoFanTexas

I wish they would bring back 9V since I wouldn't have to be buying batteries all the time.

The Lego Rechargeable Battery Pack is your friend. :)

Expensive to get into for multiple engines, but cheap once you own them...

4 of them, plus 2 wall chargers, is a painful pill to swallow, but boy it is nice to just plus them in after an hour of play.

graphite

I use the AA battery boxes cause I already have a ton of AA rechargables for my camera flash and other things. So I just bought some more and have them in all my trains right now. I think I own over 100 rechargable AA's

hleonffu

Have both types of trains and required tracks/controllers. There are pros/cons for each system as has been stated here (latest by @The_Mack). For short term use, 1 or 2 hours, either will work - PF has advantage as no AC power needed to run the trains.

For long term use, think show displays, 9V is really the only way to go right now. We just set the speed of the trains and let it run all day long. There is no changing batteries. If LEGO can come up with a way to recharge while running the train, I would buy that.

Pitfall69

I love the 9V system. I can connect leads to the tracks and operate many functions like track and building lighting and blinking railroad crossing lights all at the same time.

JBricks27

I love the 9V system. I can connect leads to the tracks and operate many functions like track and building lighting and blinking railroad crossing lights all at the same time.

Do you have pictures of detail for this? I'm very interested in the setup

Pitfall69

Not right at the moment. I had to take it all down because i am building a suspended rail system in our shop and I'm transferring everything there. It's taking awhile...too long, but hopefully it will be done by the end of the year.

There was a time where you could by all sorts of accessories for the 9V system. I bought all sorts of extention cords and lights and set it up where if you turn the dial on the speed regulator the train would and light up and all the buildings I had lit up inside.

Pitfall69

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=6035
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=4771
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=4773
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItem.asp?P=5306bc015

You could get the cord 15-378 studs long

cheshirecat

Those are just the lights from the old light and sound sets of the late 80's - which were indeed 9V run off the rectangular batteries. Remarkably solid things - mine all still work still (as do the sound blocks) , even having been in a massive box of random bits for 25 years. the reversible - always on / flashing lights was a really nice feature.

Pitfall69

Yes. They work very well for being so old. I didn't come out of my "dark ages" until 1999 and so my first train was a 9V train that included the wire and 1x2 light brick. I was able to buy extras through LegoShop when the My Own Train series came out. Very versitile system. You could either operate everything at once or hook up another speed regulator to operate other functions.