Why the lack of track options for Lego Trains???

bigjsd · February 2013

I am currently making the tranistion from 9v train to the Power Functions (it's been a slow transition) but I am dumbfounded as to why Lego chooses not to support the train system. I was hoping to get a double crossover but I am not going to pay over $100.00 to a reseller to get one. It would seem as if Lego would be much more successful at selling PF and Trains in general if the basic neccessities to track building were more readily available to consumers. Does anyone know if they ever re-release these types of track pieces for future customers or if they are gone forever?

jdylak · February 2013

More then likely gone. I too got into trains late, just after Lego blew out the crossovers. I really could use some but yea, at the price the resellers (I'm sure the ones who grabbed them up super cheap from clearnace) want for them, I'll pass. Insane.

staffmark · February 2013

I haven't built any trains yet, but I was planning on doing the layout, and never bothered to think about the track system. So are there no switches available either, just that flex track these days and that's it?

ColoradoBricks · February 2013

#7499 (Straight & Flex) and #7895 (Curve & Switch) is still widely available for layout. But I agree, #7996 should still be in production it is a must for large layouts..

Hardrada · February 2013

Sadly, I don't think a more complex and better track system would make trains more successful. The core market are kids not railway modellers.

Also that crossover was quite flawed as the 4 switches couldn't be operated separately limiting the possible positions.

Btw to me the most annoying feature is the inability to make compact stations because of track geometry. All railway modelling track systems (but LEGO's) I knew had the ability to build station entrances like this:
........______
....../
.....-----
__/______

Sorry about the lame schematics, I hope it's still recognizable.

If you are after a more adult railway modelling experience you could wait for 'fan' made track systems to be released. There are two such systems in development as of now.

TheLoneTensor · February 2013

As one who has always had model trains from N, HO and O scale (currently heavy into MTH O scale trains), what Lego trains need are...

Switches that don't have sucky geometry (the current ones are terrible, really)
Switches with remote functionality
Switch crossover tracks with 4 independent points
90 and 45 degree crossovers
Different radius curves
Shorty straight and curved track sections (flex does not count, ugh)
MANY road name licenses (like Santa Fe, etc. that they did years ago)
Realistic sounds (horn/whistle, bell, yard noises, steam chuff, etc.)
Smoke units
Remote uncouplers
Operating tracks
Operating motors to work with operating tracks

Sadly, I think it was a Lego rep who is a member on here that stated that trains aren't very profitable, so all of the above is a pipe dream because Lego is selling toys, not prototypical models.

LegoFanTexas · February 2013

^ Perhaps the lack of track and other train parts is why it isn't profitable?

Yellow Cargo Train appears to be a good deal, a single box has everything you need to build a train, power it, build the track, etc.

Two problems...

$180 is a lot of money for the average person to start a train collection with. There needs to be a $60 option to "suck people in" to trains.

There is nothing else to do with it beyond that set, you can add Red Passenger Train, but otherwise, that's it. The small bits of track you can buy are nice, but don't really do anything else.

TheLoneTensor · February 2013

The single biggest problem (imho) with #7939 is that it doesn't look like a real train to the casual train fan. I know it's a train, and I know it's based off a real train (SNCF 65500 Class I believe), but 99% of the people that walk by that set won't recognize it.

There's a reason the Santa Fe F3 is offered every. single. year. by every model train manufacturer (at least in the US). It doesn't even have to have actual road names either, just make it look like an F3 or an SD90 and you're golden.

madforLEGO · February 2013

What is funny is that was LEGO's whole argument to go to PF and away from 9V, to save money.
However, I have yet to see where any real savings are. Both train sets (passenger and cargo) jumped a lot since the switch over to the latest PF and you get a bit more track for that money, now the latest cargo train (Yellow train) seems to have a lot going on for that 180, but I agree, unless you get them on sale it is a lot of money for a typical LEGO fan, and maybe a whole years worth of LEGO for a kid of a middle income family..

It is the same reason why you do not see anymore stand alone cars, or many train oriented sets beyond a train station, since the build your own train stuff of 9v.
One of the peak times for LEGO train definitely was early 2000's and 9v.
I agree make engines more recognizable like the latest Maersk train, and you will sell many more I think.

brclark82 · February 2013

I agree completely with the frustration over the tracks for the lego trains, but it doesn't stop there. I have a motorized EN which uses PF's but the motor for the EN won't work with my Maersk Train and there aren't even official instructions to motorize my holiday train. Just kinda frustrating because it could be fun to have a big setup.

LegoFanTexas · February 2013

madforLEGO said:
One of the peak times for LEGO train definitely was early 2000's and 9v.
I agree make engines more recognizable like the latest Maersk train, and you will sell many more I think.

Perhaps that is the problem, the early 2000's LEGO was bleeding money, now they are not. The 9v might simply have cost too much to make, and not sold well enough for what it was.

Many times a product really makes no sense for a company, unless it is required to offer a "full line".

Hardrada · February 2013

TLG is not a model train manufacturer so all those coveted track and track-side options mentioned earlier in this thread have very-very little chance to ever be made. I highly doubt that kids (and their parents) need and would buy those in significant enough quantity. It would be better to put hope towards the likes of Big Ben Bricks, aka small dedicated companies that cater to a niche AFOL market.

And as for savings, those probably were on the costs and might not have been passed on to customers. Maybe without those cost savings we wouldn't have trains any more.

graphite · February 2013

brclark82 said:
I agree completely with the frustration over the tracks for the lego trains, but it doesn't stop there. I have a motorized EN which uses PF's but the motor for the EN won't work with my Maersk Train and there aren't even official instructions to motorize my holiday train. Just kinda frustrating because it could be fun to have a big setup.

That, to me, is actually what is great about LEGO. If they don't tell you how to do it, you can come up with a way to do it yourself. I PF motorized my old #7722, HP train, and others as well as converting all the 9V trains I've picked up to PF. It's part of the fun.

oldtodd33 · February 2013

@brclark82 You didn't get the instructions for the 9v motor conversion for the 10173 Holiday Train unless you ordered the kit K10173. There is a link somewhere on this site that has the official instructions but you will have to look for it. I also have the pdf somewhere in one of my 3 computers but I don't know where I put it. The motor does go under the tender in the official instructions though. You will need a 2 x 8 technic plate with holes for one of the parts if I remember correctly.

@bigjsd That unlimited junction #7996 was available for quite sometime from Lego and for a lot of the time it was offered it was 50% off retail. So I don't believe Lego will ever offer it again.

@tensor A lot of the options you are looking for were made for the far superior 12v system, but it is getting pretty expensive these days. Although the train sets themselves are getting a bit cheaper.

There was an unlimited junction being made by someone in the after market for the 9v trains. If you find one on Ebay, grab it quick.

Why the lack of track options for Lego Trains???

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