Any Train News?

[fredjh]

Besides the Emerald Night last Spring, and some safety hazards from some PF remotes, I haven't really seen anything new int he way of trains and am sorely disappointed. TLG's got all these new themes coming out and it sadly seems as if they've abandoned trains.

[banthafodder]

I've been a little disappointed with this too. I've seen some great MOCs of the Southern Pacific Daylight 4-8-4 which I would live to have since I am an espee fan. Hint to TLG make U.S. based steam locomotives.

[fredjh]

I'm actually heavy on engines... a BNSF, Sante Fe, two small "My Own Train" steam engines, Hogwarts Express, and the Emerald Night... and that's just built; I have some metroliner (from the set) and other "My Own Train" steam engines that I haven't even built...

Moreover, I'm working on my own Hogwarts Express because, after three tries, TLG still couldn't get it right.

What I need is rolling stock. I'd be happy if they just made the passenger car from the Emerald Night available separately, for starters; they could at least increase the availability of PAB parts/colors for train pieces.

[banthafodder]

My thoughts is that they would come out with more passenger cars for the Emerald Night. It seems that's what they did the Sante Fe when they made the three other cars for their F-unit. It would make sense so let's hope they do it.

[Erahtapivar]

I would actually like to see a Trains line with minifigures, such as engineers, stokers (or firemen, whatever you call them), and conducters, along with other townspeople. LEGO focuses more on steam engines than diesels. I would think that TLG would make good money if they started a new Trains line

[UOldPirate]

There is a new post on Eurobricks that includes a SkyNews report about Lego's strong sales this holiday season. In the video there is Lego rep discussing shortages and in the background there appears to be two new train sets. You can see the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnLZCFyFCpU&feature=player_embedded . The train sets are visible from 1:36 to 1:49 minutes. This looks promising.

[fredjh]

I suppose... but it looks like a new set (and seems awfully red and/or yellow). If they were going to do anything related to trains, another set (as opposed to rolling stock or selling interesting engines separately) would be last on my list.

I don't even have any of the new sets... the Cargo Train looks interesting; the passenger train comes with a comically small amount of straight track.

What I'd really like to see is separate trains and rolling stock (like the huge variety they had with 9v... which makes little sense to me right now, because the same rolling stock would have been just fine with R/C), and....

Straight track sold separately. With all their claims about trying to make the hobby less expensive for their target audience, on top of everything else, having to buy curves in order to get straight track is just another slap in the face.

Sorry... I've turned to venting and didn't really mean to. I realize 9V is dead, but I'm upset at their reasoning and course of action that, IMO, flies in the face of their reasoning.

[GIR3691]

Apparently the trains are power functions now.

[Jabba the Taff]

Could that one on the left not be the City Monorail/Town Square that was voted on for TRU?

Edit: From the pictures below obviously not!

[BlueDragonZ]

2010 LEGO Trains with 4 new sets from benlego on flickr. Enjoy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benlego/4209064466/

[fredjh]

Huh.

I wonder if they come with that rechargeable battery, and if so if they become exceedingly expensive.

[OOM-9]

Oh, so many choices! The cargo train is top of my wish list. I'm lovi'n the train station as well, the design reminds me of the classic LEGO train sets before these huge, crappy, special pieces as seen here.

[BlueDragonZ]

Non watermark pictures now here.

[Draykov]

7939 Cargo Train review over at Eurobricks.

[Daz Hoo]

That's a great review! Thanks for sharing!

Anybody knows the retail price orf this set in US or Canadian dollars?

[Draykov]

The following are now available on Shop@Home (US):

7936 Level Crossing - $19.99
7937 Train Station - $49.99
7938 Passenger Train - $129.99
7939 Cargo Train - $179.99

[solo606]

I ordered two 7939 Cargo Trains from TRU online and they qualified for the BOGO with free shipping.
I had money sitting in my paypal account and TRU takes Paypal so this worked out well.

[Draykov]

7938 Passenger Train review at Eurobricks.

[Daz Hoo]

The designer of the passenger train is actually a friend of mine (Pierre Normandin, the guy who also designed the 7747 Wind Turbine Transport and the 7707 Fire Boat), and he was in Montreal a few weeks ago on vacation.

He told me that he insisted on the engine being brick made and not going with a one big piece. He also said that the new motor his quite powerful, more so than the old 9 volts version, and that the train can run continuously for four straight hours with 6 good batteries.

[BobaFett]

Still waiting for some US prototype locomotives. An Alco FA or EMD GP9 wouldn't be that hard for TLG to make in 6-wide