Stuck on what to buy next

[sebby]

I've recently finished building the Emerald night train and it has left me thinking whats next.

I have narrowed it down to 2 options.

1) Buy a second Emerald night. Use the second carriage as a second class and the tender will either be a second tender (like below) or merge the 2 tenders to make it a bit bigger, and also add PF to it.

The second option I am considering is a bit more complex.

2) Buying both the Toy Story Western Chase and the New Hogwarts Express. The small carriage from the TS train I would mod to be a guard carriage to brake tender or something similar on the end of Emerald Night. The cash carriage from TS would be modded and used with 1 of my cargo trains.

The final step would be to take both the HP and the TS engines and make 1 nice looking engine out of the both of them and have it pull the HP tender and carriage and the TS caboose, hopefully with PF. (I hope that made sense)

I know option 2 is twice the price of option one but I hope to make some of it back by selling all the HP and TS figures on E-Bay. If I go for option one I play to buy 10193 Medieval Market Village any way so the total cost will nearly the same.

Every time I think I've made my mind up and go to order something always pops up to change my mind.

I need some help or maybe a new idea.

Thanks

Edited May 20, 2013 by Fugazi
added tag

[hoeij]

I've recently finished building the Emerald night train and it has left me thinking whats next.

I have narrowed it down to 2 options.

1) Buy a second Emerald night.

2) Buying both the Toy Story Western Chase and the New Hogwarts Express.

Mixing three different train sets is probably not going to lead to a nice looking train. Even if the individual coaches are nice, if the color scheme doesn't go well together, it might still not look so good when put together into one train.

If you go for option 1, then things are easier, because you know it will look good together.

If you don't need the second engine from the Emerald Night, then just sell it on bricklink a year after it sells out on lego.com (if you sell it while it is still available, you won't get the best price).

[prateek]

You could figure if the different cars look good together on LDD.

Here is a link to download the Emerald Night to LDD, here for the TS train, and here for the HP train.

Import them all into one model and figure out if they look good.

BTW, there is a topic for this in the General Discussion section.

[LegoSjaak]

Hi there....if i were you, ii would buy a second Emerald Night. You are then sure that you get a very stylish train...so, for me it would be easy. I got my Emerald Night yesterday and i still have to build it...!!

Greetz, LegoSjaak

[peterab]

Another consideration is price per part. I think you'll get a better deal with EN & MMV than the two licenced sets, and they have a nice selection of less common colours.

If you get the two licensed trains you'll get a few more train parts such as wheel sets and magnets.

[Staalis]

I would go for option 1 with a view to add a third coach once parts become available.

[Duq]

If you can get the TS train at discount I would go for option 2 (it's seriously over-priced otherwise) because mixing the TS and HP trains sounds like more of a challenge. The Emerald night doesn't need a longer tender for PF and two tenders and two carriages would look just as silly as a single tender and single carriage if you ask me.

[Staalis]

If there are intentions to add further coaches then two tenders is a good idea. To add realism to a train with two tenders there should be a sleeping coach and observation coach and possibly also a baggage coach.

It might get expensive though.

Edited January 9, 2011 by Staalis

[Snapshot]

I've recently finished building the Emerald night train and it has left me thinking whats next.

I have narrowed it down to 2 options.

1) Buy a second Emerald night. Use the second carriage as a second class and the tender will either be a second tender (like below) or merge the 2 tenders to make it a bit bigger, and also add PF to it.

Been there, done that.

[WesternOutlaw]

Interesting topic and discussion. I'd like to throw out something that is not on your list as a new idea(s).

Check out the article in Railbricks Magazine 7 called, "What to do after that Starter Set". If it's not too simple for you, it may give you a few additional ideas.

Good luck!

[sebby]

Thanks all I think I will go down the second Emerald Night road, and add more to the train. I did like the idea for the TS and HP train but after looking around today I think them 2 sets are seriously overpriced compared to EN.

You could figure if the different cars look good together on LDD.

Thanks Prateek, damn now why didn't I think of that. Seriously that simple piece of advice has helped me out a lot with my decision.

If there are intentions to add further coaches then two tenders is a good idea. To add realism to a train with two tenders there should be a sleeping coach and observation coach and possibly also a baggage coach.

It might get expensive though.

Thanks Staalis I been thinking about that today. Sleeping coach and possibly a baggage coach have made my list to try and add thought out this year. As for the expense I just have to get the misses to do some overtime.

Been there, done that.

Doh.

Thanks Snapshot,I came up the the idea for a second tender to hold a second battery box to power some LED's in the carriages I plan to add. Hope you don't mind if I copy you.

Interesting topic and discussion. I'd like to throw out something that is not on your list as a new idea(s).

Check out the article in Railbricks Magazine 7 called, "What to do after that Starter Set". If it's not too simple for you, it may give you a few additional ideas.

Good luck!

Thanks The Brickster, although I have downloaded issue 7 I have not read it fully yet. Gonna go make a cuppa tea and have a read.

After read some of your great ideas I think I might just bite the bullet and go for 2 EN sets and really try to do justice to this train.

Thanks all

[L@go]

$As for the expense I just have to get the misses to do some overtime.

Hahahah!

Note to self: Put 'get a missus' on to do list.

[Snapshot]

Doh.

Thanks Snapshot,I came up the the idea for a second tender to hold a second battery box to power some LED's in the carriages I plan to add. Hope you don't mind if I copy you.

Thanks all

Of course not. Just ask if you need any more info. My EN isn't powered as I just didn't like the way it was done so I turned the first coach into a baggage car and hid the battery & IR receiver in there with two RC motors underneath. However an EN with two tenders does not 'push' well (I have some ideas to improve this) so I usually put my Brick Express 'Large Prairie' in front of the rake instead.

Make sure you find Bricktrix's Flying Scotsman in his flickr stream as that will help too. I couldn't find many pics of the Scotsman with two tenders so finding Carl's version was a large bonus.

Jonathan

[locoworks]

If there are intentions to add further coaches then two tenders is a good idea. To add realism to a train with two tenders there should be a sleeping coach and observation coach and possibly also a baggage coach.

It might get expensive though.

the only reason the second tender was added to the flying scotsman was so that in preservation it could run on mainlines that had long since had water towers and the water troughs for filling on the move removed. two tenders was not the 'norm' during the recognised steam era as they weren't needed. the extra tender is as far the the flting scotsman is concerned a modern add on.

[Staalis]

the only reason the second tender was added to the flying scotsman was so that in preservation it could run on mainlines that had long since had water towers and the water troughs for filling on the move removed. two tenders was not the 'norm' during the recognised steam era as they weren't needed. the extra tender is as far the the flting scotsman is concerned a modern add on.

'Realism' perhaps was the wrong word to use. What I meant was that more coaches on a train with two tenders made it look more natural, even though it might not re-create how it really was back in the days.

[WesternOutlaw]

After read some of your great ideas I think I might just bite the bullet and go for 2 EN sets and really try to do justice to this train.

Had a feeling you were headed this direction. Please share your final results with us.

[AussieJimbo]

the only reason the second tender was added to the flying scotsman was so that in preservation it could run on mainlines that had long since had water towers and the water troughs for filling on the move removed. two tenders was not the 'norm' during the recognised steam era as they weren't needed. the extra tender is as far the the flting scotsman is concerned a modern add on.

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

I'd imagined it was historically for extra water storage to avoid stopping for refills. I didn't realise it was a modern adaptation but I can see why they'd need it these days.

:classic:

[Strikeman]

with all the craze around the new Maersk train and almost everybody here buying one (two, three, four, five), I was wondering if I should do it too ...

At the moment I have 3 trains (7715, 7939 and an as yet unidentified for which I have all the parts but no booklet) and I am not sure if the Maersk train would fit in.

Since the Maersk train is a cargo train, how does it stack up against the 7939 cargo train ? Is it going to dwarf it or are they going to live happily next to each other ?

Since I'm also a classic town collector (no modular buildings in my town at all) I don't know if it will look out of place much, as it is a very realistic train ...

Any suggestions or photo's with both trains would be greatly appreciated !

[roamingstop]

These two posts should help

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53438&st=72

http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=53438&st=0

[LEGO Guy Bri]

This train buries all the others. I would definitely get at least one. I almost didn't get the BNSF but, finally got my hands on one. I regret everyday not having that in my collection as power in front of my freight. I'd sooner part with my 7939s to get this train. It's not very often we get an engine, let alone an entire train, with this kind of detail. Motorized or not its a must have!

[382nd Legionnaire]

Maersk is more of an expansion to say the least. It is an extremely detailed replica of a real train. Its design is made to be for more mature customers. The cargo train is more kid oriented or a "starter pack." Inside includes track and motors enough to power the train. It is not directly based off one train.

I would say go with Maersk if you already have a track layout or you like a nice detailed set. The cargo train is a little less detailed and will be good if you like it going in circles.

[nfl_solo]

I own both the 7939 and the Maersk Train. I have had Lego since the early 80's, but never owned a complete train set.

I have never been a huge fan of the passenger trains and always liked the look of Steam/diesel freight locos.

The emerald night was my first train set when it was released but I had no way to power it or track for that matter.

I purchased the 7939 Cargo Train last summer as my first "complete" train set. I really liked the look of the 7939 locomotive, all the track, and PF equipment that came with it really swayed my decision to buy it. I have to say I was extremely happy with the set. If you do not need the PF equipment or track, you may just want to find the locomotive or cars on ebay/bricklink. If you are in need of track and PF components or just want a complete package I highly recommend this set. With that said, as soon as I saw the photos of the Maersk train I knew I would have to buy that as well. I picked mine up on April 1st along with another PF train motor, battery box, and IR receiver. I use the single PF remote that came with 7939 to control both the 7939 locomotive and the Maersk train. Both trains compliment each other and I am very happy with my purchases.

With the rumor being that 7939 will be discontinued this year and the new 3677 set possibly being a replacement, another plus would be to get the plastic curved RC track with the set, which has been completely replaced by flex track this year.

I would recommend picking up 7939, then pick up the Maersk train as well :)

Hope this helps.....

[WesternOutlaw]

This is an interesting question and I view it as an integration of a new train (the Maersk) with Classic Town, as you don't own any of the modulars. I had similar thoughts when purchasing the Emerald Night for a more traditional train town. Here's one of my earlier displays with the Emerald, before purchasing the Cafe Corner:

I think the train will look just fine within your existing City.

In regard to how the Maersk compares to 7939 Cargo Train, I think you can easily run/incorporate both trains on the same layout. I had my Emerald Night next to the previous Cargo Train Deluxe 7898 - both were very different.

Currenty, my Emerald is running along my Modular Train Town, but I don't think it's an issue for you to combine trains on the same layout, and/or add some modulars to a Classic Town. It all looks good!