LegoMavrick

Here in the UK, last night 60098 was listed as out of stock but right now its showing available at the same price as 60052 at £139.00. Personally I think it looks great and surely it can only be a good thing to see another Train set released not that long after the release of both 60051 and 60052. I know my three year old son is going to just love the fact that it has both a helo and a "digger" ( as he loves to call a back hoe). As always I'd have loved to see more cargo but I really dont see why some here have ranted about the helicopter and the tractor. Mind you it seems to me that there are those that bleat about anything that Lego does in the trains range. For me I absolutely prefer and love the American style range such as the Maersk and 60052 but this new one really grabs me. The crane and double width crossing are a great addition to the set as well as a good quantity of straight and curved track. Whenever I have spoken to Lego here in the UK the train sets are extremely popular and that can only be a good thing. I hope we see some more American style perhaps the new ES44AC loco next!!!

Many thanks for the warm welcome Zypher1934. Thank you for pointing me in the direction of LDraw, thats very handy indeed. Richfilth thank you so much for the step by step guide. Im going to give it a bash right now. Oh dear wallet watch out!!!

Having played with Lego since I was about 3 years old I have seen Lego change in ways I never thought possible. What Lego creates nowadays in terms of the type of bricks and parts that are available is just staggering.. Having looked at several documentaries on Lego factories, what goes into some of the design moulds etc, this is no cheap and nasty Chinese rubbish knock off product. Lego has never been cheap and from an engineering point of view is hardly ever going to be cheap. I hesitate to use the word expensive because I look at this whole thing of price as being relative. A quick example. I have just started Lego Trains. Starter box set from Lego £139 for the Cargo Train set. What do you get? Full motorised loco complete with decoder receiver, rolling stock track with two points plus the crane gantry vehicles etc. Now compare that to traditional DCC model train setup. Ive spent a huge amount of time on this so lets take N Gauge scale as the most affordable. The most effective good quality DCC controller I could find was the Digitrax Zypher rocking in at £156. A good quality Kato N Guage Loco similar to the Lego one between £69 and £89 and thats just the loco. The DCC decoder is an extra £25 to £30 some of which need specialist fitting setting you back a further £20. Now Im going to stop there as I think you guys cansee where Im going. Ok the Lego controller cannot control 99 loco or have 9999 addresses. Frankly 8 functions is more then enough for me. I dont have to fiddle with extensive electrical wiring for the rails with the Lego system etc.. A different point of view and perhaps an unfair comparrison. For me I dont see it that way so no i dont see Lego as being over the top expensive and certainly do not see it dying out.

Thanks Doc!!! Thank you for that. I did find my way around but thanks for clarifying the way to find the parts. I thought my only chance of getting a Maersk train was through ebay and i just could not bring myself to pay the money they are asking. I know i should have bought this set while it was still available. Seriously kick myslef for that one. Heres hoping Lego brings out another set as good as that one was. Yes LOL I can definitely see that bricklink is "dangerous" :tongue: I suspect it'll take a bit of patience and searching to get all the bits together for the complete Maersk train but I'm not particularly fussy on the paint scheme. I always wanted to go Norfolk Southern black scheme if I cant go the Maersk colours. Its the containers and their carriers that I really want to add to my rolling stock.

Many thanks for all your advice chaps. Greatly appreciated. Im convinced and have started my venture into Lego trains. The New Cargo train and Train station arrived just yesterday. I actually got a message on my phone from Lego themselves in connection with my query about the transformer. The recharge battery seems the logical way to go. Thanks again chaps.

Well chaps I have finally started my Lego trains Journey. Firstly apologies if this post is in the wrong place, just seemed relevant. Just purchased and taken delivery of the New Lego Cargo Train and Train Station. I paused at getting the passenger train only because I just prefer American style Model railroading. May well get it anyway just so the kids are happy and as they are a big part of this venture thats important. What took me so long to settle on Lego was for many years now I always wanted to go the DCC model train route with a big N scale layout. Through much discussion and thinking it through with the family its just not possible. Space and cost wise it just did not add up. Straight off the bat I looked at the Digitrax Zypher starter controller. Best and most affordable DCC controller I could find at £156. Then N Scale train with decoder N Scale Kato SD70M £69 plus compatible decoder at roughly £30. Compare that to the Lego Cargo Train set I just got for £100 from ASDA direct (of all places). Says it all really doesnt it? Bottom line Im going to go a lot further in Lego trains than the traditional model train route. Now that I see the amount of options available to produce American Locos and rolling stock. Seriously excited and hope to learn a lot from you chaps.

I just have registered on Bricklink and see how you call up an inventory list for the Maersk Train. Can you elbaorate on how you find from there who has the parts to fit the inventory? This thread is absolutely fascinating. You guys are brilliant at all these different versions. Very inspiring i must say and look forward to add a Maersk train soon.

Good Morning chaps, Looking at starting into Lego trains and I am currently looking at buying both the newish train sets from Lego the Cargo and Passenger train. I just had two querys to you chaps out there. I have noticed on the two Lego train sets available now some of the reviews, albeit very few in number, listing concerns about the battery box. Problems getting Duracell or other make AAA batteries to fit. Train not working dueto no power etc. Some mention only to use Kodak batteries. Is this really an issue or just some numpties who are clueless when installing batteries and or building lego fullstop? I find it difficult to believe Lego would make a dud battery box. Secondly, despite its price, Im very tempted in buying the rechargable Lego battery box for both trains. The one thing Im not sure about is that I dont see the recommended Lego transformer on the Lego shop website here in the UK. Is this included with the battery? I have sent an email to Lego direct to inquire but I thought I would ask you chaps here as well. Is this a good buy and whats your experience with this Lego product? Greatly appreciate any feed back before clicking the buy button.

All the best on your move and hope it all goes well. Best thing with Lego though is that you get to rebuild it all again. I really feel for chaps thats say have an N Guage or HO gauge layout to move ....OUCH. Look forward to see the layout back in place.

Hi Rick, thanks for this, I thought this topic my be under the General discussion so thanks for that.

Hi Folks, As a parent, who loves LEGO and has two little girls who have taken to the new LEGO friends range like a duck to water, I was shocked and angered when a friend of mine in the States sent me the link clip below. Its got to be read to believe it but the lunatics have been let out of the looney bin I could hardly believe the level of lunacy the world has reached when I read this article. SSpeaking on behalf of my wife and I we are absolutely thrilled with the new LEGO friends range and how our girls have taken to this new range. To call this a range and idea perfectly suited for girls is simply an understatement and I cannot put in words how much our girls enjoy LEGO friends. One of the chaps in the train section made a friends train of which my girls want me to get the pieces to build. Enough said there really. Dont know what you folks out there think of this but for me I have some sane advice for The LEGO Group...Ignore these lunatic maniacs!!!! Lego friends is brilliant and hope the range expands big time. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/20/activists-outraged-by-lego-line-for-girls-to-meet-with-company-executives/

...is the cat still alive?

Lego Trains has brought me out of the Dark Ages thats for sure but what really put LEGO back in our lives was the new Police Station 7498. My wife and I both had our own hobby which sadly we did not share, however, thanks to LEGO we now have a joint hobby with our children and that is LEGO City and Trains. The Maersk Train 10219 when I saw it in the Lego Shop for the first time was my "Exit" from the Dark Ages moment.

Ran a Yamaha R1 back in South Africa. Almost landed me in divorce court that did!!! With the price of petrol the way it is and just heading higher, the wife is starting to see the light..... My My does the 2012 R1 look good or does it look good....

Like I say I am going to check this as I know I have an excellent diagram giving radius recommendations and also max overhang from rolling stock and lococs. @AussieJimbo, I see modern track laying actually incorporates a banking into turns nowadays so very cool that you can get this effect with Lego Flexitrack. I see Railbrick has an excellent ballast guide.