LEGO Trains 2024

[JopieK]

Maybe an interesting video for us Train fans:

 

[Ropefish]

A YouTube I check up on now and then put out this and I saw little coverage, apparently his store sold out within an hour of the videos release. I didn’t think it warranted a new thread but it seems there is a want for this type of thing still! Going to be holding out for FX bricks custom pickups however.

[Space78]

6 hours ago, Ropefish said:

A YouTube I check up on now and then put out this and I saw little coverage, apparently his store sold out within an hour of the videos release. I didn’t think it warranted a new thread but it seems there is a want for this type of thing still! Going to be holding out for FX bricks custom pickups however.

A great solution, but please be aware that the video shows the "two wheel" pickup for power from the 9V tracks.  The next day he posted another video stating he determined the two wheel pickup does not work over 9V switches, since they have a significant "dead spot" near the points (where one side has no power).  In the second video, he says he is now offering only four wheel trucks, which solves the issue with switches as electrical contact is always maintained. 

His first run is indeed sold out.  It's a great solution using power functions motors for those of us using 9V track.  I think solutions like this may make a revival of 9V track more possible.  i doubt Lego will do it, but other enthusiasts might.  Clearly it's feasible, it's more an issue of economy of scale.  Need to sell enough to keep the price down and make it economically viable.  Exciting times for 9V train enthusiasts!

Here's the second video showing the issue with the two wheel trucks and his solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRqMuTMJmR8

[Kalahari134]

On 5/1/2024 at 9:15 AM, R0Sch said:

At least we don't have a giant gap between platform and train again.

Which will be a relief to the wheelchair-user in the set.

[zephyr1934]

21 hours ago, Ropefish said:

I didn’t think it warranted a new thread but it seems there is a want for this type of thing still! Going to be holding out for FX bricks custom pickups however.

Hum... this might have warranted its own thread, but since it's started here I'll go with it. These are very interesting, and brilliant idea to use the otherwise sub-optimal plastic wheel bogies. I have burned out many 9v motors but I don't think I've ever burned out a PF train motor. As I think about it, the internal power pickups in the 9v motors might be their weak spot.

[RedBrick1]

Crowdfunding for the next round of BDP sets starts in less than 24 hours!

https://www.bricklink.com/v3/designer-program/series-2/main.page

[Murdoch17]

If you haven't got your train station orders in, it's last call. It's VERY close to selling out!

 

EDIT: ...and two minutes later, it's gone.

Edited June 6, 2024 by Murdoch17

[Space78]

Yup, I was on the fence, but decided to order it this afternoon, since it looks like it will be gone by tomorrow.

[M_slug357]

Its gone!

the logging set is still available

the shrooms house is gone also…

[Murdoch17]

3 minutes ago, M_slug357 said:

Its gone!

the logging set is still available

the shrooms house is gone also…

It appears ominous isle is gonna be next to go judging from how much further along it is, but that won't be for a good long while.

[Wimmer]

Two things I like to bring up. 1. I bought a few KeyBricks in Germany; and I’m a very big fan of them. If you’re tired of dealing with 🪫 batteries, this is a good (slightly expensive, but it’ll pay back itself !) solution. 
2. Jay is mentioning that the 60336 train might retire soon. If this is true, are we getting a replacement freight train then ? And will it still be PUp ?…

“…Thats all folks…”

😀

[Space78]

32 minutes ago, Wimmer said:

Two things I like to bring up. 1. I bought a few KeyBricks in Germany; and I’m a very big fan of them. If you’re tired of dealing with 🪫 batteries, this is a good (slightly expensive, but it’ll pay back itself !) solution. 
2. Jay is mentioning that the 60336 train might retire soon. If this is true, are we getting a replacement freight train then ? And will it still be PUp ?…

“…Thats all folks…”

😀

For many years Lego has had one freight and one passenger set in their lineup, so if the current freight set is retiring, then it's almost certain to be replaced with a new one.  PowerUp is the current power system, so unless something new is coming, the next train will use PowerUp also.

[RedBrick1]

Has anyone integrated the new train shed into their layout yet?

[idlemarvel]

My 60423 City Downtown Streetcar set arrived today.  Looking forward to building it tomorrow!

 

[idlemarvel]

On 7/30/2024 at 8:34 PM, idlemarvel said:

My 60423 City Downtown Streetcar set arrived today.  Looking forward to building it tomorrow

I have built the first car. Nice solid build. They have reverted back to wheels with metal axles. Despite the long wheel base (11 studs) it goes around R40 curves just fine. It looks good on track embedded in pavement.

Not sure why they have used a 4L Technic lever arm for the coupling, I would have thought 3L would be more than enough like on the Harry Potter train.

I've also built the second car. The gap looks a bit ridiculous.

With a 3L coupling it goes around R40 curves even S bends with plenty of room.

With a 2L coupling the sides of the cars just about touch on R40 but not enough to interfere with running I would have thought.

UPDATE: 2L connector is okay on straights and R40 curves but not R40 points where is causes derailment.

Edited August 1, 2024 by idlemarvel
correction

[Space78]

Thanks for posting those impressions.  Interesting Lego chose a 4L connector.  It does look odd.  Seems like 3L may be a happy medium.

[Stereo]

I think the main argument for 4 is that it spaces the doors a multiple of 4 apart, so the platform can be a fairly symmetrical build.  If the doors drop from 20 to 19 or 18 studs apart, then the track ties aren't centered on each door, so the slopes attaching the platform to the tracks would move around.  Which in turn gets in the way of the platform extending to meet the doors for wheelchair access.

 

Though if they built 18 stud long cars with 2 stud gaps, same would hold true...

[idlemarvel]

10 hours ago, Stereo said:

I think the main argument for 4 is that it spaces the doors a multiple of 4 apart, so the platform can be a fairly symmetrical build.  If the doors drop from 20 to 19 or 18 studs apart, then the track ties aren't centered on each door, so the slopes attaching the platform to the tracks would move around.  Which in turn gets in the way of the platform extending to meet the doors for wheelchair access.

 

Though if they built 18 stud long cars with 2 stud gaps, same would hold true...

Excellent point @Stereo. I must not forget that Lego designs these sets for kids and playability, not for grumpy old train and tram enthusiasts like me! The provided 4L connector is easy to connect and as they only provide 4 straight track sections and ramps they probably expect kids to run these around the carpet where the imaginary curves will be even tighter. And it's easy to fix if it bothers you. 

Here's the completed tram set. The rear car is an identical build to the front car, except for the minifig:

Once I've built the tram stop, the next task is to attempt to motorise it.

Edited August 1, 2024 by idlemarvel
edited photo

[JopieK]

Great! Thanks for sharing @idlemarvel!

[Space78]

13 hours ago, Stereo said:

I think the main argument for 4 is that it spaces the doors a multiple of 4 apart, so the platform can be a fairly symmetrical build.  If the doors drop from 20 to 19 or 18 studs apart, then the track ties aren't centered on each door, so the slopes attaching the platform to the tracks would move around.  Which in turn gets in the way of the platform extending to meet the doors for wheelchair access.

 

Though if they built 18 stud long cars with 2 stud gaps, same would hold true...

OK, but only one car (the middle one) has the wheel chair logo, so only one car needs to line up with the platform extension.  And, if we are looking for "realism" in this set aimed at kids, how is that person in the wheelchair supposed to actually get into the train.  The wheel chair has to go up a fulll brick height from the extending platform to the spot in the car where the wheelchair is supposed to sit!    It seems odd to me the designer went to all the effort to make platform extensions only to have a brick blocking the way of the person in the wheelchair to get in the tram.  I think I'd take the three stud (or maybe two?) connector between cars instead for a bit more realistic looking tram.

[idlemarvel]

Update on the 2L connector option. It's fine for straights and curves but causes derailments on R40 points. 3L is okay though, as is 4L.

[jus1973]

8 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

Excellent point @Stereo. I must not forget that Lego designs these sets for kids and playability, not for grumpy old train and tram enthusiasts like me! The provided 4L connector is easy to connect and as they only provide 4 straight track sections and ramps they probably expect kids to run these around the carpet where the imaginary curves will be even tighter. And it's easy to fix if it bothers you. 

Here's the completed tram set. The rear car is an identical build to the front car, except for the minifig:

Once I've built the tram stop, the next task is to attempt to motorise it.

Thanks for sharing this build and mini review of this tram.  I’m just about to pull the trigger and order it, as it reminds me of the trams in Bern, not far from where I used to live.  I’m going to add it to my modular (based) town, so your comments re R40 curves are really helpful.  I think I’ll be OK going for the 2L connector, but I think there is a way to get a 2.5 length if needed.  I just need to check my available parts.

I look forward to your thoughts on Motorising it.  I was considering Circuit Cubes, since they are really small and could fit in the centre car, just taking out one end seating place, but I don’t know if there is a way to automate it to reverse as I only have enough space for a single line of track, not a complete circle.

[idlemarvel]

If you go back to April in this thread there were some ideas on how to motorise this set. A Jacobs bogie approach seemed to be favoured. That's what I'll be trying. With a City hub you could have a colour sensor to enable you to automate the tram.

[samsz_3]

On 8/1/2024 at 12:46 AM, Stereo said:

I think the main argument for 4 is that it spaces the doors a multiple of 4 apart, so the platform can be a fairly symmetrical build.  If the doors drop from 20 to 19 or 18 studs apart, then the track ties aren't centered on each door, so the slopes attaching the platform to the tracks would move around.  Which in turn gets in the way of the platform extending to meet the doors for wheelchair access.

 

Though if they built 18 stud long cars with 2 stud gaps, same would hold true...

Wow, I must not have looked at set pictures properly - I didn't realise how long the included platform is!

Is this the longest platform ever released? Looks bigger than latest city train stations 

[idlemarvel]

6 hours ago, samsz_3 said:

Wow, I must not have looked at set pictures properly - I didn't realise how long the included platform is!

Is this the longest platform ever released? Looks bigger than latest city train stations 

If you're looking at my picture on the 30th July posting, that is not the platform included in the set! 

Edited August 2, 2024 by idlemarvel
wrong date