All Train Sets Compatability Guide

[Noahs-Dad]

Is there such a thing as a guide for all lego train sets ever made, that includes list/table type information on what you need for each train.

I.e. most sets don't come with a motor and not all track sets would work with each train. As someone who owns no train/track sets I find this very confusing. A compatability list showing (1) the Train Set, (2) what track sets are compatible with it, (3) what motors are compatabile with it. That would be extremely helpful, but I haven't been able to find such a list as yet.

I'm looking to get into this area (for both current/new sets and older no longer available train sets).

[Duq]

I don't think such a list exists but here's a few pointers to get you started.

All Lego trains run on the same gauge; the dimensions of the track haven't changed so trains will fit on any track.

Most 4.5V trains are battery operated and will run on all track.

12V trains will run on grey track with a centre power rail.

There are 4.5V trains with a centre power rail but they're well before my time ;-)

9V trains will only run on 9V track (metal).

IR trains (and there are only 2, 7897 & 7898) are battery operated so will run on all track.

Power Function (PF) trains are battery operated so will run on all track.

As for motors, the size and shape of the train motor hasn't changed since 1980, but there are differences. The 12V one uses wheels you can pull off. The 9V one has fixed wheels, while the IR and PF ones use train wheels on technic axles.

You can replace the PF motor with a 9V motor on all PF trains (except Emerald Night) to make it run on 9V. The other way around may work, but you'll have to fit a battery box and receiver into the 9V model and there may not be enough room for that.

Edited October 18, 2012 by Duq

[Noahs-Dad]

Appreciate the info Duq, very useful. I'm still not understanding one thing though.

Say I wanted to purchase the new 9467 Monsters Ghost Train set... the track doesn't sound like an issue but how would I know what motor would be compatable or appropriate in this example? Would any motor work? Or would it require a particular voltage of motor dependant on the weight or amount of bricks used?

[hoeij]

As for motors, the size and shape of the train motor hasn't changed since 1980, but there are differences. The 12V one uses wheels you can pull off.

For the 12V motor that has the same size as the 9V and PF motors, for that one, you can not pull the wheels off (only the center wheels come off).

For the other wheels, if you pull them off, they won't go back on...

[peterab]

Say I wanted to purchase the new 9467 Monsters Ghost Train set... the track doesn't sound like an issue but how would I know what motor would be compatable or appropriate in this example? Would any motor work? Or would it require a particular voltage of motor dependant on the weight or amount of bricks used?

Many of the trains in other themes (such as Monster Fighters) are not designed to take a motor, but LEGO being a construction toy, many people modify the sets to take a motor. The Ghost Train doesn't have proper train wheels on its carriages so you'll need to add them. Normally people will modify a train to be compatible with whatever system they have. I've seen a 9V Ghost Train, but wouldn't recommend that unless you already have the 9V gear and track. On the other hand the current PF requires you to be able to hide a battery and receiver in the train which the Ghost train is particularly unsuited for.

The choice of which motor tends to be more about availability and compatibility with what you already have, unless you intend to pull very heavy trains. Pretty much all the train motors will pull 3-4 light carriages. If you really need more detail on each type of motor there is a comparison of them all linked in one of the older threads.

[F0NIX]

Say I wanted to purchase the new 9467 Monsters Ghost Train set... the track doesn't sound like an issue but how would I know what motor would be compatable or appropriate in this example? Would any motor work? Or would it require a particular voltage of motor dependant on the weight or amount of bricks used?

There are a few exceptions to the statement that all trains will fit on all tracks (without modification).

9467 Monster Ghost Train is one of them. It is a "Push-along-train" and does not fit on LEGO train tracks without any modification.

I was just finishing doing the modification to my Ghost Train last night. Have not taken any picture of it yet but I took a sneak peak on this EB post (http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74702) and found some images to get the idea of what to be done.

First you have the locomotive. The two bogies is fixed so without modification it will only go on straight lines. You have to remove two of the bricks with technic pin on top so each bogie will turn independent of each other.

Then you have to remove all the wheels on each wagons with train wheels. If you still want the Wings to flap you also need to do a lot of modification to get that working again.

You allso need to replace the link between each wagon with something else. In the link I provided, he used chains. I used the old train-magnets and just attached them with a technic pin to a new added technic brick on each end of the wagons.

I wanted to use the PF train motor and therefor there was a lot of modification needed to be done to the bogies on the locomotive to be able to fit the PF-train motor.

The PF receiver I put in the cabin. I get poor reception because the top of the receiver is hidden. May have to look at that later.

I did a new wagon for the battery, but I could have made a heavy modification to the prison wagon to fit the battery.

And for other trains, I know there was some other old push-along trains that also needed much modification to make it fit the LEGO train tracks. Not sure wich set it was but I have seen some pictures of it.

[AncientDayz]

I just started collecting trains recently. Picked up the yellow cargo, red cargo, Emerald Night, and Maersk (x2) recently. This is some really good info as I was scared to get some of the older sets because I didn't know about the compatibility issues. I now have my eyes on the Sante Fe and a few others after reading this thread. Thanks for the info, and nice topic Noahs-Dad.

[Bamos]

Another option is to make a powerd tender,freight car or passenger car to push the locomotive.

Bill

[zephyr1934]

9V trains will only run on 9V track (metal).

Just to clarify for someone who is getting into the hobby, the 9V motors collect their power from the rails, which is why they won't run on the plastic track. Unpowered 9V trains will run on any track and there were several train cars that came from the 9V era (e.g., the TTX freight car) but since these cars do not have a motor the track power is not an issue. As Duq noted, at least some of the powered 9V locomotives can be converted to PF (the most likely scenario for someone just starting out) and I THINK all 9V locomotives can be converted to 12V if you have the 12V motors.

[antp]

12V trains will run on grey track with a centre power rail.

There are 4.5V trains with a centre power rail but they're well before my time ;-)

All centre power rail trains were 12V. The one "before you time" that you refer to is probably the 12V blue track with power rail, which is completely compatible with the grey one ;)