Future Train sets discussion/speculation

[Lazarus]

I managed to finish the A4 design but there will be a few cheats in there to make the design work.

[Prince Manic]

I would love to see historic trains that moved America like the Famous Jupiter Locomotive that was in the Transcontinenal Railroad, I would love to see more usage of the Red Steam Driver wheels since it was only was in the toy story one.

Also some more within' the line of Diesels or Electric trains that's needed too, and even more famous passgener trains could do nicely too.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Prince Manic

[nesquik]

How would you guys feel about a 'Shinkansen' (Japanese bullet) style train? I hope this isn't a route they go down as the City passenger train seems to have filled that void.

[funkdis]

Shinkansen would be awesome, but for this to work it would need to be a creator edition with some rights from Japan Railway to really make the set as authentic as possible.

[Gioppa]

Give me steam/diesel/electric train, it's ok, but i want something for panorama...like switch cabin, or single car like in 12 v / 9volts era!

[Redimus]

The bullet train is cool and all, but it's a bit too close to the TGV in concept. Realistically, we're probably not gonna get any new City trains for a while, so the next release would be a Creator one, so yeah I can't see it.

[nesquik]

Well the Creator trains are on a three year life cycle anyway, as with all exclusive products, but I imagine a Shinkansen/bullet train might just be too similar to the H.E. Fingers crossed for steam!

[jamesed_1971]

I don't mind what Lego release whether it a electric,diesel or steam, I just want a set which will have both the 2x3 and 4x3 train window and the glass parts for the window, or even better that Lego sells bulk boxes of Lego 2x3 and 4x3 train windows in many colors like tan and white so people who want to build their own train and rolling stock will able to get the parts without paying for expensive parts like the 2x3 and 4x3 train windows as certain colors like tan and even white can and are often expensive to buy

[1974]

It's not the Shinkansen and that's all I have to say about that

[dr_spock]

Maybe American steam or European diesel freight?

[Dan-147]

American steam would be great, especially if it's a New York Central J-3a streamlined Hudson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NYC_Hudson). While I'm dreaming, a passenger coach set for the 20th Century Limited (the passenger train this locomotive hauled). I know, it's not going to happen after the ATSF cars disaster.

Dan-147

[mapimi]

I say European electric sleeper trains, sleeper cabin hasn't been done since the Santa Fe sets, and we could imagine a locomotive and two cars (one sleeper one restaurant) in the set

[Redimus]

Well the Creator trains are on a three year life cycle anyway, as with all exclusive products, but I imagine a Shinkansen/bullet train might just be too similar to the H.E. Fingers crossed for steam!

The way I understand it, it's been at least 3 years since the previous City trains were released too.

[PeteM]

Creator trains seem to be on a two year release schedule, so fingers crossed for a reveal soon and availability early next year!

It's not the Shinkansen and that's all I have to say about that

Sure there's no more clues...? ;-)

[nesquik]

You could at least just say whether it's electric, diesel or steam! Aha

[Redimus]

As much as I'd love it to be steam, I'm not all that impressed with the Emerald Knight but their modern image stuff has all looked really good, so I'd totally settle for more of the modern stuff.

[Duq]

Well the Creator trains are on a three year life cycle anyway, as with all exclusive products, but I imagine a Shinkansen/bullet train might just be too similar to the H.E. Fingers crossed for steam!

The way I understand it, it's been at least 3 years since the previous City trains were released too.

The train release cycle has been fairly consisten. City trains were once every 2 or 3 years but are now 4 years:

2003 4511 + 4512

2006 7897 + 7898

2010 7938 + 7939

2014 60051 + 60052

The only odd one in the cycle was 3677 (Red Cargo Train) in 2011.

So it's a safe bet that the next City trains will be released in 2018.

The Exclusive/Expert train sets are also on a very predictable cycle:

2002 Santa Fe

2005 10133 BNSF

2007 10183 Hobby Train

2009 10194 Emerald Night

2011 10219 Maersk Train

2013 10233 Horizon Express

So yes, the next one is due in 2015. And since the last one was a high speed passenger train I'd be very surprised to see a Shinkansen. I'm still hoping for German steam although that's been done a lot by AFOLs, myself included...

[cei]

Personally I'd love to see something British in terms of rolling stock - be that an old classic, such as the Intercity 125, or a modern(ish) MDU such as the 323 local electric, or even one of the high speed Pendolinos running on the WCML.

Looking at the existing trains, the City line releases a passenger and a cargo train every cycle. Creator seems more variable, but recently has done passenger, cargo, passenger. That could mean the next release is a cargo train - but then I find the City line covers that area fairly well. Steam is possible, but I wasn't a massive fan of Emerald Night and LEGO missed out on the opportunity of selling separate carriages.

Edited June 26, 2014 by cei

[nesquik]

Steam is possible, but I wasn't a massive fan of Emerald Night and LEGO missed out on the opportunity of selling separate carriages.

I can't imagine TLG making the same mistake again. As far as I'm concerned, even a Creator train should have a minimum of two carriages.

[Heppeng]

I can, if the Emerald Night sold well enough with one coach, why change a winning formula? But I would hope that a new model did not have the design flaws the EN did, especially as they are so simple and straightforward to correct.

[Duq]

... LEGO missed out on the opportunity of selling separate carriages.

Please, let's not start that one again. Fans claim they would buy separate carriages, Lego's market research says they're not profitable.

I can't imagine TLG making the same mistake again. As far as I'm concerned, even a Creator train should have a minimum of two carriages.

They could have made a set with two carriages but that would have pushed the price up a good bit which in turn would have reduced sales. Was it a mistake? Hard to call...

I would hope that a new model did not have the design flaws the EN did, especially as they are so simple and straightforward to correct.

I know from experience how hard it is to make a steam engine. Last weekend at a show I made some changes to a model that had run for several hours at previous events. It had survived a good bit of testing but still developed an issue where part of the running gear had too much play.

[nesquik]

They could have made a set with two carriages but that would have pushed the price up a good bit which in turn would have reduced sales. Was it a mistake? Hard to call...

E.N retailed for £69.99, which is £10 less than H.E. Obviously inflation over the past five years could be a minor factor, but even then the set had a little over 1000 pieces, whereas the H.E has almost 1400. Creator products in general have never been as good value as what they are today, so if we were to presume that the next train is a steam-passenger, two carriages wouldn't be out of the question.

But again, I think it all comes down to the style of locomotive. Carriages play an important role in the passenger train make-up, and that's why the H.E has separate lounge and buffet cars. The same formula can be repeated over and over because the USP of Creator is the building experience, and the appreciation of design.

Edited June 26, 2014 by nesquik

[cei]

Please, let's not start that one again. Fans claim they would buy separate carriages, Lego's market research says they're not profitable.

I guess it depends on what we're defining as carriages. LEGO used to sell lots of individual rolling stock (Octan tankers, snow blowers, hoppers, flatbeds, freigh wagons...) and I can easily see why they wouldn't sell in sufficient numbers to be profitable. However, when you have a set like the EN a single carriage looks absolutely ridiculous, and selling individuals for that set would have made sense (and wouldn't require any new pieces either).

So, I'm not saying LEGO should go back to universally making individual carriages, but recognise that for some of the Creator series trains it might be a good idea.

[AgentRick]

When the Emerald Night came out it retailed for $100 USD, and the following trains increased in parts count and price ($120 for the Maersk train, $130 for the HE). I could see them putting out a smaller steam engine (A 2-6-0 perhaps) with a tender and two-three small freight cars (Since the new cargo train mainly has flat cars, we could make things a bit more interesting with a Hopper, a tanker, and a brake van) priced at around 120-130.

[1974]

Please, let's not start that one again. Fans claim they would buy separate carriages, Lego's market research says they're not profitable.

Yes, but that statement is years old as you well know. AFOL buying have exploded since then

E.N retailed for £69.99, which is £10 less than H.E. Obviously inflation over the past five years could be a minor factor, but even then the set had a little over 1000 pieces, whereas the H.E has almost 1400. Creator products in general have never been as good value as what they are today, so if we were to presume that the next train is a steam-passenger, two carriages wouldn't be out of the question.

EN (with the TS train) had to pay for that large wheel mold, which we know runs in the trillions. HE is standard parts (allthough a couple are printed, but I'm not sure that is all that costly)

EN was actually pretty cheap compared to something like the IF from the same period

The 7740 had two different seperate rolling stock available (SF too, I think but I'm not a 9V guy), thus increasing development costs

The rolling stock for the EN could have been exactly the same and would have cost very little in extra boxes/manuals and could probably have sold decently at 200/250UK£ each

What do they go for at evilbay?