Realistic LEGO Trains!!!

1617 Views 16 Replies 5 Participants Last post by liam Biggs, 2 mo ago

liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · May 9, 2022 (Edited)

Realistic LEGO. Its an oxymoron.

But with the release in 2009 of the 'Emerald Night' kit (LEGO's version of the Flying Scotsman) with its larger wheels their has been an increasing push to make Lego trains look more realistic.

Intrestingly this has meant it is now acceptable in the L-Gauge comunity to use 3rd party parts which include power systems/lights/sounds. Wheels in various diameters. Larger radius tracks/points etc to name but a few.

Links below are my creations but if intrested I could post examples of others work.
https://flic.kr/p/2kFBxsB Video with sound and smoke(Loco is being updated with a larger Piezio for more 'Smoke" and work on the sound)
https://flic.kr/p/2mijMdj 1st Carriage only 9 more to make??
https://flic.kr/p/2nhYjZQ PO Coal wagons from Birkenhead docks
https://flic.kr/p/2makQMu .
https://flic.kr/p/2mJGAPt

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1 - 17 of 17 Posts

liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · #2 · May 10, 2022

These are from others:-
https://flic.kr/p/2kwFb1f https://flic.kr/p/2kz8bVY https://flic.kr/p/2kEGuDN https://flic.kr/p/2kqGPRo https://flic.kr/p/2ifHGyS

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liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · #3 · 7 mo ago

My latest. The Duchess of Sutherland. Just electrics to finish. Plus a BR Scammel Scarab https://flic.kr/p/2nPvzQp https://flic.kr/p/2nUjtUV

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alanoes

· #4 · 7 mo ago

I have several Lego trains that I have motorized and illuminated
This is my Emerald express with additional coaches making its way around the dining room, Hogwarts Express waiting in the station

Regards
Alan

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34C

· #5 · 7 mo ago

Now to the most important aspect, from the perspective of an infant legoist of the 1950's. (My Pa is Dutch so I had a head start over my UK contemporaries in supply.) Does this 'doesn't look like Lego anymore' product have the same pain inflicting qualities when incautiously trodden on by unprotected adult feet? This was a major part of the fun!

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liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · #6 · 7 mo ago

34C said:
Now to the most important aspect, from the perspective of an infant legoist of the 1950's. (My Pa is Dutch so I had a head start over my UK contemporaries in supply.) Does this 'doesn't look like Lego anymore' product have the same pain inflicting qualities when incautiously trodden on by unprotected adult feet? This was a major part of the fun!

As a child of the 70's LEGO has changed a lot. As to treading on its still painfull. But after a dropping the Tornado. It took me a while to fix it again. I just couldn't face it.

https://flic.kr/p/2mapDfM

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SRman

· #7 · 7 mo ago

I did the Lego Swiss Crocodile loco earlier this year. It's not too bad in appearance, and I enjoyed putting it together anyway ... with a little help!

Toy Vehicle Train Rolling stock Railway

Cat Felidae Carnivore Small to medium-sized cats Fawn

Train Rolling stock Railway Track Wood

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34C

· #8 · 7 mo ago

liam Biggs said:
... after a dropping the Tornado. It took me a while to fix it again. I just couldn't face it.

But this was the great fun with Lego as kids. Build it, demolish it, build it into something else. Good indoors and out too. (Happily we now live in a place where some long grown up chid(ren) did as we did, Lego regularly surfaces in the gardening process.)

I made considerable use of Lego on the railway for bridges, tunnels and the like, until the scale bug bit, and even then its neatly formed perpendicularity was of utility for kit assembly and reinforcement. And as one of the school of 'let's go wargaming with model railway', quite a lot of the Lego construction landscape and buildings took a beating from the air pistol too, when the moving target of an H-D N2 was missed.

We did try a Lego armour piercing round to take out blockhouses, in the form of a brass rod from a rubber band crossbow arrangement, but that was altogether too potent; the limited supply of 'rounds' quickly lost in the gardens where such events were staged due to the wayward accuracy of the catapult. I can do much better now, where do L gaugers meet, do they have outdoor events?

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kiwionrails

· #9 · 7 mo ago

34C said:
...I made considerable use of Lego on the railway for bridges, tunnels and the like, until the scale bug bit, and even then its neatly formed perpendicularity was of utility for kit assembly and reinforcement. ...

....and here is one I made earlier....

Table Toy Automotive exterior Engineering Track

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34C

· #10 · 7 mo ago

kiwionrails said:
....and here is one I made earlier...

Oh yes, that's a nostalgia trip. All my ancient (surviving) Lego is far away with younger members of the family, so infrequent oppprtunities for playing with it now.

alanoes

· #11 · 7 mo ago

Seeing SRman's post reminded me that I built the Lego Crocodile Loco a while back.
Me being me, I also motorized and illuminated it. I built a MOC goods wagon in matching colour to house the lighting supply and RC receiver unit.

Regards
Alan

Reactions: 3

kiwionrails

· #12 · 7 mo ago

alanoes said:
Seeing SRman's post reminded me that I built the Lego Crocodile Loco a while back.
Me being me, I also motorized and illuminated it. I built a MOC goods wagon in matching colour to house the lighting supply and RC receiver unit.

Regards
Alan

Now that is very swish!

liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · #13 · 7 mo ago

34C said:
But this was the great fun with Lego as kids. Build it, demolish it, build it into something else. Good indoors and out too. (Happily we now live in a place where some long grown up chid(ren) did as we did, Lego regularly surfaces in the gardening process.)

I made considerable use of Lego on the railway for bridges, tunnels and the like, until the scale bug bit, and even then its neatly formed perpendicularity was of utility for kit assembly and reinforcement. And as one of the school of 'let's go wargaming with model railway', quite a lot of the Lego construction landscape and buildings took a beating from the air pistol too, when the moving target of an H-D N2 was missed.

We did try a Lego armour piercing round to take out blockhouses, in the form of a brass rod from a rubber band crossbow arrangement, but that was altogether too potent; the limited supply of 'rounds' quickly lost in the gardens where such events were staged due to the wayward accuracy of the catapult. I can do much better now, where do L gaugers meet, do they have outdoor events?

For me I got back into LEGO after my youngest son saw 'Paddington 2" staring 'Tornado'. He was train mad at the time and had a cheap chinese LEGO 'Emerald Express' knockoff. After finding out about this new build steam loco I set about making it look more like 'Tornado'.

Since then dad has taken over his hobby and went overboard. But he's moved on to WWII LEGO stop motion. But I still have the train bug. Once I finsh a rake of carraiges, I am off to try my hand at Gauge 1.

As to taking LEGO apart I often rebuild if I think I can make the better(they are never really finished as LEGO brings out a new parts). The Duchess only finished couple a weeks ago is have its tender sides rebuit as better curves have come on the market.

As to L gaugers meetings I know oversees have a lot events. But here in NZ I know only of the LEGO Brickshows. Here we are 2 years ago at the Chritchurch Brickshow (my son is driving). Next time the express trains will have 6 /7 carriages behind them plus a wider 3rd track. Scenery would bankcrupt me.

https://flic.kr/p/2mc5Z4n

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34C

· #14 · 7 mo ago

I have a model railway to operate. You can't shunt scenery, or make up a train of buildings, so for my interest it's track, locos, stock: and Woo-Woo!

liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · #15 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

My favorite loco the Jinty. Recently improved.
https://flic.kr/p/2omAbm6

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SRman

· #16 · 2 mo ago

The Jinty looks good.

I took a few photos of Lego trains at a recent exhibition held at Sandown, here in Melbourne. A couple of the models impressed me, including a rather nice container ship and terminal, with convincing containers as well. Not all railway subjects, but they related to the railway. The U.S. style hood diesels seemed reasonably realistic as well, although I'm not really into American stuff. Anyway, you can make up your own minds from these photos.

Lego Engineering Toy block Retail Urban design

Wood Shipping container Toy Urban design Engineering

Train Rolling stock Plant Track Mode of transport

Train Green Vehicle Toy Track

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liam Biggs

Discussion Starter · #17 · 2 mo ago

SRman said:
The Jinty looks good.

I took a few photos of Lego trains at a recent exhibition held at Sandown, here in Melbourne. A couple of the models impressed me, including a rather nice container ship and terminal, with convincing containers as well. Not all railway subjects, but they related to the railway. The U.S. style hood diesels seemed reasonably realistic as well, although I'm not really into American stuff. Anyway, you can make up your own minds from these photos.

Looks good. If money was no objection I too would model a dock diaroma. Duke St in Birkenhead Uk would be ideal. It had/has various points of intrest including a wagon turntable/signal box/bascule bridge. Its possible to make structures look aged /rundown by using different colured bricks (various browns for rust). Which would make a nice change from the usual layout.

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