Trains

Trains

Years:	1966–2011
Subthemes:	4.5V 12V 9V RC / Power Functions
Related themes:	World City City Factory MY own TRAIN Creator

This article is about the theme. For the set, see LEGO Train.

The very first train set, 323 Train, was released in 1965, without any track. It had ordinary road wheels. It was released only during that year, because in 1966 the LEGO Group introduced the first sets with track and battery powered motors.

LEGO 4.5V Trains were first introduced in 1966. They had blue rails and white sleepers (standard 8 x 2 plates), and the locomotives used the standard 4-wheel drive LEGO 4.5V motor unit. The wheels were flanged train wheels with rubber rims for traction, that were pushed into the motors. The batteries were carried behind the engine in a tender, or in a battery box built into the engine in the earlier sets. Since 1969, there was also a 12V train program, which used additional conductor rails mounted between the standard 4.5V rails, and 12V motors contained in the same housings as the 4.5V motors, but with additional metal contacts attached to the bottom of the housings. This first period of the 4.5V and 12V trains, sometimes called the Blue Era because of the rails colour, lasted from 1966 till 1979.

The second era (1980 - 1990), also called Grey Era, is characterized by dark Grey ties (sleepers) and light grey rails. Wheels were red or black. Both 4.5V (battery powered) and 12V (DC powered using add-on centre conductor rails) sets were available during this era, too. By real model train fans, this time is considered as the greatest era of LEGO Trains because of the rich availability of many automated accessories like Remote Controlled Switch Tracks (7858, 7859), Remote Controlled Signals (7860), Remote Controlled Road Crossing (7866) or Remote Controlled Decoupling (7862) - those remote controls could be combined with the Transformer / Speed Controller to a large extendible keyboard for controlling all functions from one central position. In addition to this the world around the trains could be illuminated by some electric lights (7867) - for a bright flair even beyond the rails.

Leaflet explaining the transition from 12V to 9V made between 1991 and 1993 (in French)

The introduction of 9V-trains in 1991 marked the end of the earlier two voltages. This third era is characterized by integral moulded dark Grey rail/tie assemblies with metal conducting rails. Later the former outstanding standard Trains theme was integrated in the LEGO World City theme line. The 9V era was finished with a special experts model of the Factory line called Hobby Trains in 2006.

In the same year LEGO Company introduced the new completely different RC system. These trains get their energy from batteries on board and are controlled via a Infrared remote control. For these trains, new non-electricity tracks (7896, 7895) were introduced. From now the Trains theme became part of the LEGO City theme line. In 2009 the special edition engine Emerald Night was released which had lovely designed details like new steam train type wheels. With the set came many new Train Accessories based on Power Functions including Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box, Power Functions IR Receiver, Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control and Transformer 10VDC.

In 2010 the change from the unpopular first RC system to the more efficient PF system was be completed with the introduction of the very first completely Power Functions based train sets.

Not mentioned here are DUPLO Trains and the Monorail-system.

Passenger Trains and Wagons[edit | edit source]

First LEGO Train

323 Train (1965)

Non Powered Push Trains

114 Small Push Train Set (1966)
126 Steam Locomotive (1970)
170 Push-along Play Train (1972)
7710 Push-Along Passenger Steam Train (1980)
7715 Push-Along Passenger Steam Train (1985)

Non Powered Rail Trains

111 Starter Train Set without Motor (1966)
118 Small Train Set (1968)

4.5V

113 Motorized Train Set (1966)
115 Starter Train Set with Motor (1966)
116 Starter Train Set with Motor (1967)
118 Electronic Train (1968)
118 Motorized Freight or Passenger Train (1969)
119 Super Train Set (1968)
122 Loco & Tender (1969)
123 Passenger Coach (1969)
127 Complete Train with 3 Wagons (1971)
131 Passenger Coach (1972)
133 Locomotive (1975)
137 Passenger sleeping car (1975)
138 Electronic Train (1969)
164 Passenger Coach (1978)
182 Train Set with Motor (1975) - Train Set with Signal
183 Train Set with Motor and Signal (1976)
7815 Passenger Carriage / Sleeper (1983)
7818 Passenger Wagon (1980)

12V

7725 Electric Passenger Train Set (1981)
7740 Inter-City Passenger Train Set (1980)
7745 High-Speed City Express Passenger Train Set (1985)

9V

4511 High Speed Train (2003)
4534 LEGO Express (2002) - Limited release
4535 LEGO Express Deluxe (2002) - Limited release
4547 Club Car (1993) - expansion to set 4558
4558 Metroliner (1991)
4563 Load and Haul Railroad (1991)
4559 Cargo Railway (1996) - Highspeed Train Starter Kit
4560 Railway Express (1999) - same set as 4561, but without transformer and speed regulator
4561 Railway Express (1999) - same set as 4560, but with transformer and speed regulator
10001 Metroliner (2001) - re-release of set 4558
10002 Railroad Club Car (2001) - re-release of set 4547
10014 Caboose (2001)
10015 Green Passenger Wagon (2001)
10022 Santa Fe Cars - Set II (2002)
10132 Motorized Hogwarts Express (2004) - Hogwarts Express SE
10157 High Speed Train Locomotive (2004) - expansion to set 4511
10158 High Speed Train Car (2004) - expansion to set 4511
10173 Holiday Train (2006) - Christmas Train
4186876 Blue Passenger Wagon (2002)
K10173 Complete Holiday Train Collection (2006) - Product Collection

RC / PF

7897 Passenger Train (2006)
7938 Passenger Train (2010)
10194 Emerald Night (2009)
K10194 Emerald Night Collection (2009) - Product Collection = set 10194 + Flexible Train Track + PF Upgrade Kit
10254 Winter Holiday Train (2016)
60051 High-Speed Passenger Train - white (2014)
60197 Passenger Train - yellow (2018)
60337 Passenger Train - green (2022)
70424 Ghost Train Express (2019)
75966 Hogwarts Express (2018)
76423 Hogwarts Express™ & Hogsmeade™ Station (2023)