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Class 4 article


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

The very first train set, 323 Train, was released in 1965 and was only available during that year. It did not come with any track, instead having ordinary road wheels.

1966-1980: The "Blue Era"[]

One year later in 1966, the LEGO Group introduced the first sets with track and battery powered motors. These trains had blue rails and white sleepers using standard 8 x 2 plates, while the locomotives used the standard 4-wheel drive 4.5V motor unit. The flanged train wheels had rubber rims for traction which were pushed into the motors. The batteries were either 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 mains-powered 12V train system, 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. The 12V system also had the option of motorised points, which was a precursor to what would be available in the post-1980 Grey Era system. However, the availability of the 12V system was limited to certain countries in Europe - it was not for example, sold in the United Kingdom.

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, although it continued to be sold through 1980 in some markets where the Grey Era system was not yet available.

1980-1991: The "Grey Era"[]

The second era (1980 - 1990), also called the Grey Era, is characterized by dark Grey ties (sleepers) and light grey rails. The rails were of a new "snap fit" design to the sleepers to allow the track to be more easily dismantled and stored. The trains were also redesigned to be minifigure compatible, and featured new train bases with swivelling bogies for more realism. The 4.5V motor was carried over from the previous Blue Era system largely unmodified, however the new 12V motor had both a power-take off for powering on-train lights, was now smaller in size, and could swivel, rather than be of fixed design.

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 of the railway from one central position. In addition to this the world around the trains and buildings could be illuminated by some electric lights (7861 and 7867) which for a bright flair even beyond the rails.

Trains12V-9V

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

1991-2005: The 9V era[]

The introduction of 9V-trains in 1991 marked the end of the earlier two voltages, and marked the Trains theme transition to the 9V system (TECHNIC had made the transition to 9V the year before). 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.

2005-2008: The RC System[]

In the same year, the 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. The key advantage of the system compared to the earlier generations was the ability of trains to be controlled independently of each other without the need to introduce second track circuits.

However the system gained a reputation for unreliability, the infrared remote control introduced problems of range, and the use of batteries required them to be replaced or recharged at regular intervals.

2009-2017: The "Power Functions" era[]

On 1 October 2007 Lego announced that they would discontinue both the 9-volt and the RC train formats in favour of a new system. The announcement cited a lack of sufficient demand for the 9-volt product line to be profitable, caused partly by the need to replace key machinery and place minimum orders for motors and power regulators. The new range was announced as launching in 2009, and would use the new 'Power Functions' system also used in the Technic line, which would allow the company to "amortize the development and on going cost across multiple themes".

A new train was introduced in the summer of 2009 called the "Emerald Night", modelled on a steam locomotive. This train was sold without a motor as set number 10194. Necessary part numbers were listed on the rear of the box to convert the Emerald Night to a Power Functions compatible train. These parts were available separately, but mainly online. There was an additional 'collection' pack available with all the necessary parts to power the Emerald Night. These included a rechargeable battery box, a new infrared remote controller, plus a Power Functions motor and infrared receiver. Although this is a "Power Functions" setup, this particular setup existed only for the Emerald Night, as a new motor was in development.

The track was unchanged from the RC Trains sets, and in 2009 flexible track was introduced.

Following the Emerald Night, the new 88002 Power Functions-compatible train motor and controller were introduced in two 2010 sets, the 7938 Passenger Train and 7939 Cargo Train. This new motor utilized the universal Power Functions connections, used by all components. The standardization of the Power Functions system meant that any of the motors in the Power Functions line could be used and builders were not limited to using a single type of motor as they had been with previous Lego train systems.

2018-present: Powered Up[]

In 2018, Lego introduced a new Power Functions system, known as Powered Up, or Power Functions 2.0. This system was brought to replace the old Power Functions brought about in 2007. This system was introduced with 60197 Passenger Train In 2019, 71044 Disney Train and Station was introduced with the motorised elements in the tender. In 2020, the Lego Crocodile Locomotive was released, designed to be motorised with Powered Up Large Motor, not the usual train motor. In June 2022 LEGO introduced 60337 Express Passenger Train also powered by Powered Up, which features the ability of the train to be controlled via Bluetooth and a smartphone app.

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

Sets[]

RC/Power Functions

Image#SetNumber of piecesMinifiguresPriceRelease
3677box-23677Red Cargo Train8314$159.99August 2011
7897 Box7897Passenger Train501Train Conductor, Passenger (2)$89.99 / €89.992006
7898 Box7898Cargo Train Deluxe8565$102.75 / €169.992006
7936-Boxart7936Level Crossing142Driver$19.99 / €16.99June 4, 2010 (UK)
7937 box7937Train Station361Train Driver, Traveler (x2), Taxi Driver$49.99 / €34.99June 7, 2010 (US) / June 4, 2010 (UK)
7938-Boxart7938Passenger Train6693$129.99 / €109.99June 4, 2010 (UK) June 14, 2010 (US)
7939-Boxart7939Cargo Train8394$174.99 / €169.99June 2010
Tran77997Train Station3874, Business Man Trent$44.99 / €37.992007
78957895Switching Tracks8$15.99 / €16.992006
78967896Straight & Curved Rails16$15.99 / €16.992006
K7895K7895Oval Track for RC Trains40$44.992006
Track packK7896Deluxe Track for RC Trains72$83.992006
7996-17996Train Rail Crossing for RC Trains4$24.99 / €19.992007
Track8867Flexible Train Track64$24.99 / €29.992009
71Ep77HRQrL. SL1000 60050Train Station423Conductor, Chef, Taxi Driver, Traveler (x2)$64.99 / €49.992014
717TQ49uqRL. SL1000 60051High Speed Passenger Train610Train Driver, Passenger, Cyclist$149.99 / €119.992014
81mK1FUF1KL. SL1000 60052Cargo Train887Train Driver, Construction Worker, Construction Worker, Truck Driver, Forklift Driver$199.99 / €179.992014
6009860098Heavy-Haul Train9344, Welder$199.99 / €159.99June, 2015
66239-166239Train Super Set126710 2007
Emerald Night10194Emerald Night10853$99.99 / €89.99April 1, 2009 (US and UK)
K10194-1K10194Emerald Night Collection11093€199.992009


Passenger Trains and Wagons[]

First LEGO Train

Non Powered Push Trains

Non Powered Rail Trains

4.5V

12V

9V

RC / PF

Powered Up

Cargo Trains and Wagons[]

Non Powered Cargo Trains

4.5V

12V

9V

RC / PF

Powered Up

Locomotives[]

Other Railway Vehicles[]

Buildings[]

4.5V

12V

9V

RC / PF

Powered Up

Tracks[]

4.5V

12V

9V

RC / PF

Powered Up


Motors[]

4.5V

12V

9V

RC / PF

Powered Up

Other Accessories[]

Powered Up

MY own TRAIN[]

Idea Books[]


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