Trains - general discussion

[@rtisan]

New train sets available at LEGO Shop@Home via TheBrickFan

 

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Train-Station-60050

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/High-speed-Passenger-Train-60051

http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Cargo-Train-60052

 

I also wonder when we'll see the next Creator Train set... Considering we got 9 sets with a train within the span of just 4 years, excluding these, my guess would be late 2014 or early 2015. Some may not consider the Ghost Train to be an actual train though, so really only 8 trains that could easily be motorized but only 5 with official instructions from LEGO, 3 that came with both the PF and Track, and another coming with just the track.

 

Ahh... the old speculation train. Ha.

 

I do hope the next train has a better looking front end compared to the Horizon Express, didn't really care for it.

Awesome! I`m going to wait until there is a fire sale on them again. I ordered the recent 2 Cargo/Passengers trains for a total of $210Can (Regular nearly $400) this past November, like quite a few others. To pay retail now is ridiculous, even to build, unless you are a die-hard. 

[Guest ph4tb0i]

Camelcamelcamel targets set @ Amazon UK.  

[Sauromosis]

How does everyone feel about the new blue cargo versus the red cargo?  Red obviously has more track, and flexible track, but the blue has a higher piece count and an animal pen!

[Guest TabbyBoy]

I'm waiting to see how the 7938/7939 performs before I consider any of the new trains.  I also prefer the red and yellow cargo trains to the new blue one.

[MartinP]

How does everyone feel about the new blue cargo versus the red cargo?  Red obviously has more track, and flexible track, but the blue has a higher piece count and an animal pen!

I like the new blue cargo train over the red one. IMO, the set is designed very well including all the different train cars.

[exciter1]

How does everyone feel about the new blue cargo versus the red cargo?  Red obviously has more track, and flexible track, but the blue has a higher piece count and an animal pen!

 

I think the Blue looks really good, but I hope to get it at $125 down the road.  I won't be investing in it, unless my 7938s and 7939s take off.

[No More Monkeys]

TRU online is funny... They removed listings of both new and old city trains from site...

[MartinP]

TRU online is funny... They removed listings of both new and old city trains from site...

Maybe TRU temporarily took them down so that they can change the prices from MSRP to TRU MSRP!

[No More Monkeys]

Maybe TRU temporarily took them down so that they can change the prices from MSRP to TRU MSRP!

Yep. and to put Hot Price on all new sets, that shortly showed up some time ago. I am still not seeing Ecto-1 listing returning there

[touseefdesigner]

I have a ton of extra train parts from a huge Craigslist lot I purchased.  I was able to complete a few trains, but still have a lot of wheels, bogies, buffers, motors, IR, you name it.  Would you sell separately?  In a larger lot?  I don't know if train guys like to buy in a bigger bulk to MOC trains or just as they need it and would prefer smaller lots.  I'm as high on ease of selling as making the utmost in money as I don't want to have 100 auctions of this stuff going.

 

Any input would be appreciated.  Normally I would break this up, but thought maybe buyers might want the whole lot just as much since you kind of need many of the parts to complete a train.  Thanks.

 

do you have any store ... well i am interested in train wheel and boggie ... could you send me your price?

[justapilgrim]

What is the lifespan of the different trains? I see the cargo train is in the process of selling out and the HE may be soon after,

How high can retired train sets go for? A year our? Two?

Thanks, just started to look at the trains

Edited October 27, 2014 by jaisonline
updated thread title to reflect post content

[Sahntoki]

I like to look at brickset.com for those kinds of questions. It looks like around 1-2 years

[jaisonline]

I like to look at brickset.com for those kinds of questions. It looks like around 1-2 years

 

good suggestion about using brickset.

 

What is the lifespan of the different trains? I see the cargo train is in the process of selling out and the HE may be soon after,

How high can retired train sets go for? A year our? Two?

Thanks, just started to look at the trains

 

trains can last (at retail) anywhere from 3 months to 1 1/2 years to 2 1/2 years to 4 years (7939 Cargo Train). then we also have train related sets like 10027 Train Engine Shed that last about 5 years based on when it debuted and mid to late 2000s catalogs I've read. 

 

 

here are some other good starting points.

http://brickset.com/sets?query=train

http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Advanced-Models?query=train

http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/Trains

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Trains

[Ciglione]

 

good suggestion about using brickset.

 

 

trains can last (at retail) anywhere from 3 months to 1 1/2 years to 2 1/2 years to 4 years (7939 Cargo Train). then we also have train related sets like 10027 Train Engine Shed that last about 5 years based on when it debuted and mid to late 2000s catalogs I've read. 

 

 

here are some other good starting points.

http://brickset.com/sets?query=train

http://brickset.com/sets/theme-Advanced-Models?query=train

http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/Trains

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Trains

 

I love that train engine shed! Still misses in my city setup.

[Spanky]

What is the lifespan of the different trains? I see the cargo train is in the process of selling out and the HE may be soon after,

 

 

Here is a graph I made for myself. The 12/31/14 end dates aren't actual, that is just what I plug into current sets.

 

 

[biking_tiger]

Thanks for the chart--good to note what trains have come and gone and how long they were with us. I wish I'd been around for the Emerald Night.

[justapilgrim]

Thanks, considering getting a train to build but haven't really looked into them until now. Are returns on retired trains slow and steady with no great spikes in value?

[MartinP]

Thanks, considering getting a train to build but haven't really looked into them until now. Are returns on retired trains slow and steady with no great spikes in value?

They're usually slow and steady, but they get a boost every Christmas due to people wanting the older versions instead of the newer ones.

[vmckee]

Nice chart Spanky, I didn't realize how short the Constitution Chase was.  It seems to be under appreciated and is a good poor man's Emerald Night.  If you have that chart in Excel, could you show the trains with duration divided by parts count?  I'm wondering if Lego loses money on trains and why they have such short lifespans on the more exciting ones.

[jaisonline]

this is great.  can you sitemail me the actual file of the image below and i'll add it our train section.  It can be a living chart

 

Here is a graph I made for myself. The 12/31/14 end dates aren't actual, that is just what I plug into current sets.

 

 

 

[jaisonline]

 I'm wondering if Lego loses money on trains and why they have such short lifespans on the more exciting ones.

 

i doubt it. Lego likes to keep train sets fresh plus some of these trains are licensed sets with durations.

[Spanky]

As far as I can tell, here are the "rules" for modern Lego Trains:

 

• There will be two motorized play sets in production at any given time: one introductory and one advanced. For the past several iterations the introductory set has always been a passenger train, and the advanced set has always been a cargo train.
• There is generally one motorizable train in production for AFOL train fans. The most recent of these have been Emerald Night, Maersk Train, Horizon Express.
• Themed sets may contain a train independent of the above rules. Hogwarts Express, Constitution Train Chase, and Ghost Train are the most recent examples. These will start and end along with the rest of their theme.
• Accessory sets like train stations and crossings seem to be related at introduction to the "core" introductory and advanced sets, but EOL is harder to predict. For example, 7936 went out EOL unexpectedly.
• Parts sets like tracks and switches seem to be effectively immortal.

For Duplo Trains there are generally three in production at any given time:

• A basic motorized set with engine, one car, simple track, and a few bricks. Examples: 10507, 5608, 3771.
• An advanced motorized set with engine, two cars, advanced track, extra play features: Examples: 10508, 5609, 3772
• A push train: Examples: 10558,5506,3770
• Themed Duplo trains are less common than themed Lego trains, but they do happen. Examples: Toy Story, Thomas

[Dkc]

Hi,

 

I'm fairly new to Lego investing and was wondering whether train sets are generally good investments?  With Lego cyber Monday, I picked up two 7939 sets (Cargo Train), which are retiring, and at 20% off.  I was hesitant to buy them because I didn't know whether they are generally good investments or not, but figured I'd take a chance.

 

Your thoughts?

[shootyb]

I recently sold one for $235 plus shipping.

[steelmelt]

I just got one of the sale ones to add to the two I already have.  Trains are winners.  Even the city trains that get remade.  This sale is all but guarenteed to be the last hurrah for this version of the City Cargo train.