Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last several months, you’ve probably seen the new LEGO® train sets coming out in August. We here at Brick Model Railroader have been quiet on the subject so far. The LEGO Group has been very quiet themselves on the new line until very recently, and in light of the lack of information, we decided to wait before publishing anything of significance on the matter. Wild speculation and secondhand rumors are not the kind of news we wish to write about; we would rather wait until we have accurate information and can make a fair and educated assessment of the facts. This hobby is very important to us, and we wish to be good stewards of it.
Now with the release of the new trains coming closer, LEGO has begun to open up a bit about the new sets, and the new Powered Up system that will be replacing the Power Functions line as the power/control system for them. LEGO has even released a handful of sets to LEGO Fan Media organizations for them to examine in depth. And while unfortunately we here at Brick Model Railroader have not been able to see a set in person yet, we are grateful to those who have for sharing their findings with the train community. There is enough information out there that we feel we can talk about the new trains in a hopefully informed manor. The two new trains sets in question are of course the 60198 Cargo Train, and the 60197 Passenger Train. While we could say much about the designs of the new sets, we will wait until we have them in person before writing a full review. Rather what concerns us today is the new Powered Up system that is behind them and what it means to us LEGO train fans and our hobby.
These new train sets, more than any others in recent years, will have a huge impact on the way we experience the LEGO train hobby. That is because for the first time since the end of the 9v train era, the LEGO Group is introducing a new power and control system for their train line, the Powered Up system. On the surface, not much may seem to be changing, the trains are still remote controlled, the track is still all plastic, and the trains receive their power from on board batteries. The Power Functions system we’ve had since 2009 has been governed by the same principals. But when you dig deeper into the new system, you’ll find that it has a number of key differences. So let’s take a look at what we’re getting so far.
If you’re in the Jackson, New Hampshire area this summer, swing by the Jackson Public Library and check out this awesome LEGO rendition of the Conway Scenic Railroad by Dawson Santoro.
The Conway Scenic is a a tourist line in the Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire, offering passenger excursions through the White Mountains. Their colorful consists include a number of vintage locomotives and cars, including the 0-6-0 Canadian National 7470 that Dawson chose to model for his display.
I asked Dawson a few questions about his very professional build.
BMR: What was the original inspiration behind choosing the Conway Scenic as a prototype to model?
DS: I’ve been following PENNLUG for a few years now, the models they build are truly amazing and they inspired me to build a train with that level of detail. And since I’ve been coming to Jackson, New Hampshire every summer for the past fifteen years, I chose to build the Conway Scenic Railroad which is a major tourist attraction in the area. by invitation, for the past two summers, I’ve had some custom LEGO builds on display and for this year I chose the Conway Scenic because everyone here in The Mount Washington Valley, knows about and has seen or been on the real thing so it’s relatable to everyone.
BMR:What is your design process? Do you work with virtual models on acomputer first, or do you work more hands on with physical bricks as youbuild?
DS: My design process was to first look at a lot of close up pictures that I took of the real train last summer and I tried to figure out what LEGO parts I could use for each feature of the train. I also looked at a lot of LEGO models from other builders to get ideas. I designed one of the coaches on LEGO Digital Designer to get an idea of how each one would look and have a rough list of parts I would need. I modified each coach as I built them and I would often take apart a lot of the detail and rebuilt it differently to get it as accurate as I could. For the steam locomotive, I designed the boiler, cab, gearbox and coal tender on LEGO Digital Designer. Since it was my first locomotive I’ve built there was a lot of trial and error with building with physical bricks. I much prefer actually building my models and being able to see how it’s going to turn out and what works and what doesn’t.
BMR:How long was the design and build process?
DS: I started building this model in November 2017 and finished it at the beginning of May this year which is about six months from designing it to applying on the decals at the end. Before I started designing it I already knew how I was going to power it so I ordered the power functions I needed back in September. I first started building the locomotive which took me about a month and a half to complete the rough shape and functions of the gearing. Throughout the rest of the building of the coaches and the track, I didn’t stop working on the locomotive, adding small detail or changing details I didn’t like or thought I could improve on.
In addition to MOC Builder interviews, BMR has recently reached out to the worldwide LEGO train community to learn a little more about some of the people and groups that make up our great hobby. Recently I interviewed Paolo Sbrascini, a train builder from the Italian fan group Marchebrick.
Paolo is the main train builder for their group, and enjoys building automation into his MOCs and layouts, including such things as automatic doors that open and close on passenger trains as they stop at the train platform.
Paolo with “Emerald Night” designer Jamie Berard
BMR: Can you tell us about Marchebrick?
Paolo: Marchebrick group…RLUG from January 2017, now with more than 40 members and 25 active AFOLs, proud to be their Ambassador and co-founder of this group.
It was December 2014, AFOL from 2010 and ITlug member, (still I am), I was participating as exhibitor to an event in our Region (Marche, Central Italy, 300 kms north/east from Rome) organized by our friends of Romabrick group. In that occasion I met some guys who lived not far from me and all great AFOLs. We discussed about the possibility to found a group to enjoy together and run own events. After some months talking about it (usually in Pubs and restaurants), maybe a little drunk, in the 2015 spring we officially founded “Marchebrick”.
In origin we were 5 main AFOLs, different theme lovers (city/trains, fantasy/castle, Technic, pirates and Friends (a member wife).
This 1st event arrived quickly, in April 2015 we organized an expo area in a fair near us. Event gone okay and we decided to raise the level, organize a specific exhibition in the Center of the main Cities of the Region, and we did it! December 2017, two events in Ancona (Region’s Capital) and Macerata (Province chief town) gave us an extreme visibility and all the “hidden” AFOLs and brick lovers of a large area contacted us to know more, to take part to our activities, to enjoy…
2016 a Year of big changes, more people to manage, more activities to do (an example, we bought a lot of bricks to make children play for free at our events), a founder gone, some new “big” AFOLs arrived…continuing growing and making bigger and enjoying events. August and October Central Italy Earthquakes (one during an event…incredible) impacted strongly in our Region…but even with some difficulties we continued to play!
2017, January…Welcome aboard new RLUG! Doors or a new world open to us, we start to make official events and cooperate more with all the “neighbours” and the other Italian groups. The Main event comes on January 2018, Brick And Build Porto San Giorgio, a whole sports hall, 55 exhibitors from all over Italy, big play area, fantastic reply from public.
Marchebrick
Now we are trying to add new activities to play with public…and among our members, like internal brick contests or community Ideas to develop…soon enjoying news!
BMR: Do you find it difficult to be the only member who enjoys building trains?
Paolo: No relevant difficulties, even If I am the only train MOC builder of my group, when I do something I like I never find problems. I am a Train lover since I abandoned my dark age in 2010. Participating to events through Italy I met a good part of the most “famous” Italian and European Lego trains builders and I had the possibility to compare with them. I also searched if in our group there were someone interested, but all the other City lovers only consider trains like “the movement” in the city…without approaching to MOC models like me. For these reasons in my group I am usually the one who manages city and trains Layouts and in occasion of bigger events I usually call other “foreign” train lovers to help me with their creations. I also usually go outside when called to run my trains in some large city layouts built by other groups. And I enjoy very much to do this!
BMR: Tell us about the automations that you build. Do you have a process for
testing as you create?
Paolo: Making my trains as accurate as possible, I started to search for some new “wow” effects to add…for example smoke from exhausts, sounds, but these are all existing tricks, which can be made adapting a normal kit from railroad models. For this reason, I started to think about what could be unusual or enjoying to see and I found some good stuffs to improve, like: working automatic railroad crossings, automatic train doors, automatic start/stop trains on station’s platform in according to light signals…
Usually I build my trains before by LDD, but for these moving stuffs (especially crossing and working doors) I had to invent completely all the functions by using real mock-ups. Testing these models I optimized their work and then I putted them into my models/layouts, in this case empiric approach works very well for me.
Regarding automations, I use an old RCX 1.0 and sensors which can be programmed by NQC language, I know it’s quite complicate but I usually can obtain good results.
BMR: Do you use 3rd party parts (batteries, lights, motors, etc.) in any of
your builds? If so, why?
Paolo: I consider myself quite “purist” using Lego parts, so if possible I try only to use only original pieces. This “rule” is fundamental regarding bricks and normal pieces, but regarding electronic Everybody knows that there are some limits in standard parts. Building my models in the Years I used no standard rechargeable batteries, but with big problems (heat) so I started to use official rechargeable batteries. (expensive but efficient). Same for controllers, I tried S-Brick receiver, but not totally satisfied applying it to trains. Now I’m thinking about buying a Buwizz battery (I know Roni one of the founders) and it could be interesting to have a small “all in one” device.
Another real problem is represented by old 9v train motors “burnt” or very “tired”…I’m now trying to run my trains with PF motors collecting energy by a cable connected with a 9v motor (but in small models it’s more difficult).
Regarding controlling functions I will try to remain with RCX system till it will be working, but I also know some friends implementing programmable (and quite cheap) systems like Arduino with increasing success…so let’s see in the next future…also considering that TLG will launch soon the new PF2 system.
Photos from Marchebrick Porto San Giorgio “Brick ‘n Build” show some very
detailed and realistic train layouts. Were these collaborations between
you and other builders?
Paolo: In small events I usually manage train layouts with my forces, but as I said before regarding my activities, in big layouts I usually contact before 4 or 5 “serious” train builders asking them to give me a hand to display great dioramas and realistic trains. We know each other and we usually keep in contact among us, so we know exactly what we have to display and what could be useful for this or for another event. The only thing which has not been implemented yet among us Is the direct collaboration for realizing a unique layout…cause we are far from each other (2/300 kilometers each) and we cannot often meet physically, But we are talking about it, let’s develop this idea in the future.
Hello all. This is just a short message about shipping of our Northeastern Caboose Premium Instruction Preorders. As you may have read in our article from last week, we had hoped to have kits shipping out this week. Unfortunately fate has a way of making dreamers into fools.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have delays in getting two key components, our instruction books from our printer, and lighting kits from our lighting supplier. This is not to say the delays are the fault of the suppliers. Sometimes things happen beyond any ones control, and both suppliers have been working to get us the items as soon as possible. I feel that ultimately the responsibility falls to BMR and me. Both the instructions and the light kits were ordered after the close of preorders. For the lighting kits, this was our first time offering this type of item. With the investment involved and not knowing the market, I hesitated in finalizing our lighting order until preorders closed. The instruction books were delayed in editing, which again falls to me for not being more proactive. I had still hoped that both the books and lights would come in this week, and that with everything else ready, I would be able to start shipping as soon as I had them in hand. As I’m learning though, I need to plan for the unforeseen, and make sure key items are ordered all ahead of when needed in case delays come up. I’m told that our instruction books will be shipping today, and lighting kits ready Friday.
This will of course push back our shipping schedule. This troubles no one more than me, as I feel I have not lived up to my promise. Rest assured that BMR will be doing it’s best to ship kits ASAP once the books and lights come in. We will post updates when we know more.
Thank you for you understanding and patience. If you need to contact me regarding your order, please send and email to cale@brickmodelrailroader.com
We’re’ back again with our second builder interview, this time we’re going across the pond with 39 year old Swiss builder Beat Felber. Beat built this awe inspiring Santa Fe 5000 class steamer.
Hello out there to all our readers. We wanted to take a little time to update you on a few things with the store side of BMR.
Northeastern Caboose Shipping
We had a very successful pre order for our North Eastern Caboose kit and we are great full to all of you who placed an order. We know many of you out there are waiting to hear when they will be shipping. Things are nearly inlace, we’re just waiting on instruction books, and lighting kits from our suppliers. Both of which should be here sometime next week. In the mean time we’ve been getting wheel sets, and kit boxes ready so that when everything comes in, we’ll be able to start shipping right away. Which if everything goes according to plan, should be next week. Thank you all for your patience on this.
This is something new BMR is piloting, interviews with builders of exceptional MOCs. Provided there are enough new builds, we hope to have several of these every month.
The builder for our first interview is 19-year-old Zach Reynolds.
With the release of the Brick Model Railroader Northeastern Style Caboose, I thought I’d give a short photo tour of a couple of vintage vans that plied their trade in the the northeastern states of Vermont and New York along the old Rutland Railroad.
First up is Rutland Caboose #28. Currently on display at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, #28 is a fully restored piece, varnished in Cherry Red, that I was able to visit while traveling to BrickFair in Virginia back in 2009. According to the National Park System’s documentation, caboose #28 was built in 1920 by the Rutland car shops. Built to the New York Central design, the caboose features a cupola that is offset to one end of the van, with a comfortable interior for the crew. The caboose was assigned to the lines between Rutland, Vermont and Ogdensburg, New York. It ended it’s working life as a bunkhouse in Bellows Falls, Vermont before being donated in 1961 to F. Nelson Blount for display at the original Steamtown site in Vermont. The restoration of #28 took place in 1995. The caboose was on display inside of one of Steamtown’s buildings, which made getting exterior shots difficult, but did provide for a look at the roof line.
Roof of Rutland #28
Lettering of Caboose #28
#28 Showing a Rebuild Date of July, 1933
Restored Interior of Rutland #28
The second caboose is Rutland #45, currently on display outside of the Center Rutland Depot just outside of Rutland, Vermont. The Depot is home of the Rutland Railway Association, who have both a museum and model railroad club on site. This caboose actually lives just a few miles from where I live, so I’ve photographed it a few times over the years, including a couple of days ago to show its current state. Though the caboose is off-limits to the public, in the summer of 2016, a couple of the Association’s members allowed me a look inside the unrestored caboose. While it’s a bit run down (it *is* almost 100 years old), it was quite a treat to see the original floor, paint, and layout. Most interesting to me were the beautiful cast-iron seats up in the cupola which allowed would have allowed for a great view for the train crew.
#45 was built in June of 1924. Originally numbered #95, it was renumbered a few months later along with the rest of the 90 series. Like Steamtown’s #28, it ran on the Ogdensburg sub-division of the Rutland lines. With the end of the Rutland Railroad in the mid 1960s, Rutland #45 become Vermont Railway’s #45 when the state of Vermont bought the former Rutland’s assets. VTR #45 was retired from use in the mid 1970s, and moved to Center Rutland by the the early 1990s. Members of the Railway Association are currently restoring both the caboose and the Rutland Depot that is their home.
Rutland Caboose #45 in March of 2010
Front end of #45 in 2010
Cupola End of #45 in 2010
Unrestored Interior of Caboose #45, August of 2016
Cast Iron Cupola Seats, Rutland Caboose #45
Rutland Caboose #45, April 2018, Restoration in Progress
It’s taken a while but our first Premium Instruction Kit of 2018 is ready to preorder. We will be taking orders for this kit until April 30th. Once ordering is closed, we will go into producing kits and expect to start shipping late April, early May.
You can find the Northeastern Caboose Premium Instructions, Decal Sets, Optional Lighting Kit, and extra wheel sets, in our Brick Model Railroader Store.
Hello out there to all you LEGO® train fans. I know it’s been pretty quiet on the BMR website lately but it’s only because things have been very busy behind the scenes, so here is an update of what’s been happening.
Train Shows!
Being in Pittsburgh territory at the Worlds Greatest Hobby on Tour show, PennLUG made sure that the local train history was well represented with several Pittsburgh and Lake Erie RR models, as well as plenty of Pennsylvania RR locomotives and rolling stock.
The winter season is train show season here in the North Eastern US. Myself, along with BMR partner Glenn Holland have been busy with several train shows that our club, PennLUG, has displayed at, some of which you may have seen articles about here on BMR. Here is where we’ve been over the winter.
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