{"id":221281,"date":"2020-08-21T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/?p=221281"},"modified":"2020-08-19T16:19:07","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T20:19:07","slug":"christmas-train-by-matt-chiles-a-9v-throwback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/2020\/08\/21\/christmas-train-by-matt-chiles-a-9v-throwback\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Train by Matt Chiles: A 9V Throwback"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When I was younger and still pretty new to the world of Lego trains, I would often browse the internet looking at various Lego MOC sharing websites like MOCPages, Brickshelf, and later Flickr. I was able to learn of a lot of builders and enjoy the work they had published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every once in a while, however, I would find a hidden gem off the beaten path of the common Lego websites of the day. The Christmas Train by Matt Chiles is one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/roundthebend-web.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Matt Chiles&#8217; Christmas Train<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Lego has made a couple of Christmas or Holiday themed train sets before, like the 9-volt version from 2006, set 10173 Holiday Train and the more recent 10254 Winter Holiday Train from 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.bricklink.com\/ItemImage\/SL\/10173-1.png?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"BrickLink - Set 10173-1 : Lego Holiday Train [Train:9V ...\"\/><figcaption>10173 Holiday Train, 2006<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bricksworld.eu\/1017-large_default\/lego-10254-creator-expert-winter-holiday-train.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"LEGO\u00ae 10254 Creator Expert Winter Holiday Train\"\/><figcaption>10254 Winter Holiday Train, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s hard to tell from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/index.htm\">the single-page website<\/a> when exactly Matt created this model, but I assume it predates the 10173. Even at that age, however, it doesn&#8217;t lack detail or clever techniques. Matt certainly put a lot of effort into this set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The locomotive is a well-proportioned 4-4-0 powered by a 9-volt motor in the tender, built with red, green, and old dark grey which makes for a nice Christmas-theme appearance. The engine rides on Big Ben drivers and pilot wheels and even has an operating headlight and firebox light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/engineright.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/engineleft.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Locomotive and tender<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m particularly fond of the cowcatcher. Remember, this is the mid-2000&#8217;s. I think the locomotive holds up even to some more recent 4-4-0 models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matt continued to add to this locomotive making a total of four cars for it to pull, including a boxcar with presents and packages inside, a gondola with a cargo of trees, a passenger car, and a caboose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/boxcar.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Boxcar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/gondola.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Gondola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/passenger.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Passenger Car<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/caboose.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Caboose<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the cars and the locomotive have engraved bricks for lettering and numbering, which adds a lot to any train, especially one from this time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After Matt developed his model, he made ten more and put them up for sale, some of which were sold. Each set came in a wood box with a branded emblem on the top, foam packaging, minifigures, a loop of 9-volt track, and a transformer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/boxlayout-web.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Set contents<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/people.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Minifigures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/party.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If I had one of these sets, I&#8217;d post better photos of it. I did email Matt about it, so who knows. Maybe a follow up article will be called for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This model has stuck with me over the years (obviously) and has inspired several iterations of my own 4-4-0 models from years ago, and the cars too. It&#8217;s always fun to look back at older models, particularly ones that may not have been as prominent in at the time, and see how far the hobby has progressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.horseshoebendranch.net\/mattslego\/christmastrain\/pics\/longtrain-web.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>The full train<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks for reading.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When I was younger and still pretty new to the world of Lego trains, I would often browse the internet looking at various Lego MOC sharing websites like MOCPages, Brickshelf, and later Flickr. I was able to learn of a lot of builders and enjoy the work they had published. Every once in a while, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/2020\/08\/21\/christmas-train-by-matt-chiles-a-9v-throwback\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Christmas Train by Matt Chiles: A 9V Throwback<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":221282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[172,27,3],"tags":[984,34],"class_list":["post-221281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-inspiration","category-models","tag-christmas-train","tag-train"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/roundthebend-web.jpg?fit=600%2C329&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8egNP-Vz3","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=221281"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":221284,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221281\/revisions\/221284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/221282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=221281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=221281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brickmodelrailroader.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=221281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}