OK! Got couple of trains! Now what?

Hi all,

I accidentally bought a train set and that led to other purchases!!! I have no idea about LEGO trains as I never set one up but, I need a little bit of help in trying to figure out what else to buy and what to not worry about! So far train related lego I bought are:

4511 High Speed Passenger Train
4841 Hogwarts Express (dunno if power function can be added to this!)
7850 Straight Tracks (what is this for? 9V?)
7851 Curved Tracks (what is this for? 9V?)
7938 Passenger Train
7937 Train Station

will prob get the Cargo train sooner or later!

I probably won't be able to set anything up before my Christmas break, but I'd like to have enough bits and pieces to put something together that runs well. What else do I need?

Cheers,

Buy at least a pair of 7936 crossings, and change the second digger into a MOC rail maintance vehicle.
Keep on track !

Are those track packs compatible with the newer rc trains?
You want a couple of 7896
This is a good buy
I purchased that as a good starter set of track

So you're in a little poo track wise. All the track is compatible with RC and PF trains. What you'll have trouble with though, is the 9v passenger train. It requires electrified rail which is very expensive, so unless you can get lots of it for an extremely good price, I would probably sell the passenger train off again.
All your other trains will run smoothly on the track you've purchased already.

Another problem you will face is that the 7850 and 7851 straight and curved track packs are for the old 4.5V/12V systems which were discontinued (in Australia) in 1991. While the track widths are compatible; the means of connecting track pieces types are not. In the same vein as Captain Zuloo - unless you plan on collecting the vintage (1980-1990) "Grey era" 4.5V and 12V trains (such as the classic 7740) it may be an idea to sell off the 7850 and 7851 track sets.

That sure is a combination of train parts.

I would advise concentrating on the newer RC tracks as they should be around in the shops for a few years...

You can merge the 4.5v track types with the newer tracks but it will all look odd. Having said that, my master plan for my home display is to have a pre 1990s area next to a modern area with PF trains running across the whole lot.

I would probably sell the 4511 9V, or fork out a grand or so for track... If you got the controller etc as well then you are part way there and it may be worth buying some straight 9v track.

Thanks for feedback guys! I know it is a bit of mix pot!!!

I just ordered 30 curved and 40 straight RC train tracks, 2 swith point left and 2 switch right!
Also ordered: 10 9V curved, 15 9V straight, 2 switch point left and 2 switch point right.

The 4511 is complete!

The 7850 Straight Tracks and 7851 Curved Tracks are MISB! So I might hang on to that for a little bit!

Advice still is welcome! Thank you!

This is how my first attempt at a lay out looked like from my mishmash of parts





Cheers,

There is a silly amount of fun to be had playing trains with your kids
Mine love it

Hi Hemish,

Looks good. Try to get Track Design (a design tool from the old days). The tool to build and create your ideal track, without youll have to rebuild it over and over again.
Adding your stock into the program allows you to use all the track in the most useable design.
Did you obtain 4,5 V tracks ? If so you could use them as a side track to set your trains apart.

Have fun and keep building
Nicolas

Track Design is no longer supported and I think can't be because the original source code was lost if I recall correctly. If you're new to train cad tools it's probably worth getting familiar with Bluebrick which is getting regular updates at the moment.