Best Train?

I am about to start my city layout soon and are yet to buy any train sets. My question for other members/Lego lovers is which train set/sets are the best and worth while buying? I would think i would need 2 trains as the layout is about 5m x 5m. I have done zero research on Lego trains and not even sure if they all run on the same type of tracks. Just noticed the thread on the new orange train, it looks pretty nice.

Well it seems you want powered trains, 3677 is still available at Myers if you can find one.....though if you can score an Emerald Night and add PF to it. I have both the EN and also the Maersk train which is another AWESOME train but requires modification also to PF it.
Hope this helps you 'Ajax' and Brick On !

When i first got back into trains i bought LEGO CITY CARGO TRAIN 7939 its a great set ,with a good amount of track and extras like a gantry crane & Cargo truck.

I also agree with lightningtiger The Emerald Night & Maersk trains are great. However they come with no track so they are good as 'Add on' trains, To start with i would recommend LEGO CITY CARGO TRAIN 7939 if you want to go power functions with normal plastic track.

Ajax,

Welcome to ANZFOL.

As the great 12V and 9V trains and track are hard to get [ and V E R Y expensive ], PF trains are the way to go.

They will work fine on a 5x5 layout but there will be some difficulties controlling them if they go behind large structures on the layout; especially if batteries are low.

With a 5x5 layout, you may need more trains.

Good luck with your project and make sure that you post photos.

A great tutorial

Tutorial: Deeplinking Images
by Captain Zuloo

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Thanks guys, but I still have no idea how the trains actually work and the difference between them. What is PF mean? Do you use batteries?
I will go and do my own homework on them but any more help here is appreciated, Thanks.
If i was to get the cargo train mentioned above which passenger train will work on the same tracks?

Hi Ajax,

PF stands for Power Functions, which is the current range of motors, battery packs, infra-red remotes and receivers, which are used across all LEGO themes, notably Trains and Technic.

Earlier trains were 9V powered from the rails, or even earlier still 12V powered from a pair of central conductors. The current PF trains have plastic track. There were a couple of RC trains with different IR gear that were released between 9V and the current PF which used the same plastic track as PF.

If you get the 7939 cargo train you have two obvious choices of passenger train. 7938 was released in 2010 so may be hard to find in Australian shops, but maybe a little easier online. It comes with a loop of track and motors etc, just add batteries
10233 is due for release in January, and since it is a LEGO exclusive it may never be available in the shops, though LEGO's online store will have it. It comes without any track or PF gear, but is a much more detailed train. You can add the PF gear at an additional cost.

There are another two cargo trains that should be reasonably available; the Red Cargo Train 3677 which is a complete set, and the Maersk container train 10219 which is another detailed exclusive without PF gear and track.

Finally there is the Emerald Night 10194. It is an exclusive steam passenger train released in 2009, which is no longer available from LEGO. It is a beautiful train but has a number of cons as well. It only comes with one passenger car and can be troublesome to motorise as it has a tendency to bind up without a few modifications. It may be difficult or expensive to get hold of since it is no longer sold by LEGO.

Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks Peter that helps.

I spied two 3677's at Myer TTP yesterday....while making a payment on my 3677 (dying to get it off layby ).
I'll be using mine complete as a shunter for my Maersk and EN trains.

I got mine from Galaxy Toys on Goodwood Road....for around the 230 mark...they might still have some in stock. (The Maersk train that is)