This train set is an homage to the Lego trains of the 1980s.

Growing up in the 1980s, I spent a lot of time playing with Lego trains. To me, the Lego trains from that era struck the hit the sweet spot for versatility, accuracy, and playability. Earlier train sets lacked sufficient realism, while later ones sacrificed flexibility and hands-on play in the pursuit of greater accuracy and reduced brick counts. From a distance, 1980s trains were unmistakably Lego, yet they were detailed enough to recreate specific real-world locomotives and trains. Built mostly from standard bricks and slopes, they had a distinctively “blocky” appearance. This reliance on basic elements also gave builders more freedom to create alternate builds.

Design goals

This train is designed to mimic the visual style of Lego trains from the 1980s.

I wanted to create a train set that I would have loved to own as a child (and as an adult). It features a wide variety of rolling stock and is much longer than the typical four-car train, - a lot longer. In the real world, freight trains often consist of many identical wagons, but that doesn’t make for a very engaging build. Instead, I chose to showcase a varied selection of typical freight wagons.

The Locomotive and Tender

The locomotive and tender are based on the German DRG Class 01 standard steam locomotive. These locomotives entered service from 1926 to 1938 and the last remained in operation until 1977. Towards the end, they were used exclusively for freight duties.

The Log Wagon: It comes with 2 logs.

The Hopper Wagon: The ports on the bottom can be opened.

The Tank Wagon: Standard tank wagon, including an orange warning sign.

The Tipper Wagon: The gray tipper can be tipped.

The Box Wagon: The roof is removable.

The Container Wagon: The 4x8 container can be stacked with similar containers. The pallet uses the same slots as the container.

The Chemical Silo Wagon: Piping on one side is for filling the silos. The piping on the other side is for emptying the silos.

The Caboose: The rear part of the roof comes off, allowing for easy access to minis inside.