Philippe "Philo" Hurbain is known as an LDraw parts author and Technic&MindStorm expert. Nothing train related actually. But Philo is also into testing motors and his latest benchwork is all about LEGO train motors.

And because Philo is great at sharing raw datas and smart comments but not at summarizing, I would say :  "PFS rocks".

Kenneth Padgett wrote in to point out this well detailed Open Freight House by Brickshelf user Monteur.  After looking through the Brickshelf gallery, I'm stunned at the amount of detail.  Having worked in a warehouse environment before, it was neat to see everything from pallet jacks to fork lifts, to dolleys, all packed into a single MOC.  The amount and diversity of cargo displayed also really conveys the functionality of a freight building.

I'm not usually a fan of non-LEGO parts, but one of my favorite details is the crates that use BrickArms Universal Clips in the construction.

I also love that there are realistic details such as a medical station and charging station.  The bays are numbered, clocks are on the walls, and lighting hangs from an open beamed ceiling.  As I looked through the photos, I could almost hear the organized chaos that occurs in buildings like this as cargo is moved from one place to another.

On the train side of things, the two freight cars and the end-of-line buffers are also very well done.  This open freight house is a really great example of what can be done with LEGO parts as a modeling material.

Earlier this week, Eurobricks user Xrisl made a great post about running LEGO trains in a prototypical manner using signalling and telegraph messaging.  If you haven't already read it, it's well worth checking out.

The layout described uses 4.5v trains, track and signals.  While the signals are used to control the trains, a separate telegraph system has been set up, allowing operators to send messaging to each other about the status of trains that are coming down the line.  The layout is set up in a manner that allows operators to only see portions of the track, so, just like in real life, they need to rely on the messaging and signals to keep track of traffic.

Prototypical operation of trains is pretty common in the model railroading hobby, but isn't often done in L-gauge.  The post by Xrisl is a wonderful example of what is possible when someone thinks outside of the oval, and looks to the real world for inspiration.

I was recently able to get a hold of the two new LEGO Power Functions train sets, #7938 Passenger Train and #7939 Cargo train.  As it is my son's favorite of the two, I will focus my mini-review of the Cargo Train, specifically, and the new Power Functions train system generally.

Set #7939 Cargo Train is targeted to kids aged 6-12 years old, so my son, who just turned 4 years old, is certainly far too young to have attempted building the set on his own.  But the set includes a locomotive, a tank car, a flat bed with two "smart" cars (similar to #3177 Small Car), an intermodal car, two intermodal containers, an intermodal truck and trailer, a container crane, 4 minifigs and a pretty large chunk of track, which sets the playability of the set just off the charts.

As a relatively recent convert to LEGO trains (my first train set was purchased in 2005 and my first train MOC in 2006) I do not own too many other LEGO train sets.  But I am reminded of one of the sets I do own, which is #4535 LEGO Express Deluxe released in 2002 for $170.00.  The Cargo Train retails for $179.99, so the 9v set does have the advantage of being slightly cheaper as well as having a locomotive I much prefer (but I'm an Steam guy, anyway).  But if I look at it subjectively, outside of the difference in power system, the LEGO Express Deluxe loses out quickly.  The Cargo Train includes a pair of points, as well as the crane and interactive rail cars and the intermodal truck.  Given the choice between the two as a playset, looking only at the sets themselves and not the power system, I would chose the Cargo Train.

The brick-built power "button" built into the cargo train's roof is just brilliant, and my son has no problems turning the train on and off when it comes time to start playing, or put the train up for the night.  The Power indicator light on both the battery on top and the IR receiver behind the Engineer is easily seen, making knowing if the train is on quite simple (though this is not really the case for #7938 Passenger Train).

The new Power Functions train motor is robust and takes all the punishment my 4 year old can dish out, and still has all the power, if not more, of its 9v counterpart.  It easily pulls not only the Cargo Train's full load but the two unpowered cars from the Passenger Train set and a few other cars from my collection.  I've seen reports of people complaining of the PF trains slowing in corners, but I can't say this is the case for me.  The only time I saw these two sets slowing is when they crossed over the new (and in my opinion ultimately faulty) "flex" track, and that was because of the loss of wheel to rail contact.

I love the Power Functions IR remote.  Not only does it give me and my son the freedom of not having to be tethered to a wall outlet to power the train, but its actually easier for my son to use.  The PF remote has more friction built into it compared to the 9v Regulator, which makes moving from one speed setting to the next much more tactile, and it comes with a kill button which stops the train outright, which is handy when these PF trains derail due to excess speed (which they can easily accomplish).

All in all I can highly recommend #7939 Cargo Train, as well as the its counterpart #7938 Passenger Train.  You and your kids (or inner child) will have a blast playing with the sets, and the Cargo Train has enough parts and widgets to easily add raw materials to your collection if that's what you're after.

Much to the contrary of popular opinion, I still hold quite a torch for the older 9v system, and I am intimately aware of what the 9v/PF transition has meant to the AFOL train community.  It took me quite a long time to warm up to the Power Functions system, but I have become an advocate for it because of the many nay-sayers, as I was, who are completely unwilling to even look at the Power Functions train system.  So allow me to address just some of the benefits of the new Power Functions trains that you might not have considered:

Complex track layouts - The 9v system cannot do double-backs, wyes, and other very common rail configurations, as doing so would cause a short circuit. With all plastic track this is a non-issue, and very handy for people, like me, who do not have room for large loop layouts.

Multiple trains - the PF system allows for multiple trains running at multiple speeds on the same track. This cannot be done with 9v without a significant investment in DCC and the time to install it.

Longer trains/Stronger Motors - The new PF train motors are equal to or stronger than the 9v motors. Trains built with standard PF motors (Either the Medium or XL motors) and brick-built motor bogies are head and shoulders above 9v in terms of pulling power/tractive effort. At Brickworld 2009 a train strength competition was held and none of the 9v locomotives using non-LEGO power supplies could even come close to out-pulling the PF locomotive.

Longer/Bigger Layouts - Like it or not, electrified rails is an extremely inefficient method to powering model trains. As the electricity flows through the rails it's current drops, and the trains lose power. The further away from the power regulator, the weaker the signal, the slower the train, and eventually it becomes necessary to boost the current with either an extension cable or a second regulator. The rechargeable battery box, while expensive, offers constant current up until the point it runs out of juice - for the life of the charge your train will continue to run at peak performance.

Reliability/Replaceability - Like it or not, the motors made towards the end of the life of the 9v system were inferior to the motors made towards the beginning. Lubricants, parts, etc. were all skimped in the name of saving money. The older, more longer lasting motors are now very old. So regardless of you having an older or newer 9v motor, they're going to fail sooner than later. Power Functions motors train or otherwise are currently available, and if they fail can be replaced at retail cost. As 9v motors die the amount of usable motors will decrease, and the price of 9v will only go up. 9v rails, too, age. The metal rails will corrode and as they are used will eventually break free of the plastic track base.

Brick-Built Track/Backwards Compatibility - While 9v hold outs weep and whine about the loss of 9v, 4.5v and 12v collectors rejoice, as PF trains are not only backwards compatible with 9v rails but with 4.5v and 12v as well. You can also create realistic details, such as water pits for steam engines to take on water without stopping (as in the US), or pits for working on trains that the train can roll over under its own power. You can also create more realistic road crossings and turntables using brackets.

Other, Misc. - Without the need for electric connectivity, things like drawbridges are much more easily constructed. While it isn't my thing, customized track is much easier as well, since cutting and gluing track requires no re-wiring. The PF control system allows users to walk away from their layouts and still retain control of their trains. If the train is about to derail, or already has, no one needs to run to the other side of the layout to turn off the 9v regulator - the controls can be kept easily in a pocket.

The Power Functions train system isn't perfect, but neither was 9v.  Each have their strengths and weaknesses, and I and many here at RAILBRICKS feel there is a lot of potential in combining the two.  I am looking forward with open eyes and an open mind to what the future brings, and I have every reason to believe it will be great.

PennLUG had the pleasure of display our largest train layout to date recently at BrickFair 2010.  And one of the most awesome sections of our layout had to be the Inter-modal Container Port built by Nathaniel Brill aka. Shuppiluliumas.

There is just so much coolness contained here it deserves a little bit of spotlight. It's the largest single MOC we've ever had on a PennLUG layout, the ship is dead on perfect, the warehouse looks great, the little run down dock at the end of the pier is a sweet touch. And there is the sweet container chassis and chassis storage rack (and they really do store them that way). And two very awesome and very large cranes.

A project as big as this sometimes needs the help of other people. And though Nate was the Idea man and did the majority of the building he did have some help from his fellow PennLUG members. Chris Edwards was the man behind the water with some backup tiling from others. The container and 53ft. trailer designs came from me with other members pitching in to build a few. And the yard trucks were a collaboration between myself and Brian Brister.

Check out the full gallery on Flickr.

And check out all the other great stuff you might have missed at BrickFair in the BrickFair Flickr Group.

Cale

This little steamer by rack911 is too cute not to be mentioned.

I especially like the use of the cylinder part for the boiler, and how the greeblies along the side and top help hide the notches.

The use of door-rail plates for track is another technique that I've always loved, and it works well at this scale.

MagCloud now offers worldwide shipping on single issues. This has been one of the biggest requests from our readers. Read more about it here: http://magcloud.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/celebrate-magclouds-birthday-and-new-features/

To further celebrate their birthday month, MagCloud is also offering 25% off all publications. With worldwide shipping, now is a great time to stock up on issues of RAILBRICKS!

Speaking of issues, we realize that we are way out of schedule. But don't fret, we are working on something!

Ah summer, a fine time to get out, enjoy the fine weather, and run your trains around the garden. See more on Timmy's adventure here.

A word of caution, I've heard the sun's UV rays will break down ABS, though there are ways of working around this problem.

Sava Railways has once again unlocked the company vault, and four new Sava Railways steam engine blueprints can now be purchased at SRW Locomotive Works. These blueprints are of a Double Porter 2-4-0+0-4-2 Garratt, a Ten Wheeler 4-6-0, an Advanced Pacific 4-6-2 with a fully SNOT cheese slope boiler, and a Double Pacific 4-6-2+2-6-4 Garratt. They are available a la carte, or as a single collection at a discount.

As always 10% of all SRW Locomotive Works sales are donated to RAILBRICKS.

Visit SRW Locomotive Works today!

Flickr user Karwick presents a wonderfully detailed Steel Buffer-Stop for use at the end of rail line spurs.

Details like this, in my opinion, are what model railroading is all about.  I love to see powerful locomotives, detailed rolling stock, and well-constructed buildings, but details are really what make layouts come alive for me.

The parts usasage on this build give it a nice thin look, though it still feels massive enough to stop a run-away wagon.  Karwik also presents some heavier alternative buffers in his gallery, which also contains some nice detailed town elements as well.

Matt H. just tipped me off to this fantastic truck design by Space2310. Probably about as small as you can make a powered truck. It's narrowgauge too! For two studs between the rails. But it is not just a truck,

Look at all of that detail in the vingette (and a novel ballest trick too). But that's not all of the innovations, look how the PF battery box is hidden,




Click on the pictures for the respective Flickr page. Space2310 has also included a video showing the train running around a loop.

So Brickworld 2010 has come and gone. This was the fourth year for the event and it was just as awesome as ever. For us train fans there were several highlights.

Scott Wardlaw brought his amazing Union Pacific Challenger and matching train set and took home the Brickworld Best Train Award again this year.

Joel Ellenbecker hosted the Train Racing event again this year. My Pennsy #460 won the steam division for a second year in a row.

RAILBRICK'S own Jeramy Spurgeon and Mark Peterson brought their Central Indiana LEGO Train Club layout again this year. Their fantastic sweeping curves were put to good use during the event as several of us tested our trains on them.

But the best part had to be the chance to hang out with some of the best train builders in North America. These people are what made the event truly special. Thank you to all the train guys who came out to play this year.

My Brickworld Flickr Gallery

Brickworld Flickr Group

Cale

Hi LEGO Fans,

the LEGO Community Development would like to know which of the already existing elements would be needed most urgently in missing colors. Some optimism presumed the number one of the resulting list could end in a "color change" and might be produced in the future.

To participate - the way is as follows:
Suggestions need to be send by email until the 30.06.2010. These suggestions will be sorted and afterwards published for a voting. The final chart will be send to the LCD Team.

For easier handling the suggestions should be aligned to the description of the BrickLink catalogue:
http://www.bricklink.com/catalogTree.asp?itemType=P

Suggestions only will be accepted in a color which is still in production. So e.g."Fabuland brown" is invalid because production of this color was stoped in 1997. An overview about the actual colors could be downloaded here:

http://x-brick.de/ambassador/colorpalette/2010LEGOcolorpalette.pdf

An example:
Part No: 50746
Name: Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3
New color: brick-yellow (tan)

The suggestions should be send to this email address:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

On behalf of Alex MacKenna and Alban Nanty

Original post from Eurobricks.

Hello all,

As I am not sure that everyone reads the change log on the site, I thought I should mention something about the new release here as well as some instructions on how to use the new features.

In addition to several bug fixes, the new features include things that many of you have asked for.

Up until now it has been tough trying to find small GIFs in the part library window at the top right corner. This is because everything was set to scale. As some GIFs were getting bigger, it became increasingly difficult to see the small ones. Now, you have several options to display the GIFs in the library the way you like them. Right click in the part library window and select one or a combination of the following 3 options.

1. Large icons (zooms in or out of icons, same function as the regular right click had previously)
2. Respect proportion (toggles scaling of parts on or off, switching it off will help you to find those small GIFs, but it is handy to have on when looking for the right baseplate)
3. Bubble information (when placing the mouse cursor over the GIF you get a bubble, also known as a "tool tip", with information about the GIF)

Settings for this 3rd feature can be found in the global options menu, under the part library tab. Here you can chose which information you want to see in the bubble.

While you are on that tab, you will notice that the parts folders/categories have been extended, and that you can now place them in any order you like above the part library window. This way you can sort them from left to right, from most used to least used. You can also change the background color of the library window.

On top of that, all the GIFs which have been created since the last release, are available for download. Although this release was more feature driven, I think the library was still extended by 70 or so new GIFs. Thanks to all who contributed! If anyone wants to try making GIFs using LDD let me know. I will be sticking to MLCad for a while. Enjoy!

Download BlueBrick here : http://bluebrick.lswproject.com

The new LEGO Passenger Train set is now available from Shop at Home for customers in the US, priced at $129.99 USD and with 669 elements.

This set makes use of the Power Functions transmitter and receiver. The engine is powered by a 6-AAA battery pack in roughly the same form factor as the more-expensive lithium-ion battery. It will be interesting to see what sort of run-time (or lack thereof) is available from the 6-AAA pack.

Also available is the Train Station, $49.99 USD and 361 pieces. We're still waiting on the Cargo Train and Track Crane / Crossing sets to become available in the US.

Peter Norman, or swoofty over on Flickr, has announced a new contest for the Flickr LEGO Train MOCs group.  The rules are pretty simple - build a purely electric locomotive.  You've got until July 31st so start building!

Of course should I find the time and energy to build and enter, even if it will be my very first electric locomotive MOC, your chances of winning dwindle.  Go on, prove me wrong.

Fana’Briques is both a LUG (LEGO User Group) and an annual event held since 2006 in Rosheim, France. The event is special in that way it is purposely open to foreign people. Rosheim is not far from the german border (less than 15km - 10mi) and the event is supported by «Ritte Ritte Ross», a local organization which promote bilinguism (German and French) in the area.

In 2007, among various layouts (train and city, GBB, Star Wars), visitors discovered
a real life size LEGO Bugatti car side by side with the real one!

In 2008, Fana’Briques with 2200 visitors reach a new level.
It is also the year of the first appearance of BaB’s (another french
local LUG located in Lyon area) bullet train speed contest on homemade
track and custom 150W power supply, project on which RailBricks will dedicate an article in the next
issue.

The 2009 figures - 60 exhibitors (from belgium, germany, switzerland, the netherlands and france),
on 1500m² and 3700 visitors during two days - make the event an international one and a place you have to exhibit or attend.

It is a complete experience, as you can find, on site, a shop, playgrounds for both grownups and youngers, new products presentation by LEGO designer, BrickFilm workshop and, that is certainly the most important, friends to share a snack and dinner at a nice sunny place.

Fana’Briques will be held this year on 26th and 27th of June.

Official website : http://www.fanabriques.fr

I think I’ve built my masterpiece, I doubt I’ll ever be able to top this one. Just over a year ago, after the Emerald Night came out I decided to build a better Pacific. My chosen subject was the Southern Pacific Railroad, 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ type steam locomotive. Several of these locomotives survived into commuter service and were preserved at the twilight of steam in the US. Two were operational in the past decade (2467 and 2472) and a third is under restoration (2479).

I had planned to use the banded drivers from the Emerald Night and finally power a steam engine via the drive wheels. But then I saw Cale’s PF Y at Brickworld and pffft, now I had better propulsion to pursue. I stuck with the SP pacifics though.

Find the rest of the story on Lugnet and EuroBricks.

full gallery

Just a reminder to everyone who will be in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area in July, that the 2010 National Train Show is coming up in just over a month.  This year is the National Model Railroad Association's 75th anniversary, which should make the show and NMRA convention (held at the same time as the National Train Show) well worth the visit.

As in past years, brick-built train fans will be displaying alongside the more traditional modelers.  If you are interested in displaying, head on over to Brick Railroader and join the discussion.

Unfortunately I won't be able to attend myself this year, so I'm counting on RAILBRICKS fans to take lots of photos to share with the rest of us!