History of LEGO's Narrow Gauge Trains and Track - Larry’s Lego
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Diving into all of LEGO's own endeavours in smaller-than-standard "narrow gauge" LEGO trains and track!
Instagram: / larryslego
Twitter: / larryslego
00:00 Intro
00:18 Small-Scale Track
03:38 Small-Scale Trains
08:55 Conclusion
09:42 Outro
Music used:
Loading [Lego City Undercover]
Windmill Isle (Night) [Sonic Unleashed]
Hazy Maze Cave [Super Mario 64]
Track 2 [GT Pro Series]
Volleyball Replay [Nintendo Switch Sports]
Eight-Legged Advance [Splatoon]
Starship Mario 2 [Super Mario Galaxy 2]
Main Theme [Lego Dimensions]
City Hall [Tomodachi Life]
Snowball Park [Super Mario 3D World]
Matrix Fight Theme [Lego City Undercover]
Ice [Super Mario Odyssey]
Mario Kart Channel [Mario Kart Wii]
#lego #legotrains #larryslego
My Music: linktr.ee/larryrouse
Mads & Larry: / madslarry - Zábava
Happy to finally have this video out - Merry Christmas everyone! 🎄 Or whatever you celebrate, have a good one!
Also I'm sorry I forgot to properly talk about the 2022 Christmas train at 8:26!
Thanks Larry enjoy the holidays looking forward to seeing what comes next year merry Christmas -henry from Canada
@@SteamRailPatreonR761VR Thanks Henry! You too
4:15 I HAVE this one!!!
Why exactly is the first question problematic
Genuine question
How do I buy the train track Narrow straight? The 4 stud-wide track 00:6
Lego has more consistent releases with train polybags than actual train sets
“Calling this a rollercoaster is a bit ambitious if you ask me” best pat in my opinion. Idk why but I laughed pretty hard at that
I am actually intensely surprised they didn't capitalize on trains. The crossover in the fandoms of trains and legos seems like a great match.
I'm surprised too! They seem to try, especially with huge-costing sets, but it feels like they kinda miss the potential.
Lego could make bank if they gave us narrow gauge trains
Remember the "My own Train" line of the early 2000s? Now that was peak for trains as it was clearly based off model train companies, and provided affordable trains.
It's a shame I was born too late for that experience.
Apply that concept to narrow gauge trains, it could be affordable train models
Amazing video as always! By the way, the jagged edges on the track at 2:02 are a layover from the very old train sets that had the same notches on their motorised wheels for better traction, although interestingly the new straight track pieces use slightly different moulds to the original ones.
Oh that's fascinating! As my first set with those was "The Mine", I was just forever confused about why they were there until seeing this comment :P
There are no notches on the wheels, they just have a rubber band. But the notches were required for traction even with the rubber bands!
As a side note the "outer" curve pieces have notches, the inner ones doesn't. Since the engines doesn't have a differential they are intended to just slip on the inner track.
Btw, I still think the original track is far superior to anything that has come later. True modularity (I built lots of monorails with mine!) and it would be extremely simple to adapt it to narrow gauge (needs just one more curve piece plus a new switch).
@@henrikgiese6316 I was going to mention the lack of notches on the curves but felt it unnecessary. As for that one more curved piece, I recently found out that some third parties such as everyone's favourite, Trixbrix, make the individual curved rails that would be needed for that sort of system, and I've even had the opportunity to pick some up and they work great.
My train set back in the day was in the 4.5V system with those old notched rails, with the sleepers that have the special rail-studs - i think they originally just used standard plates, but that clearly didn’t work well.
The rubber band system was… not awful? What was really bad about the system was that after converting it to 12V, the contact brushes on the bottom of the 12V motor were just *terrible*. They wore out in like a week, and those motors were *expensive*.
@@JasperJanssen I only have the original tracks - my father liked model trains too and got me a bunch back around '80. Could never figure out why they changed the sleeper connection from regular studs. I've never had any problem getting the track to sit securely. When one of my friends got the newer tracks we figured someone was just being evil making sure we couldn't use the sleepers as any other 2x8 plates.
lego train lore goes crazy
this brings me so many memories, the first 3 in 1 Creator train and the Emerald express were my main inspirations for my first small train MOC. good job covering Lego's small trains!
That's so cool to know! It's like we were bitten by the same bug, haha. Thank you!
I used to have that small emerald express train, I bought it for $10 and that was the only set I had for years. But the amount of different designs I could make out of it was almost infinite. It probably is still one of the best Lego sets I owned and the memories of playing with as a kid cannot be replaced.
Lego has never taken trains seriously since the 80's & 90's, and thats really sad
Agreed! :(
In the future, lego may bring back the narrow gauge 4 stud track, and make more 40518 style trains
We can only hope!
When the Christmas train polybag came out, I purchased multiple and then promptly cannibalized them for parts.
As seen on picture at 6:28 Original Blue tracks had ribs because motors had train wheels with rubber band for extra grip. On curved pieces only the outer one (longer) had ribs, inner was smooth.
You know what I made into track quite shortly after my son got his small scale high speed train - 4510 Plate Special 1 x 8 with Door Rail. You simply use two plates parallel to each other (we normally do the rails on the outside, so that we can elevate it with some bricks) and have a straight track. I did not even know there were extra small tracks for those trains, tbh. I liked your video, showing all those little trains we still have to get (mind you, he has three, plus two high speed trains)! My son already told me he loves that emerald express and the blue express as well. Maybe the easter bunny will hide them for him...
Oh wow! That certainly is a way to do it I'd never considered. That's very sweet, I hope your son likes likes them! :)
0:27 I used to make 4 stud wide track like that. Part: 122c01 with the tyres removed worked fine as did part 7039 again with the tyre removed.
On the temple of doom also, I think it’s worth noting there was a planned remake of the set (including a mine cart line!) but was cancelled due to Disney wanting to distance themselves from that Indiana Jones film unfortunately.
I really appreciated all the information in the video! It was really cool to see all the different trains, and surprisingly the lack of track… it’s funny I have that Batman set but it never really hit me that the track was used there. I assume they would have used it more in other sets.
I never considered buying the creator train, but I think I will now- you’ve converted me!
Also I think I had that first 3-in-1 train, great set!
That is super interesting! It's interesting that we never got more and it seems that LEGO were under no technical limitations that stopped them...
Glad this was interesting to you, and happy to have converted you!
Knowing this brings me great pain. I would have bought multiples to have a mine cart area.
My god I LOVE your Lego Thomas Mini Trains!
Aw thank you! :)
Great video! Although technically you could build 4 wide trains in the 70s, as the 2x4 brick with holes for classic train wheels had holes on both sides! Merry Christmas!
Good point! I didn't mean to imply that it was completely impossible until the small wheels came out, but oops, I guess that's how it ended up. And to you too!
I remember once i had the blue express, but i absolutely spam-bought it over the course of two years, and ended up creating a train that had 2 locomotives, 10 coaches, and a custom caboose at the back.
Goodness me! You alone bought up most of its stock :p
heck, you could probably make a whole layout with that stock.
The small Lego train wheels (the smallest one to be exact) could fit on the rollercoaster track pieces if you use a 2x2 plate wheel holder
As a kid I was addicted to getting 3 of all the 3 in 1 box sets so I could get every engine and coach.
Btw I also got the Emerald Express and the Blue Express!
Fascinating! I didn't know anyone that did do this, the only time I've ever done anything of the sort was getting two of the high-speed train.
My father gave me “the blue express set” when i was in the hospital , somthing that was funny is that he named it timothy!
6:39 Hey, That's a set that I got year's ago, And I still have it.
WE MAKIN IT UNDERCOVER WITH THIS INTRO 🔥🔥🔥
I remember my 2012 mine set. I loved that thing so much I built it over and over and over again. It was one of my inspirations to make my own narrow gauge train
“Possibly named as a nod to the Emerald Night set 5 years earlier”
Now THERES an idea for another small scale train build… Sure it was done already in that 50 years pack, but it’d be cool to see either the Emerald Night with a full consist on narrow gauge, or a different interpretation entirely
Yeah for sure! I think Lego could do several of their own trains in small-scale and do much more with them, a full consist as you say
4:15 oh hey! It's the set that got me into lego
Oh cool!
The 2007 mine cart is my jam
I just got so.e of the polybag trains as a christmas decoration and was looking into track when i found this. Didnt know there was a different track.
Super informative thank you
I'm very glad it was! No problem
I had the emerald express. It was the first Lego set I ever got (when I was 5) and I have been in love with Lego since then. Also this may explain my love for steam engines, I feel it’s so cool to see big metal rods work together in a beautiful harmony to move a train. It’s mesmerising. Also that’s a big feat considering the fact that I’m 14 years old.
When that 2018 Christmas train went on clearance after the holidays, I bought almost a dozen of them. I really need to place a trixbrix order! 😂
Oh my goodness! You have a whole fleet of them :p
4:02 I have this little green train at my home. However I did not know there were some 4-stud wide rails back then.
I really love the small LEGO train sets and I have the small blue train set!
It's such a pain to get official versions of that thin track, but man do I wish they would sell it in bulk. Love your custom trains by the way!
I know the pain. And thank you!
Yeah I'm normally a Lego purist but they're clearly never going to support narrow gauge, so 3rd part get my money.
@@frostedbutts4340 They hardly even support standard gauge! Outside of the starter train sets, they only sell track in inefficient packs. If you don't use the flexy track garbage, it takes 4 packs for a full oval. At that price, you can buy a full loop of _metal_ Lionel track, and the LEGO stuff is plastic!
8:05 That's a perfectly reasonable job for trains according to Sodor logic, alongside gigantic inflated balloons.
Well with the 1960s Lego train system with the blue individual tracks, it was not really possible to build narrow gauge loop, because the curve rail pieces were designed for standard gauge. However, it was easily possible to build narrow gauge trains. There were white 2x4 Lego bricks with a little hole at the center on each side (a total of 4 holes), and the red train wheels from back then had little metal pins factory-mounted to them. Those metal pins had a length of 1 stud and could be inserted to the holes of the 2x4 brick. So depending on which two sides of the 2x4 brick you inserted the wheels, you got a standard gauge or a narrow gauge wheelset.
Thanks for this video. I have recent Christmas train, and also Classic Blue train, that also consist four small train wheels. I am trully sorry, that Lego didn't produced any real 4 stud wide train set, but thanks to external manufacturers we have full offer of narrow gauge tracks, and plenty instructions at rebrickable 😊
No problem! You are right. It is nice to live in a world where we have custom building and third-party parts to fill the gaps LEGO leave behind :)
Great video Larry! Love these history/review videos, only thing is I now have to go and buy 2 of the high speed trains, always wondered what a full train would look like and now I’m obsessed 😂
Thanks QP! Haha, the biggest problem with talking about actual sets is that I have responsibility for making people buy stuff :p Glad it intrigues you!
the old train wheels from the 60 with the metal pins work on narrow gage because the 2x4 that holds then has holes on 4 all sides
I had one of those creator canister sets i believe it was the 31001 or something like that. It was a small car
I think it's about time that lego started making wider trains. 6 studs is way too narrow
That high speed train looks really good
I love mini scale builds.
Probably from playing Lego Dimensions so much.
Awesome vid larry!!!
Thank you Spotlightrheneas!
Hey Larry,
Thanks for the amazing video! I've been in the rebbit hole of narrow gauge track recently, and I stumbled upon the concept of using roller coaster track as rails for narrow gauge track. It's not at all the same, but the concept is there.
I hope to utilize it in the future, and if LEGO does too, it'll be very awesome, but for now, it'll stay quite complicated. hopefully LEGO makes a wide roller coaster turn soon.
- pyro
Thanks Pyro, glad you liked the video! And indeed, roller coaster track is compatible. Interesting what could be done! Good luck with your endeavours in utilising it
I've been collecting LEGOs smaller micro/mini trains and it's one of my fav things I've collected in a long time. I even found som narrow gauge track for a loop!
Nice! Glad you've enjoyed collecting
I once owned the emerald express! Don’t know what happened to it though…
Excellent job on the video! Give us more 4 wide trains and track Lego! 😁
Thanks! And yes I highly second this 😁
yay a video
I remember having the emerald express Lego set a long time ago.
The fact that the Birthday Train is just a recolour of the first Christmas Train.
I hadn't realised that! Maybe I praised it too much...
my god i didnt even realize that until now.
In the 80s I had a train with push in axle wheels. Old wheel blocks were 2x4 and had axle holes on all 4 sides, so you could have train wheels on a 2 block therefore mounting on 4-wide track.
That's fascinating! Interesting that the pieces allowed for it yet they seemed to not utilise it. Thanks for letting me know!
Dwarves mine... one of if not the greatest set I own.
Oh holy shit the memories that just came crashing back. I had that mothership!
3:45 that was my first Lego set! Omg I never thought I’d see it again
Oh wow!
Random thing. you could consider the first 4 wide lego train track to be set 360 the Gravel Quarry/Brick yard from 1975. The crane is suspended on rails. It doesn't use train specific wheels, just regular rubber wheels. but they are on rails!
Man that's a good find! I definitely would have included it in this video had I found that
There is another Lego Narrow Gauge: the monorail. Look up the Futuron and Unitorn monorail bases and the Airport Shuttle set from the 80s/90s.
That's a good point! Forgot to mention those
I remember I had that first small train and I loved it and I'm sad because it feels like nobody remembers it but me
The small scale trains can run on roller coaster tracks
Btw you can make that high-speed train work like crazy good on curves by putting turntables on the bogies and removing some of the undercarriage, it works really good! (I have two sets so I have the complete train and I even found it works on the tight rollercoaster curves!)
Oh wow! I'll have to give that a go :)
I have the emerald express, I didn’t know it came out that early
You’ve completely forgot the Creator Polybag Winter Holiday Train they released in 2022! It’s a great small train they released! A lovely video though, I own the blue train and the green one from 2014!
I didn't completely forget, it appears on-screen at 8:26! But I did forget to talk about it properly, haha. Nice!
Fun fact: as far as I can remember the Lego city mine set was my first ever set to have more than 100 pieces and it was great and unfortunately it's now broken, what a shame 😢
I just remembered I had the Emerald Express set! I think I switched between locomotive and bullet multiple times.
I had the Lego Creator 3 in 1 train from 2008. I must've bought it when it was brand new, because I used it in my locomotive science project in March of 2008
I have two of the "other Christmas train" you mention at 8:26. They came from the City Advent Calendar set in wither 2020 or 2021. I really wish I could get some proper track for them for our winter display.
That's very nice! Whilst it's unofficial, you still can get track for them from Trixbrix if you would like to!
I was worried that you were going to skip the latest Christmas train. I really enjoyed and thought for a sec that I would have to do a shameless self promotion saying that I just reviewed that train last week, but you showed it and now I don't. 😅
This was an awesome Christmas video! That poor Jinty never catching a break with the snow lol
Thank you!
Very nice video.
Glad you liked it!
Dit is echt leuk
I bough the emerald express at the time, now i would like to buy it twice in order to add the cart to the locomotive
Well I learned alot from this video
Glad to hear it!
@@LarrysLego But it is a good thing a company makes 4 stud track
@@LarrysLego Oh I sort of been meaning to ask this, but would there be issues with having a 4 stud locomotive with 8 wheels instead of the usual 6 or 4?
I HAVE THAT LITTLE EMERALD EXPRESS
Rly cool small Lego trains, but I've seen smaller, I saw a miniature gauge tender engine that Britishbricks built 3 years ago
I had the small scale 30543 chrismast train i love the small tracks like they always in my mind when talking obout small scale trains
3:42 this was my first ever lego set. It was so cool until I unfortunately lost all the peice.
I got that LEGO Lone Ranger Silver Mine set and some other sets from the line for greatly reduced price from an overstock redistributor. The movie may have sucked but the playsets were very fun!
I get the appeal of making all these little polybags, they are cute and easy to make..
...but I would really love to see some locomotives that are small AND still run regular 4-wide tracks.
Imagine a stumpy little engine, just big enough for 1 minifigure. Small enough to cost 10 or 15 bucks. How cute would that be!
8:26 I actually bought several of this Christmas mini train polybag, so I could design my own cars!
That's so cool!
I think we need another christmas train
Great video. In this years Friends advent calender there is also a narrow gauge train.
Thank you! And that's true, I forgot to include it
I'm pretty sure the original blue track (after they went grey, and later added the mid-metal strip to power them) had a 4 stud wide set, i still have a box ... somewhere, with a massive ammount of magazines and instructions from the late 80s and early 90s, i have to check those one day. The reason i remember them, is years later we used them for funfair machines (the octopus/spider) and the original seperate pieces had a 'inside' and 'outside' track piece, but we had 1 set where they just wouldnt line up at all and they more were the size of the later metal-powered versions.
Please send me the set number if you do find it!
I honestly want Lego to make small scale train sets now
The creator high-speed train reminds a lot of Tomica's train, hopefully Lego released a sub-theme of them
We can only hope!
4 stud wide trains are some of the most fun to build, I myself even built a miniature Pennsylvania T-1 Due to my liking of them
That's cool!
He used my photo🥹 7:55
I love lego and I never had a lego train but I love the Christmas train and the birthday train
But I never had a 4 stud wide lego train
There is also a 3 in 1 blue brick set which includes a little blue train that runs on 4 stud wide track. Not sure when the set was released, but I still see it in stores.
Oh right? Do you happen to know the set number? I don't recall seeing this one!
The set number is 11006.@@LarrysLego
It's worth noting that the Monkie Kid City of Lanterns has a 4 stud wide train built on a roller coaster base. It's meant to be a monorail skytrail but it probably suits what you want as well.
Of course! I know the roller coaster track functions as 4-wide track, but it doesn't feel the same - odd having full-on trains run on rollercoaster track!
@@LarrysLego it struggles in turns and derails often for me that’s the biggest issue I have
@@Bishounen Ah that's a shame!
Yo Larry! Noice video once again 😎 I wanted to let you know I finally bit the bullet and got your rebrickable instructions for a little Thomas, he hangs out all day with his dad from CoolProps. Have a happy holiday, man!
Aw, why thank you! I'm glad you got him and hope he brings joy to you 😊 You too!
I have the emerald express too
I always wanted to have 2 extra so i could have the full train but i never saw them in stores again (obvious)
I onze had the change to buy the employee only set on a fleemarket, it was fully sealed. Its a shame that I didn't buy it.
i was so surprised to hear Splatoon in the background
I love its weird funky music
i need that tracks for small like yours hehe😮😮😊😊 i like your videos 🎉🎉
5:55 I had that Amtrack Lego Rail set wayyyy back when. Like 2002 or something. Came with *wide* track 🤔
The 2016 set is a narrow-gauge version of that set! The originals of all of them were for 6-wide track.
@@LarrysLego Ahhh 😮 Ty!
9:11 nice video i want möre
i like lego track they cool✌
Unfortunately, the fact that 4w track has not been produced since 2016 likely means that it is no longer able to be produced. LEGO generally destroys molds that have not been used for 5 years since that's the point at which it becomes more expensive to keep storing them than it would be to remake the mold if they decide they want to use it again.
That's a real shame!
3:57 funny how i had all of these packs 😂😂😂
If @LEGO did smaller trains with tracks, I think it would be VERY popular. If they used Minifigure small statues that were printed on for Hogwarts, include tracks, small trains.
You could easily make this where HO scale in Lego is Minifigure scale and N scale is the Minifigure Statue scale.
Plus with how people want to get into train line, but budget concerns. It would allow people to get into the hobby cheaper, as well allow for much grander sized dioramas. This is a untapped market. I could totally see where new trains or cars would be as little as $11-14 each with a new 4 wide battery system that could be made $45-50 for conversions.
That's a good point! They could be in-scale with microfigures. And yeah, it being more cost and space efficient would give it an appeal as far as I reckon! Special small motors would be a dream...