Random set of the day: Manual Level Crossing
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 4532 Manual Level Crossing, released during 1996. It's one of 4 Trains sets produced that year. It contains 135 pieces and 1 minifig, and its retail price was US$24.
It's owned by 1,621 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $150.00, or eBay.
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39 comments on this article
What? You have to manually do it? Cool set though.
What a dangerous job, manually lifting the level crossing. You could get hit by a car, or doze off and next minute a car horn is blaring at you.
You call that level? There's a big bump right there!
@Maxbricks14 said:
"What? You have to manually do it!"
Apparently. The train safety worker sees the train coming from his lookout station then drops down to the earth and runs to the barriers to drop both before the train arrives.
First world transportation safety and automation have progressed mightily in the past 28 years, thankfully.
@MCLegoboy said:
"You call that level? There's a big bump right there!"
It's levei laterally, not longitudinally
There is another set also called manual level crossing, 4539, which too was chosen for RSotD.
Isn't it odd that despite having newer road plates by that time (correct me if I'm wrong), they still used the 1980s road plate. A last hurrah from the stockpile in the warehouse I guess.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"There is another set also called manual level crossing, 4539, which too was chosen for RSotD."
At least the operator had a ladder.
Maybe the minifigure's name is Manual (sic). He's here to do the work Danes don't want to do.
No one will get this reference, but I can't see a level-barrier like that anymore without thinking about the Yogscast TTT episode where Zoey became the guard for Area 3.
@legodachi said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
"What? You have to manually do it!"
Apparently. The train safety worker sees the train coming from his lookout station then drops down to the earth and runs to the barriers to drop both before the train arrives.
First world transportation safety and automation have progressed mightily in the past 28 years, thankfully. "
And because of poor planning, he has to cross a road to reach one, and the tracks to reach the other.
Man, back in the day, I wanted this or 4539 so badly, yet I never saw either of them in stores and my LEGO Trains collection was garbage in the 1990s anyway.
One of the many trains set I hunted down out of my dark ages. Nice little set, implying that its a small town crossing that requires manual labor for the crossing.
Now, LEGO would put those godawful brickbuilt road parts in and charge 60-80 dollars for it.
So is it just friction holding the barriers up or is there some mechanism I haven’t spotted?
@minishark1000 said:
"Isn't it odd that despite having newer road plates by that time (correct me if I'm wrong), they still used the 1980s road plate. A last hurrah from the stockpile in the warehouse I guess."
First generation road plates were released in 1978: https://brickset.com/sets/302-1/Road-Plates-Straight
So, these were the road plates of the time, released in 1986: https://brickset.com/sets/6312-1/Road-Plates-Straight
Third generation was around the corner, released in 1997, with the same print, but in green: https://brickset.com/sets/6322-1/Road-Plates-Straight
Look at the consistency in numbering of the sets. :) First generation road plates didn't have a leading 6 in the set number. But it was used for the junction plates (6304), released two years later, in 1980.
@minishark1000 said:
"Isn't it odd that despite having newer road plates by that time (correct me if I'm wrong), they still used the 1980s road plate. A last hurrah from the stockpile in the warehouse I guess."
You can be forgiven for being confused. Lego has produced a astonishing number of incompatible road plates over the years.
@rick77 has the start of a list, but there is more. Lots more:
• 1978: gray, 9-stud shoulders, crosswalks on straight segments; 302
• 1983: gray, 9-stud shoulders, no crosswalks on straight segments; also 302 (Brickset does not differentiate this variant, but Bricklink does)
• 1986: gray, 7-stud shoulders, with bike lanes; 6312
• 1997: green with light gray pavement, 8-stud shoulders, with narrow bike lanes; 6322. BUT there were also variants with 7-stud shoulders and the same pavement width.
• 2002: green with dark gray pavement, 6-stud shoulders, dashed yellow side lines; 4110
• 2003: gray, 8-stud shoulders and no bike lanes; found exclusively in 10041
• 2005: dark bley, 6-stud shoulders, dashed white side lines; 7280
• 2021: dark bley, 0-stud shoulders and 16-stud pavement; 60304
There was also:
• 1981: gray, 9-stud shoulder, no printing; found exclusively in Dacta set K1062
• 2000: dark gray, 16-stud single-brick road pieces; found exclusively in 6600
Lego has also made airport runway plates, which are frequently confused for roads:
• 1985: green, 9-stud shoulders; 5181
• 1990: green, 7-stud shoulders and 16-stud pavement; 5159
• 1994: green, 7-stud shoulders and 18-stud pavement; found exclusively in 6597
• 2004: green, 6-stud shoulders; found exclusively in 10159
The thing that got me puzzled isn't the crossing, but more so that structure....is it supposed to be a train station with the shortest platform ever, right at the crossing? Is it a fancy bus station, still at a rather awkward place? Or is it just a place pedestrians can sit for a moment, pretected from the elements, while waiting for the train to pass?
Back when those pin connectors were still beautiful, lacking the ugly gaps they have today...
I never quite knew what to do with this one, and I think, this set typifies the struggle that Lego had with it's train system, in the late 90s.
It's too small to be a train station. Yes, there's a roof and a little phone booth and some seats, but the platform is 8 studs long. Meanwhile, it's far too large to just be a level crossing.
Visually, it's a nice building. But I just don't quite know what it is. And I don't think Lego really knew, either.
In my head, I always kind of imagined that this was one of those bus-to-train connection points, and there might've been a larger building off-camera? But that brings to mind a quaint steam-railway, while the building is clearly a very modern structure.
All these years later, and I'm still kind of baffled.
I believe we still have a few of these manual level crossings here in the UK. Tom Scott did a video about them once.
Love it. It looks so modern but still has that classic 90s charm that started to warp a bit in the coming years. 1996 is a good year for Town. Does it make 100% sense? Does it have to, being a toy of a manuel crossing, not a scale replica... I think this set does more than enough for what it does. Personally I imagine the red phone being how the operator knows in advance to lower the gates, and the tower above is an office. Stairs are off-screen, like usual in Town builds.
It took me a moment to realise how that shelter roof was done. I tend to reserve those hinged parts for vehicles or space builds. It's nice to still be surprised by a part usage from way back when
Cool set, but it looks like the photograph is a test shot instead of finished box art. Didn't they have time to create a cool background? It looks so lacking, just compare to 4539 from just five years prior.
I do enjoy the early 90s Town stuff: simple while still having a good amount of structural complexity. I’m sad I just missed the boat on this before the theme swung too far in the wrong direction.
@Zordboy said:
"I never quite knew what to do with this one, and I think, this set typifies the struggle that Lego had with it's train system, in the late 90s.
It's too small to be a train station. Yes, there's a roof and a little phone booth and some seats, but the platform is 8 studs long. Meanwhile, it's far too large to just be a level crossing.
Visually, it's a nice building. But I just don't quite know what it is. And I don't think Lego really knew, either.
In my head, I always kind of imagined that this was one of those bus-to-train connection points, and there might've been a larger building off-camera? But that brings to mind a quaint steam-railway, while the building is clearly a very modern structure.
All these years later, and I'm still kind of baffled."
Such small train stops are common in Europe, and they were rudimentary in construction back in the 80s, at least in my country. This is for commuter trains that take people from the suburbs to the city. So this would work next to cottage homes and more country side builds imo. But it is not called a station, and the way it is oriented towards the tracks seems like this more of a reststop for railworkers, rather than passengers. Maybe it's a technical building? I could go on, but I'm sure 10 yo me would have a ton more imagination about this.
@Ridgeheart said:
"So named after the famous engineer, Sir Manuel Level-Crossing."
Is he the one who said, “Eh, it’s too complicated to automate. Just stick a handle on the end. I’m off to lunch!”
I have 10128, the version from 2003 (World City), which has the a horrendous "1990's design" trans curved piece tacked on to the roof (which would also appear on the World City Train Station set), but otherwise quite similar but not nearly as cute 4532.
I think this was my first train set. I think I got this first, then 4556, and finally 4561.
I like the simple nature of older sets. It’s so funny to see people stuck on “manual” side of the operation. I’m glad that I’m old enough to appreciate the beauty of past sets.
I had this as a kid: 146 and as you can see part 813 is in one piece.
@AllenSmith said:
" @minishark1000 said:
"Isn't it odd that despite having newer road plates by that time (correct me if I'm wrong), they still used the 1980s road plate. A last hurrah from the stockpile in the warehouse I guess."
You can be forgiven for being confused. Lego has produced a astonishing number of incompatible road plates over the years.
@rick77 has the start of a list, but there is more. Lots more:
• 1978: gray, 9-stud shoulders, crosswalks on straight segments; 302
• 1983: gray, 9-stud shoulders, no crosswalks on straight segments; also 302 (Brickset does not differentiate this variant, but Bricklink does)
• 1986: gray, 7-stud shoulders, with bike lanes; 6312
• 1997: green with light gray pavement, 8-stud shoulders, with narrow bike lanes; 6322. BUT there were also variants with 7-stud shoulders and the same pavement width.
• 2002: green with dark gray pavement, 6-stud shoulders, dashed yellow side lines; 4110
• 2003: gray, 8-stud shoulders and no bike lanes; found exclusively in 10041
• 2005: dark bley, 6-stud shoulders, dashed white side lines; 7280
• 2021: dark bley, 0-stud shoulders and 16-stud pavement; 60304
There was also:
• 1981: gray, 9-stud shoulder, no printing; found exclusively in Dacta set K1062
• 2000: dark gray, 16-stud single-brick road pieces; found exclusively in 6600
Lego has also made airport runway plates, which are frequently confused for roads:
• 1985: green, 9-stud shoulders; 5181
• 1990: green, 7-stud shoulders and 16-stud pavement; 5159
• 1994: green, 7-stud shoulders and 18-stud pavement; found exclusively in 6597
• 2004: green, 6-stud shoulders; found exclusively in 10159
"
and then there were two generations of "space landing plates"- the second in black!- though they never featured straights.
And then you've got lots of different "special" plates too
I mean crossing safety technology took a step back in the 9V era @legodachi , as in 12V we had a crossing ( 7866 ) with fully powered barriers and warning lights.
@ToysFromTheAttic said:
"Cool set, but it looks like the photograph is a test shot instead of finished box art. Didn't they have time to create a cool background? It looks so lacking, just compare to 4539 from just five years prior. "
Why would they need a train crossing right next to a black hole? Seems poor planning.
@yellowcastle said:
" @ToysFromTheAttic said:
"Cool set, but it looks like the photograph is a test shot instead of finished box art. Didn't they have time to create a cool background? It looks so lacking, just compare to 4539 from just five years prior. "
Why would they need a train crossing right next to a black hole? Seems poor planning.
"
That's not a black hole. It's a close-up of a British Rail doughnut...
...and in the winter he can decorate his very own Christmas tree.
@MeisterDad said:
"...and in the winter he can decorate his very own Christmas tree."
And then he can sit out in the cold and snow (since there’s no way to get into that giant fishbowl), alone (because even if there’s some else there, they’d have to sit on the other side of the pillar) and stare across the road at his puny little Christmas tree, wondering where his life went wrong.
@Al_S and weirdness like in 3671
Nearly every train crossing was automated by the 90s, but this one has a control tower larger than what Lego put in some airports. It also integrates a bus stop, another very rare sight in Lego towns.
@minishark1000 said:
"Isn't it odd that despite having newer road plates by that time (correct me if I'm wrong), they still used the 1980s road plate. A last hurrah from the stockpile in the warehouse I guess."
That is not true. By 1996, they still used the grey 7-stud roadplates. It was 1997 they introduced new roadplates (the green 8-stud plates).
@biffuz said:
"Nearly every train crossing was automated by the 90s, but this one has a control tower larger than what Lego put in some airports. It also integrates a bus stop, another very rare sight in Lego towns."
Even rarer, an actual bus. By 1996, the poor old vehicle from 379 was looking at versus for retirement.