Choooo choooooo!

In the US, we normally refer to those as cars, so does this count as a rare variant of the Wagon Train?

...and circle of track, according to Bricklink.

I got x489 Train Signal Post part in some purchase couple months ago. Such a fun part, especially since you don’t see this type of signals anymore in the real life. Thinking of it I’m not sure I have ever seen one… We have definitely learned about them in school, but at least at this moment I don’t recall ever seeing it. Only modern “traffic light”-type ones

9 sets! 'twas a good year. Borderline 'vintage' I would say.

Totally unrelated but I don't know where to go to ask this: "what will be the next 'motorised' Lego system? I am asking because most Lego 'powered up' motors have already been phased out and/or are sold out. (slightly related as this is an 'electric/powered' train).

@Norikins said:
"...and circle of track, according to Bricklink."

Because the world doesn’t have enough curved track already.

@HOBBES:
Wait, what? I hope some viable third party solutions start popping up soon.

@madforLEGO said:
"Nice, and love those yellow windows/ 'headlight' pieces"

I would love to have some of those; one of these days I should see what they go for on Bricklink.

I have the motor part and the rail wheels for the set. Also got more vintage wheel parts from a second hand lot. Sadly I'm missing black slopes and bricks to build the locomotive. I'm patient thoguh, time will show if I can build a vintage train or not.

The “180” designation is appropriate for something seemingly stuck on half a circle. If we could see it going all the way around I guess we’d have to rename it 360

A locomotive, 5 wagons, an oval of track and a signal, al build from just 228 pieces.....

A train with *five* carriages behind it? Geez, what did Lego fans of the time do to deserve that?

These days, we're lucky if we get three carriages.

@PurpleDave said:
" @Norikins said:
"...and circle of track, according to Bricklink."

Because the world doesn’t have enough curved track already.

@HOBBES :
Wait, what? I hope some viable third party solutions start popping up soon."

Well, I hope you are aware (in fact I do know that you know) that third party solutions do exist (Buwizz) and are 'maybe not orders of magnitude better' but they are certainly much better than the ones with the proper Logo. Purist be damned... (I'm one of them, but sometimes I use non-Lego rope - 1-1.5 meter is just not long enough sometimes!)

I'm just thinking of my 42100 (& other control system sets) which will be orphaned soon and I will have to somehow reprogram this in whatever OS/languages(python) someone will come up with to bypass the poor job Lego does at supporting their environments (basically they don't - the view is: kids will move on, it is not important to maintain those systems). Yet you can run all Lego for the 80s and 90s no problems (I know, I know, nothing new under the sun, we've heard that rant a b/gazillion times). In essence, it just keeps you current in the technology of the time but it makes you question your provider.

@myth said:
"I got x489 Train Signal Post part in some purchase couple months ago. Such a fun part, especially since you don’t see this type of signals anymore in the real life. Thinking of it I’m not sure I have ever seen one… We have definitely learned about them in school, but at least at this moment I don’t recall ever seeing it. Only modern “traffic light”-type ones"

Last week I was on holiday in Cornwall, and they still had semaphore signals there. Quite a contrast with the modern Hitachi express train I was riding in -- like seeing a 60337 running past one of those signals on blue rails.

@Zordboy said:
"A train with *five* carriages behind it? Geez, what did Lego fans of the time do to deserve that?

These days, we're lucky if we get three carriages. "

One of the 'carriages' was the battery box, and of the remaining four three of them were variations on the same tipper design. These days we'd probably describe the one-piece wagon bases as 'juniorized' compared to the designs that came before and after, too. Quite vulnerable to getting the couplings broken off.

@HOBBES:
Wasn’t aware of them, no. But I’m more interested in seeing an alternative to the 9v motor. I’m wrapping up my tenth show of the year today, and some members don’t mind swapping batteries all day long (especially if they like swapping engines all day long), but the problem is these members don’t participate in many shows. The bulk of the events we do, it’s just a handful of us, most of whom prefer the fire-and-forget format. I’m fine throwing the Shellraiser on and letting it run all day, but there’s no room for a battery inside.

From the thumbnail I thought the last car had some kind of rotating Lego logo cube on top.

@Andrusi said:
"From the thumbnail I thought the last car had some kind of rotating Lego logo cube on top."

Don't let Lego hear it! That might just become the next GWP ;-)

If you look at the other sets released that year 171 was still in the 1980 catalogue, I remember having that set and in 1981 when 12V came to UK putting 12V motor into 171

@Brickalili said:
"The “180” designation is appropriate for something seemingly stuck on half a circle. If we could see it going all the way around I guess we’d have to rename it 360"

If you start making math jokes, this thread might go off on a tangent...

@TheOtherMike said:
" @Brickalili said:
"The “180” designation is appropriate for something seemingly stuck on half a circle. If we could see it going all the way around I guess we’d have to rename it 360"

If you start making math jokes, this thread might go off on a tangent..."

It’s alright, I’m sure we’ll arc back to the normal topics

@Brickalili said:
"The “180” designation is appropriate for something seemingly stuck on half a circle. If we could see it going all the way around I guess we’d have to rename it 360"

They likely already figured out kids would want another set to make it complete. Like they've done since the Horizon Express.

I thought I'd seen every train produced by now. Surprised to see this one!