Classic LEGO sets: blue track trains
Posted by Huw,
In this article, David Graham writes about 'blue track' trains to conclude his articles on classic LEGO trains.
The 'blue track' train era ran from 1966 to 1979. There were a few earlier trains but I'm only including trains that ran on track. They ran on blue track with white sleepers. Everybody now asks why blue? Back then LEGO bricks were only available in a few colours and building in the correct colour was not a priority. The assembled track was very flimsy, it took time to set up and put away. The trains changed dramatically during this era, so I am going to mainly select sets that highlight those changes.
113 Motorised Train Set
This is one of the first LEGO trains. The design is so simple; the blue battery box is placed on top of the blue 4.5V motor. A unique hook coupling system was used. Printed bricks were included - there were even different printed bricks for the UK with Royal Mail, London, Manchester & Glasgow! The box shows the train going up an incline but those bricks were not included, but it does show what the motor is capable of. The set included a small blue steam train and a passenger and mail coach.
118 Electric train
This must be the most unbelievable and the most collectable LEGO train - a train controlled by a whistle! It is hard to believe that this technology was available in 1968. A short whistle stops and starts the train, a long whistle makes it go backwards. As well as the black steam loco and battery tender, a LEGO whistle, receiver and microphone are included in the set. These items are extremely rare. The couplings are now magnetic - the opposite poles are coloured blue and red.
119 Super Train set
There are many train sets to choose from, but I have selected this set as it's 'different'. It is a 'wild west' train set and includes a black steam loco with the battery box as the tender and two passenger coaches. There was also a siding, level crossing, start/stop signal and reversing switch.
343 Train Ferry
This is a unique train item. It is a very simple design with a hinged bow and stern with a single track running through the ferry. It could hold two carriages. The grey baseplate was unique to this set.
This time I haven't included a section for 'track side buildings' but I would single out 149 Fuel Refinery as it stands out from the normal station, level crossing and container crane models.
720 Train with 12v motor
It was only three years after the first train that in 1969 the first 12V train set was released. The locomotive was large with a 2-4-2 wheel arrangement and there were three goods wagons. The electricity was picked up from the central conducting rails - the only main difference from the later system was that the rails and the transformer were blue! The 12V sets were only available in mainland Europe.
182 Train set with motor
In 1975 this 4.5V set was released - it was available until the end of the era. It is not too difficult to find second hand. Here the trains are becoming more realistic - there is a large 2-4-2 steam locomotive and battery tender with two passenger coaches with realistic windows and a car transporter. The wagon bases are now one part with integral wheels, buffers and couplings.
164 Passenger coach
This set wouldn't be too out of place on a layout with the current range of trains. Three different styles of coach are shown on the box and instructions, it even includes two 'new' style minifigures. The red doors were 1 x 3 x 4 and stickers were used to represent the windows. The stickers contain logos for a variety of European train operating companies.
1 like
19 comments on this article
Hey, nice article! And I'm the first to comment!
I would totally love a whistle-controlled train. These trains are just a tad too classic for my tastes, though.
Omg, I never had a chance to see these set or play with them.. These are treasures..
That is a real neat look back at the first LEGO trains. Great Article!!!
I remember having the train and battery box but not much other than that. I rarely had batteries for it as well.
Something like that 164 Passenger coach would make a nice Creator 3-in-1 set. I know Lego doesn't produce separate rolling stock, but that could be a way to do it. AT worst maybe make only one of the 3 models a train car or something...
I had 'blue track trains' ...only had two straight sections so the track layout was typically a big oval or a big circle - hours of fun watching the thing go round and round and round ...and yes, very flimsy track, especially on 1970's 'deep' carpet :-D
So thats where the magnet pieces I have in an old box of LEGO I was given as a kid came from! Wondered that for nearly 25 years.
I have a number of these Classic LEGO Trains in my extended collection as well: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wiredforsound23/sets/72157646170549581/
Never knew of that whistle control set. Very neat.
Wonderful article - I am slowly moving away from the farce that is 1/64 diecast back into Lego and this type of historical article is really helping! Great history lesson.
This is what I love about these classic Lego articles - they usually have at least 5 sets I've never heard or seen of in my life, despite having looked at nearly every Lego catalogue for the last 35 years.
Keep up the great work!
I'm curious to know when did LEGO introduce points/switches and proper flanged wheels?
I'm really enjoying these nostalgic journeys into classic Lego themes.
My best friend at primary school had a extensive train system when my only Lego was a small digger 614. We used to set up the blue train tracks with white sleepers and build the different train layouts.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
set 171 is my favourite set of all time
Very nicely made overview. One got really idea about the changes and development in this theme. I must admit I`ve never payd attention to the set 118. No wonder it is hard to find since it has such unique features. Myself, I got the set 182 and that is the only set I have from the blue era.
I was not that lucky to have any of these, in 1966 I got only one huge (!) package of white and red 2x4 bricks, but I remember the leaflet (included with the brick package?) of some train, probably that was 113 set, my God, I was dreaming about it :) m.
By Pizzareno in United Kingdom, 04 Aug 2014 23:17
I'm curious to know when did LEGO introduce points/switches and proper flanged wheels?
LEGO introduced flanged wheels in 1966 & points/switches in 1967 - one year later in the UK.
I have one of those.. i'm not sure which one, but it must've come with a battery box i think. Somewhere in the dusty box that belonged to my dad lie some ancient blue tracks and white plates, and some white-red train chassis and wheels. I also have some blue printed bricks that have German place names on them, such as "Hamburg" which i'm sure are from a train set. I'm not sure what set they could be from. Any help?
WoutStopmotion - Hamburg was in set 113, London, Manchester & Glasgow were in UK sets, Basel, Hamburg & Geneva were available elsewhere.