LEGO Winter Village 10361 Holiday Express Train official images!

The seasonal theme is sadly healthier than the train theme.

I think that darn tree price helps collectors cave on other sets, looking comparatively great in value?!

Not often these days that my gut reaction price was matched by LEGO. I’m thinking it could have benefited from a building. It’s okay I guess but doesn’t wow me like most previous WV sets.

I already have 10254 and 10259, so I am unsure if I'll get this one, but I do like Lego trains and don't have many, especially ones that you can motorize. If this one is able to be used with Powered Up then maybe I'll get it.

I love trains, but the two that have been released this year I'm just not sure about. I always wish for more carriages and zero accessories, such as tracks, stations, scenery, because they inflated the price and I use the old volt track anyway, do it's just a waste.

I'm not sure about the polar bear either.

@Ottozone said:
"No straight tracks yet they make them appear straight in a couple of photos. Never change, LEGO!"

It's actually a winding track not quite straight... it just used curved parts

18+, yet for all the family to do.

Someone had a bit of red paint left after they'd painted all the roundabouts!

Hmm, I don’t like this color scheme for a winter village train and the proportions look worse than the previous iteration, but at least the relative pricing has remained similar.

@Norikins said:
"Every time they make a new train it's worse. 10173 easily is still the best."

I've just rebuilt my 10173 for Powered Up, so it won't be the end of the world if I don't grab this one on launch day.

I'm glad I don't collect winter village sets . They used to be 100€ for 1500 pieces, but now it's 120€ for 1000 pieces. I thought they included the motor, but no, I guess it's the price of the 3D printed train (and the train tracks, but do they add 50€ all alone ?)

@dodrian said:
"Cute, and I'm a fan of holiday trains, but I do think it looks a little oddly proportioned."

It's the lack of big drivers that ruins the proportions. Makes it easier to motorize the model though.

For comparison look at Rapido UK's "Loch class" announced today as well. Same general engine type (4-4-0) but it has nice proper high stepping drivers like it really should, and looks better for it. For a more American style example, the Bachmann 4-4-0 showcases that as well.

@raven_za said:
"The double bogies just look wrong on a steam locomotive. If they wanted to go with this, they should have gone with diesel or electric."

Not the first time Lego have done that - see 3741. There were real-life steam locomotives with powered bogies - Fairlies are reasonably photogenic, Leaders rather less so, for instance.

Put it on the same track as 60470.

I am not impressed at all. The buildings are much better. Another year of waiting, I guess.

People really god-damn weird about the 3D printed thing up in here. It's as bad as AI, apparently???

I love trains. That being said, We've had more trains, tram included, than we do houses for people to stay in. Isn't this one the fourth including the tram? How about a nice decorated hotel or something?

109 for this is not bad at all! I'm getting this day one. I actually even like the 3D element! The train has moving parts which a micro build does not get you ?????

Been skipping some WW due to lack of space to display, but I guess another train would fit on the tracks, so might need to pick it up. Also liking the colors

@Veotax said:
"People really god-damn weird about the 3D printed thing up in here. It's as bad as AI, apparently???"

Gotta complain about something I guess.

For a bit of level headedness, SLSDUCK-1 came out in 2022 and at the time there was no outcry.

The duck isn't the only previous 3D printed lego piece; some of us that pre-ordered "The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks" received an official prototype part, a pogo stick with integral spring. I'm not sure of that was SLS or if it was from their HSS trial.

regarding the train itself, my gripe with it is that the locomotive has bogies. Fine for a kids set, but for an 18+ set aimed at adults? Nah. It's not weird enough looking to be a Shay or other rarity among steam trains, it just ends up looking like a fake steam, all because they wanted to be able to put a power bogie under the cab (sold separately). Ends up looking a bit rubbish

120€ and no Electronics xD
Lego, just give up.

Maybe you can eat that 3D printed train?

@Al_S said:
"The duck isn't the only previous 3D printed lego piece; some of us that pre-ordered "The Secret Life of LEGO® Bricks" received an official prototype part, a pogo stick with integral spring. I'm not sure of that was SLS or if it was from their HSS trial."

The 2019 Inside Tour set, 4000034 also had a 3D printed element. We were shown prototype 3D printed elements for 4000025 in 2018

3D printed minifig-scale Droideka next?

I think the 3D-printed part should've just been the chassis of the toy train. Then it could've looked like Lego and had the main functionality of the 3D-printed part.

Great news. Will be getting it and converting it to the old 9v train system with a spare 9v bogie for my annual christmas layout.

This is just meh

Don't need another Holiday Train, need more buildings for the holiday town, there's already a much better train to go around it

this train is just kind of cheesy looking

I don't understand the point of the 3D part. That could have been brick built, which is the point of LEGO.... to build

So I’m guessing the tiny train has moving wheels and coupling rods, and the smoke rocks back and forth? That’s pretty clever despite it being a bit out of place…

I think Lego should have made a fantasy train (maybe a North Pole train which Santa load his sled, reindeers and gifts?), like the last year "Post Office" was the fantasy remake of older "Post Office"... so, next year I hope to have a fantasy train station (maybe the North Pole Station) and not another "common" WV train station!

3D-Printing for Lego - whatever next? Vases? :-)

Well I like it, and will get it as soon as there's a nice festive GWP available. I do think the Winter Village theme may have run out of steam though, similar to the Fairground Collection.

Think it is next year? Can't wait till they open a factory in the U.S. Tarriffs are kiling me, should be $100

Well at least the set can be recycled to make a sequel to 10219 (Maersk Train).
Yes, the blue might be a little off but it's close.

Not even a straight railway!!

Does the green carrot as a tree count as NPU if it wasn’t previously available in green?

Having another train for the Winter Village line is nice, as trains are Christmas staples for so many people. However for me, the shaping looks similar to the one released in 2016 and the blue color doesn't really seem christmasy to me. The 3-d printed mini train is also strange, looks out of place.

«[...] with a 16-piece circular track that can be set up [...] or around a holiday tree.»

I see what you did there, LEGO.

The moving parts are nice, needed to see the video since I only scanned the text.

A train... again with the same flaws of its predecessor like the tiny cars and micro station ^^
The 3D printed piece is ugly.
So, i'm a long time Winter Village sets collector, just missed the first Toy Shop, but i'll skip this one.

I already have 10254 motorised and running in my village... this year I wont be adding a new element to my christmas town...

@SDlgo9 said:
" @raven_za said:
"The double bogies just look wrong on a steam locomotive. If they wanted to go with this, they should have gone with diesel or electric."

Not the first time Lego have done that - see 3741. There were real-life steam locomotives with powered bogies - Fairlies are reasonably photogenic, Leaders rather less so, for instance. "

At least 3741 looks like an actually good steam loco....... not whatever LEGO put here.

I was looking forward to it, but I find the locomotive rather incoherent, and overall just too simplistic. The printed train is cool. Wonder if that will make it to the PaB section.

I don't like the idea of 3D printed models and Lego, but I assume their market research showed young kids are fans of that.

@Vladtheb said:
"Dang, Lego’s going wild on trains this year. I usually buy every train release, but I think I’m going to have to skip some of these this year because my wallet just can’t keep up! Nice set, although the 3D-printed piece looks a bit out of system to me."

what other trains?

...Huh.

On the one hand:
I like the color scheme, the giant bear and bow-wrapped caboose are fun (the latter is by far my favorite part), and I guess it has been nine years since the last winter holiday train.

On the other hand, the 3D printed toy train is very gimmicky*, the bear should ABSOLUTELY have had those 1x1 round tiles with printed eyes instead of just empty voids (seriously, it would have been a vast improvement for only two parts), and the locomotive is just plain atrocious no matter how you look at it.

*I'm honestly not entirely against the 3D printed part on a conceptual level - and it is a cute little toy train, to be fair - but it kind of defeats the purpose of building the even more cute little toy excavator, ship, and helicopter, and I don't like the precedent it's setting where small accessory builds are replaced by prefab parts. They can call it Icons all they want, but this is still a Creator Expert subtheme at heart, and 3D-printed prefabs are pretty much the complete antithesis of that.

I'll stick with 10254 , thanks...

@DaBigE said:
[[[[LEGO Icons]]
No, there is nothing iconic about this set whatsoever. From the photos, this thing reeks of cost-cutting corners being taken, yet they still found a way to increase the price. So many things look out of proportion with itself. I'm so glad I got 10254 when I did.

I haven't crunched the numbers, but it seems like the number of holiday themed sets are on the increase, but the overall quality of the sets has plateaued or are regressing. QUALITY over quantity, please.]]

734 pieces ($100) compared to 956($130). Also tarriffs we got pay for(maybe?).
Also have not figured difference between euro and pound, but compared 10254 seems right.

@Imperial95 said:
" @SDlgo9 said:
" @raven_za said:
"The double bogies just look wrong on a steam locomotive. If they wanted to go with this, they should have gone with diesel or electric."

Not the first time Lego have done that - see 3741. There were real-life steam locomotives with powered bogies - Fairlies are reasonably photogenic, Leaders rather less so, for instance. "

At least 3741 looks like an actually good steam loco....... not whatever LEGO put here. "

True, the side-on picture of this one with the Powered Up motor against the white background looks distinctly spindly.

10254 looked better in a Winter Village. This one looks like it should be better under a Christmas tree. Lack of motor no problem. Can borrow from another set for the festive season!

@Wallace_Brick_Designs said:
"Is that tiny train made out of ABS? What is it?"

Hard to say from just the photos. ABS is certainly possible, but not the only option. The real issue isn’t the material, but the fact that it’s not formed under thousands of PSI, so long-term I fear these may not hold up well. I got the pogo stick, and tested it for action, but I certainly wouldn’t try to play with it.

@8BrickMario said:
"EDIT: So I see the train wheels roll and the smokestack pin the plume fits in goes in a circle when it rolls...so it's a Kinder Surprise toy? How is that on-mission for LEGO?"

The pogo stick, the duck, and now this train all have action features that simply aren’t possible with a brickbuilt solution. The drafting table armature was just something they couldn’t build without it looking unrecognizable. I don’t know why they decided 3D printing elements was a great idea, but they’ve been prototyping that way since at least 2002:

https://www.maskofdestiny.com/news/toys-of-the-jedi

Like someone in Animatics wanting to see some of their actual work make it into a home video release, maybe the people who design 3D prints in-house wanted to get something into a set for once. If it was just a tiny train, I’d say it would have been easier to just build one, but I didn’t realize it had function. If you hate it, it’s one part. Throw it in a drawer, and it’ll be worth a lot of money someday. If you like it, treat it gently, because it’s probably not as sturdy as you’d expect.

@MLF:
Consider how many of these trains they’ll have to crank out. 3D prints take time.

i was disappointed when they only announced the gingerbread house so it was exciting to see a new train for the winter village but I like the previous train for the village more. for 130 is it powered up or is that sold separately?? I think I'll wait for a sale and once i get it i'll just add the cars to my old train and omit the new engine

As an avid 3D printing enthusiast, I'm not sure I want a set where my first thought is "could I print that better?" and can answer "probably" hot off the heels of LEGO's quality cuts (yes, Death Star bad, you may cope when ready).

Can't wait for the STL to leak and to try my own hand at it, and probably get comparable results for less dollars.

An official 3D printed element?

@sebitsena said:
"A train... again with the same flaws of its predecessor like the tiny cars and micro station ^^
The 3D printed piece is ugly.
So, i'm a long time Winter Village sets collector, just missed the first Toy Shop, but i'll skip this one."

having 2 almost identical toy shops, 2 post offices, and 2 (maybe even 3) trains and a trolley would be a bit redundant anyway.

@missedoutagain said:
[[ @DaBigE said:
[[LEGO Icons]]
No, there is nothing iconic about this set whatsoever. From the photos, this thing reeks of cost-cutting corners being taken, yet they still found a way to increase the price. So many things look out of proportion with itself. I'm so glad I got 10254 when I did.

I haven't crunched the numbers, but it seems like the number of holiday themed sets are on the increase, but the overall quality of the sets has plateaued or are regressing. QUALITY over quantity, please.]]

734 pieces ($100) compared to 956($130). Also tarriffs we got pay for(maybe?).
Also have not figured difference between euro and pound, but compared 10254 seems right.]]

I never mentioned PPP on purpose. It's HOW the parts are used that matters, and IMOP, this set looks cheaply designed regardless of the piece count. The 3D printed part doesn't help Lego's case in my mind.

This feels too comical or something

This is a pass for me. Very dissapointing train. The colours are wrong, the look is wrong.
And a printed piece? Lego is about building stuff even if it's very small.

@2GodBDGlory said:
"I have to say, I'm more interested than disappointed by the 3D printed part. It seems like a lot of people are calling it a cost-saving measure, but that's only true at relatively small volumes, and I'd expect the goal here was to create a mechanism that couldn't be injection molded."

Based on my pogo stick, and @Huw ’s duck, this train is absolutely going to be printed in one unit, with internal mechanical function in a way that no assembly of bricks that size can replicate.

"I'm curious if high-quality 3D printing could be a good option for Lego for, say, exclusive minifigure helmets or something that need to appear in one set, once, where the higher per-unit cost of 3D printing would be covered by not having the huge up-front costs of making a mold."

Doubt it. For one thing, if they only need a small number of shots, the cost of the mold can be significantly reduced by making a less durable mold. It won’t last as long, but you wouldn’t be planning for it to do so. And even from the guys in my LUG who play around with this sort of thing, I have yet to see a finished piece that doesn’t look 3D printed. Frequently they’re going to require a lot of cleanup work if you want them to look closer to something that’s injection molded. Resin casting would produce more polished results, but neither resin casting nor 3D printing is going to achieve the level of durability as an injection molded part.

"To that end, though, I feel like this train isn't a great example. The mechanism feels a little gimmicky…"

I think that’s kinda the point, yes? I mean, scientists have successfully 3D printed a miniature human heart with actual human cells, but printing a complex biomechanical system like a human organ does have a practical purpose. And the race for miniaturization has made use of the ability to print pre-assembled mechanisms, where trading off durability for size is acceptable. But this is a toy. The main purpose of printing a preassembled mechanism is to show off the fact that you can print a preassembled mechanism.

@Alemas said:
" @The_Boba_Brick said:
" @Alemas said:
" @The_Boba_Brick said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @The_Boba_Brick said:
"3D-printed parts are completely antithetical to the entire point of LEGO. What are they thinking? "

Short answer: They aren't thinking.

Long answer: They aren't thinking, but Lego doesn't care - they are No 1 toy manufacturer in the world and have become greedy all while loosing sight of what made them great."

With the AI controversy and now this, I am seriously troubled by the direction LEGO is heading lately. "

Out of the loop on the AI thing, what did they do?"

LEGO, a company that encourages creativity and problem-solving, was shown to be using AI generated artwork."

Wonder why it wasn't covered here..."

Dont want to offend the main sponsor.

They would better concentrate their market research in the pricing. Or maybe they do and it turns out the sky is the limit (just change as many parts into multiple smaller parts without reason so the price per piece seems acceptable for anyone checking)

I like this train, looks great for me, I think this is the best WV train. Will buy it? No. Why would I? I don't understand, why TLG relased a new train. We have more than enough trains in the theme...

Still not sure on this one, For people without a train for WV collection Great. Just doesn't seem too winter village to me, a sign on train, a few small presents ect, except the Caboose that's new different.

Keep engine and Caboose. for 2nd car add a coal car.. 3rd car make twice as big with big santa's bag with many toys, more elves throwing presets(toys) to kids

Giant Polar Bear. Want
Printed pieces? Don't want. WTAF, Lego?
This set, could do better. Not worth the price tag or to set up at Christmas with the rest of the nice things

I'm sure this is great for those who don't already have a Christmas train, but how many trains does my village need? Not more than one (plus all the little ones). So this year, I'll save my money and get something else. I like the big tree, but that's outside my budget. Maybe if Lego has another boring WV set next year, the big tree will be affordable?

@Norikins said:
"Every time they make a new train it's worse. 10173 easily is still the best."

And the older set is running on coal, not wood: that weird cone at the top of the new set's smokestack is a spark catcher/suppressor, which is only used when you are burning wood. That was the case for the trains that opened up the USA (before the time of Casey Jones) but it looks weird compared to the engines seen on all the other continents, who already had their coal industry in place as the trains arrived.

Maybe Santa and the elves live in Minnesota?

You can leave the spark catcher off the new set but it is integral to the 3D printed part :-(

Don't think anybody has caught on the fact that the 3D-printed train actually isn't one solid piece.
The rear of the box indicates that the wheels and chimney move, so it's several 3D-printed pieces assembled together.
The photos also show the wheel connecting rods in different positions.

@Alemas said:
"Don't think anybody has caught on the fact that the 3D-printed train actually isn't one solid piece.
The rear of the box indicates that the wheels and chimney move, so it's several 3D-printed pieces assembled together.
The photos also show the wheel connecting rods in different positions."

It is possible to 3D print an assembled moving object.

It is of no interest to me, and obviously other longer term fans with existing seasonal trains feel the same. But that is missing the point. I have no doubt that this will sell extremely well to all those new fans waving wedges of cash at LEGO for sets that are more expensive and less attractive than those of the past.

Nevermind the 3D print, the train is awful.

@CCC said:
" @Alemas said:
"Don't think anybody has caught on the fact that the 3D-printed train actually isn't one solid piece.
The rear of the box indicates that the wheels and chimney move, so it's several 3D-printed pieces assembled together.
The photos also show the wheel connecting rods in different positions."

It is possible to 3D print an assembled moving object. "

Well.
The more you know.
Goes to show how much I know about 3D-printing!

I don’t hate this set, it’s quite cute (apart from the 3D printed piece, yuk, destroy that abomination!) but it does not feel like an Icons build. Or did I miss the announcement of ‘Icons for Kids’? The cuteness of the set allows it a place in my Winter Village, though an additional train was in no way what it needed. The kids will like it and our oldest (4yo) will be happy to build it with me (next year, when I bought the set with a decent discount) Luckily I once scored a big lot of tracks second-hand, so we have place for two or three trains.

Think this will be the first WV set I'll pass on since I started collecting them more than 10 years ago. If it was a more reasonable price or a unique idea, I would probably buy. But I'm being much more selective these days and bought much less than in previous years.

What's really jarring to me about the train is that is in there with traditional microbuilds, makes it really stand out. BTW, am I the only one who thinks of 2D printing as "Replicator 1.0?"

@sjr60 said:
"3D-Printing for Lego - whatever next? Vases? :-)"

People who collect the Botanicals line would love that.

@Binnekamp said:"That 3D printed part... so the red duck from a few years ago doesn´t count then?"

https://brickset.com/sets/SLSDUCK-1/SLS-Duck wasn't available at regular retail. This is the first official 3D-printed Lego piece that a lot of people will be aware of.

@Wrecknbuild said:"Wonder if that will make it to the PaB section."

That's what I was wondering, but my guess would be no. If If I'm wrong and it does show up, though, I might get one.

LEGO started as a wooden toy company, then molding plastic bricks, now they continue to keep up with new technology by 3D printing pieces.

In moderation, I think this is OK.

Well thankfully this gives me a good excuse for ceasing my completionist habit on WV sets. I have enough of a backlog to keep me busy for a few years anyway.

I’ve always been against 18+ sets. It muddies the water for genuine 18+ things in society that are important.

It’s ridiculous. As for the 3D Printing. Oh dear.

I will modify the polar bear head to a snowman's head.

@dbbunny said:
"Think this will be the first WV set I'll pass on since I started collecting them more than 10 years ago. If it was a more reasonable price or a unique idea, I would probably buy. But I'm being much more selective these days and bought much less than in previous years."

I know what you mean! I used to buy anything that interested me, but there are now so many sets out there, that I actually find myself buying fewer. It used to be that I'd buy almost large any (non star wars) set. Just so that I'd have something new to build, but if I bought every interesting set currently, I'd end up well over what I could reasonably expect to be able to spend in my life on Lego. I know. I made a wish list on Lego's website just to see. I very very quickly went over my 'if I won 100,000 SEK on a lottery ticket, could I buy everything I wanted' level. Nope. The more Lego sets that they come out with each year. the less I find myself spending. It is weird. Maybe I've just hit the point where my house is too saturated with Lego?

I’m confused…why the proud announcement that “the first 3D-printed LEGO element is included in this set”? The texture clearly contrasts with the quality LEGO is known for. I understand that alternative production methods like 3D printing can be part of a vision, provided they deliver the structural integrity and finish expected from a LEGO product. Ridiculous!

I see a lot of hate for the 3D printed train, which I find quite disappointing. I think some of it comes from a misunderstanding.

Lego isn't looking to replace normal elements with 3D printed elements, rather they're experimenting in using 3D printing to make elements that would otherwise not be possible to make.

In the case of this train, the body, the wheels, the linkage, and the moving smoke stack mechanism are all printed together. It is printed together, such that none of the pieces need assembling, nor can they be removed. For all intents and purposes they were manufactured assembled and cannot be disassembled.

If you were to try and make this using normal ABS plastic manufacturing methods, all the parts woul have to be moulded seperately, and in such a way that they could be assembled. So the train body would probably have to be in two halves so you could insert the smoke stack mechanism. The axles would have had to be designed so that the wheels would be able to click in place, so would be more brittle. Same with the wheel linkages.

It's really innovative and I applaud Lego for experimenting with this technology. The only choice I find questionable is including it in a mass market set like this. It's clearly still experimental, as can be seen from the printing quality. It's something AFOL's would appreciate more than the average shopper.

For example, the 3D printed duck, pogo sticks, and drawing arm are sought after by AFOL's and go for silly money. And I know I'm certainly looking forward to getting this 3D printed train.

@SweSarah said:
" @dbbunny said:
"Think this will be the first WV set I'll pass on since I started collecting them more than 10 years ago. If it was a more reasonable price or a unique idea, I would probably buy. But I'm being much more selective these days and bought much less than in previous years."

I know what you mean! I used to buy anything that interested me, but there are now so many sets out there, that I actually find myself buying fewer. It used to be that I'd buy almost large any (non star wars) set. Just so that I'd have something new to build, but if I bought every interesting set currently, I'd end up well over what I could reasonably expect to be able to spend in my life on Lego. I know. I made a wish list on Lego's website just to see. I very very quickly went over my 'if I won 100,000 SEK on a lottery ticket, could I buy everything I wanted' level. Nope. The more Lego sets that they come out with each year. the less I find myself spending. It is weird. Maybe I've just hit the point where my house is too saturated with Lego?"

Feel free to keep buying all the sets that interest you. I can provide a shipping address.

3D PRINTED PIECES.
*sigh*
this is where freedom dies

@AllanSmith said:
"Great news. Will be getting it and converting it to the old 9v train system with a spare 9v bogie for my annual christmas layout."

at what point do you not just buy the needed bricks secondhand instead of consuming product and waiting for more product

@JulieHD said:
" @AllanSmith said:
"Great news. Will be getting it and converting it to the old 9v train system with a spare 9v bogie for my annual christmas layout."

at what point do you not just buy the needed bricks secondhand instead of consuming product and waiting for more product"

If you want to be this particular type of insufferable edgelord, maybe the dedicated product-waiting-for-and-consuming fansite isn't the best avenue for it.

Considering they spent hundreds of thousands on the 3D printer and printing small quantities for Insider tour sets aren't going to recoup the money they have invested, just a matter of time they put 3D printed parts in retail sets and markup the price accordingly.

Sad but true.

I dont see Lego getting popular with 3D printed parts like this. This things be!ong into kinder surprise in my opinion. I believe Americans dont know these, but i am not intierly sure. Anyways, this set is terribly overpriced, too less minifigures.. where are the kids? (this is the first winter village set without kids minifigures and its push train! no straight train track, because who needs those?

actually i am realy eager to let my winter village collection grow but this train and also last years post office seem realy, realy uncreative, odd looking, They never get into my collection.

@CoffeeBrickMan said:
"Comparing 10361 to the City Explorer Train 60470 the pricing seems high, the 3 Power-Up components come to nearly £80, so the Explorer Train is larger and cheaper with 6 Straight Track Pieces too.

"

What are the 3 part numbers required to Power Up this train?

The 3D-printed piece is the only "working steam engine" in this set. It's a nice touch but I won't be buying any sets to collect them. The loco is like the "My Own Train" ones of the 9V era, just a bogie vehicle lacking rods and valve gear. This is where 9V, PF and PU miss out on the previous 12V small rods and cylinder cases that allowed an 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 loco to be based on the train motor; it could fit on one bogie, making it easy to do Garratt, Double-Fairlie or other similar engines. They could not have repeated the previous 4-2-0 design with the large driving wheels.

The artwork on the polar bear and caboose vehicles is good but it's the loco that lets down the "train" for those of us who either build more sophisticated trains or buy sets with parts to do so. On the parts front, the lack of magnetic couplings is another thing, with the Technic part substitution leaving room for improvement. Better in drawbar tensile strength than the ball-clips of the Orient Express though. I use 5-long thin liftarms and two 1.5M pegs for my permanent rakes of wagons. With 3M double cross blocks this train is close-coupled.

Nevertheless the cranks operating the chimney and polar bear are good for working features. This is the intent - a fun set, not such a serious train.

It's a shame the price is so high for a push-along train. Adding the motor @88011, City hub @88009 and handset @88010 would make it more expensive than the RRP of the Arctic train set @60470. As such I doubt I'd buy this set.

There have also been issues in some countries with the availability of those electrical parts, fuelling speculation about the "end of PU". I see the new LEGO Education Science sets with electrical parts incorporating hubs and rechargeable batteries, where the dual-motor one is £120 and the single-motor one £110, and consider that a similar price for the next system of domestic electric parts would kill it altogether. We need simple, versatile and affordable. The handset, City hub and train motor are the best of Powered-Up, even if the system is not easy to adapt to our extended AFOL train needs and many stick with 9V, PF or 3rd-party derivatives.