Review: 60509 Harbour Freight Train
Posted by FlagsNZ,
The second in a series of three reviews of this year's LEGO City train releases, I look at 60509 Harbour Freight Train.
For me, this LEGO City train set looks as if it has the most play potential of the three sets released this year and I have been looking forward to the release date with anticipation.
Read on to see whether you agree with my early assessment of this set.
Summary
60509 Harbour Freight Train, 803 pieces.
£89.99 / $109.99 / €99.99 | 11.2p, 13.7c, 12.5c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Shunting locomotives are the unseen workhorses of the rail yard. 60509 Harbour Freight Train is a well-designed little engine that fulfils this role well
- Attractive, compact shunter engine
- Some nice micro builds for cargo
- Lots of play potential
- Should have included a full circuit of train track
- Has a sticker sheet
- Missing some stickers
- Powered Up is not included with this set
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
The box
The image on the front of the box shows the 60509 Harbour Freight Train waiting at a siding in a rail yard. The last flatcar is being loaded by the blue reach stacker. I'm not sure that I like the look of the white shipping container that appears to be swinging around.
In the distance, you can see a large stack of other shipping containers which are being illuminated by floodlights in a twilight setting.
The main image on the rear of the box shows the same harbour freight train in more favourable weather conditions. There are three smaller images:
- One image highlighting one of the gems of this set: a small red tractor,
- An image showing the play functions of the blue reach stacker, and
- That 60509 Harbour Freight Train can be upgraded with Powered Up components.
Instructions
The instructions come in three booklets. The first two smaller booklets assemble the orange truck and the blue reach stacker.
The third instruction book assembles all the components of the harbour freight train.
Sticker sheet
There is one average sized sticker sheet. I believe there are two more stickers that should have been included in this line-up. I will comment on this in the review.
Parts
60509 Harbour Freight Train is made up with 803 parts divided into eight numbered bags.
This link will take you to the complete inventory at Rebrickable.
There is a perforated plastic bag that is loose in the box that contains six magnetic train buffers and a train rail ramp. This ramp has appeared in seven other sets and is really useful to re-rail trains onto train track.
There is also a bundle of four straight track elements.
Minifigures
The harbour freight train comes with four minifigures: two male and two female.
The female truck driver is wearing blue bib overalls. Underneath she wears a V-neck shirt. The bib overalls have a front pocket.
The female reach stacker driver is wearing a red chequered shirt. Her hat is a dual-moulded part which has been seen in four other sets.
This minifigure is wearing orange tinted safety glasses. Here she has removed her glasses.
The male train driver is wearing a set of high-viz clothing. He wears a green safety vest with reflective stripes. The vest has a zip. Underneath he wears a light grey T-shirt.
The train driver wears dark green trousers with printed silver stripes. This part has been seen in only three other sets.
He is wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses and has a grim expression.
The other male worker is wearing the same high-viz outfit. In these images you can see the real reflectiveness of the stripes on hs vest and legs.
This worker has an anxious expression. He has a radio to communicate with fellow workers.
The build
Bag 1
The parts from Bag 1 assemble the orange flatbed truck.
In most other LEGO City vehicles, the set number appears as a sticker to apply to the front (and sometimes the rear) bumper as a registration plate. There is no such sticker supplied here, which I think is an omission.
I feel as if the chassis of the truck is four studs too short. The rear bumper and light board sit quite a way forward of the end of the flatbed. Other than that, it is a well-designed truck.
Bag 2
Bag 2 assembles the blue reach stacker.
Again, it has been customary in recent LEGO City lifting appliances to have a sticker applied to the crane or lifting hook with a safe working load value to indicate the approved SWL. This is a compliance requirement for lifting equipment in the real world. There is no such sticker for this mobile reach stacker, which is disappointing.
The lifting arm of the reach stacker pivots up. The black half wide 9M Technic beam has been seen in two other sets.
This element, in silver metallic, has been used in recent LEGO steam trains as a coupling rod to connect the three driving wheels on each side of the steam engine. I may repurpose these black beams on my 10194 Emerald Night train.
Here is the reach stacker at maximum reach.
The 1x3x2 Brick Arch appears here in blue for the first time.
There is a transparent orange sphere on the lifting arm as a warning safety flashing light. I would also expect such a piece of large mobile equipment to have at least one, probably two flashing orange lights on top of the cab.
Bag 3
Bag 3 starts by assembling the end-of-line buffer stop. These items are a critical safety feature on train networks. This is the same design, but all in yellow elements, to the buffer stop found in this year's 60511 Antique Steam Train.
As I mentioned in my review of that set, recently such a concrete stop block prevented a Wellington commuter train from sliding down a steep slope into nearby homes in a real-world incident.
The rest of the assembly is to start the chassis of the harbour freight train engine.
Bag 4
Bag 4 continues assembling the harbour freight train engine. There is a small diesel motor hidden inside the engine bay. The four Dark Turquoise doors appear in this colour for the first time.
There is a neat small blue four-cylinder diesel engine.
Here are some close-up images of this small brick-built engine.
Bag 5
Bag 5 Completes the assembly of the harbour freight train engine.
The driver's cab has a control panel and some other control buttons.
This is the first time I have seen a four-stud wide cheese slope. This element, in dark bluish grey, has been seen in two other sets.
Bag 6
Bag 6 assembles the two flat wagons, sometimes called flat cars.
The chassis and flat bed of these wagons are assembled with predominantly reddish brown elements and my initial thoughts were that this made them look rusty, which they probably would be in real life.
These two wagons are identical.
They each have two pivoting coupling arms that clamp onto the shipping containers. These clamps increase the width of the wagon to eight and a half studs wide.
These clamping arms were first seen on the flat wagon in 60336 Freight Train, although those clamps had yellow 1x1 tiles on the two exposed studs of each clamp. So, this has been a missed opportunity to ensure consistency in the flat wagon securing arrangements in the LEGO train network.
The two images below show the flat wagons of the 60336 Freight Train and 60509 Harbour Freight Train side by side. These two wagons are identical in length. You can see here the rusty reddish brown colour of the harbour freight train's flat wagon.
Bag 7
Bag 7 assembles the two open shipping containers.
The red open shipping container has two yellow brick-built two-cylinder auxiliary diesel engines. I can't help but think that they represent Caterpillar-branded auxiliary engines.
Here is a close image showing both sides of these identical engines.
For me, the real gem of this LEGO set is this small red brick-built tractor.
It sits nicely on wheel chocks inside the bright bluish green (dark turquoise) open shipping container.
Bag 8
Bag 8 assembles the two closed shipping containers.
The white container represents a refrigerated shipping container. At one end is the refrigeration plant, which includes:
- Condenser fan
- Condenser coil,
- An airflow vent, and
- Partlow card
The 1x6x5 corrugated panel is new in white.
There are two stickers, one on each side of the container.
They indicate that the container is permitted to hold 60 tonnes of freight. That is an extremely heavy amount of cargo and, in my experience, having worked in many container ships, such a shipping container would normally have a tare weight of about 24 tonnes.
I interpret the L10s to mean that in the LEGO universe, these containers are 10 studs long, which represents a 20-foot (6.1m) container equivalent unit or TEU.
There is also a show flake symbol, which obviously means that this is a refrigerated container that can chill or freeze its contents. Meanwhile, the freight contained in this container is . . . two ice creams!
There is also an empty light bluish grey shipping container. This is the first time the 1x6x5 corrugated panel has been seen in this colour.
Under each corner of the four shipping containers are black 2x2 corner plates. In my opinion, the elaborate clamps that have been used to lock these shipping containers down onto the flat beds of the train wagons are superfluous.
The image on the left below shows the two closed containers loaded and locked onto the flat wagon. Due to the container's door handles, they cannot be loaded with the doors between the two containers. In the real world, refrigerated containers would normally be loaded so that the motor unit was available at the end of the carriage.
Powered Up conversion
In order to motorise the 60509 Harbour Freight Train, you will need to purchase these three Powered Up items.
What is not mentioned is that you will need at least sixteen curved track elements as well to make a complete loop. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase curved track elements separately and will need several supplementary packs to have enough pieces for a complete loop.
The train engine tender and grey shipping container are the components that get converted. You will need to go online to source the conversion instructions as they are not included in any of the three instruction booklets.
The image below is taken from the last page of booklet three. The QR code will take you to the online building instructions for the Powered Up conversion. The instructions can also be downloaded using this link.
The train engine is entirely rebuilt as the 88011 Train Motor is added. The power cable exits through the rear handrail.
The grey shipping container has been modified to hold the 88009 Powered Up Hub. The image on the left has the container partially deconstructed so that you can see how the Powered Up Hub is located in the compartment.
Here is an image of the harbour freight train connected to one of the flat wagons carrying the grey shipping container. The image on the right shows the redundant parts following the Powered Up conversion.
Powered Up operation
This one-minute video shows the 605091 Harbour Freight Train operating with Powered Up installed. Given that it is a harbour fright train, I have set it up next to my 60422 Harbour.
Programming with the Powered Up app
60509 Harbour Freight Train looks like a solid compact shunter locomotive (also known as a switching locomotive). These hard-working, powerful engines sort out items of rolling stock into complete trains, or the reverse.
I have wanted to incorporate more Powered Up programmed functionality into my train displays and my displays already have a large port area. So I will definitely be assigning 60509 Harbour Freight Train to shunting duties as part of my displays.
So, I have finally sat down and programmed the Powered Up Hub on the 60509 Harbour Freight Train so that it shunts back and forth.
I have used this YouTube tutorial from MOCerhead to assist me in programming the 60509 Harbour Freight Train Hub. In this tutorial, MOCerhead describes how to make a Powered Up train shunt back and forth using two methods:
- Using a timed loop and
- Using a colour sensor and coloured tile markers on the track.
I have just used a timed loop in this instance, but using a colour sensor and coloured tile markers is a far superior method.
This is how the Powered Up programme blocks look for my harbour freight shunting train:
- It operates on a continuous loop.
- The train motors operate at a speed of 30.
- They run for six seconds in each direction, and
- The engine pauses for three seconds before reversing direction.
This one-minute video shows the 605091 Harbour Freight Train operating using the small programme I installed with the Powered Up app.
Activity at the Port Rail Grid
Before discussing the completed LEGO model, have a look at this three-minute YouTube video collaboratively prepared by the Ports of Auckland and KiwiRail. It shows how shipping containers are handled by reach stackers at the section of their port known as the rail grid.
The completed model
Here is the orange truck loaded with the red shipping container. The truck driver is eating an ice cream.
Working hard at the port is the other driver. She has also found an ice cream to eat.
A busy harbour with lots of activity taking place. The red tractor has been loaded onto the waiting harbour freight train.
Overall opinion
This is a compact, sturdy LEGO train that performs well when Powered Up.
I really like the small yellow axillary engines and the small red tractor that is included as cargo. I also like the open containers so that the cargo is visible inside the containers.
I will probably remove the clamps for the flat wagons as, in my opinion, they are not really necessary. This will make these carriages pass through narrower tunnels and under narrow bridge arches.
Like most LEGO City sets, this set comes with a sticker sheet. This really does not bother me. I usually don't apply stickers to the sets I purchase. There were, however, a couple of other stickers that should have been included.
Just like the other two LEGO City train sets released this year, in order to keep costs down and make this set more attractive to purchasers, the LEGO Group have designed this set as Powered Up capable but have omitted these expensive items.
In addition, a complete loop of train track has not been included. Of the three train sets mentioned, this one should have had a full loop of track included. Having this additional track included as part of the set would amplify its playing potential.
For these two reasons, I assess this set as not being fully self-contained: additional purchases are required to fulfil the play potential of this set.
This set retails for £89.99, $109.99, €99.99 which corresponds to 11.2p, 13.7c, 12.5c per piece. In my opinion, this represents value for money and is significantly better value than 60511 Vintage Steam Train.
78 likes
41 comments on this article
I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions.
Not only is it missing a full circle track but the Cargo Trains before all contained a track switch and additional straight tracks as well. Sure you can buy all the components separately but it adds up and the price does not reflect these shortcomings.
@troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, curves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example).
Thank you for taking the time to review the set! I really like it.
I really only disagree on one point. With all due respect, the lack of a full circle of track is not a con for some people. It keeps the cost down, and that's a good thing. I can buy more track separately if I need to (and I probably don't), but I'd much rather the train itself be at a lower price point.
I also don't have a problem with the Powered UP components not being included for the same reason... cost of entry is lower, and I can by those later as needed, or just buy one set and shuffle it around between trains.
The alternative is a much more expensive "starter" set that includes everything, and LEGO has not only already done plenty of those, I believe 60337 is still for sale as a current set. I plan to buy both this and the vintage train, but if they had both been expensive sets with everything included I'm not sure if I'd be planning on either. Maybe the vintage train... maybe.
@AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches.
@troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
Agreed. In fact, I prefer they don't come with a full track loop or the motors. I know this will vary person to person, but I already have a mountain of track in my basement. I prefer to get these trains for a lower cost and use the track I already have.
That is an awesome playset first and foremost! Something worthy to get expansions in future waves.
@oldtodd33 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches. "
I know, but the point is that they don't sell straights and curves separately. You always have to buy both, which is a nuisance because you typically already have tons of curves but would need far more straights. Which is also why straights are far more expensive on the secondary market than curves. Five to six times as much to be precise.
@domboy said:
"With all due respect, the lack of a full circle of track is not a con for some people. It keeps the cost down, and that's a good thing. I can buy more track separately if I need to (and I probably don't), but I'd much rather the train itself be at a lower price point."
That would be true if this set was much cheaper.
It's extremely expensive even though it includes neither a proper amount of track nor any electronic components.
+ Neat containers
+ Good tractor
+ Cool train
- Truck-driver's helmet-hair does not constitute actual safety-gear
- Truck-driver does not get paid to eat ice-cream
- Truck-driver is not a credit to team
"Unfortunately, you cannot purchase curved track elements separately and will need several supplementary packs to have enough pieces for a complete loop."
You only actually need 3x 60205 to make a complete loop which is not too bad, though it is an extra 60% on the price (at full retail - they can be found for less)
(In 3 packs you get 12 curves and 24 FlexRails - which can form the equivalent of 6 curves)
It's a difficult choice -
Keep the cost down
or -
Increase the price by maybe £100 to add 16 curved rails and possibly Powerup Components
For those with lots of track already the extra curves are perhaps less useful
For myself I have plenty of power functions rail units and I'm not really looking to start on Powerup!
EDIT: Amusingly it would currently be cheaper for me to buy 60470 from Amazon for the Track and PU parts needed for this set than to buy the Track and PU parts separately!
Is this a point in favour of including those items in sets like this or not?
With 60470 Explorer Train , 60508 Police Train Heist and 60337 Express Passenger Train still on the market, I don't think every set needs full rails / power parts included.
60198 Cargo Train vastly outperformed it's usual lifespan as well , from 2018 to end of 2025, especially next to 60336 Freight Train which retired 1 year BEFORE it despite being 4 years newer.
Instead of thinking this set needing supplementary rails/power parts, this is more like a supplementary train instead, as are 60423 Downtown Streetcar / 60511 Vintage Steam Train / 60506 Classic Beach Tram, the past had sets like 4551 Crocodile Locomotive or 3225 Classic Train.
What SHOULD happen however, is a new updated rail pack for just some straights + curves instead, like 4515 Straight Rails / 4520 Curved Rails or 7896 Straight & Curved Rails and a new 4519 Rail Crossing .
Flex Tracks should probably come with Switches instead of fully replacing curved tracks in packs that don't even have 360 circle or be a seperate thing.
I don't object to not having a loop of track.
I do object to needing THREE of the track packs to make a circle. Ilder track sets had a half circle, so you'd need two. Three gives you a lot of leftovers, if all you want is a loop.
Not as attrociously priced as the steam locomotove, but for a set that doesn't even include a full oval of track, let alone the motor and hub, it still feels kinda bad. Though maybe that's a bit skewed considering the usual train sets are generally available at around the RRP of this set. So with about 30% off, it's all good again.
Apart from that, I do like the train! Love that decoration on the side (unfortunately once again no doors....), and other that that it's just great play value! If only they would sell those flat wagons separately to extend the train a bit....
As for the other vehicles, most seem fine but very unspectacular, but that little tractor is pure gold!
Just noting that it is probably cheaper to buy one of the Powered Up trains when it is available with good discount (esp. 60337), as opposed to just the electrical components and tracks.
I would have liked to have the hub fitted inside the shunter to have one self-contained unit. It probably would increase the height a bit, but it would eliminate the need to have a car coupled to it all the time to have it powered.
To buy this set, it costs £90. To enjoy it, it costs over £200. (Assuming you don’t have any other trains)
I liked your review and fully subscribe it. All train sets should have a complete circuit, the re-rail ramp doesn't make sense. Kids running around the whole house? Ok but still... also going to take the clamps out and although take many pieces apart, going to try to adapt a 9v motor or even PF as I can't afford new power systems when TLG wants ??
@AustinPowers said:
" @oldtodd33 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches. "
I know, but the point is that they don't sell straights and curves separately. You always have to buy both, which is a nuisance because you typically already have tons of curves but would need far more straights. Which is also why straights are far more expensive on the secondary market than curves. Five to six times as much to be precise. "
Can't you buy individual pieces of track on the Bricks and Pieces / Pick a Brick from the Lego website? Or is that not available in most places?
I find the lack of a full track a huge positive note, it's like an add-on
The economics of LEGO trail rails detailed in the comment section. Classic Brickset. :'-)
@Joce1275 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @oldtodd33 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches. "
I know, but the point is that they don't sell straights and curves separately. You always have to buy both, which is a nuisance because you typically already have tons of curves but would need far more straights. Which is also why straights are far more expensive on the secondary market than curves. Five to six times as much to be precise. "
Can't you buy individual pieces of track on the Bricks and Pieces / Pick a Brick from the Lego website?"
I don't think you can. At least I couldn't find any. Then again, BaP is completely buggy on all my devices at the moment. The filter function isn't working. Even on my PC and laptop, on three different browsers.
@AustinPowers said:
" @Joce1275 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @oldtodd33 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches. "
I know, but the point is that they don't sell straights and curves separately. You always have to buy both, which is a nuisance because you typically already have tons of curves but would need far more straights. Which is also why straights are far more expensive on the secondary market than curves. Five to six times as much to be precise. "
Can't you buy individual pieces of track on the Bricks and Pieces / Pick a Brick from the Lego website?"
I don't think you can. At least I couldn't find any. Then again, BaP is completely buggy on all my devices at the moment. The filter function isn't working. Even on my PC and laptop, on three different browsers. "
Correction, I found it. The straights have a different part number on PaB than on Bricklink, while the curves have the same.
In any case, the prices are ridiculous. 2.39 Euro per straight and 2.31 per curve.
Just checked, a well-known third-party manufacturer offers sets of 12 straights for 9.95 Euro. Still not cheap but at least more affordable than what LEGO asks.
@AustinPowers said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @Joce1275 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @oldtodd33 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches. "
I know, but the point is that they don't sell straights and curves separately. You always have to buy both, which is a nuisance because you typically already have tons of curves but would need far more straights. Which is also why straights are far more expensive on the secondary market than curves. Five to six times as much to be precise. "
Can't you buy individual pieces of track on the Bricks and Pieces / Pick a Brick from the Lego website?"
I don't think you can. At least I couldn't find any. Then again, BaP is completely buggy on all my devices at the moment. The filter function isn't working. Even on my PC and laptop, on three different browsers. "
Correction, I found it. The straights have a different part number on PaB than on Bricklink, while the curves have the same.
In any case, the prices are ridiculous. 2.39 Euro per straight and 2.31 per curve.
"
Ah, that's fair... I guess I should have expected ridiculous pricing for Lego ;-)
Good shunter, clearly not being pushed as a complete train 'set'. I'm sure most people have plenty of spare curved tracks and Powered Up parts, especially if they have any Christmas trains that are only used for a couple of weeks per year or double sets that only actually need one motor!
I didn't even know about that color sensor that is compatible with Powered Up until today, and apparently it's already a retired product in the US. Damn.
Compared with previous train builds, I think it looks amazing in terms of brick built details. Very nice direction for Lego
Any train at all is a win, and it's a double win if it doesn't include motors driving up the price to absurd levels.
Also, those that want more track and / or motors can buy more track or the complete train setups. Train fans have been clamoring for cheaper, unpowered CITY trains since the theme started 21 years ago.
@AustinPowers said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @Joce1275 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @oldtodd33 said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @troynos said:
"I like it.
I don't expect the trains to come with full track or the powered up functions."
No, but one should be able to expect LEGO to sell track packs (straights, kurves, etc.) separately as add ons, like they used to do in the Eighties when I bought mine. (like 7850 and 7851 for example). "
They do still and they are available, a box of straights with curves and a box of switches. "
I know, but the point is that they don't sell straights and curves separately. You always have to buy both, which is a nuisance because you typically already have tons of curves but would need far more straights. Which is also why straights are far more expensive on the secondary market than curves. Five to six times as much to be precise. "
Can't you buy individual pieces of track on the Bricks and Pieces / Pick a Brick from the Lego website?"
I don't think you can. At least I couldn't find any. Then again, BaP is completely buggy on all my devices at the moment. The filter function isn't working. Even on my PC and laptop, on three different browsers. "
Correction, I found it. The straights have a different part number on PaB than on Bricklink, while the curves have the same.
In any case, the prices are ridiculous. 2.39 Euro per straight and 2.31 per curve.
Just checked, a well-known third-party manufacturer offers sets of 12 straights for 9.95 Euro. Still not cheap but at least more affordable than what LEGO asks. "
...or get them from Bricklink for as low as €0,20 a piece for new ones (or even less used).
The fact that straight tracks are several times more expensive than the curves is saying a lot though....
@Crux said:
"+ Neat containers
+ Good tractor
+ Cool train
- Truck-driver's helmet-hair does not constitute actual safety-gear
- Truck-driver does not get paid to eat ice-cream
- Truck-driver is not a credit to team"
Truck driver is most likely part of the railworker's union.
The loco is cute. The tiny container wagons are cute. These both work with my LEGO Train collection.
The forklift is cute, the truck is cute. I don't really need them.
I really don't need track. I have so much.
Do I buy it? It's expensive for an ickle loco and a some nice cargo flats with good cargo, but,...
yeah. I do. You knew I would, didn't you Lego?, you cheeky little mind manipulators.
That's why you kept it under the £100 pain threshhold.
(That threshhold, weirdly, doesn't apply to "proper" model trains. I am most certainly going to get that Hornby "Planet".)
I don't care what the spellchecker says: threshhold, like hitchhiker and Earthhouse IS spelt with two consecutive Hs.
@Murdoch17 said:
"Also, those that want more track and / or motors can buy more track or the complete train setups. Train fans have been clamoring for cheaper, unpowered CITY trains since the theme started 21 years ago."
This. Having every train be a powered-up full track makes them unattainable to the average consumer, not to mention the potential eWaste from constantly producing these battery packs and motors that end up unused if someone buys multiple different trains.
I have literally never been able to afford a Lego train because they're always well over $100 and when I have that sort of cash I'd much rather spend it on multiple smaller sets I missed instead of one medium set with electronics.
Funny thing about the price.
In Australia, this set only seems to be available from Lego stores, or Lego's website itself.
Whereas the steam engine (and the beach tram) are available from department stores.
This means that the other train sets are much cheaper than the Harbour Freight engine, and this set is wildly more expensive than the other two.
@Pongo said:
"The loco is cute. The tiny container wagons are cute. These both work with my LEGO Train collection.
The forklift is cute, the truck is cute. I don't really need them.
I really don't need track. I have so much.
Do I buy it? It's expensive for an ickle loco and a some nice cargo flats with good cargo, but,...
yeah. I do. You knew I would, didn't you Lego?, you cheeky little mind manipulators.
That's why you kept it under the £100 pain threshhold.
(That threshhold, weirdly, doesn't apply to "proper" model trains. I am most certainly going to get that Hornby "Planet".)
I don't care what the spellchecker says: threshhold, like hitchhiker and Earthhouse IS spelt with two consecutive Hs.
"
Sorry, I can find no evidence that threshold was ever spelled with three "h".
Well, except for your post.
The set name is funny to Americans. Here, "Harbor Freight" is a store that sells bargain tools of historically garbage quality. (Over the years, the quality and prices have improved, so they're not altogether garbage anymore, but the association with the name is still something that is very cheap but not that good).
@TeriXeri said:
Instead of thinking this set needing supplementary rails/power parts, this is more like a supplementary train instead, as are 60423 Downtown Streetcar / 60511 Vintage Steam Train / 60506 Classic Beach Tram, the past had sets like 4551 Crocodile Locomotive or 3225 Classic Train.
This is a pretty good comparison. In 1998 the 3225 RRP was $66 according to Brickset. The piece count was 281 giving it a PPP cost of 23.5 cents and an inflation adjusted cost of $133.00.
The new 60509 is $109.99 with a piece count of 803 and a PPP of 13.7 cents. While the new train doesn't come with a motor and the old train did, the old train motor had a retail value of $25. Which is almost twice what a Powered UP motor currently costs. Both trains use actual bricks with very little greebling so we can't make the argument that Lego is pumping the piece count with smaller pieces.
Personally, the 60509 seems a bit pricey but by the numbers is pretty in line with 1998 prices.
I don't understand the obsession with having a rail loop. In real life, trains go from A-to-B and almost all rail networks spread outwards from the center. Very rarely do you see a loop on a railway, and if they exist they're usually at the end of a branch to facilitate turning the whole train around.
I also don’t consider the lack of a full track or Powered Up functions to be a con, same as with 60511. There’s enough train sets out recently with both of these, and these newer sets provide a nice way to get a locomotive and rolling stock for cheaper. Welcome back, My Own Train.
£90 for the train. £72 for enough track to make a full circle. £45 for the powered up hub. £20 for the remote. £13 for the train motor. That’s £240. In today’s money that’s not far from the cost of train sets in the early 1980s during their heyday. For me, I would like to see a clever way to bring back motorised points or automated signals & level crossings, in one form or another. That would be something. Having said that though, perhaps my sticking point is that I just don’t find these newer sets charming in the way of the 12v or early 9v trains. Perhaps it’s the expanded colour palette, or perhaps it’s the minifigs themselves? But the earlier sets somehow felt better to look at. This is a decent set though, so I shouldn’t live completely in the past :)
@jschwarz said:
"The set name is funny to Americans. Here, "Harbor Freight" is a store that sells bargain tools of historically garbage quality."
To be honest that is not what I would assume a store with that name sold.
I'd rather expect a name like Plenty O'Tool
;-)
@560heliport said:
" @Pongo said:
"The loco is cute. The tiny container wagons are cute. These both work with my LEGO Train collection.
The forklift is cute, the truck is cute. I don't really need them.
I really don't need track. I have so much.
Do I buy it? It's expensive for an ickle loco and a some nice cargo flats with good cargo, but,...
yeah. I do. You knew I would, didn't you Lego?, you cheeky little mind manipulators.
That's why you kept it under the £100 pain threshhold.
(That threshhold, weirdly, doesn't apply to "proper" model trains. I am most certainly going to get that Hornby "Planet".)
I don't care what the spellchecker says: threshhold, like hitchhiker and Earthhouse IS spelt with two consecutive Hs.
"
Sorry, I can find no evidence that threshold was ever spelled with three "h".
Well, except for your post."
One of my siblings insists on spelling weird as “wierd” on the basis that they were promised the rule was “i before e except after c” and they’re sticking to it. Spelling was only standardised pretty recently in the grand scheme of things, so people who have extremely specific spelling foibles are basically being traditional. Of a sort.