Random set of the day: Transformer / Speed Controller 12 V
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 7864 Transformer / Speed Controller 12 V, released in 1980. It's one of 28 Trains sets produced that year. It contains 33 pieces.
It's owned by 1160 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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18 comments on this article
Wow, random indeed.
Still, 1980 was a good year to be a trains fan.
It’s quite sad that trains had more functionality in the ‘80’s than today’s sets do - working crossing guards, an array of lighting functions, the ability to control multiple trains at once. I always get a little sad when old train sets appear here...
This bot wholeheartedly commits to the definition of random i love it
Yes, sadly Trains were a better theme 40 years ago. So many realistic features.
Ahhh, I remember building this. The memories...
Never have I seen Finnish in the front of the box :O
I found this in its box when I moved back home 10 yrs ago, it got me out of my dark ages, that one little box has cost me $25000+ .I still live at home.
I didn't have the full set- was one actually included with 7745? Mine didn't have the special knob* but did have the 12V AC available on the front (useful for powering your station lights when you had a signal and level crossing modules on the side 12V DC- though quite WHY it was an AC output is a mystery, not sure why you'd need it to be AC.
*looking on peeron/picsl reveals the knob really was cleverly designed- inverting it meant the corners would hit the stud row, limiting the output to 4.5V for the motors of that rating then available, eg for Technic.
"It's one of 28 Trains sets produced that year"...OMG, things really was better before :)
A humble and boring piece of kit by itself - but I'll never forget the 80s catalogues where they showed these with strings of remote controls attached to them for all the signals and points - and having had a couple myself the functionality was absolutely marvellous. I totally see the value of having the power onboard the train instead, but the ability to have working signals and points was brilliant (I'd love to see someone turn the remote controls into radio controls for a bigger layout with these things!).
The alternative 'lever' control never really worked for me though!
For this one and a 7740 I had to bait a friend with 7938. Poor sap, still has no idea what hit him.
I like that brick-built lever. That must have been fun to play with.
Interesting set.
Now THIS is a set deserving of the UCS label. Get that Tree 2 nonsense out of here.
Lego means different things to different people, but I'm not really certain how useful all of the features were in the 12v era, like automated crossings.
The sets, like 7740, were beautiful, and would evoke the aged 1980s train cars of modern-day Chicago, except they have less graffiti and bullet holes.
More than meets the eye!
With all of the 12v trains, electric switchers and light signals, that I have accrued for my collection I wound up buying a power converter to US, and got a 12v transformer from someone overseas. I just have to now get everything together to use it
@TheOtherMike It really was!! :)