Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Just so you know, I'm a parent who loved Lego when I was a kid, and then rediscovered it with my kids. We generally like Lego trains and I have not had reason to speak ill of them. But this really IS a special set.
This is Lego's deluxe starter set. The train is nicely crafted and the set has a ton of playability. The engine is a European-style, yellow and gray, electric freight engine. The rolling stock includes a flat car, tank car and container car. The set also has a red full-length container, a yellow half-length container, two small automobiles (that load onto the flat car), green container gantry, a semi with container trailer, and four mini-figures. It includes 8 pieces of straight track, 16 curved, two switches, and 16 pieces of flex track. It also has all the necessary Power Function (PF) accessories (motor, infrared control, and battery box). The battery box is a new part; it holds six AAA batteries and sits inside the engine. If you don't like changing out AAAs, you can opt for the more expensive lithium-ion battery and DC charger available directly from Lego. Also, Lego has designed the engine such that you may add a set of lights (routing the wire under the arched red bricks). The lights (8870) are also available directly from Lego and they connect neatly with all of the PF batteries. That said, there really isn't anything extra that you need to get with this; if you are buying this as a gift for your child or grandchild, the only extras you need to remember are nine AAA batteries.
What do the kids think? Of course, they are all over it. There is a lot you can do with the set. It is a fun build (some kids need help, some don't). The train can go sufficiently fast that it derails. And there is always a mini-figure or two that seems to be walking across the track at inopportune moments. And with the ability to mix our existing Lego sets with this one, the train does not get boring.
For those of you who have earlier Lego train sets, this is a new generation that uses Power Function motors and infrared signaling. The prior "RC" sets (7897 and 7898) use a different motor and different infrared control unit. The prior 9 volt sets used electrified track. This newest generation has the same gauge track as the 9 volt, but the track is plastic (and is exactly the same track as the RC sets).
Sometimes when we get a train set I am tempted to redesign things. I like this one the way it is. The engine could use doors. And it takes a little bit of disassembly to get to the battery box (we did splurge on the rechargeable battery, but we swap it with our other trains too). But the detailing on the engine, rolling stock and cargo is just right.
The set has a deluxe price, but if you have already bought into Lego, then you are well on your way to being able to build a city around the track or create your own train cars. Relative to traditional train sets (e.g. Lionel type) you would have to pay a similar amount or more for something of decent quality.
Finally, and I apologize for my lengthy comments, there are two additional sets that have come out at the same time: a train station (7937) and a level crossing (7936). The latter is an especially nice addition.
Cheers
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LEGO City Set #7939 Cargo Train
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