LEGO TRAINS
We discover one of the more unusual gauges of model railways.
If you’re a model railway collector, it’s more than likely you’ve heard of the various gauges of miniature locomotives. From N to OO and even potentially lesserknown scales like TT (Tri-ang) and ScaleSeven. However, have you heard of something called L Gauge? This is the scale that collectors of LEGO Trains use to refer to their area of interest and, although it may not be an officially recognised scale, it’s an increasingly popular and interesting variation on traditional model railways. Here we’ll look at the history of L Gauge and some of the sets produced by LEGO.
But first it’s worth exploring the history of LEGO a little to see where it all began. Although the LEGO Group was first formed way back in 1932 it wasn’t until 1949 that the company began producing those famous little plastic bricks. Originally called ‘Automatic Binding Bricks’ the blocks were based on a design by a company called Kiddicraft. The initial blocks were simple affairs that lacked versatility and in 1958 they were redesigned slightly into the shape we see today. They’ve remained almost the same ever since and modern bricks released today still slot together with those made in 1958.
In 1965 LEGO ventured into the world of railways with the release of the imaginatively titled 323 Train – although it had no track and ran on ordinary wheels. Resembling an American steam loco, the model was made from a mix of mainly red bricks with white/blue detailing and a grey roof. The 323 only lasted a year and was quickly replaced by model 080, which came with a simple blue and white track along with a small village of four houses to give some colour to a layout. However, it didn’t have a motor, so required ‘people power’ to get the wheels moving. Being one of the earlier examples means that 323 can trade for a couple of hundred quid, when it’s in good condition.
However, 1966 really saw LEGO entering into the model railway market, with the release of set 115, which had a 4.5v motor to move the loco. This new kit came with a blue power pack and large black motor that was placed inside the locomotive. The wheels were further developed and now came flanged with rubber rims for traction. Although not as nice to look at as its predecessors, the 115 still included the blue/white tracks and three simple wagons to tow along – initially the wagons could only be hooked on but in later sets the hooks were replaced by magnets.
In the early days of L gauge, users were fairly limited by the products available, although extra track, including points and crossovers were available. In 1969 LEGO also released a 12v version (No.720) with a metal rail system feeding electricity to the engine, rather than a battery with an ugly wire on. The initial 4.5v and 12v trains were released between 1966 until 1979 – a period which is called the ‘blue era’ because of the blue track used.
After the blue era came the grey era, which is more exciting than it sounds. Between 1980 and 1990 LEGO made new model railway sets with dark grey sleepers and light grey rails, while the wheels were red or black. Arguably this was the golden era for collectors, as LEGO released a huge selection of accessories and locomotives. Some of the more sophisticated locos even featured working
lights for the front and rear but, more importantly, the wheels now tilted, which allowed for tighter turns and more realistic movement.
In terms of accessories, enthusiasts were certainly spoilt for choice with a great variety of items – many of which LEGO has never produced again. These included remote controlled points, remote controlled signals, automatic uncouplers, working station lights, flashing lights, a level crossing with automatic barriers and lots more. Compared to the basic sets of the late ‘60s, the grey era was a revolution and is probably the closest the LEGO Trains have got to being just like standard model railways.
One of the more impressive LEGO trains released during this period was No.7740 the Inter-City Passenger Train Set. Sold from 1980 and featuring more than 780 LEGO bricks it was one of the few grey era sets that could carry passengers and 10 Minifigures were included. You could even expand the impressive train with the addition of the Postal Container Wagon (7819) and Passenger Carriage/Sleeper (7815) to create a truly standout model.
In 1991 it was all change, as LEGO scrapped the 4.5v and 12v ranges and replaced them with a new 9v system. Tracks changed again, with power now being transmitted directly through metal strips on the two running rails. This meant previous 12v releases were no longer compatible without modification and LEGO reduced the amount of accessories with no remote control functions or automatic signaling products. Despite all this, the actual design of the trains did improve, like the futuristic-looking Railway Express (4561) with vehicle carrier and passenger car that has a movie screen/seats.
The 9v system lasted for 16 years before it was scrapped for a new line of remote-controlled trains with all-plastic track (to save on costs). However, the RC Trains range only lasted for two years before LEGO launched Power Functions (PF) Trains with the release of a new train called Emerald Night, as part of the LEGO City series. The benefit of the Power Functions Train is that they’re compatible with other powered sets from LEGO, such as vehicles and even dinosaurs – ensuring there’s plenty of scope for interesting tracks. So the future certainly looks bright for L gauge enthusiasts.