Building Style: With Trains, Sometimes Less is More
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When building LEGO trains, when is less actually more? We chew-chew-chew on the balance of design detail vs. practicality and try to find the balance between both.
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Making Trains Move: The History of LEGO Trains, Track, Motors and More
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For better or worse, LEGO trains have changed significantly over time. Today we look at the history of powered LEGO trains to see what makes them move—from electrified track and motors to controllers and more.
Read MoreRemixing 12V Trains: Modernizing Classic LEGO Trains
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12V trains were something special, but what would they look like if made in the modern era? Let’s remix some classic sets using old and new elements to create a contemporary re-interpretation of LEGO trains.
Read MoreTo Protect and Share: The Story of Open L-Gauge
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How do MOC builders protect their copyrights while sharing their custom LEGO builds and instructions with the community? Open L-Gauge seeks to do just that, starting with the train community.
Read MoreKöf II MOCs: Little LEGO Locos That Can
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Did you know in 1987 LEGO bought their own small locomotive? It was a Köf II, and today we’re bringing you a bit of history and all the brick-built MOCs of this little LEGO loco that could.
Read MoreBauspielbahn-Treffen 2023 LEGO Train Event
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Travel by rail with us to Germany and the Bauspielbahn-Treffen 2023 event, an incredible gathering of the LEGO train community where even the games are played with trains.
Read MoreHow To Modularize Your LEGO Train Layout with MILS
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What is the MILS standard for LEGO displays and how can it be used to modernize custom train layouts? Find out in this deep dive about how modular landscaping and tracks sections can make your life a whole lot easier.
Read MoreWomen Who Build LEGO Trains
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For International Women’s Day, we chat with two women who build LEGO trains, talk about what inspired them, and discuss what they look forward to in the next generation of train builders.
Read MoreThe Brick Train Awards 2022: A Rail Renaissance
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The BTA (Brick Train Awards) are effectively the "Oscars" of the LEGO train world. They showcase the very best of our hobby and are a source of inspiration to keep building amazing LEGO train models and layouts of all shapes and sizes.
Read MoreBauspielbahn-Treffen 2022 LEGO Train Event
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When I wrote about BSBT 2021, it was from the agonizing perspective of a LEGO train fan desperate to participate. However, now I can write a gushing and enthusiastic first-hand account of my participation at this year's event.
Read MorePlanes, Trains and Automobiles: An Interview with Ralph Savelsberg
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Today on BrickNerd, Ronald Vallenduuk chats with Ralph Savelsberg. From the A-Team to ZZ Top, Ralph has built it all. Check it out!
Read MoreBallasting Track: The "X" Factor for Your Train Layout
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Ballasting can add that special touch of realism to a LEGO train layout to take it to the next level. But what options are available and how do you get started?
Read MoreChoo Choo Choosing the Right Scale for a LEGO Model
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What’s the best way to choose the scale for your LEGO model? Between creativity and compromise, there is a lot at play! (Warning: it includes maths!) Don’t worry, though, our resident train expert Michael Gale sets us on the right track.
Read MoreBauspielbahn-Treffen 2021 LEGO Train Event
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After a year of lockdowns and cancelled events, sixty LEGO train builders are back together for a massive collaborative display in Germany. Check it out, today on BrickNerd!
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The Classic LEGO Theme You Should Vote For
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To celebrate LEGO’s 90th anniversary, the company is letting fans vote for a classic theme that will be the inspiration for a new singular set released in 2022. But which of the 30 themes on the ballot should you vote for? Our BrickNerd team weighed in and came to the conclusion that the single perfect LEGO theme to make a comeback is…
Read MoreBulleid Merchant Navy Class
/As I’ve stated more than once on this blog I don’t know diddly about trains, so I’ll let builder technoandrew’s description do all the talking… The Merchant Navy class was designed by Oliver Bulleid for the Southern Railway, and introduced many novel features to a British locomotive. However, many of these innovations proved troublesome, so the class were subsequently rebuilt by British Railways to a more conventional design. My model represents the rebuilt version.
BR 80 Steam Engine
/Just last Sunday I spent most of the day aboard a train. Of course it was a modern Amtrak train, but I did spend a moment thinking about the heyday of locomotive transportation, imagining myself crossing the country in the 1800’s. While I can’t speak with much authority on trains (what can I say, I just don’t know much about them), I can say I like the looks of this one by builder holgermatthes. And if you do too there’s great news, Holger has shared the instructions so you can build your own!
By the way, if you’re into trains, and you want to be a blogger, clearly we have need for an expert in the ranks.
Trans Europ Express
/I don’t know what makes me happier, the retro aesthetic and quality of this build by holgermatthes, or the fact that as soon as I started blogging it one of my favorite all time bands started playing in my head, Kraftwerk. This perfect rendition of TEE stretches over 2.5 meters (over 8 feet) and features three PF motors and LED lighting.
One Very Large Locomotive
/This impressive locomotive by brickthebrick is one of those models that you look at for a second in confusion, because you can't figure out the scale. I thought it was just a train model at first glance, but my brain couldn't reconcile the level of detail achieved. Then I noticed the texture of the "rocks" in the track, those are 1x1 round tiles, this thing is huge. It's 1/15 scale and comprised of fourteen thousand pieces!
