This page provides a guide to LEGO trains, LEGO train layouts, and LEGO train clubs and user groups. LEGO Store - Online retailer with LEGO passenger trains, freight trains, stations, and track Bay Area LEGO Train Club - Exhibits LEGO train layouts in the Bay Area of California Big Ben Bricks - Custom LEGO trains, components, and pneumatic parts BrickJournal - Quarterly publication about the people, models, and events of the LEGO hobby Brickshelf - Extensive site to post and browse photos of LEGO models, including thousands of trains BricWorx - Custom LEGO models for train enthusiasts Carolina Train Builders - Designs and sells custom LEGO train kits Central Ohio LEGO Train Club - Members build LEGO trains, people, castles, and more DelVaLUG - LEGO club in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware East Japan LEGO Train Club - Builds LEGO train layouts in Japan FreeLUG - LEGO user group in France includes train layouts Great Basin LEGO Train Club - Displays LEGO train layouts in Utah
Greater Florida LEGO Train Club - Displays LEGO trains at numerous train show around the state of Florida Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club - Displays LEGO train layouts in Minneapolis, Minnesota Greater Portland LEGO Railroaders - LEGO train club in Portland, Oregon GtwLUG: Gateway LEGO Users Group - Displays LEGO train layouts in the St. Louis, Missouri area Hampton Roads LEGO User Group (HARDLUG) - Creates LEGO trains and towns for display at events in Virginia HoMa's World of Bricks - Photos of realistic-looking LEGO models including steam, diesel, and electric trains ILTCO: International LEGO Train Club Organization - Organization of LEGO train clubs worldwide IndyLUG - LEGO users groups in Indiana L Gauge - Photos and information about LEGO trains including building instructions and Digital Command Control (DCC) LEGO Model Railroad Gallery - Photos of custom built LEGO trains and rolling stock LEGO Railroad - Photos of locomotives, monorails, and passenger trains (site in Japanese only)
LEGO Trains - Photos of LEGO freight trains and railroad structures (site in Japanese only) - Official LEGO site with product information, examples, and online ordering LowLUG: LEGO User Group of the Lowlands - LEGO club in The Netherlands LUGNET International LEGO Users Group Network - Global community of LEGO enthusiasts includes discussion boards and product information Michiana-LUG - LEGO users group and LEGO train club with members in Indiana and Michigan Michigan LEGO Users Group - Displays LEGO train layouts in the lower half of Michigan Milton Train Works - Custom LEGO kits and models including many trains New England LEGO Users Group (NELUG) - LEGO hobbyists in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont build and display train layouts North Carolina LEGO Train Club - Loose collection of LEGO enthusiasts North East Texas LEGO Train Club - Displays LEGO train layouts, primarily in East Texas North Georgia LEGO Train Club - Builds, designs, and operates LEGO trains
Northern Alberta LEGO Users Group (NALUG) - Organizes LEGO train displays at local model train shows and shopping malls; Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club (NILTC) - Displays LEGO train layouts at model railroad shows and events NovaLUG - Displays LEGO trains and other LEGO creations in Nova Scotia, Canada ParLUGment - Builds trains, towns, space, robotics, and other LEGO creations; Patrick's LEGO Trains - Photos of a personal LEGO train layout in Belgium Peeron LEGO Set Inventories - Brick inventories for thousands of LEGO sets including trains Puget Sound LEGO Train Club - Exhibits unique train-themed LEGO layouts in the Greater Seattle and Puget Sound area, mostly at traditional model railroad shows; Qu�LUG - Displays LEGO train layouts in Quebec, Canada Rail Racers - Organizes LEGO train drag races at train clubs throughout the USA RailBricks - Free online magazine dedicated to LEGO trains rtlToronto - LEGO robotics and train layouts on display at area events;
Southern California LEGO Train Club - Creates and displays LEGO cities with operating LEGO trains at venues throughout Southern California such as museums, theme parks, county fairs, and railroad events SUU's Original LEGO Train Page - Extensive photos and information about LEGO steam, diesel, and electric trains plus transit vehicles and complete layouts (site in Japanese only) Thick as a Brick - Photos of a LEGO train layout including locomotives, buildings, electric and pneumatic switches, uncouplers, and more Trains-n-Town - Discussion forum, image gallery, and blog about LEGO trains and towns Twin Cities LEGO Train Club (TCLTC) - Builds and displays LEGO train layouts; Vancouver LEGO Club - Displays LEGO train layouts at area model railroad shows; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada WamaLTC: Washington, DC Metropolitan Area LEGO Train Club - Organizes and runs displays with a primary focus on LEGO trains Western Michigan LEGO Train Club - LEGO users group displays at Michigan train shows
Wooden Trains & Childrens Toys Model Railroad Clubs: North America Model Railroad Clubs: World Model Railroad Layouts & Design Search 19,000+ sites in all 180 categories!Here are some of our favorite LEGO-related web sites and blogs: PCHLUG – The Pacific Coast Highway LEGO Users Group SacBB – Sacramento Area Brick Builders (on Facebook) LUGoLA – LEGO Users Group of Los Angeles SCLTC – Southern California LEGO Train Club SanDLUG – San Diego LEGO Users Group PortLUG – Portland LEGO Users Group SeaLUG – Seattle LEGO Users Group GPLR – Greater Portland LEGO Railroaders PSLTC – Puget Sound (Seattle) LEGO Train Club I would like to purchase some used lego train tracks off ebay. I am not, however, very familiar with the different choices of track systems are out there that I might come across. So I would like to learn more about the existing types of track systems. What kinds has lego used at various eras in their history?
If I'd like train tracks that are compatible with the currently available new lego city train sets, what types of tracks should I consider? If possible, I'd love to see photos of a basic piece of each kind side by side to see the differences. The LEGO train systems are all roughly compatible. They all use a 6 stud gauge, so with a bit of fiddling, you can use all of the systems together. If you want to be most compatible with the current track offerings, you're better off with 9V and RC/PF track. This question discusses the specific compatibility issues in more detail. The different types of train track can be divided into a few main eras. Blue Era (1966 - 1980) A track section consisted of 2 rails connected by regular 2x8 plates. The rails themselves were blue. Trains could be either pushed by hand along the track, powered via 3 batteries (4.5V system), or powered via a third conducting rail added to the center of the track (12V system). Here are what the conducting rails for the 12V system look like:
Some people still prefer the 12V system because it included more remote controlled components than the later 9V or RC/PF systems. With later systems, the only thing that is easily remote controlled is the train itself, whereas the 12V system included remote controlled points, light, and decouplers. Each era included straight track, curved track, switches, and cross track. Gray Era (1980 - 1991) These rails are generally the same as the blue rails aside from the new gray color. The sleepers were moved closer together (3 per section rather than 2), and they were changed to a specialized part to improve the strength of the connection. Here's what the sleepers look like: The trains of this era were still either powered by 4.5V batteries or the 12V conducting rails. 9V Era (1991 - 2006) The 9V era completely changed the track components, and did away with the old 4.5V and 12V voltages. Rails sections were a single piece, and they were all conducting. RC / Power Functions Era