From the first moment a boy with Asperger's Syndrome saw an expensive LEGO train set, he wanted to call it his own. So the parents of the 11-year-old promised to buy it, as long as he saved up the money himself. Last spring, after two years of diligent saving, James Groccia had collected $100 -- enough to buy the coveted Emerald Night Train set. But just as all his hard work came to a pinnacle, James and his parents learned the toy was out of production, and was available only as a collectible for $250 at a handful of retailers. James attends a counseling service in West Boylston, Mass., where he participates in a LEGO support group to help with Asperger's. One of the program's social workers suggested asking for the company's help in realizing James' wish. Karen, his mother, decided they should write a letter to LEGO. “Together we wrote to Lego to see if there was any way they could find one for us from some dark corner of a warehouse or something,” she told the Banner.
“James was very concise about what he wanted to say. He planned it, and I just helped him organize his thoughts,” she said to the newspaper. The letter was transcribed in a video posted to YouTube by James' parents. For two years I kept all the money I got for birthday and holiday gifts, some of my allowance and some money I got for participating in a research project. At last, a couple of months ago I had my $100 and was ready to buy the LEGO set of my dreams. My mom started looking for it online and could not find any. We checked the LEGO store in our area and they didn't have it either. I was completely crushed. You've stopped making it! It seems the only way to get one now is to pay $250 on Amazon or eBay, since now it is considered collectible. I got another LEGO set, thinking I could forget about the Emerald Night, but every time I see it anywhere online I get very sad and disappointed. I still want the Emerald Night so badly, but there are none to be found.
Do you have any at your corporate headquarters? Perhaps I could get one that way? If you have any other ideas, I would be happy to hear them. I have never wanted a LEGO set so badly ever in my life. Several weeks later, the company wrote back from their headquarters in Enfield, Conn., with a sincere apology and condolences for disappointing James. "James, I'm afraid that we no longer made the Emerald Night," it began. "I understand how upsetting this news can be. I realize that you saved up your money to purchase it, I do apologize for any disappointment this news may have caused you." The letter pointed the family in the direction of a few secondary websites, unaffiliated with LEGO, that they could visit to try to find the set. The Groccias even entered a few bidding wars after that, but they never panned out. Then, on his 11th birthday on Oct. 19, James got a second package from LEGO. The letter accompanying the package read: We are always thrilled to hear from our LEGO fans!
You truly have a passion and joy for LEGO. I am amazed at how many sets you have at only ten years old! I am a very big LEGO fan myself and enjoy some of the same sets you do. We received your letter here in Consumer Services and were very touched by your determination. The Emerald Night Train is a wonderful set, so we can understand why it is your dream to own it. I commend your willpower and patience to save money for over two years just to purchase this set. It is very evident that no other set could make you happier. We can understand how disappointing it must have been to find it had been discontinued. Due to your passion for LEGO and your heart-warming letter, we knew we had to go above and beyond to help make this a reality. We have located an Emerald Night Train for you, James, and included it in this package! I am sure you will enjoy building it and cherish your time playing with the train. We are excited to know that we could help make this dream come true for you! Now there will be no more sadness or disappointment when you think about it ...just happiness!
We hope you will continue to love to build and create with LEGO. Fans like you are why we are so lucky as a company. Who knows, maybe you will be working for The LEGO Group one day! You certainly have the heart and passion for our bricks to do so! With Jay's camera rolling, James opened up his long-awaited Emerald Night Train as Michael, James' younger brother, wiped a tear. 10 Best Lego Train Sets For Sale On Amazon Out of all the products that you will find stashed on the market, these 10 are the best Lego train sets that you can get your hands on at this point. They are beyond fun to play with, and putting them together is a snap because instructions come included. When it comes to their overall design and quality, everything is top-notch and up to par. If you have ever wanted to feel what life is like as a conductor or an engineer, you will get your chance with the use of a Lego train set like the ones below. 1. LEGO Creator Maersk Train 10219 - $323.95, Amazon
Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. With this set, you are definitely going to get your money's worth. There are about 1,237 pieces available, including two wagons, three containers, a shunter truck and a trailer. While no motor comes included in this set, the train can easily be fitted with an engine that will enhance its functions. Furthermore, because the details are exceptionally elaborate, the train with all of its components serves as a replica of the real Maersk diesel-electric freight train. 2. Lego City Heavy-haul Train 60098 - $196.90, Amazon If you love trains and Lego, then you cannot go wrong with this set. All of the parts look great, and they are extremely easy to assemble. The freight train features a classic European style. To make things more interesting, this set comes with five mini-figure workers. One of them is a female, so you should not have any difficulty with coming up with story lines. You can add lights if you like because the engine has enough power to support them and propel the train at high speeds.
3. Lego Train 9V Cargo Railway 4559 - $749.95, Amazon If you are looking for something that is a bit different from the typical Lego train set, you will be happy with this one. Its color scheme looks amazing, and there are seven mini-figures in this set; a track-side ramp, an oval-shaped track and a speed controller, so you will always be in full control. While the engine unit is somewhat small, it produces the right amount of propulsion power to get the train from point A to point B. 4. LEGO Make & Create Holiday Train - $785.00, Amazon This set is one of the most complete sets available as it was developed based on consumers' requests, Lego designers and train buffs. The locomotive features a pleasant-looking holiday theme, and it can be motorized. There are seven mini-figures available for you to play around with. You get two engineers, one railroad worker and four passengers. In total, you will have 965 pieces to create your story lines. The motor, speed regulator and tracks are not included in this set.
5. LEGO Trains: Cargo Train Set - $853.57, Amazon This train set is definitely a good value. Because it has approximately 544 pieces, you will be able to build an amazing station and test your creative power. Included are three durable freight cars, 20 rails, an engine, a nine-volt speed regulator, three mini-figures and a pack of cool accessories. Truly, this set is designed to complement your Lego collection, and if it is for your child, they will be able to recreate unique cargo trains again and again. 6. Lego Metroliner Train Set - $749.90, Amazon Deluxe is the term that best describes this set, and it is clear to see that the manufacturers really got creative when they were designing it. One of the coolest things about the train is that it has realistic details and lights that turn on when it is in motion. Other components include a working engine, a railway platform, 11 passengers, steering wagons, an oval track, a luggage cart and two bikes. 7. LEGO Creator Emerald Night 10194 - $734.39, Amazon
As of late, this happens to be one of the most sought-after sets on the market. Many fans would say that this steam train is second to none in terms of quality. For hours on end, you and your child can create new train adventures and enjoy playing around with the train's features. There are three mini-figures, a dining car and a tender that you can use in your story lines. 8. Game Power Lego City Passenger Train 7938 - $1,244.77, Amazon This set is a collector's dream gift. If you appreciate quality, you will consider its high price tag to be accurate and fair. The manufacturers went a step further with this one by incorporating two engines and including a passenger car with an opening roof, plenty of tracks, a battery box, a motor and a seven-speed remote controller. The train runs without a hitch once properly set up on the tracks. 9. Vintage Lego Airport Shuttle Monorail - $2,388.98, Amazon This is a prized collectible item. It has been around for over 20 years, and its setup really does a fine job at capturing the past.
Despite how old this set is, it is in mint condition. The smart red train, the curved platform and the gas station are the main components that really stand out. The quality of the train matches and surpasses that of some modern Lego trains. 10. LEGO City Trains High-speed Passenger Train 60051 - $124.99, Amazon In this cool set, things get a bit more interesting. There are three mini-figures at your disposal. You get a train driver, a traveler and a cyclist. You also get a full circular track, a way station and a seven-speed remote controller. The middle passenger car has a removable roof, tables and seats. Furthermore, this train is stylish and built to zoom around the track at top speeds. Overall, it is safe to say that you cannot go wrong with any one of the sets listed above. They all offer a unique experience and more than enough pieces to build something amazing. Whether you are a long-established collector or a rookie in the collecting world, in our opinion, your collection will not be complete if you do not own any of these.