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I'm including this one in lugnet.space because the set kind of fits in with a
futuristic look.
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Blacktron forces are among us! Subtly sneaking into the transportation
industry, a new style of cargo train is appearing in train yards and stations
all around the world. Strange bubble-like compartment cars are moving in and
out of rural areas at an alarming rate, moving an unknown "restricted access"
cargo. In other mysterious news, population numbers are shrinking at an
amazing rate. Entire neighborhoods are found seemingly devoid of citizens who
have left homes and belongings behind while authorities are refusing any
knowledge of a conspiracy.
I don't know if I should review this set as a regular Town set or for Space!
With the yellow and black colors that fit right in with the space sub-theme
Blacktron (except for windows here are light blue instead of yellow) and a 21st
century design, this train looks like it would indeed be more at home on a
moonbase station rather than in a contemporary city. I originally bought the
set because I had never collected from this theme and in mid-1996, all of the
good cargo trains were unavailable but I was dying to try out a choo-choo
model. After looking at all of the pieces, seeing a steam train locomotive
among alternate pictures, and considering this set DOES come with its own speed
regulator, I've decided this is not a bad set to start out with.
The Cargo Railway's principal components are the main engine car, two cargo
cars and a wide-body truck that helps to unload cargo from the train. Starting
with the locomotive, the design is a wide streamlined cab with a 2x2 round post
at the rear that the first cargo car rotates/hitches on. The cab of the
locomotive is entirely enclosed (once your conductor is inside, he's in for
good) and personally I would have liked doors or even opening windows to reach
in and get my driver out when I need to but it's not going to happen with the
main model design. I do however like the way the contours of the locomotive
are smooth and not bulky.
Each cargo car is essentially an identical design (34-studs long). There is a
central 18-stud platform that holds two cargo pods and an 8-stud long "landing"
on each side of the central platform. The cargo pods each measure 8-studs long
and stands approximately four bricks high performing a specific function as a
diner or sleeper car (two of each). The landings/cubbies on each side of the
cargo pod areas function as enclosures for container boxes (with four cubbies
in all, each container box has its own storage function for fuel, money, cargo
and mail). These containers slide into their nook at each end of the car to
lock securely in place while the train is in transit.
Cargo pods load and unload from the train via a special loading truck (wider
than most town cars at 6-studs wide) that looks kind of like a semi-truck cab
with a small bed on back. This truck does have doors on the side and a
fliptop roof for getting the driver easily in and out. Pictures of the set
indicate that the truck loads and unloads these pods from the train (although
no winch or loading device is present). This whole loading and unloading
procedure is probably what has people scratching their heads in wonder or
disgust; it poses the question "What are passengers doing while the truck is
loading them on and off the train?". In this aspect the design is flawed and
the train would have made a much better freight train (freight doesn't usually
complain about being loaded and unloaded like cattle). But for the style of the
cars themselves, the overall future-like feeling of the set is very cool.
There are seven minifigs included with the set: truck driver, train conductor,
fuel attendant, construction worker, security officer and two passengers.
Unique parts in the set include the black contoured locomotive nose (appears
in the 4558-Metroliner too), 2x6x1 slope bricks, 2x2x2 spring loaded elements,
minifig suitcases, and money and letter/postal tiles. All 2x2x2 box lids (for
fuel, mail, etc. containers) are preprinted and I'd like to add that the set
comes with an excellent amount of basic 1x2 and 1x1 bricks in yellow and black
for alternate constructions.
There are some clever alternate models pictured in the last few pages of the
instructions, including a great looking steam train locomotive to prove that
you CAN make a conventional train out of this set! I would have loved
instructions for that engine (and it isn't like we've never received alternate
instructions with train sets in the past). Speaking of alternates, see Brian
Ward's own Blacktron train (http://www.math.psu.edu/ward/lego/contest/) that to
my knowledge was created before the release of the Lego Group's.
For the number of bricks with this set, possibilities are broad. I wasn't too
crazy about the kit at first, but it has indeed grown on me.
!!!4x2ReVu Stats!!!
Rating: Five out of eight studs.
Thumbs up for: A cool futuristic design. Look at it more as appearing on a
moon base somewhere and the design is easier to swallow (just chew thirty-five
times first).
Wallet-Wise: U.S. retail around $130.00 for 835 pieces.
Original review date: 4/30/97
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: 4x2ReVu: 4559 Cargo Railway
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| In lugnet.reviews, Joseph Gonzalez writes: <snip> (...) <snip> (...) <snip> (...) <snip> I agree! That is why I bought two of them. The kits can be used to make a reasonable "superliner like" passenger train. For the cars 4547 (club car) is a good (...) (25 years ago, 27-Oct-99, to lugnet.reviews, lugnet.trains, lugnet.space)
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