Getting Started with LEGO Trains

The book is a strong introduction to LEGO trains if you are completely unfamiliar with them, but even a novice with only one or two LEGO train sets would already know much of the information contained in the book.

What saves the book is the large centre section dedicated to building plans for three interesting LEGO train models. These alone make the book worth having, even with the several errors contained in the building plans.

I believe the book would have been enhanced by eliminating the intorductory sections up front (or at least greatly condensing them) and using the space for more information such as that contained in the last section. This section outlines ways to enhance your LEGO train experience through the addition of things like bridges and elevated track. Perhaps more in this vein, such as the design of trackside structures, signals, buildings, towns, junctions and topography (hills, mountains, etc.) might be a more interesting choice.

Ken Partridge
Member, Nova Scotia LEGO Users Group (NovaLUG)


A must for Lego train owners   August 7, 2004
 19 out of 19 found this review helpful

I have a confession to make. There is one small part of my childhood that is constantly returning; every few years it breaks out and I find my apartment covered in small pieces of brightly coloured plastic: Yes, the Lego addiction strikes. One of those recent episodes involved a train set (perhaps I indulged in a few pieces of track and an extra car or two - but that's all, I swear.

Getting Started with Lego Trains is a fairly good guide to designing and building Lego trains. The writing is a clear, simple style that should be understood by anyone, the layout is clear.

Jacob McKee, the author, is webmaster at Bricks On The Brain, a good site which acts as a portal to build instructions. He also has a section devoted to the book which has three example pages and some links to other sites useful to Lego train builders. Both the book and the site itself promise at least a couple of articles by McKee but these are still "to come." I hope they come soon as McKee promises (in the book and on the site) an article on using decals and I'd like to know his sources and methods.

The book starts with two chapters that are absolutely basic; most of the information here is included in the Lego documentation you get with the train kits, such as how to hook up the electrical power and the different train and carriage sets available. There are still some useful nuggets such as the 'Studs Not On Top' technique for getting bricks pointing away from the vertical and interesting trivia such as a short history of Lego trains. McKee also adds some details that may be hard to glean from the Lego manuals such as how an active passing line can cause a short circuit in your track.

The third chapter is only two pages, which once again detail some fairly obvious information such as the various parts of the train couplings and bogies. From that point on, the book gets interesting. The real core of the book consists of the three chapters that McKee has devoted to three different train models. Instead of just giving you the plans to build the locomotive and two carriages, McKee has shared the design process itself and gives some useful design and building tips before showing you the instructions.

The first model is a glorious model of a GP-38 locomotive (if you want to see the finished models then you can get decent-sized pictures on McKee's site). It might have been better to have had this model last of the three, as it is the most complex and I found it the hardest to make with my Lego collection - there are more specialized parts in this model and I had to change the design in a couple of spots. Given the great look of the finished model, this isn't too much of a complaint.

The second example is a refrigerated car (or "reefer car" in train yard slang). I found that I couldn't build this car in the all-green of the book design but had the parts to build it in red. Since, as McKee points out, these sorts of cars are to be found in dozens of different paint jobs I don't feel this was a problem. There are considerably fewer specialized parts in this model.

The third example is a container car (with containers), which is the easiest to build and uses few specialized pieces you are unlikely to have if you own a train set already. Once again my only real problem was one of having exactly the same colour as the book -- one of my containers has red doors instead of white, for example.

I hope from my descriptions of the chapter you can see why I think the model order is wrong -- I'd completely reverse the order of these three chapters.

For an early teen (or older) reader, the strength of this book is the tips and encouragement McKee gives in these three chapters for designing your own locomotives and carriages. There are dozens of little tips and tricks on creating a visually pleasing and playable model design. Younger readers may not appreciate McKee's excellent advice on creating your own designs as much as older readers, but they will enjoy building the models all the same.

There is a final chapter on building track layouts, including some useful tips on building track inclines, and finally two short appendices, one on where to buy Lego and a glossary (McKee labels it "terminology").

Originally (before publication, that is), this book was advertised at $24.95. The actual cover price is $19.95, though, and No Starch have dropped the price again. At the new list of $14.95, it becomes much more attractive and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in designing and building their own Lego train locomotives and carriages. The readable, simple style and clear build instructions make it enjoyable for quite young readers and older, more dedicated builders will appreciate the design tips. Lego have train sets that they advise are for 8 years old or older, and I believe the average seven-year-old would have no problem understanding the build instructions in this book.


A "must" for dedicated Lego enthusiasts of all ages   July 16, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Jacob McKee's Getting Started With Lego Trains will prove to have immense appeal as a 'how-to' titler for the weekend hobbyst as it involves setting up Lego train systems. There's also plenty of historical background packed into the instructions which will delight both Lego builders and collectors. From surveys of different types of locomotives, cars and tracks for Lego trains to layouts and maintenance tips, Getting To Know Lego Trains is a delight to browse through and a "must" for dedicated Lego enthusiasts of all ages.


With fundamental, easy-to-follow written instructions   May 18, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Jacob H. McKee's Getting Started With Lego Trains is a handy, "user friendly", step-by-step Lego hobbyist guide that relies heavily on colorful diagrams to demonstrate the creativity and diversity that can be brought to bear with these marvelous building block toys. Fundamental, easy-to-follow written instructions embellish the very explicit images that make building a Lego train a literal snap. Getting Started With Lego Trains would make a most enjoyable gift book and guide for all ages -- and is especially recommended to parents wanting to introduce their children to the fun of building, creating, and model trains.


Great for newcomers, but stuff for 'old hands', too.   April 27, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The book is well made, with good construction (which is important, since you'll be using the model instructions in the book regularly). I like that they color-coded the background of each section, making it easy to find the instructions.
The book is a good extension ot the authros website, and the three models are good examples of "prototype" train stock, as well as being good illustrations for building techniques being explained (such as studs-not-on-top, and color detailing).
I agree with the 12+ rating for this book, because I think some of the vocabulary may be too advanced for some younger readers on their own. But, it could be a good book for a youngster to share with an older sibling or Adult Fan Of LEGO.
Besides modeling tips, there is a lot of experience shared with the readers, as well as useful web pointers.
I enjoyed this book (and the models), and I recommend it.