Raspberry Pi Controlled Lego Train with Build HAT -- Episode 560

Another bit of trivia that I can recall is that the earlier trains had fine teeth cut into the wheels which meshed with fine teeth cut into the top edge of the rails (only one of the curved rails had teeth, outer I think, the other rail was smooth on top). The later trains had smooth wheels but the driven wheels had rubber bands fitted for traction.

If you look closely in the above two videos you might be able to see this.

Not sure what they did when the rails transitioned from blue to grey though.

Great info, I didn't know all that. Thanks

We've got a Lego train line in our garden too, unfortunately the weather wasn't good enough so had to set up a temporary line in the house to do the video footage

I love it. have being wanting to control my LEGO train sets to run in the garden too

If I recall correctly, the earlier trains started out using the standard Lego battery box mounted on wheels so lacked the functionality of the signal stop and the reversing post.

I think the 122 set was the first train I had which was like that:

https://youtu.be/TGiWWMXjIjY?t=102

It was unusual as it could also run off the rails by using the alternative supplied wheels or caterpillar tracks.

I think the track may have been sold separately from the train as I can recall it coming in individual track boxes of straight and curved sections, but it was probably sold as a train plus track layout bundle from the toy shops to fit the budget/space.

The 181/182 train sets were probably some of the earlier ones to incorporate a purpose-built battery box tender with the added control functionality. I guess that the control was needed once sets with sidings and points were marketed to prevent runaway trains and collisions from happening.

Thanks :)

Oh awesome, I've seen that generation of the Lego trains (in pictures & videos), but never seen it stop like that, so hadn't realised it had a button under the tender. Thanks for sharing

Thanks, It took me a white to figure out where I was going to put the start stop button, but it fitted under the funnel perfectly

Great build Katie.

Well done.

Close - the stop button was on the underside of the tender battery box and not the motor itself...

https://youtu.be/Dmg5UZdPhSQ?t=143