Getting Started with Lego Trains

by Jacob McKee

The first and only in-depth reference to building LEGO trains. Here's everything you need to know to build LEGO(R) trains, from setting up train tracks to building custom freight cars. LEGO insider,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593270062
• ISBN13: 9781593270063
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: No Starch Press
• Length: 101 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.3" x 10.2"

Customer Reviews

A must for Lego train owners

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 fe

With fundamental, easy-to-follow written instructions

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.

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.

Excellent Starter Guide

This is a well written and composed book. The author shares his personal experiences in a very clear and approachable manner. And the best part, there are complete building instructions for making a locomotive, refeer car, and container car. The instructions are prefaced with detailed information about the design decisions that went into making the models.There are many useful sidebards throughout. The whole presentation is great. Lots of color photos to enhance the verbage. This book is a must have for anyone that wants to get a better experience out of playing with LEGO trains.

LEGO Train Building Fun For All Ages

Buy this book for the fabulous building instructions alone! Amidst the pages of this well-written overview of LEGO trains are instructions for an impressively detailed diesel locomotive, a refrigerator car and an intermodal container car.Whether you are new to LEGO model railroading or are a traditional model railroader wondering if LEGO trains are more than a toy, this book is impressive. McKee will walk you through the history of LEGO model trains, make some comparisons to traditional model railroading, introduce you to LEGO train-building terminology, review setup and maintenance, and then pour on the building instructions. To wrap things up, McKee includes a chapter on track plans, changing track elevation, and then concludes with a list of resources designed to help you expand your LEGO hobby.Getting Started With LEGO Trains is a must have book for both railroad and LEGO fans everywhere.