Creator Horizon Express (10233)

*Does not include motors or track* I am the nut-job parent that you'll see in some of the other train reviews. I grew up with Lego and returned to it when I had kids. I am terribly partial to Lego (ignore my star rating), but I'll give you the best review I can so that you can make the best decision for your kids. I do not receive free sets or compensation for my Lego reviews. Introduced on 12/27/2012 for an MSRP of $129.99, the Horizon Express train is the third in Lego's Creator train series (now called "Creator Expert") that Lego appears to be releasing on a two-year schedule. These are highly detailed and realistic sets designed with the train enthusiast in mind and customizable with Power Function accessories (see below). The earlier sets were the Emerald Night (10194 from 2009) and the Maersk train (10219 from 2011). The Creator Expert trains are completely compatible with Lego's other train sets. The Horizon Express is Lego's most realistic high-speed train ever. It is a close approximation of the French TGV Sud-Est, the original orange TGV that began service in 1981. The set includes an engine and two passenger cars, the latter sharing a bogie (called a Jakobs bogie) just like the actual train. There are six mini-figures: four passengers, a conductor, and in what may be a first for Lego, a female train engineer. The interiors of all three cars are detailed and accessible via lift-off tops. The engine has a cab with controls and faux mechanical equipment. The passenger cars include chairs, café, coffee machine, chest with drawers, and a restroom with a sliding door. The passenger cars also have brick-built doors. Pantographs (the metal arms that touch the overhead wire) sit atop the engine, and electrical connections adorn the tops of the two passenger cars. As with the earlier Creator trains, this one is entirely brick built and includes many advanced building techniques. The arrow detailing on the side of the engine, for example, is built from a stack of bricks arranged sideways. There are a small number of stickers. The train is built on orange train bases, which makes things simple (as opposed to built up layers of plates). The recommended age range is 14, but if your child is an experienced Lego builder, this set will not be particularly difficult. By all means, if you're an adult who is eager to share this experience with your child, throw out the recommended age range. If you buy one of these sets, you are going to be very tempted to purchase another. More so than the other Creator sets, this one looks incomplete with only two passenger cars. Many people will be buying two sets in order to have something approximating a full TGV trainset (though TGVs usually run with eight or more carriages). Fully anticipating this, Lego included extra number stickers so that additional cars are properly marked. Of course, the set has very good playability. Well, I should say that I can literally put train wheels on just about any brick structure, drop it on the track and my kids love it. All trains are magical in their eyes. But this train is great because it looks fast standing still and it has good access to the inside (where there is a lot going on). Kids are going to expect to run it on a track, and since this set does not come with track or motors (see below), it is perhaps easiest to start with a City-line set (which includes motors, track, etc.) and then add this later. However, if you have a child who is an experienced builder, you may want to go straight to buying this set. The Creator sets don't remain on the shelves forever. If history is any guide, this set may last through most of 2014 before it is replaced. I would not expect more than a small markdown at any time. Check my guide (mentioned below) or Lego for accurate pricing information. The set does not include motors or track, but it is designed to accept motors and Lego includes directions. The battery replaces the faux mechanical equipment in the engine, the actual motor replaces one of the bogies, and the infrared receiver drops in next to the battery. You need the following parts to complete the job: 88002 (motor), 8884 (IR receiver), 8879 (IR transmitter), and ONE of the following: -8878 (rechargeable battery) with 8887 (transformer for recharging) -88000 (AAA battery box). You also have the option of adding lights to the engine (part #8870). Sometimes these parts are available on Amazon, but you usually need to go straight to the Lego site to order them. For track, you can either buy the following packs or go directly to the Lego site and purchase straights and curves a la carte (in the Pick a Brick section). The current track sets are: -7499 Flex and Straight Track (16 pieces of flex track and 8 pieces of straight track). -7895 Switches, USD 15.99: in addition to left and right points, the set includes 4 curved sections. -8867 Flexible USD 24.99: these are smaller pieces of track, each one of which swivels with the next; they allow for complex curves and, importantly, the resolution of unusual track angles. There are 64 of these small pieces in this set. When strung together the length is 85 inches. If you have the earlier generation 9V Lego train, the Horizon Express can easily be adapted to 9V motors. The track is the same gauge. Lego has discontinued 9V, and if you are just starting out with Lego trains, you are best going with the current system (Power Functions) since 9 volt parts and track have become scarce. Lego produced a short video with the designer discussing the train. It is available on Youtube (search "Lego Horizon Express 10233"). Cheers

As a Lego enthusiast who has built many sets, I did not know what to expect with this set. The Emerald Night was a lot of fun to assemble, and I have yet to assemble the Maersk freight train. This set adds a high speed passenger train to Lego's expanding line of highly detailed trains. In their advertisements, Lego highlighted the unique building techniques in this set. They did not disappoint. Building this set was a great experience. The engine is the best part of this set, and uses about half of the 1300 pieces in the set. Building techniques can be strange or difficult for new builders, but refreshing and innovative for experienced builders. The result of these techniques is a very polished model. This train does not include any tracks, motor, lights, or battery box. You can add Lego Power Functions with item numbers 8878, 8887, 8884, 8879, 88002, and 8870, which all together will set you back about $100 more (a few of those items such as the battery charger and remote control can be used for other train sets as well. Experienced builders will appreciate that there are minimal stickers with this set. The black strip across the front of the engine is a sticker, and the numbers on the windows are stickers. The windshield for the engine, and the rectangular plate on the engine wall with the black and orange triangles are *printed* pieces. As a quick note, I would have almost preferred a sticker for the side rectangular plate, because the orange and white colors printed on the plate are not as bright as a sticker would be. Nevertheless, minimal stickers and more printed pieces are always indicative of higher quality lego models. A number of unique pieces are included in this set, including a few brand new pieces. Overall, at 1350 pieces, this set is an excellent deal at Lego's price of $129 (less than 10 cents/piece) and an even better deal at Amazon's current price of $119. After this set is retired (predicted to retire in 2015), this set will be worth two or three times this price.

I got this set in the mail a few days ago, and I have to say, this is one amazing set. There are some amazing building techniques used in this; The sideways windows, the upside down bricks on the underside of the front nose, and using small pieces to create the designs on the side of the engine. My only concern is for the price lego could have included six pieces of straight track. However, as good as this set is, I strongly recommend that parents reading this review remove the piece(s) that looks like a wine bottle and whiskey decanter. And if you are thinking about getting this set, do it quick, because it's getting close to being retired, and will be replaced sometime in August.

Given to a 9 year old grandson who had it built in just a few hours.

Pros: Works with the standard Lego rails and connects to other Lego trains. Looks great and fun to play with. Can be adapted to run off of a battery pack (not included). Cons: It is an expert level Creator set, which is great for the adult Lego builder; however, as Lego appeals largely to its younger fans, it is difficult for a younger Lego enthusiast to put together without an abundance of patience and the assistance of a grown-up. Just something to keep in mind for parents who are buying this for a younger Lego train fan.

This train has no motor and cannot be operated as anything but a display.