LEGO Cargo Railway 4559 train from 1996 reviewed! Unconventional, funky, but slick

An in-depth look at the 1996 LEGO System train set called Cargo Railway on behalf of Patreon supporter Tomogotchi, plus some running footage!
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[@LordShrub]

Man this is so nostalgic to me. Not that I've owned it, but as a kid I drooled over it in the catalog.

[@isupalodee]

I've picked up the makings of this set and the instructions. Hoping to complete it

[@shampo0oLWD]

Same!

[@lq4322]

A friend of mine had it and didnt play with it which made me furious.

[@Scott-yu4yt]

Same boat here!

[@deafblindnoob2748]

Same here bro

[@lokeasplund8412]

This train is as cyberpunk something can be without being cyberpunk. The design and weird cargo system is very futuristic. Almost ready for Mellemby District as it is.

[@NathanMaglott]

I was thinking the same thing, something inspired by this would fit down there perfectly

[@SuperSecretBricks]

There is something so dystopian about the way this sets "ships people", plusbthe retro yet futuristic look. Not even to mention the use of blacktron colour scheme. All the elements are here for this train to go to the cyber punk area!

[@EvilLobsterKing]

When I saw the thumbnail, for a moment I thought it was a moc for Mellemby. Definitely think it fits pretty perfectly

[@henrypaleveda7760]

I was thinking that I could mod this for a space cowboy robbery

[@cyboticzombie]

Imagine your just having a nap on a train and then you wake up and you’re on the back of a truck being drove around.

[@user-nv4nj7oh4c]

😂😅😅

[@tomogotchi9140]

This review was well worth the wait, especially since this train has that much significance to me and how much I played with it as a kid. 1996, I was around 8-9 years old when this first came out, very nostalgic, and finally seeing it zoom around New Jang City was real eye-candy for me, so thanks for that little extra effort to do so (even though I know your layout was in a state for a while) Brilliant review Jang, keep up the good work, I probably can't make another request due to my situation but I'm glad I was able to request this one and make it count, and I'm happy other people like it too. All the best, Click-Click! =D

[@JorisKoolen]

Thanks for requesting this one. I had actually never seen this set before, and it's really nice to learn about it!

[@alexanderanderson7422]

TomoGotchi THANK YOU so for requesting this set!!! This was by far my favorite set growing up. The hours and hours of fun I had playing with this set over years is such a wonderful memory for me. I got worried when Jang said he "poo-pooed this set" it broke my heart... and then a huge sigh of relief when he said he had the same fun experience I had. I still have this buried in my parent's attic somewhere. I'll dig it out at some point as I'm getting back into Lego after a 15+ year drought. When I first found Jang 6 months ago I immediately thought of this set and wanted to see him talk about it. Thank you for making that happen TomoGotchi and Jang!

[@hiltwo]

Thanks for requesting and sharing :)

[@johnnations5932]

Thank you TomoGotchi for this great sponsorship and request! You and Jang make a great team!

[@vjl323]

Thanks so much @TomoGotchi for requesting this set! I absolutely love this train and I don't think I'd ever seen it before this review. Very BlackTron like and I love the minimal but modern looking front cab of the train - I feel like this could be altered just slightly to be a "space train" of sorts. What a classic looking set with amazing minifigs too. Thanks for your review, Jang and thanks for requesting it, TomoGotchi!

[@jaspervankruijssen4916]

Although I've never owned this set, it still brings a lot of nostalgia from the LEGO Loco game and its iconic intro. I never knew it had those 'pods'. Such a fun addition imo.

[@britishrex5515]

First thing i thought of too!

[@petere8175]

Yes yes yes! I loved making towns, sim city style back in middle school

[@TTHBLOX_]

I remember years ago getting this as a gift from someone who was cleaning their lego collection. 15 year old me was so happy to have the train from lego loco

[@nonsencetom2554]

I loved this set as a kid, i'd look through the 1998 lego catalog and imagine playing with it, the color scheme is just awesome, same as the res-q line

[@brickonator]

This is a lovely and wholesome set that I always wanted as a kid in the 90s. I loved the black and yellow style used in this and the RES-Q line. The way passengers are carried is a little bit strange, but if you swapped the colors a bit this would make a perfect Space Police set.

[@feytharn]

The style of human transportation would fit perfectly into a cyberpunk city, wouldn't it?

[@leroy1154]

Given the current/recent world, it would probably fit in real life too. Can't get much more socially distanced then being loaded on to the train in your own traveling capsule that you can't leave until you're unloaded at your destination.

[@frostedbutts4340]

Great review of a great set. Man being locked in that glass coffin would be scary but hey Lego figs don't need to breathe!

[@ewan.cartwright]

Minifigures know that they are made of the same exact material as everything else in the world, so the idea of treating minifigures like cargo is much more socially acceptable to them than it is to us.

[@maartnnn0507]

This is a great comment😆👍

[@MG-sy8pj]

Totally totally charming train set! I love that 1990's colour scheme, too. Big thanks to Tomogotchi for this choice, and, Jang, it is joyous to see that train zooming around New Jang City! Thank you:)

[@Britishbricks]

Love this set so much! Was my third ever train set, such a quirky build but so many awesome play features!

[@LordPhobos6502]

It's just a good, fun set ❤😊

[@vtr0104]

Strange to hear about the initial lack of interest in this, while there are other sets that do either the freight or passenger aspects better, there aren't really any that meshed the two together so well. It's got enough of both worlds to offer a diverse play experience, plus a dose of nostalgia (the Locomotive section uses the same cabin as the Metroliner, and the low-slung rail cars are a nod to the Metroliner's 4547 Accessory Club Car). 1996 was pretty much a golden year for LEGO trains, with this and the 4565 Freight and Crane set both having excellent playability and options (as you've shown, these are still part of the alternate-picture-build-on-the-box lineup, so you could come up with your interpretations)

[@baronvonclems]

I can tell you from my perspective as a child in the 90s why this train didnt appeal to me. Back then there was no nostalgia yet. But more importantly, these sets where grounded in the real world, unlike fantasy sets. Because of this, as a child i was looking for trains to compare to the real world. Passanger trains like 4558 or worker trains like 4564 where more like real life trains, so they had way more appeal. This train looked too futuristic for your lego city at the time. If lego had more futuristic looking city sets, this train would have gotten more love at the time.

[@ChristopherDraws]

Watching the review of this set inspires me to start creating a positive-futurist Lego city of my own. I see a lot of historical recreations, attempts to recreate a contemporary city, as well as the steampunk/dystopian cities... But rarely I've seen people creating a "city of the future" (maybe a selection bias, because I do like MOC castles and other historical stuff). When I was growing up, Lego town/city sets always did seem a little futurist to me, so it feels appropriate to use Lego to explore how we might use cities differently. Thanks for the review Jang.

[@timwaycaster7538]

I own this set. My grandma bought it for me when I was 6 or 7. Your critiques are spot on. It’s an unrealistic, quirky set, but it was so much FUN! I played with mine so much that some of the parts broke. This set gives modern train sets a run for their money when it comes to play features. Thanks for the review.

[@cactusninja7514]

Everything about the station is so perfect to me: the truck lining up so well with the train, the spring-loaded boom gates and the simplicity of it all.

[@lbricks7631]

Ahhhh, the inner train fan in Jang comes out again.

[@SyntheticWitch]

the son of one of my parents' friends had this set when i was a kid. I was so insanely jealous of him. Of course, I had only a very vague concept of just how expensive this was and just how rich that family was, lol. He didn't even let me play with it because he didn't have the track set up and couldn't be bothered ;_;

[@flamingbunnyrabbits]

My friend had this set and I can confirm: you can get that train to go FAST

[@joefaracevideos]

This is more of the kind JANG review that I originally loved. Amazingly clever set design. Thank you.

[@GolemOfTime]

I remember seeing this thing all the time when I would play Lego Loco. Good times.

[@colinroberts2060]

This set is roughly one year older than myself. I personally didn't know about it until sometime earlier this year when I found a review on a different channel. It's angular aesthetic is rather similar to the "Metroliner" from 1991 (re-released in '01, under a different set number) but that was a passenger train. More curiously, the black ponytail hair piece in this set-which was introduced with the "Paradisa" subtheme in '92 was retired ten years ago, along with the standard 4x12 plate in yellow. In fact, several pieces within this set in yellow are no longer produced today, including the 1x2 brick w/snap, 2x2 plate w/snap, the 2x2 round tiles, and even the 1x3 25 degree roof tile in yellow was retired just last year.

[@mrpearguy8455]

Those sets back in the day were so creative and wonderful. I can feel the imagination flowing through this plastic bricks 🤩

[@All_Things_Strange]

The reason I have become a Lego collector is because of the joy it brought me to play with my Lego sets (: jang, you are a pure dude

[@MrClassic.]

What a lovely review Jang! 🥰 8:05 "There you go, you're home, bye" 😂

[@andynaundorf8343]

Great review of a great toy. We still have this kit. The kids built an overhead crane to load and unload containers onto trucks. We also built additional crates to replace the passenger crates. Our crates held race cars. It made the train look as cool as the passenger version.

[@RealRSmokinJoe]

Call me old, but I love seeing reviews of older sets from my childhood! Thank you for doing these!

[@ikemotosystems1434]

Ahh I remember this set on the catalogs of the 90s... Was my dream to own it, but they were never really stocked in the toy stores in my town. Didn't stop kid me from daydreaming about it every other day!

[@VintageRaspberry]

The Lego Loco intro's song still plays in my head looking at this set.

[@lenrietmann569]

Dude!!! I'm jealous! I wanted this set in 1996, but was too limited on funds and space. Loved the concepts and coloring of this, and saw so much potential to making alternat modules. Great review Jang! Love your passion for Lego

[@Cognitive_player]

Those metal tracks were an interesting and underrated function

[@leximatic]

Ah, those were the times LEGO still knew how to make trains. Great vid, thx a lot. If you can, please do more 90's.

[@AminalCreacher]

Got this set used when I was very young. It was my first ever lego train! 15 years later and I’m still a huge fan. How about that!

[@NandR2011]

This set takes me back to LEGO loco, a lego train simulator, old lego games were just the best JANG i hope you do a lets play of some late 90’s early 2000’s lego games

[@lokeasplund8412]

I just can't stop thinking about this set. I imagine these "people pods" being used to transport people in all kinds of ways. Like a big transfer station where people pods are loaded and unloaded between various people pod vehicles like people pod buses, people pod taxis, people pod air planes, catapults, cable cars, boats, you name it. It's so awesome and weird.

[@dylanjones9544]

Ah yes the Lego Loco computer game nostalgia is hitting me

[@UnprofessionalFlip]

Definitely would love to see two of these running together with the locomotive on each end. I'll bet that'll be an expensive thing to do.

[@tillscheller]

I got this for my 11th birthday, 16th of Sep, 1996, the exact date of release (in Germany that was). I was totally captivated by this because it looked so much better than previous trains. After some time however, I felt like the previous passenger trains were somewhat more realistic and maybe better, overall. Still, I got enough spare parts to build my own large and small containers and even a truck I could attach them to (Imagine having a Bus truck without the need to change yourself). Eventually I build a small city around this train, got the tracks/street crossing and made my own main station for it. I never was the Lego display guy, I always built what came to mind and disassembled every model for parts. This train was the only exception. Even when I sold all my Lego this train was still assembled. Dear memories I got with this one.

[@wstlyguy]

I asked for what seemed like forever to get a LAGO train set for Christmas. One year I got this and cried I was so excited. This was my only 9v train. I didn't get back into trains again until I was older and could buy my own in the power functions line. Such an awful but wonderful set all in one! Thanks Jang!

[@andybricks576]

hey JANG. This just makes my heart sing and I wish I had an electric Lego train. I love the colors of this set as its a favorite one for me.

[@phuzziwan_kenobi]

one great thing about the nose piece on the engine is that it's designed to accept the 9v light mounted on the side of a 1x2 electrified brick. a single 2x4 9v plate powers it from the motor

[@crisfrey2753]

YES!!! I loved looking at this one in the catalogs as a kid, great to se you review it!

[@Hockernant]

I owned this set and the red freight train from the same era. Loved playing with those with my Lego city sets

[@csharp57]

I had the same feeling as a lego train fan. This set is giving ideas. I wish lego would revisit this in an updated version. I would add another sleeper and passenger to this

[@southfrozen9193]

Beautiful set, and thanks for this review

[@adamb2619]

Blast from the Past! Love it!

[@inflex4456]

This is pure awesomeness, thanks!

[@MihaiD259]

10 year old me was looking at this for hours in the catalogue

[@SaturnCanuck]

That was so cool. If I was a kid in 1996 this would have been a "must have"

[@jtonline99]

As a kid, I got a Metroliner the year before this was released, and I'm so glad I did as this was such a ridiculous replacement to what I now think of as an iconic Lego passenger set

[@SAFTH0DEN]

Had this as a kid and loved it! Might have to go through my Lego bins and rebuild it. Thanks for the video

[@jurassirex326]

This and the red cargo train were the ones I had as a kid and cemented my love for LEGO city and trains to this day. Such good memories.

[@tnridgerunner]

This was my first Lego train. That engine running without the cars attached is stupid fast.

[@thebrickhiker]

This would work very well as a Blacktron train! The color scheme and just how futuristic it looks. Definitely seems like it would work well on the moon or another space setting. :)

[@jan-willemgmeligmeyling8393]

I was lucky enough to receive this set as a kid and just recently put the set back on display again. I've always found this set to be amazing (also the alternate builds on the back of the packaging, briefly shown at 10:52). Thanks for reviewing one of my absolute favorite sets!

[@KenTails]

Ohhhh YES!! This set looked very fun on a Lego catalogue collection-esque book I had when I was little Thanks for reviewing it, Jang! 7:55 Wooow. I did not know about this feature

[@PhoenixClank]

Whoa, this is awesome! It's such a retro-futuristic idea of a transport system, I love it!

[@georgebendall7401]

The 199 LEGO Cargo Railway train was in the LEGO Loco PC Game intro which was cool

[@shaggygabe728]

I do really like the transport-pods on the wagons. They have a surprisingly nice interior.

[@davidheier]

I got a box of old lego with a 9V train a while back. This was the set. Never knew which one until now, but I have all these parts

[@thebox228]

Great video, love the old sets.

[@halguy5745]

what a great, imaginative and timeless set, just wow

[@matthewg.3786]

I still have this set, one of the first, if not the first, train sets I owned as a kid. Loading and unloading the compartments was one my favorite parts of the train.

[@bertfripont1545]

Indeed, the most beautiful train in the Lego set! I totally agree.

[@Jimjira]

My first and best train ever. I was 9 at the time I got it for my birthday and so mad that my parents already built it for me as a surprise. Now I know as a parent myself😂

[@Pathfinder118]

For my 13th birthday my mom bought me this set for me, she kept asking me if it was ok if she bought the wrong one, the other was the pure freight train that didnt have this sleek look. Luckly for me on the day of my birth, boom there it was, I played with it for weeks straight and if my old legos hadnt gotten destroyed, I would still have the parts for this wonderful set to this day.

[@tomdreesen1948]

Ohhhh I loved this train

[@bikesbeardsbeers94]

Oh man. This was one that I stared at for ages in the catalogs. Such nostalgia

[@seanlavoie2]

Great review :) I really like the locking technique and the double jumpers on the sleeping cabs. Simple, but fascinating tricks.

[@2_Cents.]

Great to see. This was my first train

[@hllyenaylleth9576]

Awesome!

[@filipgaczkowski8288]

Man, this is the best train logo has ever made

[@charlesbrantner8206]

this sets crazy! i didnt know lego had sets with metal pieces in it, so awesome!

[@bdonaghu]

Seeing that train go around your city really makes me want to see a new city overview video!

[@apprenricebrickoflegend]

The footage at the beginning, with the train riding on the tracks, was PERFECTLY timed to when the review began AND had incredible stabilization!

[@tnridgerunner]

7:00 when Jang manually rotates the barriers, that actually isn’t necessary. They were designed to be pushed open by the truck and would then close on their own when the truck drove off.

[@RemiScutlet]

yay, more classic stuff!

[@arcturionblade1077]

What a cool vintage set!

[@harmenvanderploeg9666]

Man it sucks not to have been alive back when this was on sale :)

[@tylertichoc7330]

I seriously wish that they would make a train set like this again. Something like this would be COMPLETELY possible and even easier to design and assemble with Lego's current Powered-UP System. And I bet it would cost less too with the access to MUCH more Modern Pieces that are FAR more efficient. AND, if it were Designed like this with the Modern Modular System becoming so common nowadays especially in the City and Creator themes. AND they could even just release the same set multiple times in different colors and stickers and slightly different outer modifications for multiple Lego City Sub Themes. They could even use different cockpit and cabin unitary pieces like the more modern Helicopter Canopy, the new Jumbo Jet Cockpit, or the most recent Passenger Train/Tram piece. And they could each continue the different shaping of the front end of the train across both halves of the entire train. And they could even come in different color combinations for different Railway Lines or different cargo and utility companies. Like a Blue and Orange Passenger Line, a Red and Silver Passenger Line, and Green and White City Cargo line. They could even do this same thing with other different Original Lego themes. Like Space for instance.👀

[@sebastianthomsen2225]

🤔

[@koshie66]

what a beautiful train! The color scheme is perfect.

[@filipposguotti6974]

the passenger modules have also a 4x4 space under, so they can be loaded-unloaded by a old school forklift

[@josome7451]

Im surprised lego would ever make such a dark and dystopian set, times have changed

[@millenniumf1138]

Man, I just LOVE that classic black with yellow highlights color scheme! The 90's sets had the best color schemes!

[@GoingHamAllTheWay]

Wow great set, I came for a different video but saw the train thought LEGO made a new one and realized yup hella awesome set that holds up lil better then today

[@johnnations5932]

Wow! Fantastic video, so well-edited! Love how the old train looks racing around your city! Cool camera angles and positions. I love the inclusion of the black briefcases full of gold coins. And best in this video is when you say, "you're home! Bye!" sounding like the HISHE guy 😂

[@affenrodeo226]

i really loved that train

[@Shitphototaker69]

in Australia there was a type of diesel railmotor which had a tiny engine unit connected to a non powered unit just like this set

[@Drummercommander]

Ahh the memories!

[@yournutt]

the locomotive reminds me of the little racing trains you used to make!

[@broodjebamibal]

I have/had this set and it was the coolest thing ever as a kid.

[@LordPhobos6502]

Ooh, the cargo bays on those carriages will happily hold a modern 16x6 container, like the Maersk containers 🙂👍

[@vaporfed]

Thank you for doing this set! I had been asking for it for Christmas, and was snooping around found it in the attic! Needless to say, I couldn't sleep for days waiting for Santa.

[@jheeshin621]

Hello Jang! So glad that you're back to reviewing classic sets! I like classic LEGO as well as modern LEGO! Will you review any more sets from LEGO's other themes (e.g. Mars Mission even though I don't particularly like the theme, Insectoids, Aquazone, et cetera)? 2:19 Ooh! I happen to have 2 of those nice little printed pieces! They are so versatile, aren't they? This set: Tractor-trailer × (Passenger Train + Cargo Train) = LEGO set 4559. I really love the weirdness of this set. It seems like everything was designed by an eccentric LEGO designer, and I love it. It's (and many classic sets) are so much more fun, interesting and more like a playset than modern sets, which look good but don't work as nicely. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for this set, for sure! Kudos to the designer(s)!

[@DarthMotion]

I needed this set review, i was looking for a review and a few months later this came out

[@LiamRobinson]

Ahhhh I used to dream about this set in the catalogues

[@richh6001]

There's something about Lego from the 70s-90s that is just very aesthetically appealing. I didn't even grow up in those times, but I remember looking through Lego books as a kid and seeing the imagination of those old sets. Also having so much nostalgia from the ending Jang music in this video! 😀

[@Hippienolic2]

I’m so impressed by the level of creativity and playability with this old set

[@SHADOSTRYKR]

The $3.09 price of Octan Gas is weirdly prophetic coming from 1996 and being reviewed in 2021… pretty sure that’s right around what I paid last time I filled up