Lego Hogwarts Express Trains are getting SO small - What can I do?

[@jouebien]

in 2007 we got the left door in the hobby train factory - 10183.

[@MinifigJez]

Yes we did, although it was the old mould of the door, not the more current one which came out in 2018/19. It's virtually impossible to buy the old door in new condition these days, and they CAN get really expensive !!!!! - Sorry, I should have been clearer in the video what I meant. - I'll pin your comment, so others can see it and my reply.

[@ShyGuyXXL]

The way Lego designs their sets is that the designers are told how much each set is supposed to cost at the end, and then they have to work within that budget. So even if they wanted to make everything bigger, they can't. In this case, since they wanted to have 2 coaches, each one had to be smaller. But hey, at least you get 2 of the small coaches. And you could always rebuild them into 1 big one.

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, I understand that, it's just sad that they downgrade the train so much. I know quite a few people who say they (or their kids) would prefer a set with a train, and a set with a station. But I'm sure Lego's marketing department knows this is more profitable. As for turning the two small coaches into one big one, the windows are too tiny compered to all previous trains, which is why my next video (out this Friday) is making a decent sized, but city scale coach !!! - Thanks for commenting.

[@keyboardking8008]

Lego overprices sets so hard , the least they could do is make proper trains with wheels that rotate so it can take a turn , plastic is cheap.

[@MinifigJez]

@@keyboardking8008 At least they stopped making the awful wheels with plastic hubs and have now gone back to the wheels that sit on teh metal axle, they spin SO much better !

[@bobbymcloughlin3452]

1:50 LEGO City: My Own Train Carriage (Composite) For The Hogwarts Express 1:05 LEGO Classic My Own Train Engine (Play Featured) For The Hogwarts 2:05 LEGO Classic: My Own British Train For The Hogwarts Express LEGO Kings Cross Station (2001) LEGO Hogsmeade Station (2004) LEGO Classic: My Own British Train (For The Hogwarts Express) 2:35 LEGO City: Tendered Steam Engine Switcher (Hogwarts Signature) 2:39 LEGO City: Open Plan Train Carriage For The Hogwarts Express 2:48 LEGO Hogwarts Express Engine (Original Model) 2:55 LEGO City: E&CR (Gangway Access) MK Branchline Coach 3:50 LEGO Playscale: Branchline Coaches (Hogwarts Themed) 3:30 LEGO Hogwarts Express Engine (Playscale Model) You Made A LEGO World City: E&CR MK Carriage 3:25 LEGO: E&CR MK Carriage (Original) E&CR = The English & Celtic Railways

[@MinifigJez]

Thanks for the extensive comment. Can you explain what you were trying to say, as I didn't understand a lot of it. - thanks.

[@kylelopez629]

In 2032 this train is gonna be like two studs wide.

[@MinifigJez]

LOL! - and there will only be enough space inside for nano figures, and not minifigures !

[@joshslater2426]

The carriage downsizing has gotten ridiculous. We haven’t had one with pivoting bogey since 2010, and the coaches are so small that my MOCS of 4 wheeled Victorian ones are longer. And somehow the 2018 version is the only one to have the air tubing at each end.

[@gamerfan8445]

Tbf, everytime they made them smaller. They added something to the consist.

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, removing pivoting bogies was a real shame, and it meant the wheels on the 2018 had to be far in from the ends of the coach, so that they weren't more than 16 studs apart, so they still go round corners!losing the magnets couplers ad buffers was sad too, but I presume its because they don't treat it in the same category as a City Train set.

[@carriageofnoreturn.1881]

I'm looking forward to seeing your completed coach - I've always felt that the official offerings leave a lot to be desired!

[@MinifigJez]

Thanks! It's all filmed and built, I just need to edit the whole thing, and it should be out on Friday.

[@Blue_Jewel2716]

Credit where it’s due. 76423 had the engine tender station and 2 coaches. So it feels like a more substantial train consist

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, but I think the trouble was, as Lego had decided to make the set at a certain price point and piece count, as it had a station and they wanted TWO coaches, the train, tender and coaches then had to be DRASTICALLY reduced in scale to accommodate all that content at the piece count that they wanted. Making the train look ridiculously small against every other train that Lego have ever made. The scale in the thumbnail, shows how small they really are by comparison. But there's no real answer to the problem, unless they put the train and the station in separate sets, but that wouldn't sell as well. Did you see my solution to teh problem in the 2nd video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTYd6iBic1goK8 Thanks for commenting. It's good to hear others' opinions on the subject.

[@Blue_Jewel2716]

@ ah nothing to it, just my two cents. XD fair point though but Walmart currently has them for $70. So I think I’m go ahead and grab one. Lego needs to make more steam trains

[@MinifigJez]

@@Blue_Jewel2716 YES! we can DEFINITELY agree that they need more steam trains. The Emerald Night was an amazing set, but is 15 years od now, imagine what teh Lego designers could do today with the new pieces and more modern building techniques!!! If you can afford to, I'd definitely recommend getting the H.E. set at $70 - that's a GREAT discount, especially as you don't mind the small coaches, I mean... I don't like their size, and I still bought the set, the day it was released, at full price !!!!!!!!!!

[@Blue_Jewel2716]

@ fair XD. There is the orient express but that thing is $300. Way out of my budget. I would settle for a saddle tank engine (think Percy from Thomas)

[@MinifigJez]

@@Blue_Jewel2716 Yes the Orient Express is an awesome set, but as well as costing a fortune, it is also HUGE!!! It's also fairly difficult to motorise, and I've seen some people who have motorised it, have issues because it's so heavy, the motor can't cope! I prefer my trains to be at Lego City scale. If you're from the U.S. there was also a nice steam train in the Lone Ranger theme. It cost $100 when it was new back in 2013, but you can sometimes see used ones for $150 these days Listing on Brickset: brickset.com/sets/79111-1/Constitution-Train-Chase Some on ebay: www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=lego+79111

[@GenoppteFliese]

As a train fan I hope you have heard about Mould King and Bluebrixx. Mould King has released a few trains you should know about (white fast train (12002), green diesel train ( 12001 ), red "magic" train with steam module (12010), oriental train (12025), and some more). But these often use technic elements for the engine. Bluebrixx has started to release english videos on youtube and they have a huge selection of train models with some historical models with european trains that are of regional interest while Lego maily focuses on models that sell worldwide. Bluebrixx actually is getting bigger again releasing more 8 wide versions of trains. Here you might be mainly interested in the parts to rebrick the stuff ...

[@MinifigJez]

yes blue bricks do make some good looking trains, but I only have 6-wide trains, and I only buy Lego not other brands.

[@sideburngthepeacebringer27]

Not worth limiting yourself to Lego, when there are other options. ​@@MinifigJez

[@MinifigJez]

@@sideburngthepeacebringer27 Surely, that depends on what someone likes, and what they like collecting? I'll let other people put off-brand sets on their YT channels and stick to Lego on mine for now thanks, I've had a couple of unsatisfactory experiences with non-Lego products.

[@MatecaCorp]

I can answer the question pretty easily. Harry Potter fans will buy anything that the brand is on, and LEGO knows it. The same goes for Star Wars.

[@MinifigJez]

It's a fair point, but if they will by anything, why don't Lego give us one set with a decent train in it, and a second set with a decent Hogsmede station in it!! instead of a compromise of both! - Thanks for commenting

[@sadstormtrooper8826]

@@MinifigJez cause why would they? Why wouldn’t they make cheaper to produce sets with less effort put into them and sell them for more knowing people will buy them any way?

[@MinifigJez]

@@sadstormtrooper8826 Why would they?... because their company motto is: "Only the Best is Good Enough" That's why I believe they SHOULD, but whether they do or not, is a different matter!!!!

[@Mr.AtheTriggerGalleon6310]

I'm a Lego fan and a Harry Potter fan but I don't buy just anything with Harry Potter on it. I skipped the 2023 Hogwarts Express & Hogsmead Station. Some Star Wars sets I skipped because they didn't have an interest in. I'm a big Star Wars fan.

[@MinifigJez]

@@Mr.AtheTriggerGalleon6310 Very sensible. I wouldn't have bought the hogshead station if I had more will power !!! The little station was great, and I did a nice MOD to it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZSqc3iBgbZjr9k - but the engine was a very sad affair.

[@harrytodhunter5078]

Yeah the coach is smaller, but the set comes with two coaches compared to the standard 1, and the set also has a beautiful looking hogsmeade station. Its not like the set as a whole is smaller.

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, you're absolutely right, as far a piece count goes, it's not smaller, but the coaches are meant to be good old British Rail 1960s stock, the original was a much better representation. The new tiny coaches look more like victorian coaches from the 1800's. If lego didn't want to increase the piece count or price, maybe they could have made a GREAT set with the train, and a GREAT set with the station. They released Hogwarts school in parts, so the stations could have been the same. But I completely understand that they want to give as much as they can without raising teh piece count or price, it's just a bit disappointing. (Sorry, WOW that was a long reply!!!!)

[@pastajensen]

Well... if this is not a proof of shrinkflation then what is?? Looking forward to the next vid!

[@MinifigJez]

I hadn't thought of it as shrinkflation, but you're absolutely right!!! Next video is all filmed, and teh coach is built, just need to do some editing and it should be out on Friday.

[@vshade]

At least the newest set got 2 coaches, so it shrank but at least it got to be a train

[@MinifigJez]

@@vshade Yes, it's a good point, but teh coaches were so tiny, and looked nothing like the actual trains, which is a bit sad.

[@Farmer_Doug]

I enlarged my passenger cars for the 2018 set to the point where they are 4 studs longer than the normal-size passenger car. Basically, I added the 2 passenger cars together one day when I was bored without using many extra pieces, so I bought a few more sets to experiment with, and now I have a baggage car that is 8 studs longer than the typical coach and 2 regular coaches, both having mock designs from the original models.

[@MinifigJez]

I think 2018 was the best engine, and at least the coaches were a sensible size (compared to the most recent ones!!) but it's wheel sets, buffers and windows were still disappointing. The new video where I build the replacement coach is out today, if you're interested you can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTYd6iBic1goK8sub_confirmation=1

[@GeohToy]

Can't wait to see part 2!

[@MinifigJez]

It's all filmed and built, I just need to do the editing and it should be ready to be uploaded on Friday.

[@spacegirlproduction9506]

I mean it’s good that past years we got many options not only one same size..

[@MinifigJez]

Yes.But making the newer ones SO small seems a little bit sad.

[@Blazing_Ninja]

And the prices are going 📈📈📈

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, which be fine IF we were still getting a bigger sized train, WITH a decent station!

[@Blazing_Ninja]

@@MinifigJez exactly!

[@JanTheAnimatorActual]

We went from a MK1 coach to a branchline coach to a narrow gauge coach.

[@MinifigJez]

yes, and a small Victorian branchline coach at that !!!!

[@katherineberger6329]

Set size is set by the budget niche that Lego wants their sets to be sold for in the marketplace.

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, I realise that, but it's sad that it means the trains become less and less like what they should look like. When the one from over 20 years ago is a better size than the one from last year!!!!!

[@bobbymcloughlin3452]

Lego Hogwarts Express Throughout The Years 2001: Kings Cross Station With Engine & Carriage 2004: Hogsmeade Station With Engine & Carriage 2004: Update & Motorisation Of The Hogwarts Express 2:15 2010: Hogwarts Express Set (Revised) 2018: Hogwarts Express Set (LEGO City Style) 2023: Realistic Hogwarts Express Engine With Miniature Axle-Stabled Coaches In Lego Train Scale Collectors Edition Hogwarts Express You Are Going To Have A Hogwarts Express Carriage In LEGO City Scale (Classic Style)

[@MinifigJez]

I'm confused by your list - please help... You say thet the first two were creator 3-in01 sets, but 3-in-1 never use established IP's in their sets, all teh Hogwarts Express trains have been in the separate Harry Potter theme. The two 2004 sets were the same, but one was motorised, with different wheels. The 2023 I'd argue, was no more realistic than other ones, and it only had 2 coaches not 4, and they were NOT bogie coaches, as they only had one set of wheels at each end, and were fixed, not rotating like bogies. Let me know what you meant. I'd say that all the previous train apart from the new 2023 one are the same size to City scale. It's only the new one which is a lot smaller. I look forward to hearing back from you.

[@bobbymcloughlin3452]

@@MinifigJez I Forgot That These Are Not Bogies, They’re Axles, Axle Stabled Wagons They Are, Bogies Rotate

[@bobbymcloughlin3452]

@@MinifigJez I Call Them 3-In-1 Because Of The Wheels They Used, They Don’t Rotate On Curved Track 2001: Kings Cross Station w/ Engine & Carriage 2004: Hogsmeade Station w/ Engine & Carriage 2004: Lego Hogwarts Express (Update & Motorisation) 2010: Lego Hogwarts Express (Revised) 2018: Hogwarts Express (Lego City Style) 2023: More Realistic Locomotive, But With Axle-Stable Mini-Coaches Lego Collectors Edition: Hogwarts Express Railway Coach Numbering Code 1 = Horse-Drawn, Man-Driven Or Engine-Hauled Carriage It Can Be For Passengers, Sleepers, Postal Services, Catering, Sideboard, Etc. Available With Brakes, Pantographs, Contact Shoes, Etc. Any Class Numbers (1, 2 Or 3) Man-Driven Carriage = Cabs At Both Ends MotorCoach = A Man-Driven Carriage Under The Power Of Fossil Fuel AutoCoach = A Man-Driven Carriage To Control The Locomotive 2 = Horse-Drawn, Man-Driven Or Engine Hauled Carriage & Trailer Horse-Drawn, Man-Driven Or Engine Hauled Coach & Brake Coach And So Forth

[@MinifigJez]

@@bobbymcloughlin3452 Thanks!

[@momokochama1844]

it's a magical train - it's bigger on the inside - ....maybe 😅

[@MinifigJez]

Hmmmmm, let's hope that's not going to be a Lego marketing policy from now on !!!!!

[@klotz__]

What you can do is not buying them so Lego doesn't get away with scamming its customers.

[@MinifigJez]

I wouldn't say they are "scamming" customers, just cutting a few corners and redirecting parts from a larger train with one coach to a smaller train with two coaches and a station. Also catering for, dare I say it... children, instead not adult Harry Potter lego fans !

[@tld8102]

I think 8 stud wide lego trains makes more sense. 6 is just too narrow

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, you can get fantastic detail at 8 studs wide, but I like Lego City, and if you work at Lego City scale, anything bigger than 6 studs wide looks out of place with Lego's own trains. There are two types of Lego train fans, the ones who strive to make things as accurate to the prototype trains as possible, and 8 studs wide DOES make most sense in that situation, but then there are the ones like me who are fans of Lego trains (not fans of trains made of Lego) There are so many amazing 7 and 8-wide Hogwarts Express trains, but most require so many parts they are out of reach to most people, so I wanted to share my simpler coach, that is in keeping with the sets that Lego have made, so that fans with newer sets can have a coach teh size of teh older sets. - I hope that helps you understand the 6-wide fans ! Thanks for commenting.

[@BOBs_bricks]

Nice, I made my custom Hogwarts express carriages, 32 studs long as I found it suits the locomotive

[@MinifigJez]

Mine is now made and filmed, and just needs to be editied for uploading on Friday and... I made it 32 studs long ! Great minds obviously think alike! Thanks for commenting

[@BOBs_bricks]

@MinifigJez , yip 🤣 I struggled to find the old style window in red locally especially for two carriages so used the new style.

[@MinifigJez]

@@BOBs_bricks I have been gradually collecting them for about 4 years now, if I ever see one in a Bricklink shop that I'm buying from, I get it, so I have quite a stash now, enough for 2 coaches. (It can be a bit pot-luck with what condition they are in though!!!!!) By the way, I love the look of your Dark Red modified Emerald Night. I always considered making one in bright red to turn into a Hogwarts Express engine!

[@neilrusling-je6zo]

Look at that glorious dark red carriage! That thing is simply MAGNIFICENT! I need at least three of those in my life...but 14 dark red 1x3x4 train windows per carriage? That is not gonna be cheap. The tan ones are £10 each, I bet dark red is even more pricey than tan...For gods sake Lego please do some more proper looking trains so we can get the parts down in price.

[@MinifigJez]

I presume that you mean the coach at 5:45? I must admit, I just found some images of great Hogwarts Express MOCs. But after seeing your comment, I checked BrickLink, and Lego have never made the classic train window in Dark Red!!! That image looks like a render of a virtual model, so I don’t know if an off-brand company make it in dark red, or if it’s a custom part. I know that there are reproduction tan windows out there from other companies (I’m just glad I bought two Emerald Nights, back when they were still in the shops!)

[@Sebdamememan]

Will you only be making the coach or will you also look at the loco? Nice video btw

[@MinifigJez]

The next video will just be the coach (to start with) I hope to look at the engine too, in the future.

[@Sebdamememan]

@@MinifigJez that sound awesome, can't wait to see what you come up with to improve on these designs

[@Damon_Drawings]

The 2023 engine is the best but has the worst coaches (at least there’s 2!)

[@MinifigJez]

I personally think that the 2018 was the better one. The 2018 engine is a whole brick taller than the 2023 engine. The rods on the sides of the wheels actually move, and the coach was a much better size. Although the tender was a bit short!!! This week's video is now out, and you can see me making my custom coach. As it's teh same height as standard Lego trains, it looks great behind teh 2018 engine, but unfortunately dwarfs the 2023 engine. If you're interested, you can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTYd6iBic1goK8sub_confirmation=1

[@Damon_Drawings]

@@MinifigJez to be fair the 2023 is shaped more like a train and is much cleaner but it’s at a smaller scale

[@MinifigJez]

@@Damon_Drawings Yes I agree. I suppose it depends on what angle u are coming at the set from. the 2023 looks more like teh prototype, because like you say its smaller so maybe looks more in proportion, where the 2018 one is very. short and stubby. But if your trying to fit it in with a LOT of other Lego trains, it just ends up looking teeny weeny.

[@Damon_Drawings]

@@MinifigJez I do love smol trains

[@robbycastelli6486]

I don’t think the new coaches are that bad

[@MinifigJez]

You're right that they are fine, as a fun little Lego train coach, but... when they are trying to base the set on an actual train coach, I think that they are seriously lacking. Even the 16 stud long coaches from 45 years ago in 1980, were better than these new ones. Those ones had doors, buffers, magnetic couplers and were a whole brick taller!

[@Mike_Wahousekey]

There actually are 6 stud long gold pieces. They came in the orient express.

[@MinifigJez]

You're absolutely right! I have the Orient Express, but when I was planning and bought the parts for this set, they weren't yet on Lego.com PAB, and were only available by buying them off someone who'd bought the Orient Express set and was Martin it out to sell! Now the 1x6 is on PAB, it's only 17p! and is a MUCH cheaper way to do it ! - Thanks for commenting

[@goclunker]

Lego wants to cash in on the license and doesn't care.

[@MinifigJez]

@@goclunker I don’t think we can say they don’t care, they obviously need to make money, but I just think that they are cutting corners, just like everything else these days, eg packets of food getting smaller but staying the same price etc. it’s the same for hogwarts express trains !!

[@goclunker]

@@MinifigJez Easiest way to make more money. Same price, less stuff

[@mattendo-retrogaminguk3584]

Here’s a little tip. I know it will sound ridiculous. I am also a Harry Potter Fan. But honestly don’t bother buying Lego as it’s a rip off these days

[@MinifigJez]

Erm... don't you think that might be a tiny little problem for my LEGO KZbin channel !?!?!?!?!?!

[@mattendo-retrogaminguk3584]

@ yeah of course. But you could show your skills with Lego by using old pieces from lots you have bought used in the past or odd prices you have spare to show your creativity. That’s what I like about Lego, not their sets anymore as it just shows their cost cutting. That’s all I’m angry about. Use what you have to show Lego what their sets should look like! It’s a actually some positive constructive feedback for your channel, I’m not that stupid.

[@MinifigJez]

@@mattendo-retrogaminguk3584 I would NEVER say you're stupid, but... I'm guessing you haven't watched many of my other videos, where I build my own creations, like: - my Class 442 Wessex Electric train - my London Underground train - my London Underground station - my collection of train tanker wagons (Cadbury, Milka, Coca-Cola & Duracell) - my Coca Cola Holidays Truck - my KZbin 10,000 subscriber plaque - my Stonehenge/Brickhenge - my Solar Farm - my Roman remains archeological dig site - my Italian Job Minis OR THE PART 2 OF THIS VIDEO, where I build my own Hogwarts Express Coach from scratch - just like I said I would at the end of THIS video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTYd6iBic1goK8sub_confirmation=1

[@mattendo-retrogaminguk3584]

@ ok cool I’ll check them out 😄

[@edwinvantienen160]

I like your video, but not this sad trains…. AFOLs have made really good looking English trains even in 6 wide. But paid LEGO set designers came up with this??? From first to last they all look bad. Fyi: the red train doors where already available in early 80s. There was a red mail van in the 12 volt system, so you could have ordered them via Bricklink, you did not have to wait for LEGO to produce it

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, I didn't make myself very clear in the video, that it was the newer mould version of teh door that wasn't available in left and right in red. It was difficult to find the original doors from the 80's in decent condition, which is why I wanted teh newer ones. If you watch part 2, I think I explained it a bit better. part 2 is here, if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXTYd6iBic1goK8sub_confirmation=1

[@Nuniixo]

Shrinkflation

[@MinifigJez]

Yes, a few other people have said that, and I think it's definitely the case.

[@charlenemartin6403]

2:47 my son could not agree more

[@MinifigJez]

Great... I'm glad it's not just me, as many people have commented that they prefer the more recent one, which is too ridiculously small in my opinion!! - Thanks for commenting.

[@charlenemartin6403]

No Lego hogwarts express is better than 75955

[@MinifigJez]

@@charlenemartin6403 I'm definitely considering modifying it slightly, just to make it a bit longer. Nothing major, just enough to make it more in proportion to the real life engine.

[@charlenemartin6403]

Maybe add gold stripes to make it more accurate to the real locomotive

[@MinifigJez]

@@charlenemartin6403 Thanks for the suggestion. I have several projects on the go at the moment, so it'll have to be something for the new year!

[@ilovecats136]

Hi

[@MinifigJez]

Hi there (as I said in the video opening!)