Legos are widely considered to be one of the greatest toys of all time. They still outperform other toys year after year, with children and adults alike buying and building new sets with equal enthusiasm. Another extremely popular toy, particularly during the holiday season, are train sets. As such, Lego has created a number of intricate and gorgeous train set builds for families to enjoy assembling together over the holidays and throughout the new year.
The Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Express is one such build. With 801 pieces, specialty minifigures and so much more to offer, this extremely highly regarded train set is suitable for children ages eight and up but can be completed by younger children with help from their parents.
What to know before you buy a Lego train set
Difficulty and age range
Lego and Lego Duplo sets range in target age groups and difficulty levels considerably. The Introduction to Lego sets are designed for children aged 1.5 years or older. Duplo are geared more towards younger children ages 2 and up, consisting of larger pieces that aren’t a choking hazard. By age 4, Lego sets are geared toward fostering creativity while still being easy to build. Lego sets for ages 6 and up begin to set a more challenging tone for your children with deep, imaginative play. By age 9, targeted Lego sets have more pieces, take longer to complete and provide your children with a greater sense of accomplishment. Finally, Lego builds geared towards kids ages 13 and up, or in some cases, ages 18 and up, are typically immense sets with complicated instructions that take substantial time and patience to complete.
Size
As Lego builds increase in complexity and price point, so too do they increase in size. Some Lego builds require a large surface area to assemble and display. The larger the set, the more difficult it will be to move without damaging it or losing attachments once complete. This is especially true for train sets with tracks. When selecting your Lego train set, ensure you have chosen a suitable place to admire it and play with it once built.
Fandom
Some other hugely popular Lego sets and fandoms that might interest you and your children include kits from the Star Wars fandom, the World of Disney, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the DC Universe, the Marvel Universe, Ninjago, SpongeBob, Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings and many, many more. Refer to Brickipedia for a complete list of available fandoms, both historical and current.
Lego train set features
Minifigures
Many Lego sets and builds come with specific minifigures which correspond to their theme or universe. The Hogwarts Express, for example, includes the Trolley Witch who is unique to this build. This set also includes a Chocolate Frog and a Wanted Poster, as well as a number of Lego pieces that are unavailable for purchase separately. The Lego Creator Winter Holiday Train also includes several unique minifigs like the ticket collector and buildable micro toy Christmas gifts for the minifigures. Duplo contains Duplo-specific figures only that meet their size criteria, not traditional Lego minifigs.
Trains in Lego history
Lego train sets are a long-standing tradition at the Lego Group. First introduced in 1965, the 323 Train was available for one year and featured road wheels rather than a train track. In 1966, Lego introduced new train sets which included tracks and battery-powered motors. Since that time, there have been dozens of iterations of their classic train sets, gradually becoming more efficient and powered more innovatively for children to enjoy. As of 2018 and to date, Bluetooth compatibility was introduced under the name Powered Up.
Accessibility
Many Lego sets are available in several different age ranges and difficulties so that they are accessible even to very young children. Lego train sets, for example, are sold in different train models so that very small children, or adult hobbyists, can find equal enjoyment in Lego train assembly.
Lego train set cost
Lego train sets can vary according to the number of pieces in the build, the intricacy and difficulty of the build, whether it includes the “Power Functions” motor and availability. However, you can usually expect to spend anywhere from $80-$175 on most Lego train sets.
Lego train set FAQ
Can Lego train sets be motorized?
A. Many Lego train sets can be motorized in various ways, but not all sets are compatible. When selecting your train set, ensure under the specifications that it can be motorized with their Power Functions motor, sold separately.
Can Lego train sets be illuminated with LED lights?
A. Some Lego sets and Lego train sets include lighting or festive lighting, while others do not. However, LED lighting kits can be purchased separately online for specific Lego builds that will custom fit the set. YouTube is especially helpful when planning to light up your specific Lego builds.
Which Lego train set should I get?
Best of the best Lego train set
Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Express: available at Amazon
Our take: This iteration of the Hogwarts Express by Lego is a gorgeous and fun build for children and adults of all ages, with Platform 9 3/4, a number of specialty minifigures, removable side panel and railway bridge.
What we like: This set includes iconic Harry Potter nostalgia, boasts hidden compartments, a moving brick wall entrance and so many surprises for fans of the iconic series.
What we dislike: This set tends to sell out incredibly quickly, particularly near the holiday season.
Best bang for your buck Lego train set
LEGO City Cargo Train: available at Amazon
Our take: This robust cargo train set offers a number of different cargo vehicles, tracks and figurines for the model-maker and imaginative player alike.
What we like: This intricate set includes six minifigures, a motorized engine with a 10-speed Bluetooth remote control, a log wagon, crane wagon, container wagon and numerous other accessories. Also comes with a control tower and an armored car. Perfect for a variety of pretend-play applications and model-city building and a good starter set to tack new sets onto.
What we dislike: It’s pricey — so the bang for your buck comes down to the sheer number of pieces and builds available here.
Honorable mention Lego train sets
Lego Duplo Steam Train: available at Amazon
Our take: For younger children and toddlers, this steam train by Lego Duplo is a great option to excite and challenge them safely.
What we like: This train set is a push-and-go steam train once assembled, can be remote-controlled via your personal devices and is easy to assemble for all ages. This set also includes lights, sounds and movements which encourage the development of fine motor skills and cognitive ability.
What we dislike: One reviewer indicated that after a year of use, the sounds on the steam train stopped functioning. Ashley Britten is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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