K995 w/Boxcar GEVO meets Tri-Rail!

Corridor "history" has been made as the first CSX Boxcar GEVO, 3014, made it into the Miami Terminal. Probably a transfer off of  Q741, I expected the first one to come by way of a V-series coal train. If anyone made any bets that we would be free of any "Boxcar GEVOs" by the end of 2012... sorry, you lost.

LEGO Bricks and Pieces Online Ordering

One thing I discovered when researching parts for an order is that LEGO now has one bettered Pick-A-Brick online. For any sets currently in production, you can now buy individual parts direct. Only thing is, the limit is 200 parts.

https://service.lego.com/en-us/replacementparts/#BasicInfo

I believe that this is no secret -- Brickset has this site listed as a way to buy virtually any part.

How this works is that after selecting age and location, and selecting "BUY A PIECE" you search a set #, place an order for a part, and list the desired quantity (again, up to 200). You then go to checkout by placing contact info and they will give you a quote. You end up paying - somehow - then they mail it to you. It'll take a while though, I'm sure, as the parts come from Europe.

Only thing is, I don't know how good it is. It raises some questions:

Are the parts marked up? ie: $0.25 for a 1x4 brick in Sand Green...

Will you get a better deal the more you place an order on a certain element?

Regardless, the system looks pretty good. I have to try it out.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, a photo by brickbuilder711 on Flickr.

( NEW LEGO City 2013 60009 Helicopter Arrest )

Dis set ( NEW LEGO City 2013 60009 Helicopter Arrest ), a photo by LegoIiner PiIot on Flickr.

Shared by Colby M to Flickr.
New Helicopter set. Sort of under wraps but now the cat has left the back.

All I can say is AWESOME. This is something I could consider getting.

Announcement: LEGO Christmas Layout

For the umpteenth time, I am proud to have another under-the-tree layout for the Holiday season this year! A tradition that started in HO in 1999, then migrated over to LEGO Trains when I discovered them in 2001, I usually run one or two loops (2005) of trains under the tree.

This year I am looking forward to operating one elongated loop of trains. There is a chance it will be one extended dumbbell loop.

There are a couple of new things planned for this year. One of them is the addition of a footbridge done with classic Spanish architecture, which will peek over a double track mainline and carry the electrical wiring that will power the tree and tracks. The bridge is complete and for the most part under wraps. Another will be the addition of LED lighting for the Tree, which has been powered by incandescent lights for ages. This will be a hybrid as the lights don't come cheap, but an improvement nonetheless. The Fortress, a 2010 Restaurant MOC, may be replaced in its position by a recently built McDonalds while that undergoes a renovation. I also plan to make good on landscaping and beautifying the layout as the previous years' were not very much landscaped. There may be an industrial spur or mini yard. I will also make good on posting video to YouTube, and may throw together a similar layout from '07 in a separate package.

LEGO Grab Bags to be Discontinued

Despite the exciting news of the 10233 Horizon Express which I will be very happy to have, I have some bad news from the man himself, K. Hinkle.

According to a thread on Eurobricks, and with him quoted, they are no longer allowing Brand Retail to sell Grab Bags. Reason being, there are legal implications to the quality of product and they probably are following legislation to prevent any future lawsuit over "broken" parts, or maybe scratches, or some legal mumbo-jumbo. This obviously seems bad and uncomfortable for the expert builder like myself who has recently begun to live off of these (see a couple past and future entries).

I will look at it in a different eye. He says he is trying to arrange for a solution for us AFOLs, since we are a reasonable fraction of the company's clientele. What can be done?

• All schools where I am at ban the sale of food in "competition" with the cafeteria (seriously, how is someone going to run the cafeteria out of business?) Victims are fundraiser sales for clubs and "(insert holiday here) Grams". Now, if the food is "given" in another sold package (of "Balloons" for example), there is a little bit of going around it.
• In context, clients can be "Given" the parts to fill in a Paid Pick-A-Brick Cup. But to keep it within reason and compliance, I would limit it only to AFOL and people who have known staff of their store. The idea is to prevent any complaint from anyone not seriously into this (general consumer). If you are an AFOL, it is certainly understood any 1-in-1000 complaint is genuine and you're not trying to screw the company. It makes ZERO sense for anyone to inspect the contents of your pick a brick cup, so we all can get our Dark Tan 1x6 bricks there. No one is going to inspect the PAB stock sold anyway. It's just get a plastic cup and fill it with whatever you want. Gum wrappers, megablocks, or maybe real LEGO.
• Now, if the parts have to be given away to someone, maybe WE can benefit from it. The idea is stores may not profit from Grab Bag material [used brick, brick from damaged sets, excess/mistreated PAB brick]. The parts can be given to trusted LUGs as we AFOL are truly the only people that can be "trusted" with used material and will probably not complain at all like any ordinary client could. Lots of fans would not want the material to be thrown away or recycled as it is LEGO and it can last 30-40 years. Remember that this stock is already losing market value when opened and built, and that it already generated big bucks by being advertising space for said set. (Economic principle, think opportunity cost of NOT displaying it!)

I really hope something positive and helpful to us works out in the future.

-$0.02

BIG LEGO Train Surprise! 10233 Horizon Express

10233_box1_na, a photo by fbtb on Flickr.

HOT OFF THE PRESS:

LEGO has JUST unveiled cover art for a new skilled train set! This looks a lot like the TGV in France.

More info:
http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=74649

Price to Piece ratio is affordable, at under 10 cents a part. I think having this as part of Creator is brilliant as it is indeed one of those types of sets.

If you ask me, I find it one of the most beautiful sets ever produced. Very realistic, sleek, and modern. I will be getting this for Christmas!