12V

About 12V

Mains power on the rails

The Train theme is divided by power system, and 12V covers the models driven by a transformer plugged into the wall rather than batteries carried on board. It ran alongside the cheaper 4.5V range and was the choice for anyone who wanted a proper layout. During the 1980s the system grew into a complete railway world with grey track, stations, signals and points, so a good share of the 53 sets are infrastructure as well as locomotives.

Passenger and freight flagships

The largest set is the Inter-City Passenger Train (7740-1) from 1980, with 787 pieces. The High-Speed City Express Passenger Train (7745-1) followed in 1985 with 737 pieces. Freight fans can look at the Freight Steam Train (7727-1, 570 pieces), the Electric Goods Train (7730-1, 520 pieces) and the Freight Train (7735-1, 518 pieces), while the Electric Passenger Train (7725-1) has 493 pieces. Away from the trains themselves, the Container Crane Depot (7823-1, 484 pieces) from 1986 is one of the final releases, and the Train with 12V Electric Motor (720-2, 358 pieces) marks the start of the range in 1969.

Restoring a vintage layout

These sets have been off the shelves for decades, so most people come to them through second-hand lots, inherited boxes or a childhood layout rediscovered in the loft. The parts list for each set shows exactly which pieces belong where, which makes it much easier to work out what is missing before you start hunting for spares. Rebuilding one of these trains is also a good way to see how design changed over nearly twenty years, from the simple models of 1969 to the long, detailed passenger trains of the mid-1980s.

FAQ

When were 12V trains made?

The sets in this theme date from 1969 to 1986.

Which 12V set is the largest?

The Inter-City Passenger Train (7740-1) from 1980, with 787 pieces.

Which theme does 12V belong to?

It is a sub-theme of Train, alongside the 4.5V, 9V and RC Train ranges.