4.5V

About 4.5V

Batteries on board

Every sub-theme of Train is named after its power system, and 4.5V refers to the battery box that travelled with the locomotive. No transformer or wall socket was needed, which kept these sets simple and affordable compared with the 12V range sold alongside them. Not every set here has a motor, though. The push-along models, clearly labelled in their names, use the same style of track and wagons but rely on pushing. The range lasted almost twenty years, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s.

Largest trains and stations

The Steam Cargo Train (7722-1) from 1985 leads with 499 pieces, just ahead of the 1983 Railway Station (7824-1) at 479. Two sets share the name Push-Along Passenger Steam Train: 7715-1 from 1985 with 450 pieces and 7710-1 from 1980 with 433. The Diesel Freight Train Set, battery (7720-1) has 428 pieces. From the late 1960s come the Motorized Freight or Passenger Train (Sears Exclusive) (118-3, 419 pieces) and the Super Train Set (119-1, 401 pieces). An earlier Railway Station (7822-1) from 1980 rounds out the list with 384 pieces.

Why collectors still look for them

For many builders, a 4.5V train was the first railway they owned, and these sets now turn up in attics and second-hand lots. Because the range covers nearly two decades, it also shows how train design moved from the blocky models of the 1960s to the more detailed steam and diesel trains of the 1980s. Each set page lists its parts, so you can check a found set for completeness or plan a rebuild piece by piece.

FAQ

What does 4.5V mean?

It refers to the 4.5-volt battery power used by the motorised trains in this range.

Are all 4.5V sets motorised?

No. The push-along sets, such as 7710-1 and 7715-1, have no motor.

How many sets are in the 4.5V range?

There are 88 sets, released between 1966 and 1985.