LEGO® TRAINS in JAPAN

The LEGO® Train Theme

LEGO® Trains refers to the product line and broader building theme centered on railway vehicles made from LEGO® bricks, together with railway-related infrastructure such as track, stations, and other facilities.

Since 2006, LEGO® Trains has been incorporated as a subtheme of LEGO® City. The theme is popular not only with children, but also with adult LEGO® enthusiasts, commonly known as Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs). The term “AFOL” is pronounced “ay-fol” and is also used within the LEGO Group.

Among AFOLs, the LEGO® train system is sometimes called “L-gauge,” following the naming conventions used for scales and track gauges in traditional model railroading.

Track Gauge and Approximate Scale

Reference: l-gauge.org. Some sources describe the scale as 1:40; a strict calculation based on track gauge gives approximately 1:38.

LEGO® train track has a gauge of 37.5 mm (1 15/32 inches). When compared with the 1,435 mm standard gauge used by full-size railways, this corresponds to an approximate scale of 1:38. In terms of traditional model railway sizes, it falls between Gauge 1 and O gauge.

This does not mean, however, that LEGO® trains are normally built to a strict 1:38 scale. Builders frequently adapt proportions to suit available parts, operating requirements, or their preferred visual style.

How LEGO® Trains Are Categorized in Japan

Among LEGO® train fans in Japan, models tend to be categorized by body width rather than by the strict scale conventions used in traditional model railroading.

Common categories include six-wide models, which match the width of many official LEGO® train products; eight-wide models, which are larger and closer to an approximate 1:38 scale; and seven-wide models, which sit between the two. Eight-wide models are common internationally, while six-wide models are the most popular category in Japan. One stud is approximately 8 mm wide.

Official Product Lineup as of 2023

As of 2023, the LEGO® City range included passenger trains, freight trains, stations, and separately sold track sets. The railway vehicles in these official products are six studs wide. Models designed to match this standard and its visual world are generally described as six-wide trains.

Because of the shapes and dimensions of LEGO® elements, six-wide models often use deliberate simplification and stylization rather than reproducing the exact proportions of the real railway vehicle. A four-door car, for example, may be represented with three doors, or the number of windows may be reduced slightly.

Depending on the degree of simplification, six-wide models in Japan can broadly be divided into the following three size categories. Here, “scale” refers not to a strict reduction ratio, but to the approximate length of one railway car. The examples below use electric multiple-unit cars, diesel multiple-unit cars, and passenger coaches as a general reference; locomotives naturally vary in length.

1.         City Scale: Approximately 28–32 studs in body length. This follows the proportions of official LEGO® City products and is currently the most common format in Japan.

2.         Full Scale: Approximately 40 studs in body length. In this approach, a 20-metre railway car is interpreted as roughly 40 studs long, allowing less compression and simplification.

3.         Short Scale: Approximately 24 studs in body length. This format uses stronger stylization and compression to create a compact model.

Eight-Wide and Other Large Models

Models eight studs wide or larger are often described as large-scale models. Their greater volume gives builders more room for detail and makes it easier to reproduce the proportions and appearance of the real vehicle. In this respect, they are closer to traditional scale railway models.

The larger size also raises the visual resolution of the model. As a result, insufficient observation of the real vehicle, excessive compromise, or too much simplification can produce a model that feels coarse or underdeveloped. Large models are therefore demanding: half-finished design decisions are much harder to hide.

At their best, however, highly refined eight-wide models have a remarkable presence and can stand comparison with large traditional railway models.

The Character of LEGO® Train Modeling

In the LEGO® building community, not only in the field of trains, cutting, painting, or otherwise modifying elements is generally regarded as unacceptable. Compared with ordinary plastic model kits or traditional railway models, this creates greater design constraints. The smaller the model, the stronger those constraints tend to become.

Each element must normally be used in its original, unmodified form. A LEGO® train is therefore the result of repeated experimentation within those limitations. This problem-solving process is one of the defining features of the hobby.

Reusability is another major strength. A completed model can be upgraded, completely dismantled and rebuilt from scratch, or used as a source of parts for an entirely different creation. This flexibility is one of the fundamental advantages of LEGO® bricks and of LEGO® train modeling in particular.

Original Japanese article written on 3 December 2023 by mazta-k