*LEGO sets in this video:* Hogwarts Express ❯ bit.ly/3QfFb4a Titanic ❯ bit.ly/3tAFBZH Hogwarts Icons ❯ bit.ly/3QduuPf Razor Crest ❯ bit.ly/3tvHYxf Delorean ❯ bit.ly/3PPWU0x Hulkbuster ❯ bit.ly/45uc7u2 Hogwarts Castle ❯ bit.ly/3Qd9s3g Diagon Alley ❯ bit.ly/3QfooOH

I think they tried to appeal to both train fans and harry potter fans and ended up missing both goals. Train fans want smaller, affordable trains they can motorize and run. Harry Potter fans already had a Hogwarts Express that is better in many ways.

Fun fact, the train conducter actuly apears in the books. and no, the train doesnt run 2 times a year, it runs with the beggining and end of EVERY holiday

The worst issue for me is that it is not compatible with traditional lego rails

If you are going to have a delorean and train together, the train should be pushing it! Give us back to try future fans hearts a flutter!

I love how honest you are even when LEGO sends you the set you will be reviewing.

I think making the platform have three *complete* arches would’ve made it better.

The extra large train wheels just made me anticipate a 'Thomas The Tank Engine Collector's Edition' for the year 2024, which marks the 40th Anniversary of when Thomas became a TV series!😁 I would be very pleased if this became a reality because it would be very meaningful to me and my brother!

The fact it doesn't actually run on the standard LEGO track is a big fail. Should have made the model 8-wide, they'd have still had nearly as much detail, but it would be both cheaper and able to run. Like despite being much larger, the locomotive actually has less detail then my custom 8-wide steamers both in terms of the design of the running gear and the driver's cab. And you know, then need to stop doing the LEGO thing and sell additional passenger cars separately! And track, they still refuse to sell packs of just straights.

if they made it 6 studs wide it would have been perfect . sure the extra room lets them put in some amazing detail. the fact it can only run on straight custom track really makes it hard to justify imo

I feel like for 500$ the stickers could’ve been printed

This is actually a pretty awesome set. It’s a display model not a play model and I really dig the fact that the train is wider then normal

Wait, the piston rods extend out the far side of the piston? Even the first proper steam locomotive I built when I was 16 didn't do that! Cab was a lot more detailed too. The more I see if this thing, the less impressed I am.

if you haven't really looked at the rails they used for the train track in the set you will see that they are the same as the rail pieces from 1980 lego trains which you could remove from the tracks and make the tracks bigger if you would want to. i own an entire box filled with turns straight rails and some other stuff

Would be great if they rereleased the locomotive on its own in GWR Green.

The insane price aside - the low parts quality of Lego recently, discoloration, scratched parts and various other problems make this a no-go

Ideally it would have been been a modulair build. Like the engine and coal-wagon together, with added parts to make it traditional or Hogwards. And the station with only the passenger wagon, so they are both the same length. Than they could have added a more traditional passenger wagon set.

The wormgears are there to represent suspension so that the riders get a much smoother ride

As a rail fan this is perfect as it could fall into a certain scale in model trains , and looks beautiful

If lego makes real 8 stud wide train tracks, complete with curves and switch track, I can see this set becoming very valuable. After all, despite all the criticism it has gotten, the train is of a more realistic scale when compared to minifigures.

It is because i respect Tiago's opinions as a lego reviewer that i have to leave a strong counter opinion on this set. As a non larper, who does not have a bias against giant lego sets, and paid my own money (with a 20% discount) for it.. this set is now my equal favourite set. First some counter opinions.. the spinning wheel mechanism on the locomotive and the lights are essential to me, i play with them every time im in arms reach, and they add so much value and attraction to a *display* set that others dont. The tracks.. they are essential, and the tracks themselves while you could see them as just train tracks, the first impression i got for them is.. "these tracks alone have been more inspiring than any set from lego star wars in the last 3 years." If that means something to you, you will love them. Also the platform. Its one of the best parts of the build, even when i was expecting to dislike it. First you love it because its not to big, then as you finish it, you love it because its not too small either, and the building techniques are very satisfying. There's also something thing set contains that is so rare in the lego waves.. love. You can tell the designer loved the model, and also, wants you to love it as well. From the build experience realising things just at the same moment you do, to the choice of scenes in the carriages as a celebration of harry potter, to the fact that they put the first half of the build neatly in the white box. Lego for years has been expensive prices and increasingly scrawny, penny pinching and skimped products. This set has an insane price, but they left in the love, which is rare and something i appreciated. You can tell how much the designers love the whole idea of the set. Bonus feature. Lego in 23/24 is doing insane things with spare sized pieces and architect grade building techniques. Not sure if it was the designer or the scale of this set, but you build the majority of this set with REAL sized lego bricks, with clever but also simple... classic building experience. That also was a massive treat even as a newer afol has started to miss. Yes, this is my equal favourite set now with trex rampage. And certainly its probably that good it also will never be stored away like the saturn v and the space shuttle, even when their novelty as worn off.

This could have been a great set if it was just the locomotive: no passenger car, no tracks, and no station platform. The price could have been an "affordable" $100 to $200.

I have a problem with LEGO making large stes that cannot be displayed. I did not buy the Millennium Falcon because there was nowhere for me to display it

I expected it to be expensive, but FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS? WHAT?? That's truly obscene, considering its shortcomings.

Great review, thanks!

The thing is, the design team is just given a price and maybe an idea of a model. A 500$ Hogwarts Express can’t really be done in many other ways. Perhaps the train could have had two passenger cars if the station was omitted, but then the build would be extremely repetetive (and too long for most shelves and desks besides). This should still be smaller and cheaper.

Is the platform off center to represent being platform 9 ¾?

i was sad that this doesn't work on the normal tracks.

I just ordered the copy set can't wait to build and display.

I pick up many of my UCS scale sets second hand, and this was no exception. I am not a HP fan (Lego or otherwise) but this was a must-buy for me...precisely because of all the 'bad points that Tiago and other commentators have picked up on. As the new Orient Express set has shown, there is only so much you can do with a Lego train track scale set, and if this Hogwarts Express set was constrained by that limitation it wouldn't have anything like the playability or scope that it does. If you want a HogEx set to run on Lego scale tracks there are already a number of sets that do that. But if, like me, you like to have a stand-out display piece (or conversation piece) - in your bay window, for example - like the Titanic, Milennium Falcon, Eiffel Tower, or Rivendell (also not a LotR Lego fan), then these sets have a lot of appeal. The Orient Express, in its original design, was another set I feel would have benefited from the XL scale treatment. But I guess that after the Hog Ex backlash they bottled it...

The train would be running at the start and end of holidays too

Platform should be centered on the carriage train, (i. e., exclusive of the locomotive_.

For a train guy what would be (from your experience) the best lego set?

Do you record the video first then sync your voice over? Or do you record the voice over first and sync your video?

Looks tiny to me, but i am used to 1:22.5 scale.

after seeing this review I think I'll stick with my older smaller hogwarts express that they retired not too long ago.

4:39 I’m pretty sure he’s not a made up character, in book 3 I remember that professor Lupin or Hermione I’m not sure had gone to ask the train conductor about something related to the train stopping and/or the dementor attack.

4:44, Trolley witch was in goblet of fire for one scene, im nit sure if she's ever mentioned or portrayed after that

Classic case of over-thinking by Lego. They just need a normal minifig scale train which is compatible with ordinary Lego train tracks. Like the light-brick element though.

Motorized and with set of tracks that could be sold as extra parts

The Train staff is actually seen in the movie a few times. The lady is selling candies during the trip, while the train conductor is seen at least once at the Hogsmeade platform, passing by while Harry and his friends get ready to leave for their homes.

Tiago the conductor appears near the end of Harry Potter 1 loading the owls onto the train

I think the Train ~~Conductor~~ *Engineer* would work 6 times a year rather than just 2 as students go home during term breaks, but definitely still a special enough of an occassion to shave

Honestly, including stickers in this expensive of a set is a total joke. Not a good one at that.

While it is an impressive Display set, the only thing i would STRONGLY recommend LEGO to do to make this set worth $500 is to either: A. Have the set containing 2 coaches instead of one and a full length platform. B. Have the set be an 8-Stud Wide trainset with Powered-Up capability and also make a Spare Add-On passenger coach for some reason.

not me watching the video while building it and i honestly would rather buy diagon ally or the castle. but i can't go back and its also not a bad lego set do i'll stick with it

Honestly, I think it's a really weird choice by Lego to not make it compatible with the existing rail system. Being a lego trian fan myself, this model would be awesome to have cruising around on a track. Thoughts?

Nice review! Which app/website is that you're using at 9:48?

I'd rather have more train, than have those unnecessary extra like the train tracks and train platform that are eating the piece count

I think this could have been a good set IF the train fit the tracks. It doesn’t. I like how more accurate this locomotive looks compared to the other Hogwarts Express Lego sets, but the fact that this thing won’t even fit on standard Lego tracks is a big negative for me. That was disappointing.

Im not a big HP fan, but I assume that this train Is running back and forth between London and Hogwarts much often than twice a year since there are holidays and students return to home to celebrate or whatever. Probably train rides on some other occations too. Just a guess.

My son & I have collected every HP set since its relaunch including the castle & Diagon Alley. This set was the breaker though. It is a nice set but simply cant justify that cost with the value we would get out of assembling & displaying it.

I recently finished Lego Home Alone and that took a long while

This train is still better than that 500 plus dollar Hulkbuster! 😂 Those worm gears are used for the suspension. Even though I have train knowledge, don't ask me to discuss automobiles! I would be completely lost.

Just ordered this from a third party site be here in a couple weeks or sooner

Crazy how this is around the same price as the castle…

Another one of these sets which has an identity crisis. It's trying too hard to be both a display piece and a toy with play features resulting in poor compromises. It's a little too long to be a proper display, and too expensive and incompatible with standard rails for it to be a proper toy. The train platform adds no value as a display, and actually detracts from the value as a display since it isn't complete nor impressive in its own right having those gaps in the archway, it doesn't sit center with the tracks and it obstructs the view of the train while offering very little in play value as well. The light bricks don't really work well enough to light up the scenes inside though I do find them a nice thought and a cute touch to add. I'm not a Harry Potter fan but I do feel it's a bit of a let down to hear that out of the 20 minifigures included there isn't an exclusive fig for the titular character and very few exclusive figs in general. A lot of the little details that would truly get a Harry Potter fan excited are mostly hidden and require panels be removed for viewing, which again is a bit silly for something that's supposed to be a display. For train collectors this thing fails due to its dimensions, and with no way to really motorize it without a complete redesign will put many off. I appreciate your review and look at this set, and it does have some really cool and nice features to it, but I don't find those features outweigh the cost, value, and flaws. Thanks again.

It is completely insane how many pieces of this set go into the tracks

If they made it only the carriage with iconic scenes without the rest of the set it would've been awesome

no 4 time a year train home for christmas and back

It could be amazing, if it was motorized and to run on tracks

Ridiculous that it doesn't fit regular tracks.

2:20 I think it can't be acceptance letter while the kid has already "house" robes and I assume in must be her 2nd year.

My take after watching this, this set wasn't designed for Lego fans, but rather simply just Harry Potter fans. Not to say they can't be both, but it has too much in it that is targeting the HP fanbase over the Lego fanbase.

great review as usual. Can you please review the Eiffel Tower? mixed feeling about it and hard to pull the trigger to buy. thanks again.

I might've bought this 3 years ago. Now I'd sooner donate to the Salvation Army.

for me, its either display or for play. i wouldn't need all the play functions if this is going on a shelf. and doesn't fit on tracks for play. i ended up buying 2x 75955 sets and built a much larger hogwarts express (based on the emerald night) that still can be motorized and fit on train tracks. at half the price as this UCS set, it's way more worth while

The only good thing about the set is the new drive wheels. All Lego has to do is make a flangeless version and bam.

Hey Tiago, can you make a video explaining how LEGO sets are made from design to production. Thanks.

I'm a massive steam locomotive fan, but I've never read or watched Harry Potter, and have no interest in the series. So this set for me is a little frustrating, it's basically my dream Lego steam train set, but it's been tied to a brand, and because of this the price is much higher than if this was a regular train, and also the red colour of the Hogwarts Express is infamously incorrect for this type of train, which should normally be green, so you can't really enjoy it without being a Harry Potter fan. I'm very excited for the Orient Express Ideas set which just got approved, as it will be a proper Lego steam train set without any licenses attached, and the piece count should hopefully be low enough to keep the price down compared to this set.

The train conductor is the exact same mini figure I got today in Lego City Advent calendar, he's a hotel door man.

It is minifigure scale?

This set is too high end for stickers. Imagine stickers on the Titanic set!

I think this set is amazing but its massive

CARRY ADJGG .... Carriage

Yeah, as a lego train fan this set was pretty disappointing. luckily enough we’re getting another detailed steam train next year from the ideas line, which will actually be compatible with the existing track system, so it’s hard to be too upset.

I finally understood, that he sounds like welcoming speech of captain on the plane 😂

I’d have liked the option just to get the locomotive without the rest of it

Thx for the thorough review AND that nice easy idea to display that plaque. Thx Tiago!

500€ for a set with stickers and this wreck of a platform is insane. If Lego hadn't discounted the set for €100 at Vip weekend, with double vip-points on top and two GWPs, I would never have bought it. I collect Harry Potter. The fact that the sets are still in stock despite this enormous discount tells us it's sticking on the shelves. Guess why...

the set is impressive they had it set up in my local lego shop but it still bothers me that the hall class is used instead of a castle and that the mk1 coach is not to scale with the engine the coach should have been longer

Should I get this or Hogwarts?

Kind of disappointing that the new train isn't compatible with the existing track and alas, the old train is no longer sold. I suppose you could in theory combine or modify the build to fit regular rails but hey seems a waste.

I saw it with my own eyes. I liked it. I bought it.

Pretty much AUD $1,000 for both the Train and Lighting Kit.... very very tempting... but really over priced......................

No such thing as a set too big, it's the display unit is too small!

I liked it took my 3 days

The Ticket might be one of the coolest LEGO pieces ever

OH MY GOSH. 3:11 WHEN I SAW IT ROLL ACROSS THE CHILD IN ME I EXPLODED

All I want is the train but it’s 500 FUCKING DOLLARS

Not even a mouse on the backside facing the tracks. This set is a cash grab and luckily it seems like we're not buying it.

I think Lego is overdoing it with their sets lately

It’s frustrating because for 500 dollars we could of gotten a similar build to the Disney train with a station and two coaches but instead we get a build that’s impressive but completely incompatible with anything that came before

This was the start of them losing touch with consumers.

Great review

A model train needs to function. Therefore the scale is off. It should have followed the current motorized train infrastructure, have been motorized, and had a differential system. There was no need to have three compartments to display three scenes but that seems to have dictated this scale and then this price. I totally recommend the other Lego train sets as fun to build, well powered, and fun to play with. You can actually get the freight train to go so fast it can't take a turn. Since Lego often makes the same movie vehicle in 2 or 3 different scales, I'd hold out for a version compatible with other train sets. Even for HP fans, putting this on an existing Lego track would have also created an opportunity to turn the station into a hidden platform behind a normal one with a diverted track to access it. That would have added to the play value as well. Lego's 18+ series still needs to think of kids, and not just be for the dad from the Lego Movie hoarding his Lego collection. So Lego actually knows better than this.

Excellent video as always. I can’t wait for your review of the Eiffel Tower Set.

Just bought an unopened, from a store, for $350. 😮🤘😄

4:38 I think that's the minifigure version of the designer - Marcos Bessa..

Sorry, but for that money parents should buy there kids a proper model railroad set.