I made a tiny LEGO train that works!

Can LEGO trains get any smaller than this?

One piece led to another, and after watching a video about On18 locomotives my curiosity was piqued. Could I build a tiny, self-powered, narrow-gauge locomotive out of LEGO? The answer: yes (with some non-LEGO help).

This model is inspired once again by the fantastic work of Dave Meek, though I’ve made a few alterations of my own. I’d never even considered building a vertical-boiler locomotive before—it’s a pretty uncommon sight—but this one was incredibly fun to put together. I just love all the little details: the cowcatcher, water drum, headlamp, bell, and those beautiful red windows!

The engine ran better than expected. I’ve made it as heavy as possible, adding ball bearings, Blu Tack, washers, and as many bricks as I could to reach a hefty 127.4 g. It might not sound like much, but without that weight the model would struggle to pull anything.

I’ll continue to refine the design and look into making the wagons lighter. I’m even considering cheaper 3D-printed plastics for the internal bricks inside the caboose to shed a bit more weight.

I’ve also included—for the first time—some new rock builds in the scenes to add more visual depth. They were really fun to make, and they’ve got me excited to start building some truly gigantic boulders, cliffs, and caves on the future layout.

Stay tuned!

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Note: These videos are intended for a general audience and are targeted towards a wide range of model enthusiasts.