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Building the Iconic LEGO City Passenger Train: An In-Depth Guide

Do you fondly remember electric train sets circling the Christmas tree as a child? I sure do. Now LEGO brings back that nostalgia with their City Passenger Train. This 764 piece motorized set lets you build an impressive steam-style bullet train, complete with Powered Up capabilities for remote control action.

In this guide, I‘ll provide everything you need to construct your very own LEGO passenger train. You‘ll discover full inventories of the box contents, a bit of background on the train components, tips to smooth the build process, and ideas to expand your set. I‘ll even share some cool facts only serious train fans might know!

Let‘s get started on a LEGO train adventure!

Overview of the LEGO City Express Passenger Train

The City Passenger Train model 60337 first launched in 2022. It captures the romance of classic rail travel with its colorful streamliner engine and carriage cars.

Inside the box you‘ll find 764 LEGO pieces to assemble:

  • A motorized 3-carriage train powered by LEGO Powered Up including the engine, passenger car and dining car
  • An oval of 24 straight and curved plastic track sections
  • A station platform with stairs, bench, luggage and other accessories
  • 6 classic LEGO minifigures – perfect as conductors and travelers
  • Printed elements like train schedules and stickers for detailing
  • Most importantly – bags of LEGO bricks in an array of bright colors!

Suitable for ages 7 years and above, the train set measures 14” wide by 33.5” long once complete. Now let’s examine what’s inside the box…

Detailed Inventory of the Train Set Components

As a tech geek, I‘m always curious what‘s under the hood. So I carefully inventoried all 764 pieces included in the LEGO City Passenger Train set 60337. Here‘s what to expect inside those numbered parts packs:

LEGO City Passenger Train Contents

The Complete Inventory of LEGO Pieces

In total you receive 764 LEGO elements to construct this set, spanning:

  • 513 standard plastic bricks in an array of bright colors
  • 161 assorted tiles and plates for detailing
  • 54 miscellaneous Technic pins/axles to connect moving parts
  • 36 accessories like ladders, railings, furniture etc
  • 24 curved and straight plastic track sections
  • 15 Powered Up components for the motorized engine

Of the 513 bricks, the most common colors are:

  • 164 bricks in Bright Red
  • 132 bricks in White
  • 74 bricks in Blue
  • 43 bricks in Yellow

So expect a very colorful build ahead!

Figures, Printed Parts & Stickers

To populate and customize your train system, the set includes:

  • 6 minifigures: Train driver, ticket officer, grandma, boy, girl on crutches and a passenger in a wheelchair
  • 2 printed train schedules showing destinations like Bricksburg and San Fransokyo
  • 36 decorative stickers with train logos, luggage tags, biohazard signs etc

Applying the stickers neatly can be tricky – use tweezers if needed!

Inventory of Powered Up Components

The LEGO Powered Up platform allows models to be motorized and remote controlled. These special pieces are used to electrify the steam engine:

  • 1 Train Motor – spins to power the driving wheels
  • 1 IR Receiver – picks up signals from the remote control
  • 1 Battery Box – requires 3 x AAA batteries (not included)
  • Rechargeable batteries work too

Additionally you receive various Technic framework parts like beams and connectors to mount the motor inside neatly.

Now let‘s examine the key sections of this build…

The Signature Streamliner Steam Engine

The electric bullet train engine with its red sloping nose cone is perhaps my favorite section. It cleverly conceals the Powered Up components through partial disassembly of the shell – a neat design trick.

LEGO City Train Engine

The streamlined train engine housing the LEGO Powered Up motor

Within the engine drivers cab, the train motor neatly mounts onto a Technic frame alongside a rechargeable battery box. An IR receiver picks up signals from the remote control to drive the train forwards, reverse and adjust speed settings.

Tips for the Tricky Powered Up Wiring

Getting the wiring neatly routed inside that narrow engine compartment is fiddly. LEGO‘s designer video recommends:

  1. Partially build the shell
  2. Mount the motor, battery box and IR receiver onto the Technic chassis
  3. Carefully thread and align wiring before sealing the shell

This prevents pinched cables or components rubbing.

If needed, gently pry off roof plates to reroute cables internally. The beauty of LEGO bricks is they lock securely when rebuilt.

Build Details for the Passenger and Dining Carriages

Attached to the motorized engine are two additional train carriages:

The Passenger Car

This carriage features:

  • Rows of reversible seats for minifigures
  • Luggage racks above the seats
  • Sliding doors on each side
  • Roof rails

To construct, first build up the walls and sliding door mechanisms. Next add seats, accessories and decorative stickers.

The Dining Car

The dining carriage contains:

  • Booth seating and tables
  • Serving counter
  • Storage racks for food and luggage
  • More stickers for detail

I recommend building the serving counter module separately then integrating it into the main carriage. This allows easier access during decoration with tiles and stickers.

Assembling the Oval Track Circuit

The LEGO City train track system is wonderfully compatible between sets. This expanded compatibility also introduces consistency.

All train tracks, including this set‘s 24 plastic sections adhere to a strict specification including:

  • Track width – exactly 28.5mm between rails
  • Track bed height – 11.1mm from top of rail to track bed
  • Electrical conductivity – steel rails embedded for Powered Up sets

This standardization ensures seamless interoperability between LEGO trains.

To complete the circuit:

  1. Identify the 16 curved and 8 straight track pieces
  2. Refer to the building instructions to correctly connect them into an oval shape.

Expanding Your LEGO Train Tracks

Once your starter oval is complete, consider expanding it:

  • Straight track packs – available in 4, 16 and 40+ piece bundles
  • Points/Switches – branch into sidings and multiple lines
  • Remote-controlled switches – for junctions and freight yards
  • Bridges/tunnels – take your train over obstacles
  • Road crossings – drive LEGO vehicles across rail lines

Mix-and-match track packs offer unlimited potential for growing layouts.

Bringing it All Together at the Train Station

What’s a train system without a bustling station? This set includes a delightful modular platform for minifigures to begin their rail adventure.

Let‘s examine what‘s included:

  • Stairway – for easy access to the platform level
  • Bench – for waiting passengers
  • Luggage trolleys – to transport suitcases
  • Destination sign – show arrival & departure details
  • Accessory elements like brooms, shovels etc

Arrange these elements on 32×32 baseplates alongside your track oval. I suggest building the stairs and bench fixtures as separate modules for easy reconfiguration.

Now populate with your minifigures!

Fun Facts & Records About LEGO Trains

As a longtime LEGO enthusiast, I can’t resist sharing some quirky background facts about the LEGO train system:

  • Motorized LEGO Trains were first introduced in 1969 for 12V systems!

  • The world‘s longest plastic train track measured nearly 2 miles (3km) when revealed at a San Francisco convention in 2017

  • The largest motorized LEGO train set is the Emerald Night from 2009, totaling a whopping 1,885 pieces

So you‘re now joining 50+ years of LEGO high speed heritage!

Key Milestones When Building Your Passenger Train

Based on average completion times, here are some expected milestones:

  1. 0-20 mins: Construct the track oval
  2. 20-40 mins: Build the streamliner engine
  3. 40-60 mins: Add passenger and dining cars
  4. 60+ mins: Power functions, station details and decorations

But take your time! It took civil engineers centuries of refinement to perfect rail travel in the real world.

Expect a total build time around 90-120 minutes. Children may likely stretch this to 2-3 sessions – and that‘s completely fine. This set is as much about the journey than the destination!

Let‘s Summarize Key Specs for Set 60337

For quick reference, here are the technical specifications of set 60337 LEGO City Passenger Train:

Set Number 60337
Set Name City Express Passenger Train
Launch Year 2022
Ages 7+ years
Dimensions 14 x 33.5 x 3.5 inches
Total Pieces 764 pieces
Minifigures 6 included

How does the Passenger Train compare to other LEGO City train sets? Check out this comparison:

LEGO Train Comparison

The Passenger Train vs LEGO freight and cargo train sets

While less pieces than the mighty Cargo Train, the Passenger Train offers plenty to build from ages 7 onwards.

Now over to you! Will you recreate a historic Orient Express? Futuristic magnetic levitation train? Or even a wizarding Hogwarts Express? The only limit is your imagination.

Thank you for joining me on this LEGO train journey today. I welcome your feedback, stories, or questions in the comments below!