Builder: John Marshall
Region: Asia & Australasia
Category entered:
Year entered: 2022
Brand of building bricks used:
LEGO
Since 2026, the Brick Train Awards have accepted models created with other LEGO®-compatible construction brick systems.
About SNCF “Aquitaine” Express circa 1984 by John Marshall
The "Aquitaine" TEE service from Paris to Bordeaux was one of the SNCF's flagship expresses in the 1970s and 80s. Hauled by powerful 6-axle CC6500 electric locomotives, the rake of luxurious Grand Confort carriages was aimed squarely at business travellers and covered the 584km (360 miles) in 4 hours flat - for a long time the fastest scheduled train service in Europe.
This model represents the final iteration of Aquitaine - by 1984 air travel was stealing business passengers and the high-speed lines necessary for TGV operations had not yet been built. Second-class facilities were added to boost passenger numbers but this meant the "TEE" status and special nameplates were lost. The train's glorious colour scheme remained however.
2.55 metres long, the model comprises the CC6572 locomotive and 5 Grand Confort coaches, with ball-bearings on all axles for smooth running. It's shown here rounding an R72 curve.