Builder: Ties van Asseldonk
Region: Europe & Middle East
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 Trans Europ Express (NS DE4 / SBB RAm) by Ties van Asseldonk
The Trans Europ Express was an international train service connecting 130 major cities together across Europe. This model is based on the Dutch / Swiss diesel-electric trainsets that ran between Amsterdam and Zürich.
I designed the model digitally using stud.io sometime in January 2021, and I started building the physical model sometime in October of the same year.
The model is built in 1:45 scale, making the train 8 studs wide. The model uses 2 PF train motors (one in each of the engine's bogies) and is powered by a BuWizz 2.0. It runs on standard R40 curves, but sometimes the train has trouble navigating some specific R40 geometry. (mostly due to the power cables to the bogies sometimes getting caught on the frame during sudden changes in direction)
Each car is designed to slipt open in the middle, with the top section being removable to reveal a full interior. LED lights are integrated in the removable top sections for interior lighting.