LEGO Toy Story Western Train Chase (7597) Top Quality

This is a five star train for kids in the 5 to 8 year old range. Older kids may be more interested in the forthcoming Harry Potter Hogwart's Express train (4841) or the City line trains (7938 and 7939). The City trains, incidentally, are the only ones that come as complete sets with track, motors and remote control devices.

This is an Old West 4-4-0 steam engine, box car, passenger car, and caboose. I would describe the design as more cartoon-like than realistic, with the engine having exaggerated proportions and the cars a tad short. The set includes no track or motor. It is designed as a push train. The engine uses four new drivers (and comes with two extra un-flanged drivers) as well as a cattle-catcher (a new part). The train cars themselves are small but attractively designed. As with the other new trains for 2010, this appears to be largely brick-built (i.e., few specialized plastic moldings). The set includes Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Rex, and Evil Doctor Pork Chops mini-figures. The passenger car and the caboose are designed with lift-off tops to make it easier to place characters inside, and the box car has a trap door in the roof. The train is not a difficult build, but younger children will likely need some assistance.

Regarding adding a motor, it is possible to use Lego's Power Function (PF) accessories to add one, but Lego has not provided directions for doing so. I have not done this yet, but one way is to build a tender that carries a battery, motor and remote receiver. It might be a little awkward given the proportions of the train, but it is doable. These parts are available directly from Lego. I will revise this review when I see someone do a good job of motorization.

Though train buffs will likely be put-off by the design, this set is going to be very, very popular among children. Grandparents, I think this makes a perfect birthday or holiday gift. I do recommend buying track; you need at least two sets of Lego 7896, though consider getting three sets of 7896 and one set of switches (7895). If you want to add additional old west structures, you can add 7594, Woody's Roundup (which I believe is a scene in Toy Story 2, not 3).Get more detail about LEGO Toy Story Western Train Chase (7597).