The brand new LEGO 70424 Ghost Train Express is an L-gauge train, with a cool augmented reality play feature that you can use on your mobile phone or iPad. That means there are 4 ways to play – you can build the LEGO set following the instructions, you can use the pieces included in the set to create your own Mystery Train, you can play with the Hidden Side Train once the set is built, and now, you can interact with the set in a virtual world, where new and unique features are unlocked.
Ever since I was a little kid, LEGO trains have fascinated me. In the 1970s, I recall my parents coaxing a friend who had family in Germany to pick up some European LEGO train sets when she went to visit. Of course most of those sets ended up in pieces, and what was left went to my brother and nephews. Now I generally buy 3 sets, one to build, one to save, and starting this fall, one to give away – follow me on Instagram @theBrickLand for more details!
LEGO 70424 Hidden Side Ghost Train Express release date.
The Hidden Side Ghost Train Express LEGO set is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2019. This is not a VIP only release. I expect this series of sets to be available at both the official LEGO store, as well as 3rd party retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
I generally only buy my LEGO sets at the LEGO store (so I can get the VIP points), at Amazon, using affiliate links to support fellow bloggers, or at Target with my RED card so I can get a 5% discount.
LEGO 70424 Pieces & Minifigures
There are 698 pieces in this set, including 5 minifigures. AJack Davids with a smartphone and girl minifigure Parker L. Jackson with a smartphone, tech genius J.B., ticket agent Ms. Santos, and ticket guy Chuck.
The size of the assembled Ghost train and station set is over 5” (14cm) high, 5” (15cm) wide and 24” (61cm) long when haunted.
I looks like there is a station, and three train cars included in the set, as well as a short section of track. The station appears to be a simple raised platform with the facade of a train station, and associated details. The train consists of a Locomotive, a second car with a minifigure in a clear case, and the third car which appears to be a mystery box. There are multiple glow in the dark elements, including teeth and wings on the Locomotive, as well as on the station, too.
LEGO 70424 Hidden Side Ghost Train Express Price
This set is priced at $79.99 US and will be on sale starting August 1, 2019.
LEGO Hidden Side Information
From the LEGO website:
Solve the mysteries haunting the town of Newbury before it’s too late. Forget what you know – you’ve never experienced LEGO® play like this before. Your phone opens the door to a virtual hidden world where your LEGO sets come alive in an unfolding ghostly adventure.
It seems these LEGO sets will use your phone to do some kind of Augmented Reality. LEGO tried this before with the Dimensions sets (which were sort of a flop, and now only collected by hard core fans). This seems different though. Not only do you get a set where you can build something and play with it , but when you point your phone at it it comes alive or something and you get an additional experience.
If you want to see when I open the set and build it in real time, follow me on Instagram where I frequently do live feeds and Lego Instagram Stories of new sets.
