Slashdot, March 2004
"I recommend [this book] to anyone who is interested in designing and building their own Lego train locomotives and carriages."

About.com, April 2004
"Brilliant in its simplicity. . . and it is brilliant in its color and illustrations."

Book Description
Learn to build LEGO Trains, from setting up train tracks to building custom freight cars. Jake McKee, an authority on LEGO Trains, teaches basic building techniques and shares some of his most fascinating and original train designs. You’ll learn how to build a North American-style locomotive, a 1940’s refrigerator car, and an intermodal container car. As you build, you’ll gain the fundamental train-building skills that will help you create your own designs at home. You’ll also find: -A survey of different types of locomotives, cars, and tracks, as well as parts designed specifically for LEGO Trains -An in-depth discussion of different track layouts -Tips and tricks for maintaining your train set -Interviews with several well-known LEGO Trains fans discussing their design process and achievements Whether you are a veteran LEGO trains fanatic or a curious beginner, this book is the easiest way to get your trains rolling in no time.

About the Author
Jacob H. McKee has been building LEGO creations since he was a young boy. He is now a well-known figure in the LEGO trains community and the LEGO Community Development Manager for North America. Jacob has worked on more than 400 websites and countless community projects, including the official LEGO Trains website.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Inspirational Ideas and Instructions in Full Color

San Francisco, CA - Building and running model trains has been a popular hobby for decades. From small oval tracks running a simple locomotive to tracks that take over entire basements, model train enthusiasts come in all types. A subset of model train enthusiasts use an alternative medium for their creations; instead of building trains out of model wood and plastic, LEGO® train builders create their locomotives and rail cars out of LEGO bricks, using official LEGO train sets or a collection of their own bricks.

Until now LEGO trains builders have exchanged ideas for models and connected with each other through an active online community and user group network. Now well-known LEGO trains community member and LEGO employee Jacob H. McKee has written the first book dedicated to LEGO trains: "Getting Started with LEGO Trains" (No Starch Press, $14.95 US, 4 color). Sure to be an essential reference for experienced LEGO train builders, "Getting Started with LEGO Trains" is also for LEGO train novices who want to get started with this creative hobby.

"Getting Started with LEGO Trains" begins with the fundamentals of LEGO trains: setting up the track and electrical components. It then proceeds to detail three projects - a GP-38 Locomotive, an old-style refrigerator car, and an intermodal container car - complete with full-color, professional-quality instructions. These projects can be built by following the color instructions, just as models are built from the kits that LEGO sells. Each project chapter also teaches the essential elements of locomotive and rail car construction as McKee explains how each project was conceived and brought to life.

More than just a how-to guide, McKee takes readers to the world of advanced LEGO building and the culture of model railroading. Sometimes the lingo takes a wacky turn: How could a model be built with SNOT? Connect the LEGO bricks in unorthodox ways to have Studs Not On Top, or SNOT, perfect for advanced constructions. And what about the chapter on refeer? That's the refrigerated rail car model, the type of train car called a refeer by model builders and train buffs in the know.

Interviews with expert builders and a section on advanced track layouts are sure to inspire the master builder and budding train enthusiast alike. With "Getting Started with LEGO Trains," newbies and old pros all have something in common - a great book to help them grow with their hobby. As McKee explains, "LEGO Trains are the 'hub of the spoke,' so to speak. LEGO Trains are what bond a LEGO universe together. Once you set up your first starter train set, you want more track. More track leads to more train cars. More cars leads to city. City leads to airports. Then space, then..."