This thread will be like my previous builds (links below).
 

Intro :
Since I became a fan of Lego trains last year, 10173 has been the #1 train on my wish list.  I couldn't wait to get my hands on one to build.  Honestly, my expectations aren't high anymore since  building 10194 Emerald Night less than 2 weeks ago.

 

10173 was released in 2006 and available only for the holiday season so the retail life was extremely short.  As of July 2014, one can expect to pay between $300 and $450 for a loose set depending on condition and completeness.  Sealed sets sell for between

 

3 versions of the train were available (from http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/10173_Holiday_Train )

$89.99 for the 965 element basic set.

$165.99 for the K2159 Holiday Train Starter Collection (included 9v power accessories, straight & curved track, and the 10173 set).

$?? for the K10173 Complete Holiday Train Collection (same as K2159 but without the straight track)

 

7 "basic " minifigs were included.  While 5 of them are still exclusive to this set, they can easily be bricklinked since the parts are fairly common in City sets.

 

The set consists of a locomotive, tender, passenger car, Christmas tree carrier, open freight car with gift boxes / toys, and a caboose.

 

Many people consider this the 1st of the annual Winter themed sets that began in 2009 with 10199: Winter Village Toy Shop.

 

Like other builds, I'll will walk through the building process, take pics, discuss various topics like elements used / how, and provide a recap.

 

Bricklink's element inventory of this set pending approval.

http://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemInv.asp?S=10173-1

I don't own the box.  Manual #1 is in my possession (below avg condition) and manual 2 was recently purchased by a friend in Poland (I won't have it until next month).  I will not be using the PDF of the manuals as the scans as quality is terrible.  It's difficult to distinguish back elements from each other.

 

Here are random pictures I've found on the internet of the box.

 

 

 

 

- from http://onetwobrick6.blogspot.com/2009/03/set-database-10173-holiday-train.html

 

 

 

My previous build threads.

 

7780: The Batboat: Hunt for Killer Croc :

http://www.brickpick...-croc-batman-1/

7782 The Batwing: The Joker's Aerial Assault :

http://www.brickpick...arison-to-6863/

 

7786: The Batcopter: The Chase for Scarecrow :

 

http://www.brickpick...-for-scarecrow/

 

10123: Star Wars Cloud City :

 

http://www.brickpick...ars-cloud-city/

 

10173: Holiday Train :

http://www.brickpick...-holiday-train/

 

10179 UCS Millennium Falcon :

 

http://www.brickpick...lennium-falcon/

 

10226 Sopwith Camel :

 

http://www.brickpick...-sopwith-camel/

 

10181 Eiffel Tower :

 

http://www.brickpick...l-tower-advice/

 

10194 Emerald Night train :

 

http://www.brickpick...-emerald-night/

 

10196  Grand Carousel  :

http://community.brickpicker.com/topic/13647-building-10196-grand-carousel/

 

10225 UCS R2D2 :

http://www.brickpick...0225-ucs-r2-d2/

 

75059 UCS Sandcrawler :

 

http://www.brickpick...59-sandcrawler/

 

21021 Architecture Marina Bay Sands

http://www.brickpick...rina-bay-sands/

 

21108 Ghostbusters Ecto-1 :

http://www.brickpick...busters-ecto-1/

At $10 for the base, I'm reconsidering BL'ing it. I might do it. Since it's for my Winter Village display, I don't mind if I don't have all the elements (like the minifigs or the bunny).

However, I did buy a Constitution Train to use as the base for a holiday themed train. It's obviously going to need some mods, and I can incorporate some of the Holiday Train into the build to make it a bit more in line with a real holiday train. I really need go think about how I'm going to execute this.

Come on all Lego investors are required to be master builders you got this.

If you can find a 10183 it is a good start at the 10173, but 10183 isn't that cheap anyway, 10173 has so many wheels and bases and white windows is why its expensive at least $140 for just those parts, though you could use the cheaper white windows with hollow studs.

For anyone considering this, the red train base has gone up in price.  Best price is around $17 each (you'll need two for this set).

Holy thread revival, Batman!

JA have you, or anyone else, modded this with 9v OR RC motors. I have a question for anyone that has, particularly to RC.

Does anyone own the K train collection with bley track and the transformer? I am looking for the color of the transformer-track connecting piece with wires (I think that it is still old gray).

Thanks,

Red.

Ex Astris, Scientia.

I added the power function train motor to this set last year, did a bit of a hack job of it though, just put the battery pack inside the passenger car and made a skylight for the IR sensor.

Holy thread revival, Batman!

JA have you, or anyone else, modded this with 9v OR RC motors. I have a question for anyone that has, particularly to RC.

Does anyone own the K train collection with bley track and the transformer? I am looking for the color of the transformer-track connecting piece with wires (I think that it is still old gray).

Thanks,

Red.

Ex Astris, Scientia.

It was converted to 9v pretty easily (like most current & past trains). It does require 2 motors though.

I have had this set since I bought it in 2006 and we have built it with the kids each Holiday season. I added the motor in 2007 and is has been part of oir winter village display ever since and the kids still love. Great set!

It was converted to 9v pretty easily (like most current & past trains). It does require 2 motors though.

Are the two motors for the engine and tender?

I added the power function train motor to this set last year, did a bit of a hack job of it though, just put the battery pack inside the passenger car and made a skylight for the IR sensor.

This is good to know as I haven't decided whether to convert it to RC or run it on the 9v track. Thanks

Ex Astris, Scientia.

With a bit of work you should be able to do a passable job using the newer train motor, not as easy as 9v to be sure, but it is doable. I knew I was selling the set so I just cobbled something together on the fly to see it run for a bit and show the kids.

Thanks for the input, I had it set up for 9v but I don't have enough track so I modified the tender. It took over an hour (I have never modified a set) and used 46 new pieces and removed about 25.