1969 / Trains / 12V

In 1969 LEGO released the 12 volt train sets as part of the Blue Era which was named because of the rail color. These 12V train sets used additional conductor rails mounted between the standard 4.5V rails and 12V motors contained in the same housings as the 4.5V motors, but with additional metal contacts attached to the bottom of the housings.

1969 LEGO Sets

With increased international expansion and sale increases, by 1969 the number of people employed by LEGO in Billund reached 843. In 1969 LEGO revisits the pre-school block and develops the fully compatible DUPLO System. It was the basis of a complete line of toys for a market previously untapped by the company: newborns through 6 years old, however in the US Samsonite entered this market with their Jumbo Bricks in previous years. LEGO also introduced a new series of red train wheels with spokes, increasing their new train systems. 1969 brought with it numerous new sets, to date, one of the largest set releases thus far, still, the primary driver of new sets was the Trains theme.