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.
1970 LEGO Sets
1970 marked a period of transition and consolidation for LEGO. The company began reclaiming U.S. market rights from Samsonite following founder Jesse Shwayder’s death, leading to full control by 1973. In Italy, LEGO responded to import restrictions by launching Minitalia, a localized line produced from 1970 to 1975. The long-running Town Plan theme was discontinued as LEGO moved toward standardized scale and unified play systems. While largely a structural year, these shifts laid the groundwork for the innovations of the mid-1970s.