General Information

The following information has been collected from original newspapers, catalogs, and magazines, some of which are freely available for reference below. The rest can be found in the site’s gallery. No aggregate catalogs (BrickLink, Brickset, etc.) were used.

Instructions: H-2337R

Note: There are two versions of the instructions, the revision using a 6x24 plate for the train's roof. I suspect the US version used the revision for its entire life, while the Canadian version used the original manual (evident by the Canadian version advertised with more pieces).

Advertised Part Count(s): 402 pieces, 415 pieces (Canada)

Set Box 1968 Eaton's Christmas Catalog

First Year Confirmed Available: 1967 (USA)

1967 Marshall Fields Christmas Catalog

1968 (Canada)

It seems Samsonite of Canada did not release the 113 concurrently with the US, instead waiting for the 1968 season. It also had a different piece count (using the older instructions):

1968 Eaton's Christmas Catalog

Most Likely Retirement Date: 1971 (USA)

The 113 appears in the 1971 dealer catalog.

1970 (Canada)

The 113 makes its final appearance on deep discount in 1970 newspapers, though may have been retired earlier or produced a bit later.

Last Year Seen Available: 1971

The Boston Globe, September 26th, 1971

Aliases: Motorized Train Set, Lego Train Set, No. 113 Train Set

Retail Price(s): $17.95 - $18.99 (USA)

Discounted Example(s): $9.88 (1968)

Rarity Score (Index): 3/7

Known Box/Packing Variants

There are four versions of the 113's box for the US:

1967: two patents on the back:

Likely ~1969-70: eight patents on the back:

Then there are two different variations of the plain box 113 (the one below is likely from Imaginations Inc., as it was mailed from Samsonite directly. The 1968 JCPenney version of the 113 will lack Loveland postmarkings):

Canadian versions will have a bilingual instruction manual. There should be a Canadian exclusive box, but I don't have an image to share. It would have "415 pieces" instead of the US piece count 402.

Box/Overview

While the 113 Motorized Train had already been released in the rest of the world in 1966, the 113 was the first formalized train set for North America using the new 4.5v track system, starting in 1967. Of course sets like the 610 Super Wheel Toy heavily showcased a locomotive model, but this was the beginning of the formal era for LEGO trains.

Not only had the 002 Motor Pak been replaced with the new motor system, but it also marked a new line of LEGO kits: trains. Samsonite didn't really innovate in the space (their assortment was only a small percentage of what the rest of the world had access to), but we're getting ahead of ourselves.

For now, just like most Model Maker kits from 1967+, the 113 also simply reuses the European box art with minimal formatting changes:

box top image

And the side:

And the drawer(note the odd formatting for a Samsonite set):

Contents

There are a few packing variations of the set, mainly centered around the tray. Some used this single piece tray, others might have never came with the tray but instead substituted with the smaller milky trays, and another used only three longer milky trays:

It should also be noted that the set has never been found to contain the parts to elevate the rail seen on the box. The box also shows the set with white baseplates, the set never had those in North America.

There are also two versions of the instructions, but the unrevised version is very rare and was likely only used in the Canadian market.