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-2406

Advertised Part Count(s): 360 pieces

Set Box

First Year Confirmed Available: 1968(USA)

1968 Marshall Fields Christmas Catalog

Note the above example shows the European version of the box, which never sold in the USA.

There is no evidence this set was sold in Canada. Instead, it appears Canada carried the 127 Motorized Train Set instead.

Most Likely Retirement Date: 1969(USA)

Similar to the 113 Motorized Train, the set might've continued production until 1971 but currently no evidence exists to suggest such a date. The latest date we have for catalog appearances is 1969, and newspaper ads into the 1970s are all at large discounts.

Last Year Seen Available: 1973

Tampa Bay Times, December 6th, 1973

Aliases: Deluxe Motorized Train Set, Lego Train Set, Deluxe Train Set

Retail Price(s): $20.00-$21.50(USA)

Discounted Example(s): $11.25(1970), $10.00(1971)

Rarity Score(Index): 4/7

Known Box/Packing Variants

As the set released in 1968 and retired in 1970, it does not appear to have any other variants. Though if you really want to get technical, 1970 versions will have the "Some parts...produced in Denmark" sticker.

There is not likely a Canadian version as we have no indication this set was ever available in Canada.

Box/Overview

While the set is called the Deluxe Motorized Train Set and carries a higher price than its predecessor the 113 Motorized Train Set, the 116 has ~40 fewer pieces. Instead, the "deluxe" aspect likely is referring to the 116's five cars compared to the 113's three. It's Samsonite's own assigned name, other countries used some variation of "Train Set with Motor". Why it is priced the way it is is unknown, but might have to do with the additional wheels/plates and imported doors.

And that's important too, the 116 was once again an imported set, not one of Samsonite's own design. Though unlike other similar examples, the 116 uniquely has its own box art exclusive for Samsonite on the front, as the international version didn't have a cover:

box top image

The back, however, is more or less the same, just with Samsonite's own formatting adjustments:

Then the side:

And the drawer:

Contents

Most 116's will have an inner tray like the 113. My copy is missing such:

My copy also carries some pieces that were substituted in and are not original. For example, the spoked wheels are attributed to the later 127 set(also not available in the USA but was available in Canada) and the black 2x4 axles were likely never included in this set.

The USA version also printed their yellow 1x4s differently than the rest of the world, which can be seen in the above image.