Dream run: V/Line conductor Kade Faulkner has immortalised the regional rail network's modern VLocity trains in Lego, building a 3250-brick replica of the train.
Echuca’s own rail enthusiast Kade Faulkner is following his dreams of working on and building the V/Line train system.
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Building in Lego, that is, one VLocity train at a time.
“I grew up in Echuca before moving to Melbourne two-and-a-half years ago to join V/Line,” V/Line conductor Kade Faulkner said.
Mr Faulkner acknowledged that his Pa, Paul Tracey, was the one who gave him his love of trains.
“I think my grandpa got me into trains at quite a young age, standing down at the Echuca station,” he said.
“Seeing the VLocities run there as a young kid got me really into them.
“And then pursuing that into a career with V/Line over COVID which kick-started my career.”
Mr Faulkner has immortalised his love of trains by building a scale model of the regional rail network’s modern VLocity in Lego.
The 3250-brick replica pays homage to the VLocity train, down to the lights, motor and sounds the engine makes.
The model even has a ‘quiet carriage’.
It took Mr Faulkner five months to complete the model, with the bulk of the time spent in the design stage of the project.
It was followed by turning his attention to the intricacies of creating a smaller version of the train.
With the help of an app, Mr Faulkner then processed a digital model which incorporated all types of Lego bricks into the build.
This is not the first V/Line train Mr Faulkner has built out of Lego.
He built a V/Line locomotive hauled classic fleet train in the past.
“I think building a classic fleet train definitely made tackling a VLocity easier, which was a good thing because the curves on the cab made it trickier,” he said.
“It was great fun to do.
“While Lego is a great way to wind down from work, being able to combine both parts of my life by building trains has been a fantastic way to express my creativity.
“I have built predominantly the VLocity and other V/Line trains, as well as signal boxes and scenery to run on exhibitions and things with the Lego train club.”
Mr Faulkner had to search around for specific parts for the VLocity as the trains are a unique purple colour.
This colour is available only in a limited number of Lego sets, comparatively speaking compared to the primary colours Lego normally builds in.
The remarkable re-creation of the VLocity train was brought to the attention of others at V/Line with V/Line chief operating officer Matt Carrick commenting on how ‘’great’’ Mr Faulkner’s build was.
“Initially, I shared it (the Lego VLocity train) on the internal photo-sharing website with everyone,” Mr Faulkner said.
“I put it up there just to go ‘Hey, look what I built’ and the media team really liked what they saw and decided to do an internal story, which has grown, and is really cool and humbling to see.”
Mr Faulkner is a member of the Melbourne Lego Train Club.
The group members are dedicated Lego fans that are committed to designing, building and presenting some of the largest and most amazing fan train layouts in the Southern Hemisphere.
Creative: V/Line conductor Kade Faulkner has immortalised the regional rail network's modern VLocity trains in Lego, building a 3250-brick replica of the train.
“I saw them exhibiting early last year and asked how I could be a part of it,” Mr Faulkner said.
“There are about 40 or so people in the club and we all get together and each build trains and sceneries, little towns and display quite large Lego cities and train layouts at shows across Melbourne.”
Brickvention, in Melbourne is the biggest Lego event the group does each year, with Mr Faulkner hoping to bring his Lego trains to Bendigo to exhibit later this year.
Mr Faulkner is now working on a scale model of the Overland train that travelled from Melbourne to Adelaide in the 1980s and 1990s.
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