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1976: Set #396 Name: Thatcher Perkins Wild West Engine (1863) Series: Expert Ages: 9 and up Launched: 1 September 1976 Discontinued: 31 December 1977 The American market was calling for a nostalgic locomotive toy, so LEGO contacted museums in America for photographs and drawings of the classic Thatcher Perkins, a train that operated on the B&O Railroad starting in 1863. #396 was an expensive set to buy, due to the high cost of research and permissions required to create it -- so in the end, it did not sell as well as hoped. The model was built by the LEGO Company's designers using only pre-existing LEGO elements. The Expert Line (also known as Hobby Sets) This was a line of seven vehicle models based on real motorcycles, trains, and cars. Here’s what LEGO said about this line back in 1976: "LEGO Hobby Sets are for experienced builders. Hobby Sets are for those who are very good at building with LEGO bricks. They are not for beginners! These models look super displayed in your room and will be admired by your friends."