Thomas Lajon’s Orient Express started with an invitation to build again
A look back at the train enthusiast whose return to LEGO became an Ideas set with detailed carriages and a filmmaker among its passengers.
An old interest found its way back to bricks
Thomas Lajon’s enthusiasm for trains, ships and ocean liners began in childhood. According to LEGO’s November 2023 announcement, his girlfriend later encouraged him to return to LEGO building and make a train. The Paris-based fan chose the Orient Express, a subject he associated with rich stories as well as distinctive design.
His proposal reached the 10,000-supporter milestone on LEGO Ideas, and set 21344 followed. The published account is an encouraging example of returning to a hobby through something already loved, rather than feeling obliged to learn every current theme before beginning.
A train with people and rooms inside
The official product page describes a locomotive, tender, dining car and sleeping car, with removable roofs that reveal the interiors. Eight minifigures include a station manager, a duchess and a film director based on the fan designer. The carriage details include decorative panels and a mirror effect above a bed.
LEGO also states that the model fits its L Gauge track system. This article examines the documented display design; it does not claim powered operation or report a running test. The human-scale details are the focus here: a train becomes a setting where people can have different reasons for making the same journey.
The passenger changes the way you read the carriage
Our interpretation is that assigning characters different roles makes the interior easier to explore. A dining table suggests one kind of moment; a sleeping compartment suggests another. A staff member sees the same train as a workplace, while a passenger may see it as a special occasion.
For a builder planning an original passenger vehicle, that distinction can help decide which spaces deserve attention. Sketch the path of one person through the model before filling every available area. Where would they enter, pause, work or put something down? Those choices can make small details feel connected.
Returning fans can start with one carriage-sized idea
Lajon’s completed set is a substantial project, but the origin story does not require a returning builder to begin at that scale. Our suggestion is to choose a single detail from a familiar interest and build that first: a seat, a window arrangement, a control panel or a tiny room.
Keep the first session focused on rediscovering which pieces can express the idea. A small result can reveal what you want to learn next. The encouraging part of this story is the invitation that preceded the finished product—someone noticed a longstanding interest and suggested giving it a new physical form.
Reporting checked October 11, 2026. Plans and programs can change; follow the linked organizations for current information.