It’s rare that we come across a Technic creation that genuinely surprises us. This is because a) our workforce of smelly little Elves appreciate quite a narrow range of models, mostly those with racing stripes and/or those of a transforming robotical nature, and b) because Technic builders themselves seem to mirror this approach.

It therefore makes a very welcome change to post a pair of Technic models like these, from MOCpages newcomer Desert752. Desert has built a complete mining set-up, with a huge bucket-wheel excavator and – even more unusually – a working Technic train. It’s all controlled remotely via LEGO’s Power Functions system, including the train’s movement, the emptying of the hopper cars, the rotating excavation bucket and the loading conveyer.

You can see how it all works via the link to MOCpages above where there are more images as well as a video of the set-up in action, and you can also be the first to leave Desert752 a comment welcoming him into our online Lego community.