This review is dedicated to migrant workers in China especially those who made plastic bricks that we all enjoy to build. They are the ones who made LEGO in Jiaxing and clone bricks in Shantou. To bring things in context for western readers, we need do a short introduction here. 春运 or spring festival travel period is the largest annual human migration in the world. Around three billion passenger-journey occurred during 40 days of Lunar New Year. Millions of migrant workers who worked in coastal cities in China returned home for Chinese New Year festival. Panlos 610008 don’t have official English name and we simply called it “Going Home” set as per the Chinese name 返乡 on the set. This set represented collective memories for millions of people in China in which every one simply wanted to reunite with love ones back home during the festive season. Many thanks to dracos for contributing the photos.

Open Box of Panlos 61008

Panlos 610008 Gong Home set comes with 1581 pieces of bricks and 10 minifigures. The set is launched for China Spring Festival celebration.

Size of the set.

Instruction booklet plus one sticker sheet. All the parts are printed except for the plastic woven bag.

The bags are numbered and corresponded to building steps.

Minifigures

Assembling the minifigures.

Panlos minifigs has longer arm for adult, and shorter (LEGO version) arm for kid. The longer arm had short joint, while the short arm had long (LEGO type) joint.

Railway conductors. The legs are different to LEGO.

Three children passengers.

Young lady with luggage and a music punk with guitar and luggage.

Migrant workers with 蛇皮袋，or poly bag, plastic woven bags. These are the only parts that used stickers.

The Poly bags are favorite carriers for migrant workers for they are economical and durable.







The poly bags even inspired LV and Balenciaga to launch luxury version of it.





二窝头, a type of liquor with high alcohol contents. It’s printed part.

Building in Progress

Bags number 1.

For those who wanted to buy multiple set to connect the coaches, or hoping to incorporate them into LEGO train system, sorry to disappoint you. Panlos train is not compatible with LEGO. The connector is different to LEGO and it’s using clip instead of magnet. Bag 1 is to build the locomotive.

Building the chasis.

Don’t think this is right as locomotive generally don’t carry luggage.

Bags number 2.

Dashboard and mugs for train drivers.

Side of the train printed Guangzhou to Shanghai.

Locomotive of YZ-22 train. The green color train gone in service back in 1960 and used to be backbone of railway in China. YZ means hard seat coach. Front of the train had serial number 610008 which is the same as the set.

Bags number 3.

The male joint at both side of the coach to connect to the locomotive. Also you can’t install power function because the wheel can’t turned.

Bags number 4.

Printed Chinese knots on windows of the train.

Bags number 5.

Decorative accessories.

Roof of the station. Installing the signage, lights and decorative lanterns upside down.

The locomotive didn’t get reproduce faithfully.

YZ22 passenger train or 绿皮车。

The YZ22 Green Cars arrived in Shanghai. Next destination is Guangzhou, where all ours favorite clone bricks manufacturers are located.

Lanterns with upside down “福” character and decorative accessories. These are all printed parts.

No backdoor for the coach.

Close Look at the Train Set.

The platform is no where near the actual scene during the chaotic Chunyun period. There is people every where and the platform would be packed.

This was the reality in the Shanghai train station back in 2018!





Family of three. Seldom seeing any family with more than one kid in China.

Kids without their guardian, beware of kidnappers!

Bags of gifts for love ones at home. How does the passengers supposed to board if the door couldn’t be opened?

Please board the train and mind the gap!

The time is 11:23 am while the platform shown 11:35 am. So we still have a bit of time before the train departs.

Boarding the train in orderly manner.

Below are photos taken by Rain. It’s time to have some fun! Vader is the train conductor. The stormtroopers are going home for reunion dinner. One trooper is drinking too much eguotou and vomiting into the bin.

In remote region of China, sometime the herders will usher the animals into the passenger trains to transport them.

The Taoist monk is bringing Chinese vampires back home.

Summary for Panlos 610008 Going Home Train Set

For those in China, the set recreated the nostalgic scene where people boarding the green train to go home. However, the train don’t have connectors that are compatible with LEGO. Also the wheels are fixed and you can’t install power function to move the train. There is no door or window that could be opened. In terms of part quality, Panlos is at the bottom of the league among the China clone brick makers. Unless you have special memory of the chaotic travel scene, this set is meant for people in China. It’s good display set with minimal play ability. You may order Panlos 610008 Going Home Train Set from Aliexpress.