The "Freight Train Set" no. 4565, also known as "Freight and Crane Railway" and "Goods Train Set," was originally issued in 1996 and stayed in production well in the 2000s. It was very well designed and constructed, clocking at almost 1000 pieces and aimed at more advanced 8+ y.o. builders. The Freight Train Set was one of the 'base' Trains kits, the one to start an extended railway build.

It came with a freight train consisting of a "crocodile"-style locomotive and three flatbed cargo platforms, all carrying various 4x8 containers (cement mixers, various cargo boxes, and a special Servicing Toolkit with multiple tools). Locomotive has a detachable canopy revealing a rotating seat and double-sided cabin with two control panels, allowing the Conductor to change the direction on-the-fly. There’s also a pretty neat truck which can carry one container. A Loading Dock on a 32x32 baseplate consists of a weigh station and two cranes to unload the goods; all fully operational! The set is completed by 18 pieces for a Train Track, and comes with only three minifigures! Oddly a small number given the overall size of the set and the number of vehicles and complicated machinery within it.

The set required the no. 4548 "Transformer and Speed Regulator" to run all the motors and lights. The booklet came with a manual on correct wiring, as well as a few designs for the extended railway structure with additional sets no. 4515 'Straight Rails,' no. 4520 'Curved Rails,' and 4531 'Manual Points with Track.'

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"All the action and excitement of a bustling train yard, complete with an engine, three flatbed train cars, containers for loading solids and liquids, two working cranes, a working scale for weighing cargo, a truck and much more. Use the cranes to load the cars, make sure the load's not too heavy, then let'em roll round the track."

From the Lego catalogs: "Equipped for transportation of all kinds of goods;" "Goods trains are really fun to run — especially when they’re overloaded!"

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The build is about 96-97% complete, with most electric parts omitted and a few key pieces missing (had to substitute them).

=MISSING PIECES=

https://rebrickable.com/parts/973p83c01/torso-train-suit-and-tie-print-yellow-arms-yellow-hands/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/973px8c01/torso-train-red-vest-print-blue-arms-yellow-hands/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/2358pr0001/baseplate-32-x-32-with-7-stud-straight-with-road-with-white-sidelines-print/
+Stickers are missing
https://rebrickable.com/parts/3436/vehicle-tipper-end-sloped/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/2681/support-6-x-6-x-10-stanchion/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/5306bc036/electric-wire-with-brick-2-x-2-x-23-pair-36-studs-long/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/6035/electric-light-brick-1-x-2-with-single-side-light/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/2919/electric-train-light-prism-1-x-4/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/2928/electric-train-light-prism-1-x-4-holder/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/2431pr00013/tile-1-x-4-with-control-panel-print/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/3127/hook-plate-modified-1-x-2-with-crane-hook-left/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/3492c01/crane-bucket-complete-assembly-top-jaws-spring/
https://rebrickable.com/parts/70358/train-motor-9v-complete-assembly/