Ernst Paul Lehmann, LGB
LGB presented its new items on a new and bigger stand this year. The main attraction was a large outdoor layout designed by a landscape company. There was a mountain, a (small) stream with a pond, lawn, bushes and flowers. And everywhere LGB trains took their turns in either bigger or smaller laps. ( YT: note that the very same landscape built still exists on this years stand with some plants replaced -YT ponders... )
What got your attention right away was also the big new item of 1986: a red painted model of the rack gear electric loco H Ge2/2 of the Furka-Upper Alpine Railroad (formerly Schoellenbahn) which operates in friction mode as well as in rack gear mode. Utilizing a cock rail which can be snapped into place into any LGB track grades of up to 25% can be overcome. Compare this to friction mode where the max grade is 4%.
Consisting of a rack gear loco and two red-beige passenger cars, the train climbed tirelessly up the hill just to descend down to the valley on the other side. Having reached the bottom a stretch of water was crossed on an also new arched bridge. This was the new arch bridge with the impressing length of (almost) 4 feet. It comes as a construction kit in which the single bridge parts have to be assembled and screwed in place. Several bridges can be constructed consecutively or adjacent to each other. The passage height allows for electric locos in panthograph drive.
Announced last year the RhB Passenger car III Typ A could be admired behind a 'crocodile' within a long train. The car comes with complete interior trim, metal wheels and built-in interior lighting. With an overall length of 55 cm (21.6") the car is truly a super model which also shows in the price (DM 395.00) ( US$ 130.00 in 1986 and about US$ 300.00 today). delivery is expected for this year but the dining car will not be available until next year. (YT: the original car LGB 3067 is available today for Euro 219.00 at Grootspor/NL . The latest US price is US$ 185.00 from 'ModelTrainMarket' a model train dealer in Ocala/FL which YT found on a Google search).
Speaking of "catalog": after a 2-year break a new catalog was presented this year. Trimmed to 113 pages it is still more a book than a catalog. Execution and photography are in familiar quality. The cover showcases the new electric loco of the Rhaetische Bahn which took turns in front of a tank train on the Fair layout shadowed by her FO rack gear sister. (YT: The Rhaetische Bahn is again the star in 2019 in the new items catalog. It has been a constant feature throughout LGB history. For good reason: The Rhaetische Bahn in Switzerland is one of the very few still operating narrow gauge railroads in the world. Established 1888 it is ongoingly operating and expanding its lines. The Albula and Bernina lines were UNESCO World Heritage listed in 1988. Please go to their fantastic website Rhaetische Bahn and indulge in a ' real gauge' adventure.)
Listed as # 2064 the Wismarer Rail Bus was presented as a single rail bus, new item in all red coloring. With a trailing crest-car one such specimen was circling relentlessly around a group of bushes and flowers. The marked sales price of DM 450.00 has increased quite a bit compared to the already existing twin pack of # 2065-1 for DM 650.00. (YT: In US $ 1986: $ 150.00 and $ 220.00-- in US$ today: $ 345.00 and $ 510.00)
Though it wasn't a new item 1986 a Trans-Harz-Railway tank powered engine (Harzquerbahn Tender loco) with steam sound and flatbed w/ 2 cars was eye-candy at its best. May I suggest-- Mr. LGB can't you change color on the cars once in a while, e.g. blue and white?
Coming to the end of our LGB stand tour we like to point out items that are going to be discontinued in 1986:
for starters there is the 'Fiery Elias # 2050, then the twin rail car # 2065 -see above- which will now be offered as # 2064 single rail car. In spare parts 29 positions were cancelled including all motor blocks and loco wheel sets. Obviously the actual demand did not hold up to the costs of warehousing. Well now- nobody needs to be afraid of not getting his hands on parts for repair or DIY. Even if the required part is no longer part of the program you can still order each and every single part from the renowned LGB customer service.
Discontinued was also the switch block for battery operated locos as well as the (battery operated) steam loco. And within "Miscellaneous Items" the LGB pin and the poster are cancelled.
From the car program the passenger car Barmer Bergbahn # 3061 and the anniversary car "Jahreswagen 1985" have gone. Also, the specialty Anniversary Train for the Railroad Anniversary is no longer manufactured.
Within the trolley system only the 60cm catenary wire is still available. Anything smaller must be crafted DIY by cutting and bending.
Finally I cast my eye onto the new pricelist which is displaying either the same prices or only slightly higher prices. The DB Diesel engine #2051 is shown with a small price deduction of DM 55.00 ( US$ 27.00/ $ 69.00) and the sound version deducts even DM 80.00 ( US$ 40.00/$ 92.00) (YT: note that the price difference between a standard Diesel engine and a Diesel engine sound version back then was a hefty DM 550.00 or US$ 275.00 then and $ 635.00 in today's value. Easy to give a $ 40.00/92.00 discount...)
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