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Following is the translation of HJ Neumann's article from March 2018 about LGB new items, representing his opinion. Followed by Y.T. observations for 2019 and the current LGB engines available here in the USA (to the best of my knowledge...) This is a lot of text, so lean back and enjoy!
OK Then! After all I will write something about my "LGB Thought stock" with that a many readers asking for it. Now, that I've overcome my "shock' also known as "New Items LGB 2018" from the beginning of this year-- at least a bit.
Especially as I actually have no reason to get upset: neither am I an LGB dealer ( who has ever less to sell) nor LGB manufacturer ( who obviously is missing a long term sales strategy) I am just only an LGB fan and possible customer and as such I am gripped by boredom when looking at the program 2018! Starting with the 50th anniversary logo which arose from a mix of history and a bland "50 Jahre/Years". Well, I am no graphic designer but that something doesn't work here even I noticed. Alas, too late...
Before I started writing this I went to see some dealers asking them about the single specific orders received. Horrible.
Five box cars are offered for the special anniversary (LGB # 40501, 40502, 40503,40504,40505). Then there is a gold colored Stainz which functions as the set loco in the catalog. The five cars come at Eu 130.00 each, total Eu 650.00 plus the Stainz for EU 260.00, sums up to EU 950.00 ( or US$ 1,100.00). Or, to remind you, in exchange rate to Deutsch Mark DM 1,800.00. That is dead on arrival -- for me. Color wise the cars and the loco don't go together at all. Plus such a gold colored loco already exist as small edition loco by LGB dealer Ritzer.
I still remember very well the 1981 Anniversary train ( 100 Years Ernst Paul Lehmann Patent Works) The set came with a loco and 2 passenger cars color-wise nicely attuned, with tracks and transformer ( thus ready for set-up) and back then at DM 130.00. As a sign to the LGB fan community I would have tried to build on that: anniversary train set with loco and five cars all in the same color scheme. This time no tracks and transformer for a price of EU 399.00 ( US$ 450.00) That still wouldn't have been the shooting star of the week but the LGB fan community would have understood-- and I myself would have bought a set as well. For the loco, dear Maerklin, I would have chosen the LGB loco # 2015 open in the back if you know what I mean... Matching that I would have offered a sound tender the next year - if I had been the manufacturer. And make some money with that. And a baggage car for the thus created specialty train would have been the new item for 2019 - announced as new item in 2018. This is how you do it, gentlemen!!
For about Eu 1,000.00 ( US$ 1,200) there will be a RhB loco Ge 4/4 II (# 28443) plus a US Mogul (20280) for about Eu 1,200.00 (US$ 1500.00) the Denver & Rio Grande Western. The original RhB loco operates during the anniversary year by the way and could ( I repeat could) instigate some purchases. I personally would never (!) buy this specific model specifically since this subject would be an old hat in 2019. And don't tease me with that Mogul from the LGB flint-stone aera!
LGB offers to participate in events for the original RhB operation on ..., activities in Joestadt and Gyoer on...- Yeah, yeah - you can go there but that is of no benefit to the standard LGB fan.
Another new item announced is the "LGB factory loco". The Original was located at Saganer Str in Nuremberg until bankruptcy in 2006 and was announced as new item back then as well. Now it is supposed to come. Now that the young folks don't know about it and the old folks don't care anymore. All in all this is 10 years too late.
"Too late" is a matter of definition, "too expensive" is easily understood by anyone. By now almost every item at LGB is "too pricey" but this year they top even that. The RhB steam snow blower Xrot (# 26605) is offered for no less than EU 3,999.99 (US$ 4599.99)They write:" in tradition with the earlier LGB metal models". As if time stood still and people would still spend that amount of money for LGB trains. But the times have changed substantially. Years ago, wealthy LGB collectors would have bought a model like this hoping for short term value improvement. But today?
Of course Maerklin will declare that this item is already sold out with its edition of 400 locos. So what. It is a known fact that big Maerklin dealers with a full blown H0 program are more or less forced to take these models into their program. Just to get rid of them on eBay at purchase price. No this is the wrong signal at the wrong time. Another sign of planning without orientation. So sad.
If it was the right decision to buy the old BRAWA RhB steam loco G 4/5 (# 23530) and their passenger cars can be doubted as well. Under BRAWA management they sold really bad because - simply said - they were too delicate. To operate of course not for the show case. And when you buy LGB you want to operate LGB may be even outdoors. And again at EU 1,900 they display another price wish where most LGB fans have to pass up.
Now I tell you what I ordered from my dealer from the new 2018 items: The Richter freight mail car #32191 -- to complete my train set. The Saxonian box car 4333K (#40271) for set-completion also and the MBG bar car # 33661 because it it so beautiful. That's it. My poor dealer...(Sorry)
At least I don't have to get excited about a loco , already expensive , is sold in a wooden crate. Thus getting even more expensive. Maybe they could have seduced me with an aged Steam model ( A Stainz?) matching the ones in my own show case!
Greetings from Much!
HJ Neumann
Yours Truly has so much to say about this and for the first time even commenting on a whole article. So please go join us on the next blog about this one episode!
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THANK YOU for keeping the LGB hobby alive!! And God Bless!
Your donation will help in our efforts to have a new blog at least every week!
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