Here is my problem, I have been collecting LGB since 1986, I have 26 engines and over 200 cars, I went through Hurricane Katrina and did not lose any of them, but the rest of the year of 2005 and most of 2006 was a bust for me to purchase any more LGB items, shortly after that the whole LGB (Marklin takeover)thing started and as well as all of us know it still is going on and looks to go all the way to 2009, I now know that parts are going to be hard to get and service on them is going to also be hard to find and no new fresh products will be out there for us to buy also, it has made me start to think about selling my LGB’s and to make the move to MTH Gauge 1… What is your thoughts about this move from LGB to MTH. Let me know the pros and cons of this and would you do it? This will help me make up my mind on to sale or not… Thanks, Mark
Well it is hard to say. One hand, yeah LGB/Marklin screwed there people over, like you. You have supported them by purchasing there product for years. Have you seen a rise in price of them?
Now, what is MTH going to do… Are WE Safe?
Toad [2c]
My only concern, with the unknown LGB future product, will be the lack of nicer locos that will handle R-1 curves. Due to hardscape limitations that is the largest curves I can use. [sigh]
well I might seem like a sales rep (I’m not!) but I like telling people how good the features are on MTH products. I was leaning toward O scale but could never get used to three rail. I think if you like what you’ve seen on MTH products, you will be happy with their quality. I still am impressed the most by the steam engine’s smoke system and I’m a diesel nut. I just ran four diesels pulling 30+ cars and it took seconds to create a new consist lashup. One engine would have worked but I like the look of power! The MTH control system upgrades for free!
I also believe there are plenty of people running LGB that will buy your equipment. Are you running on MTS digital? How do you like it? Do you run on regular dc? Is it track power? It sounds like you have an awful lot of equipment. I run the rolling stock brands that I previously purchased with the MTH engines. Next I’m going to try a conversion of another brand engine to dcs. You can start on regular DC but it sounds like you will run alot of equipment and you should go with their (MTH) control system.
I am going to hold on to my meager LGB collection until they no longer run.
However, I have been considering MTH. I have one MTH O scale set that I am very pleased with and I am considering going with MTH going forward. I have two MTH freight cars that are very nice. I am confused on their loco’s though. Do they only run on their proprietary digital system or can they run on analog?
Well, most of my LGB engines have went up in price since the takeover and a few are hard to find. I ran my LGB’s by the EPL system (basic blocks controlled by signals and switches), I never used the MTS system… I’m very interested in the MTH DCS system and how it works, but the thing that I want to know does it work better with an AC power source or a DC power source… In reading it would seem to work better with an AC power source… I know you can run them in analog in any power mode(AC or DC)… Yes it is true that if I go to MTH I will have to have larger radius curves than the one’s that can be used with LGB items… It looks that 8’ will be the min… You guy’s keep on giving more feedback on this matter so I will have a clear picture of what is going on in the hobby, I’ve been stuck in the LGB mode for 22 years and I thought that they could do nothing wrong, but it is starting to look like there will be no good out come to this in the future on both sides of the pond… Thanks, Mark
I may have missed something here, but why do you need to get rid of any of your LGB? I have equipment from just about every manufacturer, (except MTH and LIONEL) because I have a limited budget and only buy what suits my era and locale. BUT, I have found that LGB is the best of the lot for quality. I have never needed spare parts for LGB locos, in the 20 odd years I have been running outdoors, and some of my LGB locos are that old! By comparison, my Bachmann Shay needed a new set of bogies within a year of being bought new. My Climax has needed re-wiring to be reliable, etc etc.
Apart from the coupler issue, I would keep your LGB and run it alongside other rollingstock which matches for size and style of your existing stock. Especially if you are running DC, like I do.
Mick
I have only been in this hobby a short time compared to others. I have seen prices increase but then again so has my income. There are also some very competitive prices in the U.S. I mean, who pays full retail? Marklin will discover this fact soon enough. You have a good collection of reliable products, why sell them? Give this whole LGB/Marklin thing time to shake itself out. Dennis
As most, I started with LGB. I now love the MTH DCS system and I have 10 of there 1/32 locomotives. I have added DCS to 3 of my Aristo-Craft 1/29 locomotives and will do another.
BUT, a Big BUT, I have sold off most of my LGB as it looks TOO big next to MTH, Aristo-Craft, and USA Trains.
I now think we have two types of “G” gauge. 1/20, 1/22, and 1/24th Narrow Gauge (LGB, Bachmann, Hartland) and 1/29th, 1/32nd Scale Heavy Rail (Aristo-Craft, MTH, and USA Trains).
If I can I’ll try to answer some questions from my experience. The MTH G scale engines run on ac or dc in analog (conventional track power) fine. Under ac power you can access more features using the bell and whistle buttons on the transformer. Under MTH DCS you can power under ac or dc and each has some advantages in theory. I’ve heard ac travels farther so I went this route with a single 180 watt power brick, $75.00. I think if you have a good dc power source it would be equal but probably cost more, like bridgeworks. If you want to run some engines in conventional mode with dcs,the tiu has variable conections that can turn up or down track voltage to control engines that aren’t DCS equiped. I think thats for ac engines only so please ask. I have also heard that each TIU has two channels but you run them both on ac or dc but not both.
I run larger radius curves with the larger steam engines (Challenger = r3 min curve)and usa cars because it looks and operates better. A MTH dash 8 will work on r1 curves. did I miss something else? Joe Paonessa
DMU in CT wrote about scales and I agree. Some bachman equipment that I have and seen seems to be very large like 1/20 or close. My two lgb box cars are similar in size to the aristo, and I still run them. I don’t own their engines because of $, sticker shock! Couplers and coupler height are always the main problem I run into. I like KD, MTH, and Aristo. For some reason the USA coupler doesn’t work well with others so I change them. They also seem to be mounted lower than most others on the market. I’m starting to like the stock MTH as they seem to be working reliably after 4 years now.
Do you have any issues with current draw on the Aristo or USA brand engine conversions?
Hey Mark,
Well for starters, MTH markets a smaller engine overall that LGB, whereas they focus primarily on 1:32. I think it will be harder to find buildings accessories in this scale as oppossed to a larger scale like 1:20.3 or 1:22 etc…I also feel that running a MTH Triplex or Big boy for example would look silly next to larger narrow gauge.
Most of my engines are 1.20.3 scale and I have found this to be a more universal and enjoyable.My biggest challenge is trying to find a manufacturer who will produce a standard gauge engine in 1.20.3
Anyway - good luck [8]
to Enginear,
The MTH “G” upgrade kits (Different for Steam and Diesel) for ProtoSound 2/DCS are based on twin mortored locomotives. No operational or current problems.
The MTH 6 wheel Diesel truck mounts a motor over the center axle with a steel worm on each end of the motor driving a bronze gear on axle 1 and 3.
The AristoCraft RS3 is twin motored so I mounted the Fly Wheel (from NWSL) on the motor shaft extending out of the gear box. 
The Aristo -9 and SD45 are 6 axle diesels with 2 smaller motors per power truck. I removed one motor and mounted a Fly Wheel on a dummy motor shaft.
Nice job,and I appreciate the pictures. Thanks Joe P.!!!
Hi Mark,
My [2c] worth here maybe…With the way the economy in general seems to be going as of late, I’d go with the biggest bucks…That seems to be Mike at MTH…He must’a had plenty of $$$$, to go up against the UP brass… Their product line seems really nice to me also, mind you now, your asking for personal opinions here…What would I do… OK.
First off, I’d not be, TOOOOO quick, to get rid of all my LGB collection, if I were you…especially if you have the $$$$$$, to buy new stock.
One thing about Mike’s though, he doesn’t offer much in the way of the line I have chosen, The Great Northern RR…But as already noted, the DCS system can be installed/up-graded, into most any other manufaturers product lines, so I am led to believe…Haven’t done any myself to date though.
That being understood than, I am seriously considering shifting everything of mine to the MTH, DCS system, I have just not fooled with it enough yet, to get it fully operational
I would have thought Buckso whould have given us his [2c]!?
Toad
Buy PIKO.
How’s that?
Aw, C’mon Jack. I bet you got a couple hundred of these in the warehouse you could give us a deal on -
-Brian [(-D]
Was going to get this…but prices went way high, now stock on parts 0.
Now thoughts have went to
Toad
I’ll keep this in mind this fall when your club is looking for showstock. [;)]