The OOOOOOOOOOOOPS department

Garden Railroading
21

Most of us started with lgb.

I have parked most of my engines, the only one currently on-shed is a UINTAH.
They run fine.
Scale can be an issue, as can specific eras.
Most of my engines now are 1:20 Bachmann, Shays, Climax, 2-8-0’s.
I do run the older 4-6-0s, all of mine with BBT 2-8-0 drives, simply because they look better than the little Cookes.
I have a pair of 2018D’s updated to more modern appearance, but they are stored, serviceable, along with the Americanized 2015D.

My brother who also operates here has an OLD 2085D, but he’s added a Bachmann 4-6-0 wood cab, a shortened Bachmann 4-6-0 tender, repainted it, removed 2 headlights, other changes, looks pretty good now.

Did you know the Bachmann 4-6-0 has an NMRA Conformace Warrant?
Guess how many LGB items do.
Not that I care about nmra warrants, but I was surprised about the 4-6-0.

I think one of the things that has taken away from the “aura” of the myth was the China move.
When you paid $120 for a German (was it a 3180…) yellow D&RGW passenger car, even at TrainWorld, and now Chinese ones are less than $72…I’ve talked to outfits who specialize in LGB, and older LGB…they don’t buy collections anymore, as they can’t get rid of what they’ve got, even new in the box…the bottom fell out of the colector lgb market several years ago, it seems.
I have a whole bunch of brand new in the box cars and an engine or two.
Not a bite.
Original 2018D, 20+ years old, in the box, original German yellow D&RGW passenger cars, a whole bunch of beer reefers, not a bite.

I put 30 cars out for sale on New Years at the operating session.
Out of 15 LGB, one sold (a pair of flats), but a whole bunch of the USA cars went.

Not complaining, as I ain’t into collecting, but I watch what’s happening and really wonder.

Yes, the stuff runs good.
Yes, it HAD an “aura” about it.
Yes, some is now made in China.

22

I like LGB! It’s tough, it works near every time. It’s plenty close to scale for the twenty foot rule.
I know if I catch someone in “MY” garden railroad with a scale rule, I take a “Yardstick” after them. [:D] That’s after I sick the Doberman on them.[(-D]
All my fine scale stuff stays in the house on the shelf cause it’s too blasted expensive, and got “way” too many fiddley bits to break off, to risk having some kid trip over an expensive engine, or have one take a dive off the track. The LGB stuff takes a lick’en, and keeps on tick’en.
You can’t tell the difference after a few bourbon and cokes anyway!!!
[(-D][(-D]

23

You can come over and play with my trains anytime Capt_turk!

24

Buckso,
I’d love to, but, you live north of the Arctic Circle (Interstate 10). Brrrrrrrrrrr…[:D][:D]
The only way I go north of the Artic Circle is if someone is paying me, “Very well”!![:D]
But if you come down here where there is civilized weather, bring your trains. We’ll even go crank up the 7 1/2" gauge and ride that around…or maybe even the 2’ gauge!


And there definitely ain’t no fiddly bits to break off of them…[:D]

25

I should have a pretty major LGB thing going on in Orlando around mid-April.
I’ll keep you posted!

The ride on trains look really cool- I’ve always wanted to try that.

26

Jack, in Shwencksville, PA (spelling?) there is a railroad like that that I wen to. I had a blast. I will see if I can get some info on it.

27

Thanks Colin!

28

Man!!! A working man is out earning money and look at this thread grow.
What was the topic again???
Capt. If I was not into G ,“gauge” as much i may have tried ride-on trains at this house.

naaaaa,maybe not.

29

I thought about the 2’ stuff, but when you look into it thecost of trackage to just run around the edge of 30 acres means you hafta be a movie star or own a computer software company up in the Seattle area!

Turk,
that looks like a Morania or Bouchard there astern of you!

30

Yep, and with a whole lot more info in the profile than you do.

[;)][:D][:D][:D]

BTW this may interest you; apart from posting on fora regarding a few scale discrepancies and other finer detail, every once in a while I design a track plan for someone who would like a particular theme but is a bit restricted for space.

The last one I did - just as a favour to show what could be done - looks like this

Would you believe it, it is an American proto layout and the intent is to run USAT and Aristo equipment, but best of all this is to happen in Germany
!?!. This particular Large Scale modeler is interested in proto operation and uniform scale. Of course I did several different variants on the theme.

Just a small indication that there are a “few people” to whom scale matters. [;)][;)][:D][:D]

31

Hi Dave,

The F7 question is easily answered

Click on the picture and it will open in intended size that can be read.[;)][:)]

BTW when I do reviews/comparisons I have a rating system that goes like this

No, I don’t count the rivets, most of what I measure is more modern than that anyway. But three different scales for length/width and height get certainly noted.
I also noticed that on one forum they are busily comparing the Genesis to some of the other diesels.
That’s jolly good, but have they never heard of vernier, height gauge and prototype dimensions! The way it works, one takes the proto dimension divides it by the model’s dimension and voilá one has the scale. Oh yeah, to save a lot of errors I recommend using millimeters as the measuring units. Imperial fractions are a bit tricky.[:D][:D][:D]

32

Jack, [;)][;)]

The same here, just a slightly different message.[:D][:D][:D]

I have a 30340 “C2012” on the way and since it is supposed to set “new standards” I will pay close attention.
I’m also in the lucky position to have a copy of the original drawings for that car. Sooooo as your buddy Dave B would say “Stay tuned!” [;)][:)][;)]

33

HJ,
Remember- It’s going to be “G” gauge- not “G” scale!

34

Jack, did you get my email? I know I will try to head there again over the summer.

35

[swg][swg][swg]

Hmmmmmmmm, yes of course! [:)]

RhB equipment: 1000mm: 45mm = 22.22 (according to NEM 1:22.5)

We shall take that into consideration. [;)][:)]

36

Sure did! Thanks Colin!

37

Hey Marty,

I was doing ski-hosting most of the day, then attending a meeting (more skiing) and couldn’t believe it when I got home.

Oh yeah, the original topic!?! Something to do with the easy confusion generated by the changing scale messages from LGB.

Of course Jack L has a job to do, but getting all those crossed messages from the past straightened out won’t be easy. [:)][:)]

38

“The F7 question is easily answered”

Click on the picture and it will open in intended size that can be read.[;)][:)]

Thanks for posting this HJ, my evil eye and wooden ruler was a lot closer that I thought when I looked those locos over.[;)]

Have Fun: Jeff [8D]

39

It seems pretty simple, if you are a “scale” modeler, meaning that you are concerned with the correct ratio of the model to the prototype……… then stay away from LGB.

I think what’s happening is that the hobby is maturing and more people are becoming “serious” about it. That inevitably means a more critical look at scale fidelity. There are now enough suppliers of true-to-scale equipment, both NG and standard, that the rivit-counters (no disrespect meant) no longer have to settle for what is being offered by our German cousins.

But it makes no sense to abuse LGB for continuing to do business as usual. They’ve been very, very successful and have a huge loyal following. It would be foolish for them to start changing strategy at this time.

As we all know, Large Scale railroading is a mess. Two scales (1:29 and 1:32) representing standard gauge and three scales (1:24, 1:22.5, and 1:20.3) representing Narrow Gauge. And almost all the manufacturers in any of those scales are taking great liberties with scale fidelity as well. So to suggest that LGB is the only culprit in the scale infidelity game just isn’t fair. BTW, I don’t own a single piece of LGB equipment primarily because I think it’s a little overpriced and because I am somewhat sensitive to correct scale proportions.

Walt

40

Hi Walt,

Not really, there are some items that are pretty close, there are some measurements that rate “Excellent”. But the “fun” starts when one would like to find out what scale it is in order to determine if it will fit with other makes. Few of us are rich enough to buy in order to find out if it goes with the rest.
AND that is the big difference, Aristo tells us their standard gauge stuff is 1:29. It’s right there in the catalogue, Bachmann tells us if it is 1:20.3 or 1:24, USAT tells us that it is 1:29.

Not withstanding Jack Lynch’s (Marketing Manager LGBoA) comment

here is what LGB has to say on the subject

Yes, sure! Generally 1:22.5 scale…hmmmmmmmm and what scale is the rest??

[quote]
QUOTE: I think what#8217;s happening is that the hobby is maturing and more people are becoming #8220;serious#8221; about it. That inev