The LGB Mogul 2-6-0

The basic idea for a Mogul engine was born at LGB in the very early 80's. It took a few years to get it from an idea to a hand model, to early production and eventually to the accomplished best seller engine. The idea for the Mogul was born after Wolfgang and Eberhard Richter observed an ever growing American demand for LGB. Wanting to offer something truly American the idea for the Mogul was born.

The archetype Mogul was designed and first manufactured between 1852 and 1860. Soon she became one of the most built steam locomotives in America and was exported to nearly 20 countries world wide. (for detailed information about the history of the original Mogul see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-0) The Mogul was originally built for standard gauge as well as for narrow gauge lines. Hence it was the ideal template for LGB.

LGB started working on the prototype in early 1983. With the main body of the engine and tender built as hand model it was time for a photo shoot. To make the hand model look good a lot of details were added for the catalog shoot: Pipes, running boards, uncoupling bar and many more details made a great hand model. But it was expensive to make molds for such details. To expedite form making, preparation for serial production, actual production and distribution those details were ditched. By the end of 1984 the Mogul 2018D was delivered to dealers/stores. Immediately complaints started raining in, piling up on Guenter Ruhland's desk.

Courtesy of Trainz.com

The complaints included: the engine derailed at any given occasion without obvious reason. Often enough the engine fell to her side and the smoke stack would break off. Klaus had already been in close contact with LGB and had taken over the task of resolving these issues. After days of testing and observing Klaus concluded what had to be addressed: the reconstruction of the pilot wheel and change of center of gravity. So he went to work. He designed extra lead weights to be added into the motor block. He also redesigned the pilot wheel mount securing the pilot wheel will not derail when hitting an obstruction nor cutting a switch open.
Guenter Ruhland was instrumental in implementing Klaus designs into manufacturing and the improved Mogul then became one of the best selling locos LGB ever made.

This first Mogul  2018 D  was built until 1987, in a red (boiler)/green (cabin) color scheme. It is the wood burning edition of a Mogul.There is no proof that the color scheme was a counter response to Walt Disney's 4-6-0-3 in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista/FL.

In 1988 the 2019 S, a coal burning

Courtesy of Only Trains

type of a Mogul  was added to the program and featured a smoke generator plus a lot of the details that were skipped previously  on the 2018D.
The 2019 S came in a grey/silver and black color scheme. It became 20192 in 1993. And with more than 9,000 #2019/20192 Moguls built and sold this was by far the most successful Mogul in LGB history.

In addition to these two Moguls LGB 'manufactured' 28 (!) other versions of the Mogul until 2006, the year they went into bankruptcy.  All in all more than 40,000 moguls were manufactured and sold.

Below find the LGB #s and the year this Mogul was first presented in a catalog:

LGB#		Year
.	2018 d 1985 2028 d 1987 2019 s 1988 2119 1989 2219 s 1990 2219 dg 1992 2319 s 1992 21181 1993 2419 dg 1993 22182 1996 23182 1996 24182 1996 25192 1997 26192 1997 27192 1998 28192 1999 25182 2000 26182 2000 23191 2001 23191.8 2001 23194 2002 24194 2002 29192 2002 26194 2003 22184 2004 25194 2004 27182 2004 21192 2005 22185 2006 22194 2006

 The next two blogs will give detailed information about each Mogul listed and an image as available+++++++++++++++++++++++++to be continued...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check your loco's for repair need. Christmas will be upon you right after Labor Day....Call Klaus for appointment/repair needs.