Aster and LGB - # 21832

In 2000 LGB had started the Mikado project in Nuremberg. It took Gunter Ruhland, head mold master, quite some time to finalize the molds for the Mikado. It was a complicated design fraught with operational failure. For more information on this matter please revisit our Mikado blogs from January of 2014 and November of  2012.

Sometime during the design and creation phase Aster was contacted. They had already built 3 Mikado models all live steam and in brass; the first, the SNCF 141R already in 1979. And while LGB Nuremberg and Gunter Ruhland were still working hard on their first Mikado edition Aster had built the Aster/LGB Mikado in brass with the regular electrical motor within a year to be ready for sale in 2002. The same year LGB would present their Mikado # 20872.

The Aster/LGB Mikado made its debut as the White Pass Mikado No 73 in all black with red cab door and red cab window frames and a silver smoke chamber.

Aster/LGB # 21832 - courtesy of Only Trains

The Aster Mikado was equipped with sound and smoke (generator) and some engines came with a factory installed MTS decoder for digital operation but could operate analog as well. The overall edition volume was again 600 and as usual it came in a wooden box with the loco being secured in Styrofoam within the box.

As you can see in this close up:

Aster # 21832 loco - courtesy of brasstrains.com 

by design the model-loco 4 axles make the loco somewhat unresponsive to tighter curves. LGB curves R1 and R2 were tough to handle for the Aster Mikado since Aster was used to operate their live steam models on much wider curves than LGB track offered. This was no Aster fault. There was simply little communication from LGB (top management) to Aster regarding operational differences and track requirements.....

Fun Fact: if you would precision scale original track curves that Mikado locos operated through to the LGB scale this curve would run halfway around the outside of your house.

Ad-wise - you guessed right - almost nothing. LGB published 18 catalogs and brochures in 2002 including two major catalogs for LGBoA: a main catalog 2002(156 pages) and a 68 page catalog "LGB of America Info 2002". Plenty of space to advertise the Aster Mikado.... you'd think. Looky here............now.....

LGB 21832 ad in LGBoA Info 2002, page 23

Shown was a photo of the prototype. All the while, 5 pages earlier, all(!!) (future) LGB Mikados were presented. Mind you, nothing was in production yet but the # 20872 and no hand models were available either. (More on that subject on a future blog about the LGB Mikado). So photo shop images were used.

Not even that little love was shown on the Aster Mikado

The archetype is the White Pass Mikado No 73 custom built by Baldwin for the White Pass & Yukon Route in 1947 and was operated by the Yukon RR until 1964. To quote Wikipedia :" After retirement

The Mikado No 73 restored on the WP&Y RR - Courtesy of the WP & Y RR website

on June 30, 1964, the locomotive was moved to Bennett, British Columbia, in 1968 for display. In 1979 the locomotive was moved again to Whitehorse, Yukon, this time to be restored. Restoration was completed in 1982 and the locomotive has been back in service since then ".

 And proof was about to be in the pudding. Your very own Famous Klaus was in Skagway in 1989 visiting the WP&Y RR  for sound recordings for the  WP&Y RR  LGB 2055 (see our earlier blog) and making friends for a lifetime. Among his cherished moments were coming across the winterized  No. 73 and taking a slew of photos to capture history.

Mikado No 73 winterized in Skagway in 1989 - copyright Klaus Stork

Today, tourists, rail fans, train enthusiasts and Yukon lovers can enjoy a train ride throughout the (summer) season:

Mikado No 73 in operation on the White Pass & Yukon Route o Courtesy of the WP & Y RR website

+++++++++++++++++++++++++ to be continued.................................