LGB 2017 Series - Only In America

 The LGB 2010 was the first ever LGB engine that in 1968 started a business and hobby that would conquer the world, literally. 

An early LGB 2010

By 1975 some 2010 LGB engines had found their way into the USA and created demand in a way even the Richter brothers Wolfgang and Eberhard couldn't foresee. Eagerly they tried to built an engine that was modeled on the small 0-4-0 Western engines like this one by Henschel  that today is on display in Akron/OH

A Henschel 0-4-0T in Akron/OH-
copyright Bob McGilvray Jr.

First LGB offered the #2016 which was listed in the 1975 Fall catalog but not shown. The text said "2016 Tank Locomotive US Railways (no picture)". And again in 1976 the LGB catalog (again just a 4-page brochure!) listed the product #2016 but no image. (YT: our extensive search on the internet did not deliver any photo of a really existing LGB 2016 which usually means none were produced) Finally - in 1977 and with a catalog of 20(!) pages the 2016 had miraculously turned into the LGB 2017 and was presented:

page 4 of the 1977 LGB 'catalog' - #2017 in upper right corner

LGB 2017 first presented in 1977 LGB catalog

It was year 6 of printing an English version of the LGB catalog and it was the first year that LGB had so much rolling stock to offer that the catalog grew to 20 pages , thus the headline "Giant LGB Catalogue". The 2017 came as a tank version with a motorized tender and was the beginning of an unprecedented success on the American market. So much so that almost all 2017 editions including those in sets were exclusively made for the US market. Very few editions made their way back to Germany or Europe. One may even say that the LGB 2017 built the backbone of the American LGB business.

Though by 1977 your Famous Klaus was flying into the USA for Lufthansa he had no LGB connections, yet. So knowledge about USA-only models are sparse, on his side. That may explain why the list below - of all engine types and sets of the 2017- might be incomplete. We are actively asking our dear readers and followers/friends to provide further and better information where available. Thank you!

As far as we know these #2017 and 2017 tender models and sets have been made by LGB. The 2017 has also been the role model for a number of ToyTrains by LGB which might get their own chapter one day.

LGB#      Year

2017 1977

20087 1987

20287 1987

2117/6 1988

22301 1989

22401 1989

2317/6 1991

25301 1991

25401 1991

2217/6 1992

2217 1993

70311/72311 1993

70312 1993

70411/72411 1993

70412/72412 1994

25171 1995

72555 1995

72858 1995

70314/72314 1996

72414      1996

72910      1996

72997 1997

72534 2000

72554 2000

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