LGB STAINZ - The Engine That Made LGB - LGB 2021 series

 The LGB 2021x series began its life in 1997/98 with the LGB 21211. This little Stainz is the real "STAINZ" with its prototype seen below:

LGB 21211 - Courtesy of picclick.co.uk

The engine was advertised in 1998 in the main LGB catalog only:

First advertisement for LGB 21211 in 1998 main LGB catalog, page 25

The prototype (below) was built in 1892 for the Stainz - RR in Austria:

The original STAINZ loco in Murau/Austria - Courtesy Wikipedia

The 2x21x versions were a mix featuring characteristics from the 2010, the 2020 and the 2040 ("Stainz"). 

In 2000 The 21211 was also offered in a digital version, # 21211.8

All in all there were 9 versions of this "STAINZ" type under the Old Original LGB:

LGB #      Year

21211       1997/98

20213       1998

22211       2001/2
22212       2001/2

23211       2002
20212       2004

20211       2004
24211       2004

25211       2004/5 USA only

26211       2006
(27211  2009 Maerklin - not portrayed)

The LGB 20213 was offered to commemorate the 30th anniversary of LGB (1968-1998). The labeling was "STAINZ / 1 / 30" and  the LGB logo with laurel branch(es), connecting rods in silver color. LGB also offered a 2nd version with the label "30 Jahre LGB" covered up and instead labeled with the LGB logo only.

This little engine was only sold to those present at the LGB factory in Nuremberg on June 27 + 28 in 1998.  The edition volume was 1,250

LGB 20213-1 -  Courtesy of Only Trains

Prices ran around US$ 300.00 but they are hard to find these days.

It wasn't until LGB published a new main catalog in 2001/2 that the STAINZ series was continued. The LGB 22212 was a cooperation with STEIFF, featuring a real Steiff bear with engineer's cap and gloves. The loco cab was labeled "Friends for Life"

LGB 22212 - Courtesy of Only Trains

This was a limited edition of 1,000 featuring sound and a STEIFF teddy-bear with the characteristic Steiff  "button-in-ear". The price was a stiff  DM 479.00. That would have been US$ 300-350.00 then.  A current offer lists the item for UK £ 300.00 or about US$ 430.00 (plus fees and international shipping).

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

LGB STAINZ - The Engine That Made LGB - LGB 2040

The LGB 2040 Stainz was the engine with the shortest lifespan. Basically it was the 2010 without the head light operating. Manufactured from 1968 to 1975 (roughly).

LGB 2040 - Courtesy of worthpoint

That of course changed soon. All in all the 2040 was manufactured in high volume but did not come in different versions. Many engines went into sets.

The 2040 came with slight differences over the years:

2040-1: the original first engine came with a red chassis, body and slim smoke stack in black/matte. Round roof grill, raised "4" and "LGB" on engine cab in either gold or silver. Motor: a Buehler motor with straight toothed gearwheels. In operation they made a wailing sound, hence the name "Heulermotor" in German meaning wailing/houling. Only a few years later came a new Buehler motor with worm gear avoiding the wailing sound in operation. All LGB engines from 1968 had Heuler motors in them making their operation VERY characteristic upon their first market appearance.

2040-2:  as -1 but with operating lights

2040-3:  as -2 but  with pick-up shoes and Buehler motor with worm gear, plus traction tire

2040-4:  as -3 but golden whistle, square roof grille, engine cab labeling in gold color

2040-5:  as -4 but cab window frame in gold color

With all those technical changes in the 2040 and the other engines as well, LGB started to meld the 2040 into the 2010 and then into the 2021 (see future blog).

Here are some of the  LGB 2040 "STAINZ" (they all MUST have the slim smoke stack to be a real 2040 stainz):

LGB 2040 - Courtesy of gscale.com

LGB 2040 w/original 1968 engineer - Courtesy of picclick.fr

 Timeworn or forgotten? LGB 2040 - Courtesy of Picclick.uk

Price wise they started out at DM 98.00 in 1968 or roughly US$ 25.00 back then. In today's value that would be US$ 180.00. It is very rare to find one these days. Aged or not. To the die-hard LGB fan it would be worth almost everything to own something from the very start of the Original LGB. Sometimes this engine comes on the market for about US$ 270.00 depending on condition. Which is still a very decent price. After all it was made more than 70 years ago!

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