LGB STAINZ - The Train Sets

 Right from the very start of LGB the Richter brothers Eberhard and Wolfgang offered a train set. No, make that two. And from the very start LGB offered a German and an English worded catalog. What a foresight! Especially the train sets would prove to be the success on the international market.

back cover of the English version 1st LGB catalog 1968

back cover of the German 1st LGB catalog 1068

From the start there were slight differences in how to present the LGB product. The English version displayed the two versions - a passenger train featuring the LGB 2010 and the freight train featuring the LGB 2020 - in their respective open boxes. Thus showing for both train set options what the customer would get upon purchase. The German version featured just one open box - the freight train set - and the covered box with a drawing of the passenger train set. Thus insinuating that the customer can imagine himself the contents of the 2nd box once he has seen one version of it. This thinking represented a fairly common understanding of engineer thinking in Germany back then: don't explain what is obvious otherwise the customer might feel insulted.- How the tides have turned...

To understand the importance of the train sets for LGB and their success worldwide this blog has tried to list all train set versions featuring a (type of) STAINZ locomotive. Other popular LGB sets featuring Diesel or other very beloved engines might be considered in a blog at a much later time. This series will focus on the Stainz engine alone. And that excludes all set types with an LGB 2015 or LGB 2017 or LGB 2023 as locomotive as well. 

So here are the roughly 60 (!) different Stainz sets LGB has produced over their 38 years of existence as LGB:

Passenger train        1968

Freight train         1968

20301 1969

20401 1969

1981-1 1981

20301 BZ 1983

20513 1983

20514 1983

20516 1983

1981-2 1984

20301 MF 1984

20501 1984

20520 1984

20522 1984

20526 1984

20150 1985

20528 1985

20531 1985

20531 Y 1985

20531 Z 1985

20532 1985

20533 1986

20534 MF 1986

20535 1987

20536 1987

20537 1987

91401 1987

1988 BTO 1 1988

1988 BTO 2 1988

20539 1988

21401 1988

21988 1988

20540 US 1990

20100NB 1991

2020EM 1991

21540 US 1991

23301 1991

23401 1991

22540 1992

22988 1992

70988 1993

70545 1994

70994 1994

70996 1994

70415 1995

70416 1995

29210 1996

70417 1996

70418 1996

70515                      1996

70516/71418 1996

70302 1997

70402 1997

70321 1998

71968 1998

70950/72950           2000

70920                      2001

70938                      2001

70940                      2001

70942                      2001

72302                      2001

72402                      2001

29151                      2002

70315 2005

72920                      2005

70403 2006

Some of the above listed Stainz train sets had up to 10 variants within their respective item numbers  increasing the actual variety of sets to more than 80 or 90. This blog will try to present them all. Where we fail and you- dearest reader -have additional information we would be more than appreciative and thankful to receive that information and data. We will complete any published blog with data received after initial publishing. 

This journey will take you from this 1968 train set

Stainz Passenger Train set 1968 - LGB catalog 1968 pg 2

to this last ever Old LGB Stainz train set #70403 

LGB 70403 from LGB catalog 2006

which was partially manufactured by LGB but mainly sold by Maerklin/Simba-Dickie later on with its own mishmash history of flat-car-"toppings".

+++++++++++++++To be continued..................

LGB STAINZ - The Engine That Made LGB - Series 2021 Part 2

 In 2002 LGB offered only one new 2021 engine, the LGB # 23211

LGB 23211 - Courtesy Easyliveauction.com

The  experienced blog reader discerns the "non-difference" right away: It is the old 2040 with new labeling. Thus providing first-class evidence of the mish-mash defining the 2021-series. But it gets even better; In the  2001 LGB catalog the shown picture is of a hand model, according to catalog information. Yes,- a hand model, dearest follower. 33 years and counting and LGB Rolf Richter (who was proud of making the main catalog himself....) could not find a manufactured 2040 and photo-shop it?  What can you say...

Anyway, this archetype, the DR 994605 was first operating on the Prussian Railway line and by 1920 integrated into the German Reich (DR) Railway Line.

When in 2002 LGB had "discovered" the use of the digital decoder, the 23211 was offered in a digital version, the 23211.8 with a hefty markup of US$ 200.00 from roughly US$ 300.00 for the analog version.

The next version was introduced with the 2004 catalog, the LGB 24211

LGB 24211 - Courtesy Only Trains

Featuring a STEIFF Teddy Bear as engineer/Santa it was at first scheduled to be an USA Exclusive and was prized at US$ 499.00. But that didn't last. Soon it was also offered in the LGB Journal for the German and European markets. LGB needed money, desperately. 

LGB Journal 2004 - page 72

Times weren't rosy anymore in Nuremberg, employees were on short-work-order. And the motto was "No costs to be spared - we need sales volume"..

That might have triggered the offering of the LGB 20211 that same year:

LGB 20211 - Courtesy of BigTrainWorld.com

Remember the 20213 from 1998, celebrating "30 Years of LGB" - The one that could only be bought in Nuremberg on 2 defined days during a factory visit? Yep, didn't sell that well it seemed. Here it is again, featuring a number "3" instead of "2" and no labeling at all.... It still comes up on the market and you can find offers around US$ 100.00 - 130.00. 

Also on sale went the sister engine with sound, the LGB 20212, also in green but astonishingly featuring the number "2". 

LGB 20212 sound - Courtesy of Only Trains

That concluded the year 2004. 

As is well known, 2006 was the last year for the Old LGB.  And almost advertently fitting the last single Stainz engine to be offered reminisced the first ever black (Stainz) engine from LGB. From LGB 2040 in 1968 to LGB 26211 in 2006 - the circle came to a close on the 125th anniversary of Lehmann Toy Company and thus LGB.

LGB 2040 from 1968- earlier this blog

LGB 26211 - Courtesy of Only Trains

Don't mind the smoke stack, LGB toyed with that plenty...(pun intended)

And just for fun, here is the original LGB ad-wording, courtesy of  Only-Trains:

"EPL 125th Anniversary Stainz Steam Loco, Collection Item.

The Stainz, the long-time trademark of LGB, has a real-life sister, and that loco runs today on the Rügensche Kleinbahnen. This LGB model reproduces that beautiful steam loco authentically, and of course, it has all the detailing you expect from a Stainz. With a powerful Bühler motor, it's an ideal match for the Rü.KB passenger stock in the LGB program. However, this unique model celebrating the 125th anniversary of EPL will only be produced in 2006!".................Foresight, audacity, arrogance or ignorance??

But- Thankfully - nothing could or can destroy the success nor the belovedness of the Stainz among LGB fans. Many hundreds of thousands of engines were manufactured, maybe even almost reaching a million. And most of them were used in sets. This blog will try to list and discuss them all in the following months ...

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