LGB STAINZ, The Train Sets - Years 1997/98

In previous decades LGB had published a main catalog every two years. Under the leadership of Rolf Richter that was about to change. So 1997 saw a new main catalog being published/offered amidst the just released new MTS system. This new 'digital' system needed  some thorough promotion after all. And so the front page of the promotional brochure  "INFO 1997" sold the main catalog first followed by two tried and true Stainz sets:

LGB INFO '97 

LGB 72302/70302

LGB 72302 - Courtesy of Only Trains.com

The Stainz loco 2020 featured sound in this set and the transformer was upped to 1Amp. At the time of writing this set was still available on ebay (US$ 215.00) and amazon.com ($406), condition on both unknown.

LGB 72403/70402

LGB 72402 - Courtesy of Only Trains.com

This set also featured sound and an 1Amp transformer. At the time of writing a brand new set was offered on ebay.com for US$ 500.00 with some parts still in original LGB plastic bags.

1998 saw another two Stainz train sets. The 

LGB 70321

LGB 70321 - Courtesy of picclick.de

This set is so rare that YT chose this rather blurted image than no image at all. The set was ONLY sold in Austria, called the "Zillertalbahn" and contained  an LGB 20201 engine and two passenger cars LGB 31070. Only 250 of these were offered. LGB itself never advertised the set.

The second set for 1968 was the 30 Years of LGB Anniversary set

LGB 71968

LGB 71968 set in box - Courtesy of eBay-Kleinanzeigen.de

LGB 71968 - Courtesy of bigtrainworld.com

The set was heavily advertised in Germany but not in the USA. The German flyer 'New Items 1998' displayed it front and center with the announcement "Limited Edition" but did not advertise the actual limit. It is safe to assume it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000. Price in German DM was 199.00 which roughly translated to US$ 100.00 in 1998. The swiveling flat wagon LGB # 40500 had an anniversary load of 3 30cm/ 11.8 in-tracks LGB# 10000. At the time of writing YT saw two offers on the internet, one for EU 189.00(picclick.fr) or US$ 200.00 and one for EU 235.00(BigTrainWorld) or US$ 260.00.

LGB also published a brochure in honor of the 30-Year-Anniversary telling the story of LGB. Here is a link for our dearest reader/follower

https://www.lgb-trains.com/lib/catalogs/issue90-99/pubs/LGB1998_01198_30YearsFlyer_DE-EN.pdf

In today's world this would work perfectly well as an example of horrible marketing...maybe back then it did as well...

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