The LGB Diesel Switcher -- Part 3

In 2000 another little Diesel switcher made its debut. The LGB # 22630RS. This one is a true gem. LGB took 100 (!!) of its Diesel switcher models and painted it in the "LGB Freunde Rhein/Sieg" colors.

LGB 22630 RS - courtesy of Big Train World

 It was the 15th anniversary of this LGB club in  Germany with  a -meanwhile-colorful history. It was once the LGB club Rhein/Sieg in Much with its almost famous "Spur II Nachrichten". Then in 2006 the club split up into 2 factions: the LGB Club "Friends of LGB Rhein/Sieg and "LGB Friends Much".
 Mr. Neumann ended his relations with the Club Rhein/Sieg and decided to never have or support another LGB Club while maintaining his love for LGB by writing his new blog: LGB Friends Much. Mr. Neumann published his blogs from 2006 until 2019. The new "Rhein/Sieg Club" published their own magazine, the "SpurGNews" starting in summer of 2006.
Neither the new LGB Club Rhein/Sieg nor Mr.Neumann's "LGB Friends Much" could ever repeat the huge success of the old joint LGB club. And no other club was ever as influential as the old club and their "Spur II Nachrichten" magazine.
( Our LGB Yarner  and TrainCraftTrove blogs offer translations from LGB Much as well as translations from the old "Spur II Nachrichten" magazine .)
However, the club back then received this "gift" from LGB Nuremberg for their 15th anniversary and their efforts throughout the years in supporting and promoting the LGB hobby and LGB products.
The LGB# 22630 had an edition volume of 100. The printing shows the logo of the club magazine and the wording:"CLUB DER LGB FREUNDE RHEIN/SIEG, Heimatbahnhof Much Rev.5/2000" and laurel twigs with "15" and "1985-2000". It was either given or sold to the club with a non-published sales-price.
Today, currently(02-27-20) BigTrainWorld.com offers this loco for Euro 589.00 which is roughly US$ 648.00.

In 2003 LGB offered the LGB # 70634

LGB 70634 - Courtesy of Only Trains

The 'Good Humor' train or "Ice Cream Train' consisted of the LGB 22630 in a special coloring (red/blue base, white body and silver roof), a boxcar with the 'Klondike bear' and the wording of the commercial song "what would you do (hooo) for a Klondike b(e)ar" and a caboose

It was an LGBoA special, only offered to US customers. Neither the edition volume nor the US price has been relayed. However similar sets were known to be sold around US$ 400.00 and the edition volume might have been between 500 and 1,000.
 At the same time LGB offered additional box cars with a matching theme, the numbers # 48910, 48913, 48914,48915,48916 and 48917. All these reefers were sold separately.

LGB 48910 - Courtesy Only Trains

LGB 48913 - Courtesy Only Trains

LGB 48914 - Courtesy Only Trains

From top to bottom: 48915,48916, 48917 - all courtesy of Only Trains.
+++++++++++++++++++++to be continued

In Response to Comments

Thank you all, dear readers for each and every comment you ever posted on this blog. And thank you very much for all of you who keep personal contact with Klaus or Yours Truly by using our official emails.

Yesterday we received a comment by this sender :  Unknown <noreply-comment@blogger.com>

with this comment:

Does anyone how to put the motor back into the motor block?
There are 3 bent pins near the motor contacts but I have no clue what they due.

(YT copied the exact wording from the comment right into this blog)
Since this is the only way Yours Truly can answer this question, here we go:

LGB Mallets are very fine engines. To change a motor would require some basic mechanical knowledge, some engineering-based understanding and correct tools. Blow-ups of the disassembled engine and parts list are available on the internet or can be requested from TrainCraft by Klaus (we appreciate your name, phone number and valid email address)

We do highly stress that if you are an avid LGB fan but not a great mechanic  please do not try to open a Mallet yourself and disassemble the motorblock. Forcing screws to come out , ripping of cables, damaging scrimps, loosing screws during the process then using wrong screws,  not checking on power shoes, carbon brushes, gear wheels and worn axles -- and those are just a few BASIC things while exchanging a motor - will do more harm to your great LGB Mallet than help the situation.

Of course, it is your engine. You are free to do with it whatever your heart desires.

However - since it is a very fine engine, PLEASE consider to give Klaus a call and discuss what needs to be done matter-of-factly in your situation.

Thank you all , Dear Readers!

The LGB Diesel Switcher - Part 2

The LGB Diesel switcher series started with the LGB 2063/20630 (after 1993) and these Diesel switchers were offered by LGB over the years:

LGB Year
2063 1991
20630 1993
72856 1995
22630 2000
22630RS 2000
23630 2000
24630 2006
26630 2006
70634 2003

Even though the conceptual design for the LGB # 2063 started in 1991 sales only started in 1993/1994. 

The 20630 saw a re-entry into the market in 1995- this time for USA customers only. It was combined with three freight cars and a caboose and sold in a specialty box which was never advertised.

LGB 1995 NEWS (USA only)

The # 72856 set:

LGB 72856 set - Courtesy of Worthpoint.com

It was sold for about US$ 400.00 which would be about US$ 700.00 today. A complete set as shown above was sold three years ago for US$ 500.00 (ebay).

It took LGB until 2000 to go for another Diesel switcher model, the LGB # 22630 Sumpter Valley.

Sumpter Valley RR was a line that was established in 1890 in Baker Co/OR as a 3ft narrow gauge railway. Their whole engine stock consisted of steam locomotives. Their roster goes from Shay to Heisler, Baldwin and ALC. All steam locos. Which makes sense since The Sumpter Valley RR ceased operation and sold all stock by the mid 1940's. They never operated a Diesel switcher under their name. Nevertheless, LGB offered:

LGB 22630 - Courtesy of Only Trains

Their advertising in LGB INFO 2000 was:" Sumpter Valley Diesel Loco, This LGB model is a precise replica of the famous No.50 switcher in its Sumpter Valley Livery"

The No.50 was a loco of the Baltimore&Annapolis RR, built by GE in 1946 and eventually sold(after 1986) and ending up in the B&O RR museum..(see below). However, there was a No.50 SVRR Loco, a 2-6-0 all-black Baldwin Loco, built in 1916 and eventually scrapped.

courtesy of http://www.borail.org/BA-No50.aspx

It will rest with the Old LGB why they put this Diesel switcher in a white 'livery' and called it Sumpter Valley.... The LGB# 22630 was an LGBoA exclusive offer and the edition volume might have been around 500.

Also announced was the  LGB 23630 PRR, also an LGBoA exclusive offer, probably as well with an edition volume of 500.

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

From Klaus' Vault

Please see Vintage Map sale at

https://traincrafttrove.blogspot.com

The Diesel switcher series will continue next week.

The LGB Diesel "Switcher"

The first American Diesel locomotives were built in the early 1920's. Little believe in their usefulness ended their first test engines. Then in the early 1930s  a Diesel Switcher was built by EMD (a General Motors Division) and later by ALCO and GE that was accepted by the market. All these switchers were 4-axle switchers from the start and later developed into 6- and 8-axle switcher Diesel locos.  LGB never took on any of those real American Diesel switchers. Instead LGB focused on the German type of the switcher, that was also developed in the 1930s and was consistently a 3-axle engine. Those were first offered in 1991 as the LGB 2062 which was more a compilation of the idea of a narrow gauge Diesel switcher than the model of a consisting prototype.

LGB 2062 - Courtesy of Only Trains

Some of the early American Diesel switchers were narrow gauge locos like the little 25-tonner #1 of the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company in Florida which are 2-axle engines and often still fulfill local duties.

Courtesy of american-rails.com

Another fine example of a light narrow gauge Diesel switcher is the historic 30-ton Davenport Diesel.
This is a quote from hardhatMAK at FLICKR.com: (see original article at https://www.flickr.com/photos/25111976@N03/35138766043/in/photostream/)
"D&RGW 50, a tiny 2-axle, 30-ton Davenport diesel, was the only narrow gauge diesel locomotive that the Rio Grande actually owned. (They tried several Army diesel on the narrow gauge lines, but never owned any of them.) The unit, purchased from the Sumpter Valley in 1963, produced 160hp from its Caterpillar D17000 engine, with power coupled to the wheels through a mechanical transmission.
The unit was used to switch the Durango yard from its purchase in 1963 until the abandonment of the San Juan Extension in 1970. At that point, it was sold to the Roaring Camp & Big Trees near Santa Cruz, California. Last running in the early 1970s, the engine was eventually sold to the Colorado Railroad Museum in 1984.
The engine is preserved at the Colorado Railroad Museum today, and was returned to operation in June 2009." Quote end.

The Davenport in front of the Colorado Railroad Museum

This little Davenport was LGB's prototype for the LGB #2063 which was developed and manufactured starting in 1991. It reached the markets in 1994 but was not advertised in any brochure, flyer or magazine.

LGB #2063 - Courtesy of Only Trains

The LGB #2063 series  went quite beyond the - often already 'stretched' - LGB scope of model locos modeled after  real world prototypes. Six 2063 types were made and they all stray remarkably from any reality prototypes available. Follow Klaus on this journey.........

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

LGB Alco Diesel White Pass -- Conclusion

1998 marked the 30 year anniversary for LGB. Lehman had opened its business gates for the Lehmann Garten Bahn (Lehmann G-Scale) in 1968 with the Stainz engine # 2010 (for details look into our LGB Yarner blog from June 27, 2013 at http://lgbyarner.blogspot.com/2013/06/ about the very beginnings of LGB ) and 30 years later was the leading expert and manufacturer in all things G-Scale in model trains.
 A good reason to celebrate. 13 different catalogs and brochures were published by LGB in 1998 either differing in language, type or subject. Again, special focus was put on the offer for the American market with a slew of  freight cars, a few engines - some of them hidden within the freight car offers - maybe it was Easter and the egg hunt was on.....Enough already...
Here are the important news: Another White Pass loco was offered, exclusively for the US LGB customer:  The #22552 together with identical Alco Diesel engines in Canadian-Pacific coloring, LGB # 23552 and a "Christmas" Alco Diesel (which according to LGB's own lingo would be a "Queen Mary"- type coloring), the LGB # 24552. All three engines were limited editions.

LGB # 22552
from the 1998 LGB brochure "Exclusively for America"

Above is the engine as advertised in the 1998 LGB brochure celebrating the 30th anniversary "Exclusively for America". However, the engine the customer would receive upon ordering was this one:

LGB 22552 - Courtesy of Only Trains

This one truly was a limited edition with only 450 manufactured, it came with the newly digital sound, recorded by Klaus in Skagway/AK and a 'proper' price tag of approx. US$ 895.00.

The CP engine in red had an even smaller edition volume of only 400!!

LGB # 23552 -- 1998 LGB brochure 'Exclusively for America"

One just came onto the market this January at Trainz.com auction site and was auctioned off for US$ 623.00. A very good price for the buyer!! It also came with digital sound. And still another is currently (Jan 23,2020) on offer on ebay for US$ 1,000.00...

The edition volume of the LGB # 24552 was also just 400. 

LGB # 24552 - LGB brochure 1998 "Exclusively for America"

One LGB 24552 is currently (Jan 23, 2020) on offer on bonanza.com for - low and behold - US$ 1,899.99.......

It wasn't until 2002 that another version entered the LGB series, the LGB # 25552, also with digital sound.

LGB 25552 - Courtesy of worthpoint.com

If you're scratching your ear right now wondering if Yours Truly had mixed up the photos today... no my dearest reader friend. It is exactly what it looks like, the green anniversary engine from 1998. And here is the real question; did delivery of the anniversary loco took so long that not only the edition volume of previously 450 was well meant but never came to fruition. Order numbers might have steamrolled that intention. Or were times getting gritty on Rolf Richter by now the one in charge at the LGB helm; big order and production numbers of allegedly new locos would make a fine cosmetic fit for the banks and new credit lines...That is all in the past now.

2005 saw the last Alco Diesel offer, the LGB# 26552

LGB 26552 - Courtesy of worthpoint.com

This Cocal Cola Alco Diesel loco was NOT advertised (exclusively) in the USA. The American customer had the same chance as the European or German customer to order and receive one of the 500 engines that were available from this limited edition. One such engine is currently available on bonanza.com for US$ 1,499.99, another on trainz.com - a trusted dealer north of Atlanta (YT knows very well) is for sale for $ 1,485.11 + shipping on ebay (as of Jan 24).

LGB Alco Diesel White Pass -- Part 4

In 1995 LGB published their annual new items brochure. That year the title was "1995 News".  The front page promised 70 new items that year and on page 7 the LGB # 72850 and the LGB # 72855 were introduced.

clip from LGB "1995 NEWS"

This set included the original 2055 Alco Diesel White Pass engine, no sound, no frills and the then newly manufactured caboose LGB# 44710. This caboose was only sold in this set with the WP engine and it was only available to US customers.

LGB# 44710 - Courtesy of reynaulds.com

 Deriving from the edition volume of the caboose the set had a volume of 1,500 and was sold for approx. US$ 500.00. It came in a specialty carton:

Set box for LGB 72850- Courtesy of Only Trains

This #72850 set was reintroduced by LGB for -again- LGBoA only as the # 72550 Super set (which did not include track or power pack). As usual, advertising an engine, train or train set was way easier than actually manufacture and then deliver it to dealer stores or LGBoA...
It seems that the set didn't make it through the times. The market today shows either the engine or the caboose offered by itself.

The second White Pass set advertised was the LGB# 72855

This set came with three 'White Pass' freight cars, the # 40850

LGB 4085(0) - Courtesy of ebay/trainz.com

The 4085 was on the market since 1991 and was simply added to this set.

The # 4080-W01 was around since 1990 at least in catalogs and brochures. Delivery to dealers seemed not to have started until 1993. It was sold as 'limited' edition with an edition volume of 3,000. And in 1995/96 Wolfgang Richter himself sold it as '1995 NEWS' to LGBoA with the words:" We want to be the class leader in G-Scale for years to come. So we can't stand still..Our customers ask for more each year and we are working day and night to give them what they want". 

LGB 4080 W01- courtesy of trainz.com

the # 4086

LGB 4086(0)- courtesy of ebay

When Klaus was recording the sounds for the digital sound decoder for the White Pass the President of the WP&Y RR handed Klaus technical information about the original ore container car. Gunter Ruhland was already desperately waiting for that information so he could finalize the molds on this new model. So, with this almost 'blank' WP container car you actually have a 'true' White Pass container car model on your tracks.

And last but not least the # 40710

LGB 40710 - Courtesy of zeppy.io

Manufacturing started in 1991, first catalog appearance was in the 1993/94 catalog.

As with the 72550 this set seemed to have been unable to make it through the years as a set.

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