Aster and LGB -- # 2901

Aster had been at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg for a few years already when Wolfgang Richter approached them looking for a collaboration. LGB had experienced great success with their line of product and was eager to expand their market. Wolfgang Richter had succeeded in the German, Swiss, Italian, French and Austrian market and had left an indelible mark in the American market. In some years the USA accounted for up to 40% of their sales volume.

So it was only natural to look for a product that could accompany the LGB philosophy in their G-scale hobby. And Aster had what it took: a wonderful metal loco built, manufactured in big quantity for a reasonable price while maintaining high quality, G-Scale size (!) or willing to adapt to 1:22.5 scale and a very good name in the market. And what is more authentic than live steam?

The collaboration decided on the Frank S, the archetype a military field loco often operated on narrow gauge lines.

The original Frank S  HC110- Jagsttalbahn - Courtesy of Wikipedia

To quote Aster :" E.P. Lehmann ....approached us with a proposal. Build a live steam engine in “LGB scale” using the simplest operational outline so it could be run by the average model train enthusiast.  Of course, making something simple .... meant...making a smaller and simpler engine required new engineering design and thought. 
After studying their choice of prototype, the “Frank-S,” it was decided the way to implement a simplified operation was to employ a reverser block and piston valves.  This was instead of our conventional D-slide valves and any of the various valve gears...  In this manner, we achieved a locomotive which was simple enough for the beginner but with appeal for the live steam veteran.(quoted from https://www.southernsteamtrains.com/manual/history.htm)

The result is the Aster/LGB # 2901 Frank S

LGB #2901 - Courtesy of Worthpoint.com

It came in a special box and made its market debut at the 1989 International Toy Fair in Nuremberg

LGB 2901 with box - courtesy of worthpoint.com

To emphasize the significance of the event, Klaus Baumann, VP of Marketing at LGB, made the impossible possible. He lived close to the Jagsttal Railway which had just ceased business (1988) and still had their  rolling stock and museum stock in the yard. The Frank D was one of them. He managed to convince the RR managers to transport the loco (over 60 miles) into the exhibition hall onto the LGB 'booth'. He then had an LGB loco operate around the REAL Frank S on a layout circling the archetype.

Thanks to 'You Tube" here is a photo:

You have to look really close in the right lower corner and will see the small black loco (a Mogul) coming out of the green plant with some cars on the right lower side of the green ficus plant. If you like to see the video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieh6lJdfFkw.
The fair was a smashing success for LGB and no TV station missed the opportunity of this stupendous sight.
The Aster Frank S was real live steam. Aster offered about 50% of their models as kits to be assembled by the buyer/hobbyist. For the LGB Frank S all was ready to go. In live steam. In G scale. With a joint Aster/LGB edition volume of 3028. Fantastic, right?

It was a flop. A disaster. Those who bought it had no idea how to operate it. The regular LGB fan was no live steamer. For the few and far between it was special and great. Not so for your average LGB patron. He wanted a loco ready for the tracks, switch on and off we go...But live steam doesn't work like that. Live steam requires handling of (in this case) gas and water. Live steam necessitates your watchful eye every second. Live steam is work. Period. And for that the LGB fan had to shell out  DM 3,000.00 or about US$ 1,500.00 which represented about a week's salary/wages.

Wolfgang Richter had to learn a lesson. Even though the model did sell here and there, the LGB Frank S ended up mostly in show cases at their owner's homes.
And learn he did. Two things came out of this steaming adventure - pun intended.
LGB added the Frank S as a model to their loco line-up and over the years published four Frank S models in regular LGB LURAN plastic: the # 20261, 21261, 22261 and 23262.
And LGB kept the alliance with Aster going while learning from loosing steam...The LGB Frank S was built (by Aster) until 1994. Then it was on to new horizons for this remarkable joint venture.

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

Aster and LGB

When LGB started their cooperation with Aster their products were worlds apart: LGB manufactured model trains  made from LURAN© plastic and Aster manufactured detail-precision metal/brass locos screwed together like their archetypes. (In comparison Magnus/Chr. Hoehne glued his models with the then newly developed cyano-acrylat glue - well known today as instant glue. More about Magnus/Hoehne in a later series on our blogs)


When LGB started their G-Scale manufacturing for model locos and cars the biggest thing was the scale itself. Nobody had built anything model in that scale before. The 1:22.5 scale replicated locomotives typical on narrow-gauge lines to a detailed extend that was unseen beforehand.
Klaus remembers in awe:" the engines had a shine, an almost glossy surface. The loco bodies and parts were  made from dyed LURAN© plastic and then  painted with first-rate automobile paint.

LGB 2010 (1968) - courtesy of flickr.com

Parts like flagpoles, lanterns, bells, whistles were gilded, push rods,wheels and pipes were chromed. The locomotives looked like precious stones and looked better than a new original locomotive fresh from the manufacturing plant". "And the best", Klaus recalls, "was the fact that you could operate them outdoors. You could spent time in your backyard, hours on end in the fresh air, an adventure no model train enthusiast had ever had before. Rain or shine, the LGB trains withstood and withstand all climate - "the unbreakable LGB"- ".

Well,  the rest is history and the triumphant success of LGB was on its way.

Aster Mogul 8550 (1975) - courtesy of christies.com

Aster, a Japanese company, has an if not similar but really fascinating history. Established in 1955 Aster manufactured mechanical cash registers. An economic downturn in Japan coincided with the fact that digital/computerized cash registers made their debut around the same time and forced Aster to find new business grounds. An Aster engineer happened to build live-steam locos as a hobby. He suggested to take this hobby on and make it a full blown business. Aster was already equipped to manufacture and assemble metal parts with technical precision why not take advantage of that. They  needed a scale to which live steam principles could be best applied and agreed on Gauge 1 (1 : 32) to be the smallest they could go - facing H0 and '0' as the then standard bearer in the model train market. In 1975 they entered the market with two models: the Great Southern Railway "School Class" and the JNR Mogul "8550". Both were a smashing success and Aster had a new business model and a bright future.

Fast forward to 1989: LGB contacted Aster for a joint venture. Why not built a live steam engine for LGB in G-Scale. Set and done. Born was a cooperation that should last for 16 years and produce 14 (fourteen!) Aster/LGB engines. The locomotive roster for Aster/LGB

LGB #     Name               Year
2901 Frank S 1989
20821 Shay 1996
20831 K 28   1998
20811 Harz 1999
20542 Hudson NYC 2000
20922 NGG 13 2001
21832 Mikado 2002
22832 Tssd Mallet 2003
24832 GG1 2004
25832 Tssd Mallet 2005
24835 Amtrak 2005
24837 Conrail 2005
23835 GG1 var 2005

The first was the LGB/Aster Frank S LGB# 2901 ( Aster: 1989 Frank S (1/22.5)). It would be the only live steam engine during their cooperation.....

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

The LGB Diesel switcher -- Conclusion

These (reefer) boxcars

see all 6 above

 were also LGBoA exclusives and ran about US$ 125.00 each.

These colorful, fun boxcars were a child of Rolf Richter's wild imagination. Some fun facts: Ice cream was and is transported from manufacturing plant to grocery store by refrigerated trucks. The so-called cold chain ( frozen product kept frozen from manufacturing to plant storage to truck loading to distribution center/warehouse to truck to grocery store to store-freezer) makes transporting ice cream over long distances possible. Freight trains are way too slow, to far away from distribution centers and too complicated to be added to the truck cold chain to be of serious interest in shipping or transporting ice cream. Fun fact #2: Diesel switchers were used for short distance operations in loco yards, foremost switching locomotives from track to track, hauling heavy loads on extremely short distances. A Diesel switcher in front of a freight train going cross country having an ice cream load.....you get the picture.

Then in 2006 two more Diesel switcher models entered the LGB catalogs. The Morton Salt loco LGB # 24630 and the White Pass and Yukon LGB #26630.
By then, LGB was in dire straits. The bankruptcy was unavoidable though unknown to their customers and most probably to their suppliers as well, definitely unknown to their dealers. Rolf Richter thought it best to make as much"noise" as possible to shy attention away from the home troubles. But money was scarce. So- no advertising but a 'flood' of new products hoping for a last influx of money....
The 2006 catalog, page 150-151 offers no less than 4 different Diesel switchers of which 2 are 3-axle European switchers - # 21628 and # 23620 - and two are  2-axle switchers.

LGB 24630 - Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 26630 - Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 21625

And the

LGB 23620

The Morton Salt engine was accompanied by an offer of 3 new cars; the # 40916 boxcar, the # 44040 Morton Salt Hopper and the # 43823 Center Flow Hopper Morton Salt.

LGB 40916 - Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 44040 - Courtesy of Trainzauctions.com

LGB 43823 - Courtesy of Only Trains

The engines were offered for about US$ 450.00 and the cars ran from $125.00 (boxcar) to $ 150.00. Some of them were already announced the year before and were released to the market anywhere between 2005 and 2006. Another Morton Salt boxcar, the 1993 #4090MS

was no longer available from Nuremberg. But it did make a nice addition to the car set.

The Santa Fe engine, though actually another "Queen Mary" type (namely, made up colors/RR line affiliation) could also be 'matched' with boxcars. LGB suggested the # 40820, #41930 both Santa Fe, and the # 43930 Burlington boxcar.

Prices for the Morton Salt engine range from US$ 325.00 to $ 490.00 currently on the internet. The cars go for under US$ 90.00 per each. Maybe the LGB fan eventually is a stickler for reality. After all who would operate an open salt hopper, especially if the salt were meant for consumption?......

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.