LGB "STAINZ" - The Engine That Made LGB - Prototypes

The LGB 2010, LGB 2020 and LGB 2040 were the very first LGB engines EVER. The Richter brothers presented them in their very first ever 'catalog' (7 pages) in 1968. These engines were based on a number of prototype locomotives that all had one thing in common:

They were made by Krauss Locomotive Works, an Imperial German company. Since  1867 Krauss manufactured locos especially for narrow gauge. The growing industrial needs in mining, metal production and lumber industry among others demanded transport in impassible, rough terrain. And Krauss' little tender field loco Bn2t (or 0-4-0) delivered. She became the Beetle car in locos across Europe from 1870's on. Did they all look alike? Yes, but bespoke locos could be ordered and were made.

We do not know what made the  Richter brothers decide to choose the little Krauss engine as prototype for their new venture. For sure they needed to improve their earnings from toy manufacturing. And boy - what did they achieve with that decision!

Here are the three prototypes of the "First-Ever" LGB locomotives:

The LGB 2010 was based on the KL 1994/1889 Bn2T No. 1 which was used on the Salzkammergut Lokalbahn, the SKG local RR in Austria (Quote from Wikipedia:"The name Salzkammergut translates to 'salt demesne', Kammergut being a German word for territories held by princes of the Holy Roman Empire, in early modern Austria specifically territories of the Habsburg Monarchy...Parts of the region were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997."). The SKG RR does not exist anymore but thanks to wikipedia/wikiwand we found this photo material:

prototype of the LGB 2010 - Courtesy of https://www.wikiwand.com/de/Fahrzeuge_der_Salzkammergut-Lokalbahn#/google_vignette

The LGB 2020 was the No. 2 engine to be "First-Ever" offered by LGB and was based on the 2774/1892 Bn2t of the Steirmaerkische Landesbahnen, another Austrian RR. The Steirmaerkische RR had built a RR in Stainz, a small village in their county.  In 1892 Steirmark RR had ordered 4 identical locos from Krauss loco works. To seperate the locos delivered  this one was named "STAINZ No 2". Stainz village is located in Mur valley and served as the loco's depot. The Murtal RR (or Mur Valley RR) is a narrow gauge RR with a 760mm gauge. The RR is still in operation today. The 2774 No.2 is currently on display at Murau/Austria:

No 2774 Stainz No 2 Original - Courtesy of Herbert Ortner,Vienna and Wikipedia

This very same type Krauss Bn2t from 1894 exemplifies the basics of the Stainz No. 2 very well:

Krauss prototype for LGB 2020 - Courtesy of .entlang-der-gleise.de/Feldbahnen/feldbahn-krauss.html

The LGB 2040 - which was later renamed into the 2021-series since the number 2040 would become the Crocodile in LGB's numbering system - was based on another Krauss locomotive. The Krauss XXXII 2700 was built in 1923, No. 4 for the Siegerland Huettenwerke (Siegerland Mine Works)/ German Republic.

Prototype of the LGB 2040 No 4 - The Krauss No 2700/ 1923 - Courtesy of bahn-express.de

Another shot shows this engine in her historic environment:

The original LGB 2040 No 4 built for the Siegerland Mineworks in 1923
 Courtesy of Bahnfreunde MK

All three LGB engines based on these prototypes would  become so famous that the name STAINZ would become the synonym for all LGB fans for this loco type. By 1980 LGB introduced a new company logo featuring the STAINZ silhouette.

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LGB 2010, 2020 and 2021 - STAINZ - The Engine That Made LGB

There is simply no other engine among the LGB roster that is as characteristic and as memorable as the first LGB engine ever: the LGB 2010. When the Richter brothers opened LGB in 1968 the 2010 built the flagship:

Page 2 of 4 from the very first LGB catalog 

Black-and-white photography was the standard, in printing as well as on television. Color was only just around the corner... but the customer saw this astounding loco upon window-shopping:

LGB 2010 No 1- courtesy of Catawiki

This little pretty old engine is not only dirty it also misses the original engineer. But back then it was never-been-seen-before. The size (scale 1:22.5), the colors, the quality and last but not least the price (DeutschMark 98.00 or about  US$ 25.00 in 1968, or in today's world $ 189.00).

LGB's Wolfgang Richter had a fabulous idea: offer three locos using just one mold and tell them they are based on three different prototypes. Why could he pull that off? Well the 2020 and the 2040 that he offered together with the 2010 did have different prototypes BUT - they were all derived, if not originally built for the Army field railroad of either Imperial Germany or Imperial Austria. The boiler in the original engines was on average much longer and some locos were built as 0-6-0 or 2-4-2 wheel arrangement. So there was some "tweaking". Just as it would happen for the LGB 2015 and the 2017 (see previous blogs). But the tweaking was very becoming and would make the three little engines into one of the most built LGB engines ever.

The LGB 2020 was going to find fame and fortune in LGB sets:

LGB 2020-1, Courtesy of Watts Train Shop (blog)

Above you see the first LGB 2020 in its original coloring. All in all LGB would publish 11 color versions and a HUGE number of sets with the LGB 2020 as front engine. The above image is remarkable for two reasons: to find a 2020 (image) in its very first original coloring with engineer is rare enough. To have this photo taken by Watts Train shop is even rarer. Watts Train Shop went out of business in 2012. Watts  was one of the big-name LGB dealers in the Midwest (Zionsville/IN), very influential and active. It had been in business for 50 years before it closed its doors 6 years after LGB went bankrupt.

The 2020 would later turn into the 2021-series and thus cause a lot of irritation and puzzle customers a bit. More so since the  2021- series eventually actually carried the name "STAINZ" on the engines.

The LGB 2040 had somewhat of a short life span being manufactured from 1968 to 1975.

LGB2040 - Courtesy of worthpoint.com

LGB had already figured out that the "Stainz" was a golden goose and could retire the number 2040 easily - to be used for the Crocodile engine No. 2040 starting in 1978. 

These three engines became the cornerstone of LGB's success. Their prototypes set the stage for a variety of color schemes and (train)set possibilities. In model trains nobody had offered that before - not in that size, not in that quality and certainly and foremost not in that huge variety! Exactly what the Richter brothers used in their very first slogan: "Never Seen Before!"

This series will explore the prototypes for these 3 engines, will cover all LGB numbers chronologically and will - probably for the first time ever -  list and describe all LGB sets ever made by the old LGB featuring a "STAINZ" engine. 

So, join the adventure and come on board exploring the LGB STAINZ...

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

Winter Fun - Videos

 Bob McDonald from New Hampshire has kindly provided some footage of engines Klaus has worked on (decoder/main board repairs and/or decoder installations). We thought this a fun idea to share:

You will need to click on " go arrow" again after you clicked on the link below

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iPZib9bpYMQXWSuy5 

The song used on the  above video is free to use on YouTube. The song is called “Holiday” by Triple scoop music.

The one below is in stylish black-and-white:

https://youtu.be/oE0oz9Rtbi8

Since this one was posted on YouTube by Bob already, the YouTube software will lead you automatically into another video that has nothing to do with Bob or any of his trains. 

Thanks for watching. We welcome all videos from your layouts, Klaus will do editing where required. Thanks, guys!!

LGB 2017 series - Part 6

 The year 1996 brought another 2017 train set, the LGB 70314. The Lake George & Boulder train consisted of a 2017 loco , no tender, and  two passenger cars. In the USA it would carry the LGB # 72314. That year LGBoA had a whole bunch of  2017 starter sets  launched for their big sales year. They were flying high and sold whatever they could get their hands on. Even if it meant to sell old for new or repainted for 'brand new'. 

The  "LGB 1996 NEWS" brochure made that clear on page 6:

From set # LGB 72311 to set # LGB 72910 they all featured the 2017 loco without the motorized tender, in different paint scheme and passenger or freight cars from the existing stock. With some cars in new paint scheme as well. 

Typical for all these sets is the fact that they were sold in huge numbers as the current internet platforms have all of them still for sale (used/almost new) with prices ranging from US$ 250.00 to $ 500.00. A lot of people don't know what they have and their description of the engine/set does not always correlate with the true product. Be careful if you like to purchase a set and make sure you get what you are looking for. This blog should be a help, hopefully.

1997 showed more of the same and for reasons unbeknownst LGBoA offered the very same series  from above again - BUT - you guessed it, changed item numbers for the very same product, i.e. from 72910 to 73910. And since they were already at it they pulled the wool over their customers eyes by claiming the 73910 had an 1 Amp throttle when actually all starter sets came with a 1 Amp throttle...- as American as apple pie... (see right lower corner of image below)

clip from the LGB NEWS 1997 brochure, page 2

Also offered where a number of motorized tenders for all those who wanted to 'complete' the 2017 engine set.

Before the 2017 set series would run out there were 3 more sets to be published. 

In 1997 the Looney Toones Express LGB # 72997 made its American debut. Another USA-only product it also came as a limited edition. Only 1500 were made:

LGB 72997 incomplete - Courtesy of reynaulds.com

Please look closely and you will see that the transformer is missing, also one figurine and the part were the track should be is covered by a catalog. Asking price was still around US$ 500.

The complete set looked like this:

LGB 72997 complete - Courtesy of liveauctions.com

Value today runs anywhere from US$ 500.00 to $ 700.00.

In 2000 the last two 2017 series sets came on the market. The LGB # 72534 and # 72554.

LGB 72534 - Courtesy of Only Trains

LGB 72554 - Courtesy of Only Trains

Both sets came as a limited edition the passenger car set limited to 2000 sets and the freight car set to 1,500. Both were meant to be USA-only sets. Alas, that didn't last, by 2002 they were sold everywhere.

Prices today range around $ 500.00 and higher if the set is complete.

The complete # 72345 came in a box with this content:

Courtesy of ebay.com

LGB original box label

The freight train set had this content:

Courtesy of worthpoint.com

and runs about US$ 400.00 (incomplete) to over $ 500.00 if complete and unused.

This concludes the LGB 2017 series.

LGB 2017 Series - Part 5

With the new numbering system still in testing LGB offered the set below with 2 numbers: # 72412 for the USA, advertised in the 1995 USA News brochure and  # 70412 for the German/European market. The latter wasn't offered until 1996, in the official LGB main catalog 1996/97 pg.20

LGB 70412 - Courtesy of grootspoor.com

LGB 70412 - Courtesy of ebay.com

LGB 70412 - Courtesy of pickclick.de

Edition volume must have been pretty high since the set is still readily available today. Prices today range between US$ 350.00 and $525.00 depending on condition and completeness of set.

The year 1995 saw an USA exclusive again with the LGB # 25171- or so it was sold...:

LGB 25171 - Courtesy of Only Trains

Alas, it didn't last, the exclusiveness. LGB decided the same year (1996) to sell the "exclusive USA Christmas Train" worldwide. And they even put it in the main catalog LGB 1996/97.

Throughout the years prices stayed on a high level for this loco & motorized tender set: You might see the occasional US$ 390.00 or less but overall prices in the mid $500.00's are common.

Another US special during the time frame 1995/96 was the LGB 72555.

LGB 72555- Courtesy of worthpoint.com

LGB 72555 - Courtesy of onlytrains.com

 A very pretty Christmas train set with the 25171 loco, the LGB # 45110 Christmas hinge-hatch gondola and the Christmas caboose LGB #44650. This Christmas train set remained an USA exclusive and prices are varying from US$ 200.00 to US$ 400.00 but have reached US$ 750.00 lately.

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

Merry Christmas

To all our followers, readers, fans and friends a very Merry Christmas and a safe, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Christmas Card Design by YT - photos courtesy of twawestern.org and pinterest

Our regular blog will continue in January 2021...

LGB 2017 Series - Part 4

Since 1987  LGB had utilized the #2017 loco as their mule for starter sets. Also, the 2017 sets were almost solely sold to the American market with very few exceptions. One such exception was the LGB 2217 (22171 after 1993) that made its appearance in the 1993/4 catalog. Not many were made and it is more than hard to find one today. This engine w/motorized tender was sold worldwide.

LGB 22171 - Courtesy of  B-Ware Guenstig

The engine was probably sold for about $ 400.00. But - big but - about a year later the very same loco w/tender was utilized in the LGB set # 725858, the LGB Rocky Mountain Freight Super Set:

LGB 72858 - Courtesy of gscaletrainset.com

It contained the # 2217, # 4080-Y05, 40900, 44720 and 4065-L01. 

LGB 4080 Y05-
C by gscaletrainset.com for all cars/set

LGB 4065 L01

It was an LGBoA exclusive and the cars (green tank car, red and pink boxcar and yellow caboose) were also utilized in similar train sets with different locos up front. Those sets were also LGBoA exclusives that year (1995/6). 

LGB 40900

LGB 44720

Not many of these # 72858 set survived and they still sell for about $ 400.00.

When the (Starter) sets didn't include the actually required motorized tender (to make it a true 2017 loco type) LGB issued motorized tenders by itself.  Two tenders were offered already (1988 and 1991) so LGB was about to issue another motorized tender in 1992, the LGB 2217/6 . This motorized tender appears also under the LGB numbers 22176 and 69276:

LGB 22176/69276 - Courtesy of Only Trains

This one sold for US$ 250.00, originally but was no American exclusive. 

The excessive though often somewhat mixed LGB stock offered to the American customer in the early 1990's - perfectly mirrored within this 2017 series - is a good example of misunderstanding your market. LGB Germany was thriving. The late 1980's had brought them unheard-of growth. And the early 1990's was a business high-time for and in Germany at large. The exact opposite was true for the USA. The early 1990's brought a recession, homemade due to high interest rates and very low consumer confidence. President George H.W. Bush was in office and was a hapless President when it came to Economics. The top LGB management didn't have a clue about that. There was no understanding of the American mentality, their needs, fears, or current feelings. Thus marketing decisions were made that could not and did not match the needs of the US customer. And LGBoA couldn't help either. Their goal had always been their own pockets.

Thus, it is no wonder that a pretty engine like the LGB #22176 in her beautiful dark red coloring never made a big splash nor can be found  nearly anywhere today. And the same holds true for the set # 72858.

Unfazed by any American ongoing in 1993 LGB issued the # 70311 which was also sold by LGB at the same time as # 25301

LGB 70311 aka LGB 25301- Courtesy of  stefanschwegler.de

LGB 70311 in box - C of beta-lottissimo.com

This set is currently (12/2/20) offered on eBay for US$ 555.00. Talk about retaining value...

This set also came with a sister set, the LGB 70411 aka # 25401 (both images courtesy of worthpoint.com)

Dearest reader, by now you may think LGB had gone 'two locos short of a train ' by issuing 2 item numbers for the same product again and again...Well, in 1993 LGB had come to the end of the (rail)line with their 4-digit defining numbering system. They were in need of another digit and some redefining of what numbering to use on what item group. The result was a fine zoo - as seen above. But it would get better the next year.

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