LGB Mogul 2-6-0 - Part 4

The summer of 2002 had a surprise in tow for the American LGB fan - the #23194 Mogul # 4 in all black. To quote the specialty flyer from LGBoA:

Courtesy of Only Trains

"Mogul locomotives were used by the Colorado & Southern on its spectacular narrow gauge line. On the smoke stack, this loco has a “Bear trap” spark arrestor to prevent fires in the heavily forested mountains. The model features authentic steam sound (with remote control features on Multi-Train System layouts), directional lighting, a smoke generator and a flickering light in the firebox."

LGB made 800 of these and nowhere (!) did they advertise the 23194 as Limited Series. This Mogul made the front page of the  "2002 Summer Special" flyer. In addition the flyer did offer 12 more items - locos and cars - on 2(!) pages.

These were the signs of the times to come. LGB factory in Nuremberg had just reduced working hours - in Germany a decision that requires by law union consent, triggering grave consequences for employer and employees. Cash flow problems, continually decreasing sales, and on-going miserable management decisions were becoming more and more visible in the product program of LGB. The next Mogul to be offered "exclusively" for the US- market is another good example:

The LGB # 24194 , the "Baltimore and Ohio" in dark silver grey,black and dark blue. Just 399 were made, intended only (!) for the US market/ LGBoA. Were there too many 'specials'? Did advertising not reach the customer? Was the price too high for an engine not made well enough (maybe already manufactured partially in China?). LGB changed their mind about 'exclusivity' and in 2005 offered the # 24194 to the LGB eXtra partners for Euro 1,110.00 (about US$ 990.00).

The same year also saw the  LGB # 29192  (No 97) and the 2002 catalog already announced or 'offered' the LGB # 26194.

Courtesy Only Trains

Of the No. 97 LGB made 791 engines. The # 26192 came in an edition volume of 600. Four different Moguls in one year in very small batches......(though the # 26194 wasn't available at dealers before 2003/4)

But wait, this would be topped! The LGB # 22184 DISNEYLAND, "C.K.HOLLIDAY" was -- NO!--could have been without a doubt the outstanding loco of 2004. The edition volume was - drum roll please - 291. No kidding! 291 Disney Moguls # 22184 were made in 2004 and no more. Original MRSP was Euro 1,199.00 or about US$ 900.00. 

Courtesy Only Trains

The advertising copy in the LGB brochure 2004 DISNEY reads:"To make sure his railroad was ready to operate for the inauguration of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, Walt Disney had his first two locomotives built in his studio workshops. One, the ”C. K. Holliday,” was named after the founder of the Santa Fe Railway, an early sponsor of the Disneyland Railroad. An almost identical copy of the ”C.K. Holliday” was later built for Disneyland Paris. This LGB model wears the loco’s current livery and is equipped with digital sound, including steam sounds and actual Disneyland station announcements!"

 The Mogul was followed in the brochure by two Disney cars, the LGB #33803 (the "Lilly Belle") and the LGB # 33804 (the "Long Island") which were offered separately. The "Lilly Belle" is the name of the actual (Disney) parlor car as well as the name of the Disney Mogul loco at Walt Disney World Railroad At Walt Disney Park, Florida.

The Original Lilly Belle Mogul at Disney World Railroad

Champex-Linden, a very fine German dealer in all things LGB has a wonderful link on the web showcasing this old LGB brochure featuring the Disney loco and car offer. Here is the link https://www.champex-linden.de/download_fremddokumente/lgb_2004_disneyland_00710.pdf

As you can see, the brochure is a hodgepodge of Disney related 'train' stuff. Something no Mogul ever deserved. 

To give our dearest reader a little something to smile about - after all these sad LGB developments: a Japanese metal/iron Mogul in HO(n3), a true antique (not available and not in Klaus' possession)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++to be continued with the conclusion of the Mogul series.

See Klaus' latest offer from his personal collection at https://traincrafttrove.blogspot.com

LGB Mogul 2-6-0 -- Part 3

Once in a while LGB makes you wonder.... In 1997 they started manufacturing the LGB Mogul # 25192 with digital sound

Usually they advertised new locos, even if they had only small color deviations from the standard base version # 2019S. Not for this one. No flyer, no extra mentioning, no nothing. This is even more remarkable since this Mogul/w sound "7" had a pretty small edition volume of  less than 600 the first year it was manufactured and about another 600 in 1998. That would definitely qualify for a "Limited Series" edition. Alas it went under the radar. Posted in the main catalog of 1998 on page 44 - that was it. MRSP was DM 1,970.00 comparable to roughly US$ 600.00 back then.

Courtesy of Trainsauctions.com

As long as they were at it, they might just as well make another one -- at least that's what it looks like from the outside... LGB # 26192 looks pretty much the same as LGB # 25192. Comes with digital sound but lost the bear trap and the snow plow. This Mogul got the number "10" printed on the cab.

Courtesy of Only Trains

Price was the same and the edition volume was roughly the same as for# 25192. Both engines were manufactured in 1997 and 1998. But - go figure - this # 26192 was published earlier than the # 25192. In 1997 the main catalog displayed it on page 64/65.

LGBoA presented a flyer in 1998 with the front runner being the Mogul # 27192 and the headline "Exclusively for America" " Limited Edition". The United States (of America) are generally known in Germany as "America", hence the flyer head line. "Limited Edition" however is more than true. The edition volume for this green boiler Mogul with "Rio Grande" printed on the tender and the number "573" on the cabin was a mere 400 engines!

Courtesy of Only Trains

In 1999 LGB offered another US-market-only Mogul with the # 28192 w/ digital sound. The lettering was in golden colors "PENNSYLVANIA" on the tender and " 2819" on the cabin. This time they meant it: edition volume 200!!

Courtesy Trainzauctions.com

The year 2000 brought 2 Moguls, the # 25182 and the # 26182. Both had (digital) sound. Both had an edition volume of 600 (each), fully qualifying for "Limited Edition"

LGB# 25182

LGB# 26182

However neither was advertised as limited. Out of the 600 engines for the #25182 came the #25182.8 which was the very same loco but featuring the new digital decoder. Same went for the #26182, thus becoming the #26182.8. The engines without decoder sold for DM 2,098.00 or about $ 1,000.00 in 2000. With decoder the price went up by about US$ 250.00 per loco to 1,250.00--stiff....The kind reader will notice that the #25182 is actually a coal version of the Mogul and should have featured a 19 in the numbering like 25192. But this number had already been given to the #25192 from 1997. Other numbers would have been available.... but Rolf Richter chose this number. Hence forever breaking a 35 year old rule of the numbering system at LGB.

Also in 2001 the Mogul 23191 was published. It was a "black" version where the customer could label his engine and tender with letters to his liking with a lettering/label book that was part of the offer

Courtesy of Trainz.com

This model was an LGBoA exclusive and the first 1,500 engines were shipped to the USA in 2000 for the 2001 season.+++++++++++++++++++to be continued..................

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LGB Mogul 2-6-0 -- Part 2

After Klaus had resolved the teething problems of the 2018D LGB promptly published a second wood burning Mogul, the 2028D. And published is being used verbatim here. The 2028D was first published in the 1987 catalog but wasn't actually manufactured and distributed until 1989.

Courtesy of Only Trains

The 2028D came with a smoke generator and featured a metallic blue boiler with the rest of the engine in black/grey-black. Both, the 2018 and the 2028 were sold for DM 995.-- or the average equivalent of one week of  salary  in 1988 ( for the average LGB customer). Please note that a lot if not all 2028 D were packed into the box for the 2018D.

The 2028 was followed by the 2019S as described in Part 1 and also by the 2119D. The Kompendium lists this engine as "non-cataloged special edition for the USA" . Interesting is the fact that LGB assembled this locomotive from the front part of the 2019 (silver color, matching smoke stack for coal engine) with the 2018 boiler part, here in black, and the engineer cabin and tender in yellow with black stripes. The print on the tender is " LAKE GEORGE & BOULDER" and on the cabin "2119".

Courtesy of Only Trains

The color scheme for the cabin and tender were reused in the Bumblebee (21192) roughly 15 years later. The "Lake George & Boulder" was probably made for a dealer group since the name spells out 'LGB' if taken first letters only. The edition volume was 2,050 typical for the heyday of LGB in the USA.

The LGB 2219S was first shown in the 1990/91 catalog and also manufactured and distributed in 1990. The loco came with an analog soundboard (in the tender) featuring chuff, whistle and bell. The distinctive brown color scheme pays homage to the typical, brown Pennsylvania RR passenger and baggage

Courtesy of allabouttoytrains.com

cars. The PRR is one of the biggest and best known American Rail Roads  and had a huge array of very big and heavy locomotives and one of the biggest numbers of Moguls (standard gauge) in operation. For LGB is was almost a no-brainer to adopt this RR scheme onto their Mogul and offer it (mainly) to their American customers. Almost 5,000 'PRR Moguls' were made, the second biggest volume of a Mogul type ever made at the old, original LGB factory.

LGBoA was on a roll by 1992 and one dealer managed to convince LGB to give him a special edition just for him, his store and his clientele. Thus was born the LGB 2219DG, the Wilson Brothers Circus.

Courtesy of Only Trains

The store was Depot G out of Colorado and he sold it for a pretty stiff price. When Rolf Richter got wind of this he was quick to offer the LGB 24192, this one with sound, again an analog board in the tender.

Courtesy of Only Trains

It was said to be for the US market only. Oh well. It was sold as a set in the US with 14 items (cars,caboose, truck, animals) included. Prices ranged anywhere in the neighborhood of US$ 4,000.00. The 2219DG had a limited volume of 800 and the 24192 a limited edition of 720. The actual manufacturing year was 1995 for both.

The LGB 2319S is actually the 23192. 1993 was the year the numbering system at LGB changed from 4 digit to 5 digits.

Courtesy Trainzauctions

The 23192 was pretty much the slightly changed version of the original 2019S. A spark arrestor (bear trap) was added to the smoke stack and the engine got the number "8" printed on the cabin. A snowplow was put in front. She also featured an analog soundboard (in the tender). For the first production run in 1993 about 1400 were produced.

1993 was also the year were the 1993/94 catalog sported another Mogul, the 21181 with smoke generator. The cabin door sported the number "19" and the coloring was silver(front part), black (boiler) and green (cabin and tender) with red details (roof and wheels)

Courtesy Trainz.com

With the imprint on the tender "DENVER & RIO GRANDE" it was meant for the American market but sold across the LGB audience world wide. Production volume in the first year was almost 3,000. The initial purchase price (MSRP) was a stiff DM 1,180.-- (about US$ 690.00 in 1993 or US$ 1,300.00 today).

1996 another Mogul type was made, the 22182. This was the first time LGB offered a digital sound. The same loco was offered with 3 different RR line names and numbering. #22182 displayed "THE COLORADO ROAD' on the cabin and "5" on the tender. #23182 sported "DURANGO & SILVERTON" on the tender and the number "9" on the cabin and LGB 24182 featured "NEW YORK CENTRAL RR" on the tender and the number "99" on the cabin. The front,boiler, cabin, and tender color scheme was the same on all three locos. The firebox light had become a  standard fixture in the Mogul (starting with the 2019S) and other steam locomotives and thus was also a feature on these 3 Mogul types. LGB was asking a stiff DM 2,390.00 for either of these 3 locomotives but also limiting each edition to 500 locos each. The US$ equivalent  today would be about US$ 2,000.00. Sales prices for these (used) Moguls rather tend to be about US$ 800.00 to $1,200.00. Two years ago you could get them for less than US$ 500.00....

Courtesy Only Trains

Courtesy Only Trains

Courtesy Trainz.com

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

Editor's Note: check out Klaus 101 at https://traincraftbyklaus.com/klaus-101

The LGB Mogul 2-6-0

The basic idea for a Mogul engine was born at LGB in the very early 80's. It took a few years to get it from an idea to a hand model, to early production and eventually to the accomplished best seller engine. The idea for the Mogul was born after Wolfgang and Eberhard Richter observed an ever growing American demand for LGB. Wanting to offer something truly American the idea for the Mogul was born.

The archetype Mogul was designed and first manufactured between 1852 and 1860. Soon she became one of the most built steam locomotives in America and was exported to nearly 20 countries world wide. (for detailed information about the history of the original Mogul see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-0) The Mogul was originally built for standard gauge as well as for narrow gauge lines. Hence it was the ideal template for LGB.

LGB started working on the prototype in early 1983. With the main body of the engine and tender built as hand model it was time for a photo shoot. To make the hand model look good a lot of details were added for the catalog shoot: Pipes, running boards, uncoupling bar and many more details made a great hand model. But it was expensive to make molds for such details. To expedite form making, preparation for serial production, actual production and distribution those details were ditched. By the end of 1984 the Mogul 2018D was delivered to dealers/stores. Immediately complaints started raining in, piling up on Guenter Ruhland's desk.

Courtesy of Trainz.com

The complaints included: the engine derailed at any given occasion without obvious reason. Often enough the engine fell to her side and the smoke stack would break off. Klaus had already been in close contact with LGB and had taken over the task of resolving these issues. After days of testing and observing Klaus concluded what had to be addressed: the reconstruction of the pilot wheel and change of center of gravity. So he went to work. He designed extra lead weights to be added into the motor block. He also redesigned the pilot wheel mount securing the pilot wheel will not derail when hitting an obstruction nor cutting a switch open.
Guenter Ruhland was instrumental in implementing Klaus designs into manufacturing and the improved Mogul then became one of the best selling locos LGB ever made.

This first Mogul  2018 D  was built until 1987, in a red (boiler)/green (cabin) color scheme. It is the wood burning edition of a Mogul.There is no proof that the color scheme was a counter response to Walt Disney's 4-6-0-3 in the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista/FL.

In 1988 the 2019 S, a coal burning

Courtesy of Only Trains

type of a Mogul  was added to the program and featured a smoke generator plus a lot of the details that were skipped previously  on the 2018D.
The 2019 S came in a grey/silver and black color scheme. It became 20192 in 1993. And with more than 9,000 #2019/20192 Moguls built and sold this was by far the most successful Mogul in LGB history.

In addition to these two Moguls LGB 'manufactured' 28 (!) other versions of the Mogul until 2006, the year they went into bankruptcy.  All in all more than 40,000 moguls were manufactured and sold.

Below find the LGB #s and the year this Mogul was first presented in a catalog:

LGB#		Year
.	2018 d 1985 2028 d 1987 2019 s 1988 2119 1989 2219 s 1990 2219 dg 1992 2319 s 1992 21181 1993 2419 dg 1993 22182 1996 23182 1996 24182 1996 25192 1997 26192 1997 27192 1998 28192 1999 25182 2000 26182 2000 23191 2001 23191.8 2001 23194 2002 24194 2002 29192 2002 26194 2003 22184 2004 25194 2004 27182 2004 21192 2005 22185 2006 22194 2006

 The next two blogs will give detailed information about each Mogul listed and an image as available+++++++++++++++++++++++++to be continued...

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check your loco's for repair need. Christmas will be upon you right after Labor Day....Call Klaus for appointment/repair needs.

BIG NEWS --- Klaus 101

For the first time - Live, Work and Dine with Klaus 101

Go to Klaus 101 for detailed information

Get the full 101 on this fabulous opportunity to experience Klaus at home, at work on your own engine. Enjoy the camaraderie and immerse yourself in the Old, Original LGB world with one of the last icons of the Old LGB. Your wife/partner will have a great time enjoying the world renowned Sandestin Resort, basking on the sugar white beaches, shop-til-she-drop(s) and all the girl-fun the Resort provides. Or wants to just relax at Klaus most beautiful Florida home.

GO TO Klaus 101

for full and detailed information of this opportunity of a lifetime!

Installing the New ESU XL 5.0 sound decoder -- Part 2

Live from the workshop -- Part 2

By now, Klaus is about to program and edit the new sound into the blank ESU decoder. Using the ESU Lok programmer and his laptop he can easily select a sound file of a locomotive which comes close to the project he is looking for. ESU provides more than 100 recorded sound files of locomotives from all over the world . These you can find on their web page, free of charge.

Within this loco sound file Klaus first defines the driving characteristics by selecting the correct motor (Buehler) and driving curve (e.g.linear or exponential). The acceleration and stop characteristics are chosen next.
The next task is defining the function mapping. According to his standard based on the LGB MTS standard the functions have to be available basically on the same function key. So we have horns and whistles on functions #1 and #2. Function #3 is regularly the bell. Function #6 switches on the sound and function #7 is the smoker. The function keys then must be linked to AUX outputs if necessary. For example, if you have coal shoveling on function #4 the firebox light must be triggered on an output linked to function #4. Thus you have the firebox light come on whenever coal shoveling sound is played.

The next step is to define the function outputs (e.g. light effect and output voltage). In case Klaus is not satisfied with a certain sound he may choose a different sound from a huge sound library. This way he changes for instance the whistle or the air pump to better match it with the type of loco he is working on. He may even add a self produced sound to the library as long as it is a .wav file.

Due to the fact that generally the sound varies with the chosen loudspeaker some sounds need to be raised in volume to fit into the sound scheme.Unfortunately one is limited in the size of the loudspeaker because of the engine body/housing at hand. So the choice of the loudspeaker is critical. Klaus preferred choice are VISATON loudspeakers. For certain locos he has to dig into his vast selection of specialty loudspeakers.

Once programming is done Klaus puts the sound file onto the blank decoder via the Lok programmer. This procedure may take up to 30 minutes depending on the file size.

Now it's time to install the programmed decoder into the locomotive and do the final wiring. Then he reassembles the locomotive. Test driving may show the necessity for slight changes which can always be done by reconnecting the locomotive to the Lok programmer and changing the file accordingly.

ESU Loksound decoders prove to be the most versatile and effective decoder on the market in regard to motor control and sound quality paired with output. Various implemented safety features guard the function outputs and motor control making it not only safer but also more fun programming and editing the ESU 5.0 XL sound decoder.

Klaus is well stocked with ESU decoders. Give him a call or email him. Klaus is always happy to help!

Installing the new ESU XL 5.0 sound decoder

                       

Live From The Workshop - Part 1

Reporting live from   "Famous Klaus Workshop" : preparing and installing the XL 5.0 ESU sound decoder into ( today) the LGB# 4067 cleaning loco.

Installing a digital ESU sound decoder into an LGB loco in 5 steps steps:

• check and prepare for loudspeaker mounting and installation
• check and prepare for decoder board mounting and installation
• programming and editing of ESU XL 5.0 sound decoder
• installation of decoder, hall sensor set (when needed), and connecting loudspeakers
• re-assembly of loco parts and test driving the new decoder w/fine tuning

Please note that these steps are in Klaus' procedure no matter what type of digital decoder he installs. Can you do it any other way? YES -- which in Klaus' view  means mangling an otherwise very fine engine of  very fine provenance... Therefore:

ventilation grille painted on loco housing

Check and prepare for loudspeaker mounting:
It's hard to say what takes the longest in prepping an LGB engine for sound decoder installation. Klaus being Klaus he stands for Old Original LGB standards where a loco is the better the more she looks like her Original.
Installing sound therefore means to provide space for the loudspeakers and create openings for the sound not by merely drilling holes somewhere ( urrrghh--- you can hear Klaus say, even from your spot!) But to provide meaningful openings where the sound would come from in reality. In the case of the 2067 Cleaning engine this is clearly the front side of the engine where the

ventilation grille cut out

grills are painted with black lines to visualize the ventilation grille for the diesel engine(s). On the pics to the right: the upper engine shows the painted ventilation grilles where the lower pic shows cutouts have been made. Note: the LGB 2060 and 2067 share these same housing parts.

Klaus starts by dismantling the 2067 engine housing to extract the housing part. Klaus uses his 3-D milling machine - programmed accordingly- to cut out the "ventilation grille" part of the housing.

3-D milling in action

Detail cleaning the new opening by hand  is the next step.






Klaus will need mounting support for the loudspeakers so he cuts supporting blocks from hard-PVC plate (1/2 " thick). They guarantee non-deforming support in hot and cold environments. The loudspeaker mounting gets glued into place  in the respective housing part.
Klaus uses a specialty glue that slightly 'melts' the surface of the engine housing so the hard PVC piece will 'combine' with the housing plastic. Then the loudspeaker is wired and mounted. In the photo left notice the little piece of rectangular plastic below Klaus' wrist; that is the first mounting piece. He will need two in this case.






 Trying to mount the loudspeaker Klaus notices a need for space currently held by the lead weight. Each LGB engine sports a lead weight to ensure optimum driving characteristics. In the case of the LGB 2067 the lead weight is elongated and needs to be adjusted to give Klaus enough room to install the loudspeaker. Klaus utilizes his 3-D mill again, programmed, to refit the lead weight.

Now the loudspeaker is connected to the deoder board and mounted into the engine housing.

And the cutouts made previously are getting a mesh for looks

Follow Klaus in his workshop with the next steps, programming, editing and installing the sound decoder.++++ to be continued