LGB disappointment

I've had the green loco and 9 cars for almost 30 years. Got it out this am and the receipt in the box is dated 4-18-86. Great runners.

Might be a Walther's problem.  I have had an engine like that for 25 years and runs good but the cable from the engine to the tender is busted which messes up the sound.  Hope you get it squared away although Xmas is closing in fast.

Since both color schemes show up as that LGB part number, you may be out of luck as they may point you to a web page saying that what is pictured isn't always what you get.  Not a hit on Walthers, although they have been around long enough to know better by putting info on the order page of the product to select the color scheme you wanted, but LGB shouldn't have the same part number for two different sets.

I just checked LGB's web site, and what you described as having received was their item 77302 "Passenger Starter Set Sound 100 Volt."  Walthers doesn't even list this set on their web site.  Here is a link to the description of 77302:

LGB 77302

Does the box your set came in have the product number 72302 or 77302?  Maybe it was a mispack by LGB.  Good luck getting this settled.  Walthers is a good company when it comes to customer service.

Stuart

Here's the Walthers link.  I've been tied up all morning and have not been able to call them yet

https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/426-72302

What I was sent (sorry for the small pic - was all I could find quickly online)

had a similar incident, ordered on Amazon a Lionel scout starter set with the blue loco and blue tender.

company sent me a black 0-8-0 starter set. emailed themtheir mistake. they offered me $20 off the price.

I passed, sent the set back and ordered from somebody else and got my scout blue loco.

FWIW:

I think the set you received looks better than the one you ordered.

Why G-Scale?  You can do alot more with a MTH Starter set

This seems like either Walthers made a mistake or it was improperly packed at LGB prior to shipping.  Does the outside of the box have the correct product number? The set you actually got I think is really nice looking considering it is Christmas time.  I know that you were looking at the older style them, but either way these are great items.  I have collected LGB for over 20 years and enjoy it very much.  

Timothy, If you ever messed with G Scale (LGB), think you would like it.  Plus LGB offers a different style of model railroading that Lionel or MTH does not provide.  I get a mix of N, O and G scale offerings.

It will grow on you in a little time...

SDIV Tim posted:

Why G-Scale?  You can do alot more with a MTH Starter set

Why not?

LGB and the "Stainz 2" (which is what the 0-4-0T is modeled after) sets have a charm all their own.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

SDIV Tim posted:

Why G-Scale?  You can do alot more with a MTH Starter set

Why not?

LGB and the "Stanz 2" (which is what the 0-4-0T is modeled after) sets have a charm all their own.

Rusty

+1. While I like MTH stuff, LGB will still be running long after the MTH stuff croaks!

I have a few LGB pieces - they look like they've been through hell and back cosmetically and haven't run for years but I bet if I put them on the track, they'd happily chug along without breaking a sweat. I love LGB!

SJC, I've been running MTH G scale stuff for over ten years. You're implying that the LGB is made better? It's OK, but mine is all plastic, even the gears! ???

 I believe my MTH will outlast my LGB products. The value of the MTH with sound and smoke built in helps G scale. (Their drives have metal gearing inside.) Until they came out, you had to add control systems on top of already high priced engines.

Update:  I never got to call Walthers -- my kids found the set back in my work room and told me to keep it -- they liked it the way it was - go figure.  Walthers is showing out of stock on this set now anyhow, so I'm not sure what options I would have had since I wanted this for under our Christmas tree this year.

The box does say 73202, so it's the correct box and part number, just the wrong color set for what was advertised.  

As for why I wanted LGB and not MTH.  Well, I've liked this set for many years I could just never talk myself into buying it.  I've had my share of O scale and it's all long gone - I got disenchanted with "O" and sold it all off.  I have only some Marklin and now LGB as I prefer European trains these days.  This set was bought to run in a circle under the tree for my kids to play with -- the cars are big and they can put action figures and things like that inside and play with it.  While MTH does sell some beautiful European trains, I don't need a $1700 MTH set under my tree, this ~$300 set fits the bill nicely.

Thanks guys.

Haven't bought any LGB for a number of years, long prior to their bankruptcy. How is the quality of the "new" vs the "old" LGB manufactured product.

Engineer-Joe posted:

SJC, I've been running MTH G scale stuff for over ten years. You're implying that the LGB is made better? It's OK, but mine is all plastic, even the gears! ???

 I believe my MTH will outlast my LGB products. The value of the MTH with sound and smoke built in helps G scale. (Their drives have metal gearing inside.) Until they came out, you had to add control systems on top of already high priced engines.

My first LGB catalog goes back to 1977, Lehmann (LGB = Lehmann Gross Bahn) has been making toys since 1881.  I think they know a thing or two about making things that last.

And, even though some contemporary LGB is available with sound, command control and smoke, not everyone is infatuated with all the electronics to make it go.

I found LGB quite relaxing as it orbited and glided with relative silence around the track.

Rusty

overlandflyer posted:

Stuart posted:

I just checked LGB's web site, and what you described as having received was their item 77302 "Passenger Starter Set Sound 100 Volt." ...

i had much better luck finding the all red set as #78302.

SDIV Tim posted:

Why G-Scale?  You can do alot more with a MTH Starter set

Maybe because that's what he wanted?

Shocking, I know.

Rusty Traque posted:

Engineer-Joe posted:

SJC, I've been running MTH G scale stuff for over ten years. You're implying that the LGB is made better? It's OK, but mine is all plastic, even the gears! ???

 I believe my MTH will outlast my LGB products. The value of the MTH with sound and smoke built in helps G scale. (Their drives have metal gearing inside.) Until they came out, you had to add control systems on top of already high priced engines.

My first LGB catalog goes back to 1977, Lehmann (LGB = Lehmann Gross Bahn) has been making toys since 1881.  I think they know a thing or two about making things that last.

And, even though some contemporary LGB is available with sound, command control and smoke, not everyone is infatuated with all the electronics to make it go.

I found LGB quite relaxing as it orbited and glided with relative silence around the track.

Rusty

Can't really agree more. I like the bells and whistles in my O Gauge trains but I'm very content to have an LGB silently orbiting the track. Maybe just a whistle here and there. Nothing else.

LGB builds good stuff. Am curious how the new stuff is. My limited LGB collection is all from Germany.

We set everything up tonight.  the engine has a decent heft to it but the coaches feel flimsy and the wheels and couplers are plastic.  My coaches keep uncoupling but I think it might have to do with the uneven transition from the hard wood floor to the carpeting that is causing the them to separate.   Also, I wish there was a whistle - love them German whistles.  The chuffing gets old rather quickly.  Oh, and the power supply connectors pop out of the throttle if you so much as bump them -- I hate those push in connectors.  

Sorry for your disappointment.

LGB's Christmas sets featuring the Stainz 0-4-0 engine have been quite varied in decoration through the years.  There was even a predominately Blue set at one time.  But they all were gaily decorated in the Christmas theme.

We (LHS) just sold our last 2015 Christmas LGB set from Walthers....

LGB Christmas Set Link

It had a stock number of 72304.  Unfortunately, I believe it is now, indeed, sold out.  Although Walthers is no longer the exclusive distributor of LGB, a quick check of alternative sources is no more fruitful.  I'm afraid the limited production run is done. 

Next year.......maybe?

KD

BTW...For around the tree at Christmas, around the office or restaurant or pediatrician/dentist's waiting room, etc., etc.,....LGB trains are what we term 'gentle runners'.  They're steady, quiet, ....and charming in their own right.   But, that's just MHO, of course.

And if you wanted to make one key improvement to the starter set's performance, we'd recommend swapping out the coach's plastic wheel/axle sets for the metal ones.  Yes, they're a tad pricey; but your track will stay cleaner longer and the cars will actually roll better.  Just a suggestion.

interestingly enough, the Walthers page for this set now shows the all red set like I got..  wonder how many people called up and complained.  

Vidkidz, sorry to hear of your troubles with your LGB set.  I hope you can get it all resolved and are able to enjoy the set for many years.

I've been through all gauges in my time.  For the last several years I've been all O gauge, but thirty years ago, my wife bought me a LGB "Chocolate Cookie" Stainz loco set for Christmas.  That train has been stored in its original box for over twenty years.  This week, we set up a LGB carpet RR around the perimeter of our simple O gauge carpet set.  Put the little "chocolate" set on the track and, instantly, that little engine started and ran like butter.  I have a few more of the Stainz-based sets that my wife gave me.  I think one will definitely find its way under one of our trees this year.

One question the LGBers out there:  I notice the new LGB sets have steam sounds.  Does anyone know if there is a way to retrofit these sound systems into the older LGB (German) locomotives?

question for the guys with the older sets -- are the wheels and couplers plastic on those as well or is this a recent change?

Thx

VidKidz posted:

question for the guys with the older sets -- are the wheels and couplers plastic on those as well or is this a recent change?

 

Thx

 

The couplers were always plastic and unless the car was illuminated, the wheels were also plastic.  Motorized units have plastic wheel centers with metal rims.

Rusty

Vid,

The wheels on my thirty year old sets are plastic, except, of course, for the loco.  See below.

The wheels and couplers have always been plastic on the starter sets, The couplers, were always plastic period.  Wheels you could upgrade to metal ones, either spoked or plain solid centers.  The plastic used on the pre bankruptcy era LGB was Luran S made by BASF.  It is UV stabilized for outdoor use.  I have LGB track that has been outdoors for over 15 years now.  I have shifted to USA prototype trains right now, pulled by an old Aristocraft Alco FA-1 diesel outfitted with onboard battery power.  No more track cleaning.  We have a loop in our garden and a loop overhead in our living room.  I get 4-6 hours of run time out of the engine on each charge, recharge takes less than 1 hour normaly.  Battery is a common 6 cell RC car battery, NiMH, 5500mah, 7.2 volt. Speed is a nice 20-30 smph towing 5-8 freight cars and a caboose. I did upgrade the locomotives lights to LED's to help with battery life.  LGB is and was the gold standard that others were judged by.  I still want to get one of the ATSF warbonnet F units some day.   Mike

So the uncoupling issue is due to the way the track is angled when it transitions from the hard wood floor to the carpeting when the train is traveling counter clockwise.  it must just have an odd angle that causes the couplers to disengage.  I've reversed the direction of the train and it runs fine going in the opposite direction.

After reading this thread the other day, I decided to get out my LGB 0-4-0 set, which hadn't run in at least 15 years.  I cleaned the track, put the engine on the rails, turned up the power and off she went, smooth and quiet as ever.  Simply amazing!

Are the newer-production LGB products as smooth-running as the older ones?  If so I may have to look into another set.  I'd forgotten how nice they were.

I can't say if the newer is as good as the older but my set is pretty quiet with the chugging turned off.

KWIW,

   Man I agree 100% the one he received looks better than the one he ordered and a lot more like a Christmas Train, and that is probably why it was delivered to him at this time of year.

PCRR/Dave

My Dad bought the Marshall Field's version of that set back in 1984.It is running around the Christmas tree again this year.

...And this is/was another 2015 Christmas option from LGB:

LGB Christmas Trolley Link

Maybe not a 'train', as such, but the seasonal decoration, St. Nick waving from the platform, the lighted interior (in which you could add some smiling shoppers)....all very nice when quietly, gently running around the Christmas tree!