My New LGB Diesel Set

Each A unit has TWIN motors for a total of four, while the B unit has a digital sound system with track magnet acutated bell and horn crossing sounds.

Since I do not have room for the matching passenger cars, my engines will be permanent deadhead units! LOL!

Will post video at a later date as I have not yet received them. They are brand new and never run in original LGB box and shipping carton!

Just could not pass up these beauties!

Whow, great models Art, I would really enjoy a video of those models, must be impressive to run.

Very best, Daniel

THANK YOU, Daniel! I remember seeing this engine set when it came out, but at that time could not afford them as my train funds were tied up with three live steamers! I got a good deal on these, so decided not to pass on them this time around! :-)

FYI: This A-B-A configuration is 1830mm or SIX-FEET in total length. This model will indeed be a formidable presence on my layout!

I also have the 30th Anniversary Stainz model initially only available to attendees at the LGB factory birthday celebration in Nurnberg. Thirty years (1968-1998) was quite an achievement for the Richter family concern!

Only 500 of these B&O A-B-A sets were produced according to the LGB Kompendium (a two-volume official reference work).

The A unit cabs are detailed with an engineer figure, controls and are lighted. Cab doors open.

Each A Unit has a speaker which can be cabled to the B Unit sound module for "stereo" sound.

TRBB: Except for the B&O diesels, I have no American LGB. My LGB collection consists mostly of European meter gauge or 750mm gauge trains and a also a beautiful PIKO BR-24. My purchases of new old original Saganar Strasse LGB were from a gentleman in Minnesota who specializes in buying up collections of pristine engines and rolling stock and reselling them. I am not particularly a B&O fan but have always admired this engine set since its release in 1998. My dealer had a mint set for $1399, and we negotiated a price of $1200, and I thought why not! Below are some photos of my PIKO BR-24:

NICE boiler detailing!

The tender of the PIKO BR-24 is digital ready to accept both the speaker and the circuit board with actual engine sounds. Since  I only run analog, I chose not to convert.

NOTE: Once converted, this engine could only be operated with digital control or DCC.

Will unpack my engines tomorrow. My shipper double-boxed the original factory carton and the gross weight is 31 pounds, and it is a LARGE box! My muscled receiving clerk daughter said she will carry it upstairs to the bedroom staging area (the bed) so I can carefully unpack my treasures and get them to the trainroom! LOL! Video to follow! :-)

GOOD NEWS: We got the engines unpacked and everything looked good. BAD NEWS: The power cable sockets on the A units and B units had dummy plugs that were a heckuva BEAR to get out! My other daughter had a scribe and a pair of surgical tweasers that did the job! WHEW! Maiden run was fine with awesome sounds!

We spent several frustrating hours with those **** plugs, so video will have to wait. The speakers in both A units work while the B unit speaker is normally off. There is one TWO wire power cable between each unit and also a FOUR wire sound system cable. By using a pair of LGB  track magnets, the bell and horn crossing sounds can be activated. With DCC, those sounds can be activated with a hand held controller. I run strictly analog.

The start-up sounds are impressive while a delay circuit keeps the engine from moving in analog mode. Then the prime mover revs up until the throttle is advanced, the horn sounds twice for a highball and the engine notches up and increases speed. When the throttle is dialed back, the reverse happens and the engine stops and shuts down. The four motors are very smooth and quiet. Total amp draw is 1.82 at about 22 volts.

Back when LGB was LGB!  What I have also comes from the pre Marklin era and will only come from that era.  I dont have as much now as I have shifted to more of a UK themed railway with live steam operation on my outdoor railway.  I only have my green 2073d Eurovapor 0-6-2t and a couple cars for it to pull.  It comes from the first year of the red "shoe box" style boxes and has onboard battery power installed in the side tanks.  Still runs like new, despite many many miles of use!    Love the B&O, very beautiful set!    AD

AD: THANK YOU! :-) Those power socket covers or caps are a serious design flaw not befitting LGB's usual excellent engineering. There is no easy way to pop those covers off and there is also risk of damage to the locomotive from the tools used! :-(

We had that same magic here when Watts Train Shop was open in its original form where you had to enter thru the Christmas Sparkle Shop.  It was a bit of the LGB magic here in Indiana back then.  And where my eyes really got opened wide to the world of G scale and LGB after getting a starter set from my Aunt and Uncle that they got in Germany while visiting his family there.   I miss those days for sure as the shop is long gone now.  AD

I ordered some great engines and cars from the good folks at Watts! The Richter Family WERE LGB, now and forever!

These F-7's are the finest I have ever owned and the most impressive!

I have one more adjustment to make in the consist before making a video. The B unit with its TWO amplifiers and control circuits, needs to be reversed so the end with the volume control knob is facing to the rear in the direction of travel. The sound system will then give the correct two blast "highball" instead of the "backup" three it presently is doing! "When in doubt, read the manual!" LOL!

Removing the two cables at each end of the B unit without damaging any connectors will be the challenge at hand!

Bet that was something else to see that LGB display!

Although LGB's engineering was usually top notch, the decision to make those power receptable covers nearly impossible to remove was a bad idea. They looked good as a detail part but when you needed to remove one that was a challenge! Also, they never should have included them with the A-B-A units as they will not operate without those connecting cables, so there was NO point in having them in place! End of rant! :-)

B unit successfully repositioned earlier today so starting horn blasts are now correct for direction of travel. One socket came out with power cable connector but was easily repositioned. Video will be made on Thursday.

@Tinplate Art posted:

B unit successfully repositioned earlier today so starting horn blasts are now correct for direction of travel. One socket came out with power cable connector but was easily repositioned. Video will be made on Thursday.

I can't wait that long!

Slight issue: Although the sounds are great and function fine, and the engine moves smoothly through its speed range, a very annoying high-pitched squeak has developed and persists throughout the speed range! After 22 years of resting new in their box, these engines very likely may need motor axle/bearing lubrication! It has been my experience that LGB gearbox grease does not harden, but some "oiling around" with some LGB synthetic oil should help! :-)

A video:

Nice! I guess a early Christmas set? I have a lot of LGB but no diesels. That must have been a small fortune.

Just curious but why does everyone put down Piko like LGB red headed step child. I have bought some nice engines from them and have not had one problem with them.

It is a beauty ART, and sound is great. Greetings for this nice buy, Daniel

Merlin: I have a PIKO BR-24 and love it! The B&O set was $1200, and not bad for new and unused! Two photos of my BR-24:

I opened up all four gearboxes and grease was present on all gears, but I did add some and spread it evenly. I then oiled all axles and bearings on all three units with LGB's synthetic red gel oil. Cleaned slider contact shoes and reassembled. Alas, the squeaking returned! Two possibilities remaining are the 8 contact sliders, or possibly the truck wheelbase is too wide for the LGB 1500 (R2) radius track! I will have to ponder this puzzlement! Your suggestions are welcome!

Sound system and motors are operating fine. Squeak is external so may be wheels or contact slider shoes?

Will remove all 8 contact slider "shoes" on both A units. There are copper brush contacts on all 8 drive wheels that should suffice for electrical conduction.