LGB News from the LGB Club....

[LGBtrains1963]

Here is some information that I feel many want to know......  #1 The current brochure for 2008 is only the new Euro items being made this year, the new North American items have not been released yet, but there will be new items for 2008, also a new catalog for 2008 will be released in the fall of this year.... #2 The brass track will be out again by the end of the first quarter of this year, but the nickel-plated track is being dropped in 2008, no decision has been made whether it will be made in the future... #3 Rolling stock will be made in 2008 with the result of items being discontinued and new items being introduced, this will include Euro and North American models, but all licensed items such as Coca-Cola, Disney, Peanuts, and etc will be dropped from the 2008 assortment, there will be no more of these items made from 2008 on... #4 All MTS, accessories, signals, sound modules, components will be made, they are still working with Massoth.... #5 Roadbed items will be no longer made.... #6 Toytrain and Gnomy items will be dropped in 2008, No decision has been made if these items will be produced in the future again, No decision on the RIGI items if it will remain in the assortment...  I hope this helps all of the LGB collectors out there..... Thanks, Mark     

[vsmith]

Thanks Mark, Sounds like someones been paying attention at Marklin.

Glad to hear there will be a second catalog later this year including US profile stock, that will go a looooong way to allieving concerns about Marklins future in the US. MTS is too engrained in alot of LGB owners operations to drop that.

I always thought those Licensed products were a waste of materials that only pandered to a small group of collectors. Saw a "Peanuts" 2-4-0 sell on EvilBay last night or about $90 bucks (wouldnt mind a GN 0-4-0 version, but that bugger never sells for less than $200). Trainworld still has a good selection of these in there clearence section, but I can still get a non- clearance Forney for less than a 'discounted' CocaCola Forney. The Nickel track was only plated and had early problems with the nickel pealing off the brass undernieth, the roadbed was such a limited market, I'm not surprised they dropped them.

I'm sad to hear the Toytrain line is being dropped, at least that stuff WAS affordable for poor folks like me. Thats a big dissappointment to me.

[kstrong]

I have to admit a little disappointment at the Toytrain stuff being discontinued as well; as one with a small child, those would be ideal for her. (On the other hand, where would I put the batteries?) Ah well, Playmobil it is, and the old 4-wheel european stuff we've still got from when I was little.

Glad to hear they're getting things going again, though. From what they're saying they're producing and dropping, it sounds like they've got a bit more of a prototypical mindset, which doesn't surprise me given Marklin's history.

Later,

K

[sclairfan]

Thanks for the update. I just started my railroad last year and it began with an LGB Sclair Hopper car. It looks like I made the right choice after all. Please continue to keep us informed.

 

[Mr_Ash]

eek must get more LGB D&RGW rollingstock and R3 track!

[vsmith]

One thing thats still undetermined is what prices Marklin will charge. I've been reading on the Gscalemad site from England and they are not happy because Marklin has apparently raised the prices, for the the items already announced for European release. So much of an increase that several participants have said "for those prices I might as well buy Accucraft" or "I could buy 3 USA engines for the same price". Thats not a good sign but it does confirm what I said the day Marklin was announced the reciever of EPL, that prices would go up, if for the only reason being because they are Marklin.

[LGBtrains1963]

In the club letter there was no area in it about prices at this time... So we will have to be a wait and see....

[two tone]

Hi Just a comment from my side of the pond, we are being told that with the move of production and a NEW building having to be built there will be very little coming out before 2009.Im pleased to see they are getting shot of funny items and going for stock that a lot of us have been waiting for to move forward in our hobby