USA TRAINS vs LGB

[mkblk]

I recently acquired a very nice old-time passenger car manufactured by USA Trains. I am really impressed with it's quality. I was told that it is actually a copy of LGB's product. Can anyone shed some light on this?

MK

[Anonymous]

No mate but i bet in the long run it will turn out to be not as good as LGB.

ian

[Anonymous]

They are very similar, has the USA got curtains and lamp detail etched on the windows? I think that spoils the car whereas the LGB coaches are a super bit of kit. This time round I only have the drovers caboose at the moment but their old time coaches are on the shoping list.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[tangerine-jack]

Interesting theory. I know that plastic kit molds are bought and sold all the time. Perhaps something like this happened between LGB and USAT. I'm sure the USAT will give you many years of fine service, after all, museums are full of Roman copies of Greek originals [:P]

I don't think there is a product anywhere you can buy that is exclusively made in only one country. I was looking at a camera the other day that was made in China by a Japanese company for a US distributor. Now what is the world coming to when Japanese products are now made in China?????


[oX)]

[John Busby]

Hi mkblk
I dont think it will be a copy the last company that did that
had legal action taken against it.
To put it in perspective if you like it and think it was worth it then money well spent.
regards John

[mkblk]

All: Thanks for your responses. My inquiry was just as a matter of interest. I am well aware that LGB manufactures the highest quality product (although "scale" may be an issue with some... not me). I had originally purchased a Bachmann Jackson-Sharpe combine that I was quite pleased with (especially the price). Unfortunately, my tiny GR consists primarily of 30" radius curves (and "S's") which longer cars just don't like. When I spotted the USA Trains "Overton" coach, I could see that it's truncated length was just what I was looking for... so I bought it. It was then that I was so impressed with the overall quality (compared to Bachmann's... which is nice too, at half the market price!).

Ian: I've issued a requisition to the purchasing department for a new tank car. It will be an LGB no. 48400 which can carry liquids like weed killer. This will allow the maintenance crew to kill the pesky weeds that infringe on the BVRR's right-of-way. So, soon I'll join the ranks of LGB world-wide.

John: Obviously I do like it. Now I have to find another... a combine.

Jack: I believe once the patents run out... it's open season for anybody who wants to invest in the tooling. I've seen it happen regularly in my business. Competitor's eagerly await the day the patents expire and then produce virtually identical items.

Kim: The USA Trains coach that I have is equipped with clear windows, fully detailed interior, operating doors, metal detail parts, sprung trucks and electric pickup via carbon brushes against the flanges.

Bottom Line: John hits the nail on the head... "if you like it and think it was worth it then money well spent."

Regards to all,

MK

P.S. John, I'm the guy who was interested in "F" standard gauge... after seeing just how BIG they are, well... I've seen smaller equipment that you can ride on!

[Curmudgeon]

Sounds like the "Sierra" coach line, shorter than Let's Go Broke.
One thing the lgb fans don't tell you is the stuff is about all made in China now, and you can get more for your buck (or pound) with USA than with lgb.
Lgb is nice, have a bunch, but when the NEW prices drop so much and the collector market dries up, all you have are lastic toys.

My 3080 series cars, while nice, were certainly NOT worth the $100 to $130 US they cost new.
Especially when Bachmann at the time was $20.
I have a string of both, in D&RGW yellow, including 4-door baggage on both.
You always end up with more combines than you need and not enough coaches, so cut them and glue them....4-door baggage and a full coach.

ALL of them are too short to be "scale" anything, but I haven't felt like lengthening them, as passenger service is not a priority on the CCRy.

[mkblk]

Can always rely on the Curmudgeon to cut through the muck and get to the point!

By the way, the overall length of this car (not inc. couplers) is 15".

MK