20th Ann. LGB box car?

[Marty Cozad]

OK, I asked this on 3 other sites with forums: How many plan to buy the Ann. car? I ordered mine right away. But on one site 127 folks have viewed the thread and no replies. Another thread had to maybes, another had 2 yes 3 maybes. I thought this would be a HOT car, but as of now I'm not sure. I am buying it to run it at shows and open houses. Not so much to collect it.
SO.....How many here plan to buy one?[^]

[markoles]

Hey Marty,

I am on the maybe list. However, if funds do become available for this purchase, rest assured that car will run and run!!

[vsmith]

Hello Marty, Absolutley NOT!

RANT TIME!!!!!!

LGB is expensive to start, then they take an ordinary car, slap some self advertisment on it and jack the price up because its a "special edition" Phooey!!!! and the last thing I want on my layout is some garish logo'd shiny toylike car behing my rusty beatup locomotives.

Dont get me wrong I like LGB, and alway will get it if I can, but I'll never be a member of the LGB "cult". You know, the guys that bad mouth every single thing in garden RRing that isn't made by LGB. They only run LGB in pristene just out of the box condition and think everyone else that doesnt do the same are a bunch of godless heathens who must be converted to their way of thinking. Now I know your not a member of the "cult" Marty, I can tell by your postings, but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I've had a couple of experiences with...

... the "cult".

There is a very big and famous train store out here on the west coast near Santa Monica on Sepulveda Blvd in a store thats a scaled down version of LA's Union Station but shall remain nameless. I was looking around at thier LGB only garden RR items and was asking a store employee about something, as soon as I said that the LGB mogul he was trying to sell me was too much $$ ($1000) and that the "fully detailed cab" of the LGB Porter (which I liked and have 3 now) was anything but, he shrugged and walked away. I had offended the "cult".

I had the same experience at another very well known shop here in my home town of Pasadena, they also carry only LGB in large scale. I went in to pick up some paint and details, got talking to one of two clerks about what I was working on ( converting an Aristo 0-4-0 into a 2-4-0 and adding cab details and a tender), the minute I mentioned "aristo craft" the second clerk (who I know has a LGB garden RR) chuffed and stormed off. Again I offended the "cult" by not following exclusively "the" product. I was "soiled and dirty" for buying "alien and inferior" (but affordable) products.

I personally dont think it had to do with not buying what they had in their store. I buy plenty from them. Afterall, they are a business, if they dont stock what I want, I will go where they do, thats commerce. Thats their desicion to carry one brand exclusively. If OSH doesnt carry the right widget, I go to Home Depot. I've even been told by OSH staff to go to Home Depot when they dont stock something.I felt it was more a personal thing with the staff members, that us "godless heathens" who buy at the Big Bad Bachmann stores are an offense to their universal harmony.

So now I make it a point to "alter" all my LGB stock with Bachmann (Oh No!) couplers, and Ozark detail parts (Oh the Humanity!).

So, No, I wont be buying LGBs 30 year commemorative car, if I win one at next years Big Train Show at the Queen Mary, I will be swapping it there or painting it the next day.

[Marty Cozad]

Well thats kinda funny ,,yet sad. I hear what your saying. I was on a tour bus at the Queen Mary last year and after meeting the guy next to me and hearing others piping up I realized I was on a LGB bus. I did add quicky that I loved their new 53' flats and hoped to get some of their new covered 50' hoppers. I also was taught a lesson, that I realized how others feel when we think we are know-it-alls. Many of them did. Needless to say I say quietly in my seat till others ask the usual Qs of , how big is your RR? Or how much track do you have? Size is NOT the important part.
Some how we need to get on the same side in this hobby. YES I'm all modern Standard G yet I love seeing all GRRs. Well time will tell how this car sales. I like the colors and for me it will always remind me of the artical and being a part of GRYs mag.
later

[Anonymous]

I will get mine for sure unless it is too expensive. I would love to have a "advertisement" on my railroad for my favorite magazine. So put me down on the may be list.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

Well thats kinda funny ,,yet sad. I hear what your saying. I was on a tour bus at the Queen Mary last year and after meeting the guy next to me and hearing others piping up I realized I was on a LGB bus. I did add quicky that I loved their new 53' flats and hoped to get some of their new covered 50' hoppers. I also was taught a lesson, that I realized how others feel when we think we are know-it-alls. Many of them did. Needless to say I say quietly in my seat till others ask the usual Qs of , how big is your RR? Or how much track do you have? Size is NOT the important part.
Some how we need to get on the same side in this hobby. YES I'm all modern Standard G yet I love seeing all GRRs. Well time will tell how this car sales. I like the colors and for me it will always remind me of the artical and being a part of GRYs mag.
later

I shudder to think what would have happened to me on that bus if I stated that LGB's level of detail on some of there products is pretty toylike...

My rant was partly a humorous look at what I call in this hobby "the Dark Side of the Force". But I wasnt joking about how serious some LGB users can be. They take there product loyalty to a scary level. I heard scoffs from a "Darksider" at a train show recently when I commented on how nice Bachmanns 2-6-0 mining mogul was.

To each his own I say, I just dont like being looked "down" on by someone because I dare say that I like Bachmann or Aristo-Craft or anyone else. If anyone needs to get "behind" the hobby, its these people. The attitude is "I dont want your participation unless you are a LGB junky like me" . Its kinda sad to me, I always advocate for MORE products and manufacturers. Strange.

Granted this is a very very small percentage of large scale, but it only takes one skunk to ruin a picnic.

[Anonymous]

i've ordered the box car--it will run behind my bachmann 10th annv. box car and my 1996 national convention car when i have an open house one day--i like garden railroading and i like to show support to those who bring it to us--i am not an lgb "nut"--the one normal lgb piece i have has been modified as has every other engine or car i own--for example,i have a neat "lil critter" cow and calf

[bman36]

Good Morning Marty,
I'm a yes. I ordered my boxcar this morning after seeing it in GR. It would not matter to me who made it. Being a Streetrod builder also, I love to modify...but like to keep it shiny. I will change the couplers to Aristo and put steel wheels on it. That will be about it. Are you going to weather yours? Just buggin' ya'. Plan on running mine. Looks a whole lot better on the line than in the box.
vsmith:
I have met the weirdos. Let me qualify that. People who scoff at what you own. I drive tractor trailer for a living. I was between Regina, Sk. and Winnipeg, Mb. and talking with another driver on the CB. A Canadian Pacific special came down the line beside us all adorned in old CP colours. The classic grey and maroon. I came unglued at the site and commented on the train to the driver. Next thing I knew we were talking model railroading. He gave me a long list of brass he owned along with several other pricey items. Being in HO for over 25 years and new to Large scale I listed off my equipment. Mostly Bachmann, Lifelike, Tyco etc. Some Spectrum but nothing what he listed. The reply was "Oh.......I don't bother with that stuff" Then he became very quiet. I felt very belittled. Does the price of your equipment determine your devotion to the hobby? Yes, but only in terms of investment. Bottom line...I love model railroading...period. The "weirdos" as I refer to them will be like this in every area of their life. Their problem. So....smile and keep walking. I love seeing what everyone else has made in GR. Encourages me to grow and try new things in the hobby.
Time to get off my soap box. Have fun everyone. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Does the price of your equipment determine your devotion to the hobby?

No, but it qualifies whether or not your "socially acceptable" to certain types. Its like the Porsche driver who scoffs at every "lesser" sports car on the market. It doesnt matter that a Toyota MR2 or Audi TT is an almost identical driving experience to a Boxster in everyday driving, its that its a "Porsche" and that "makes me better than you because I have a $90,000 Porsche and you only have a $20,000 Toyota, Pooh to you".

The same with brass snobs or the LGB cult; "I'm better than you because I spent more than you did", rather childish really, "my toy is better than yours" kinda attitude. I'm not rich, and I dont think this is a rich persons hobby and would hate to see it become one.

I think part of it is that 20 years ago when LGB first became popular, only the well off could really afford LGB for about a decade, then Bachmann, aristo-craft and other started having an influence over who started outdoor RRs. If you spend $1000s of dollars to build your LGB empire and your neighbor Bob is building one for $100s of dollars using Bachmann, you're going to be miffed. The "specialness" of your layout is diminished, especially if Bobs layout looks more realistic when done.

This hobby should be one of the most democratic. Especially if your outdoors, because their is no wrong way to do a garden layout (unless it sinks into a marsh or something). Unfortunatly some people seem to think that because they spent wads of gold on thier trains that it makes them "more devoted" to thier hobby, sorry, but it doesnt, it just means that you spent a whole lot more $$ than me. Dont forget, most of these guys that have these fantastic brass collections DONT have a layout, nor do they paint the engines, let alone weather them. lest they decrease in value.

[Anonymous]

I piped up on this topic on another forum site. I wouldn't buy the 20th Anniv. car only because I have alot of other things to buy before I go and layout huge money on a "special" piece like that.

I do wonder though, what everyone would be saying if the 20th Anniv. car was put out by USA Trains or even Bachmann.

LGB has been in this garden railroad thing from the beginning, their stuff is always pricey. Thats the way it goes. High price doesn't alway equal quality. People of the "cult" are only fooling themselves if they think that LGB is the best. However, if you think about it, if it wasn't for LGB we wouldn't even be running trains in the backyard. Hats off to them!! Good for them and anyone who has their stuff. I have one piece that I got when a local hobby shop went out of business and bought about 5 or 6 years ago. That one piece kept my GRR dream alive. If it wasn't for that piece I wouldn't have any of the USA, Bachmann, Hartland or Aristo pieces I have today. Thanks LGB.

Anyway, Happy Anniversary to Garden Railway Magazine. Alot of us look to you for inspiration. I can't wait to see the brohaha over the 25th Anniv. Car. Maybe then I will have all I need of everything by then and will be ready to buy in 2009.

Peter

[Marty Cozad]

Heres a photo I took of my car right after I recieved it. I turned the couplers around cause I was out of Kadees at the time. Looks good sitting on the siding.
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/NTCGRR/GRY20TH.jpg
I may park it down by the station during open houses. I was also thinking of making an evans car of MRs 70th anv one also.

[vsmith]

Marty, tried opening your link, got blank screen.

[Anonymous]

Wow! Nice photo Marty. I want that car so bad but I think it was $90 or something. Way out of my budget for a boxcar.

[Anonymous]

Marty,

Nice pic. I won't be buying becuz my eqp is mostly LGB european narrow gauge. I'm not a *snob* - got into lg scale thru my father who bought it shortly after it was introduced in the USA. I have a lot of ToyTrain rolling stock as my grandchildren are 3/5 respectively.

SM

[bman36]

Marty,
Mine showed up on Sunday. Very very nice. Crisp graphics. Now to modify. Nothing major...just wheels and couplers. I would encourage anyone considering one of these to go ahead. The car is really nice and will look nice on any layout. I will be running mine on Father's Day next year with the display we set up at our church. Yes you read right...church. Every year we bring in a whole lot of stuff for dads to look at on that Sunday. Everything from Harleys to Hotrods. Last year my wife and I set up two loops of track on the grass out front. Very well received. Actually over 6000 people got to see it. How is that for promoting the hobby? We had a blast. Anyways time to carry on...kids wanna' decorate the tree. Later eh...Brian.