New LGB club

[Rene Schweitzer]

I received a press release from LGB of America, and they are starting a new (worldwide) LGB club. For $56 per year, you can become a member and receive an email newsletter, annual LGB catalog, Depesche magazine, access to the club web site, and lots more.

For information, go to www.lgb.com and click on the "LGB club" button.

[Anonymous]

The old LGB Club is no longer affiliated with their previous sponser and are welcoming all other brands. Very interesting.......

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dontrainman

The old LGB Club is no longer affiliated with their previous sponser and are welcoming all other brands. Very interesting.......

Hi Don,

The BTOC (Big Train Operator Club; formerly the LGBMRRC) had no room in LGB's new scheme - strictly my impression from what I have read - since, amongst various other issues (perceived, contrived and real) the LGBMRRC didn't see enough being offered by LGB to make it worth while for their members.
Since I'm a member of the BTOC and since I have read what is being offered by LGB for the US$ 56.00, I fully agree!

I have also bought a copy of the new English language "Depesche" and I'm far from impressed. I won't comment on the content , after all it is a mfgs periodical. However where I come from one could at least expect to get good translations of the articles which were originally penned in German. What they offer is Germlish!
Then again that isn't a surprise either, since the English speakers who use LGB equipment have received that same treatment in the LGB manuals for many years.

As Don mentioned the BTOC welcomes all Large Scale fans! Indoors , outdoors, collectors or whatever; they are all welcome regardless of which scale they fancy or whose items they buy. Some of us actually know that it is more than the high price which makes for a good model.

For those who are interested, the BTOC Forum is at
http://www.bigtrainoperator.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php and is called the Soapbox. Which is apt enough for a Large Scale forum.[;)][:)][:D]

PS Ooops I better add a disclaimer: I'm utterly biased and the above is strictly my opinion.
OTOH 75% of my rolling stock is carefully selected LGB Material, the percentage will decline as other mfgs offer better items which are to scale and as my kitbashed****nal grows.[}:)][:)][;)][}:)][:D]

OOOOPS#2 the stars above should read as a*r*s*e*n*a*l, the word ran afoul of the "expression police". [;)][;)][;)]

[Marty Cozad]

Rene, this is old news , where have you been.?

[Anonymous]

HJ,

I appreciate your comments and thoughts about the BTOC. [:)]

[Rene Schweitzer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

Rene, this is old news , where have you been.?

Marty,
The BTOC is old news--but the new LGB/membership club is new to me. . .or did word leak out about that too?[:0]

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rene S

QUOTE: Originally posted by Marty Cozad

Rene, this is old news , where have you been.?

Marty,
The BTOC is old news--but the new LGB/membership club is new to me. . .or did word leak out about that too?[:0]

Hi Rene,

The pre-pre-pre-announcement of that happened at the former LGBMRRC Mystic convention (Summer of 2004).

Of course the old LGBMMRC could never get a firm commitment of what would be included in the LGB Club goodies bag. And looking at what is in the goodies bag I'd say "HoHum".

Why, if the LGB quality and service are so outstanding, would one need an extended warranty?
There are several magazines on the market which are more informative i.e. they cover a much wider spectrum of the Large Scale scene than the "Depesche".

Those are just two examples.

[vsmith]

The straight poop from the LGBof A site....

The new, worldwide "LGB Club" was introduced at the Unconvention in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and response to the factory sponsored, benefit program for LGB fans was overwhelming. The red LGB Club pins were the hot item of the weekend, and in fact, by the end of the weekend, it appeared that every single family attending had signed up to become LGB Club members.

“We are thrilled by the very positive response to the LGB Club,” said Rolf Richter of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk. “It offers LGB fans around the world some very valuable benefits, and it compliments the social and human benefits of belonging to a local G-scale club.”

The LGB Club benefits include:
- a free, annual LGB catalog (and an all-new catalog is scheduled for 2006)
- a free LGB DEPESCHE subscription (including pro-rated conversion of your existing subscription, if any)
- the LGB TELEGRAM email newsletter
- the LGB Club News newsletter
- the opportunity to purchase exclusive LGB Club models (four LGB Club models are expected in 2006)
- annual club membership card
- access to the exclusive LGB Club web site, www.lgb-club.com (starting January 2006)
- discounted admission to selected model train shows
- discounted admission to selected museums
- discounts on official LGB TOURS (including trips to the big LGB Festival next year)
- discounted registration for courses at LGB Learning Centers
- extended warranty period–from two to five years–on LGB models
- an official LGB Club pin
- and more to come!

What do you pay for these benefits? $56 per year in North America. 56 Euros per year elsewhere around the world. The LGB Club application form is available online at www.lgb.com. Just go to that web address and click on the "LGB Club" button. The new club officially begins operation in January 2006 and memberships are offered on a calendar-year basis. (So your form will not be processed until the beginning of 2006.)

Personally I see this as a primaraly Euro offering (since thats where most of there market is) with no real advantage for me here on the West Coast. The events that do occur here like the Unconvention, are predominanly an East Coast event, as was the LGBMMRC seamed to me was majority east coast/mid-west affiliated.

How would these "benifits" affect me?
- a free, annual LGB catalog (and an all-new catalog is scheduled for 2006) got it already, for free at the iHobby Expo, the BIG coffe table version!
- a free LGB DEPESCHE subscription (including pro-rated conversion of your existing subscription, if any) cant read Germglish and its ALL one product oriented.
- the LGB TELEGRAM email newsletter same thing as above
- the LGB Club News newsletter same thing as above
- the opportunity to purchase exclusive LGB Club models (four LGB Club models are expected in 2006) too poor to buy 90% of their stuff as it is
- annual club membership card Oooohhh like thats a draw
- access to the exclusive LGB Club web site, www.lgb-club.com (starting January 2006)
already active here, on MRR , Trains.com, MLS, ....
- discounted admission to selected model train shows where? Stutgart?
- discounted admission to selected museums where? Stutgart?
- discounts on official LGB TOURS (including trips to the big LGB Festival next year) where? Stutgart?
- discounted registration for courses at LGB Learning Centers where? Stutgart?
- extended warranty period–from two to five years–on LGB models yet to have ANY trouble
- an official LGB Club pin Nice but like I'm going to wear this to the Opera?

Yes its a sarcastic look at it but its the same in terms of real practicallity. I'd be more interested in the BTOC if they are now open to model RR heretics like me but not so much the Red Box Brigade.[:D]

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

...........................................................

Yes its a sarcastic look at it but its the same in terms of real practicallity. I'd be more interested in the BTOC if they are now open to model RR heretics like me but not so much the Red Box Brigade.[:D]

Vic,

The BTOC is open to anyone who is interested in Large Scale, regardless of scale, gauge or manufacturer.

They also produce a magazine (normally four times a year - this year is not quite normal!), the editor is always looking for articles, pictures etc. etc.
I started a series of articles which compare different mfgs RhB goodies to the prototype.
So far I have been comparing LGB and KISS to the prototype, since BRAWA's first releases are just around the corner doing reviews will be even more interesting.
Of course I only review items that fit my era (1969-75) and since I buy the items from whichever dealer (no special discounts, no freebies and no selected goods) I'm sure I end up with the same products as every other customer in the country. No better, no worse.[;)][:)][;)]

Of course I also call it as I see it i.e. some of the readers have been surprised at the rigorous scale value gradations. Wellllllll, there are others who take a more "conciliatory approach", but I'm of the opinion that measurements don't white-wash anything.
And since I don't depend on advertising revenue.............. I kind of like it that way. [:)][:D][;)]

[Anonymous]

Fantastic.
56 euro (I've just noticed that my keyboard doesn't have a euro key.How sad! )
A free pin.
Access to the worst instructions known to mankind.
I think they can stick it where the Sun doesn't shine.
Even my Dad agrees.(and I think he keeps LGB going)

[Capt Bob Johnson]

From what I read here it sounds to me like that club is gonna be like a U-boat that had it's own torpedo circle around on it --- sunk!

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Bob Johnson

From what I read here it sounds to me like that club is gonna be like a U-boat that had it's own torpedo circle around on it --- sunk!

Bob,

Never fear!
There are enough "dyed in the wool" LGB fans out there who are perfectly willing to spend $56 - just keep an eye on how the bidding goes on LGB stuff on eBay.
Which is as it should be, for my part I'm happy to buy the occasional LGB item if the price/value relation is reasonable and the quality is what I would expect at that price point. Neither is a given with LGB, even if there are plenty of people who believe it is.

Since they moved some of their production to China things are not honky-dory in the quality department, perhaps that's where the "extended warranty" kicks in.[;)][;)]
But what gives one pause is the given reason for repatriating the Czech production to Nürnberg - Quality issues!!!
Hmmmmmmmmmm... since the Czech facility was practically in their backyard, but somewhat hard to handle, how will that work in far-off China? Or will those designers and QC people who have too many demerit points be sent to China for some "re-education" and first hand experience??[;)][:)][:D]

[Anonymous]

Lots of bad-mouthing of LGB and their new club here.

I think I'll join, and sign-up my brother-in-law, as well, since he's also an LGB enthusiast.

I used to belong to the earlier LGB club, and had some great times at a number of their national conventions. I certainly wi***he new BTOC well in their ventures, but probably would not want to join because of the condescending attitude toward LGB being displayed here. If the goal of the BTOC is to attract new members, it's probably much better to talk-up the advantages of such membership rather than disparage some other group.

LGB, along with Marklin, enjoys a worldwide market, and I'm quite confident the firm and it's products enjoys a much larger following than is represented in this predominantly sour-grapes thread.

[Anonymous]

Allan,

I have been a member of the LGB Model Railroad Club, Inc. since 1988 and was elected to the Board of Directors of the LGBMRRC in 2000. I have continued in my position as Eastern VP for the new Big Train Operator Club, Inc. and have decided to run again for that position in the BTOC.

I can state here with confidence that those who are running for the various positions on the new Board, and I have the list of candidates which will be published in our next issue of the Big Train Operator magazine, have no hard feelings against LGB or their representatives. I hope and welcome the participation by LGB and/or LGBoA to promote their products, submit articles on such things as their MTS system, for publication.

The negative opinions of the few, and trust me when I say it's the few, are not the opinions of the officials of the Big Train Operator Club, Inc. My goal, as an Officer of the BTOC, is to promote and propel our club forward and be a partner with all the other largescale websites, clubs and organizations, to promote the largescale hobby.

The motto of the Big Train Operator Club, Inc. is simple.....'Havin' Fun, Runnin' Trains!'

[Anonymous]

Well here I am living in paradise and i hardly understand anything that has been said about this new LGB club.

I belong to our club here in Australia which has tangible benfits to me,

ie
!/ a good club magazine that I canunderstand and relate too. It covers items I am interested in and about pople who are actually doing things (not sitting around talking about it or worse talking about not doing things)

2/ Good quality cheap club rail.

3/ A venue to publicise my own interests and experience, that do have some meaning.

Basically without talking about silly discounts that I can get anyway and pointless conventions.


Whats in it for me?

Rgds ian

[Bucksco]

Rene,
Thank you for posting the info about the new LGB consumer benefits club. I'm sure there are many LGB enthusiasts out there who will be interested.

Jack

[RhB_HJ]

Hmmmmmmmm actually more to do with evaluating what is offered for the US$56

And that those who are running for the BTOC BoD have no hard feelings is completely understandable. It also took the old board - many of the candidates are from that category - a very long time to wise up to what LGB was doing to the LGBMRRC.
In some cases it will take considerably more than the proverbial 2x4 or baseball bat to the head, for people to overcome years of indoctrination.
Of course that's just my opinion.

But I'm glad that the BTOC takes a different tack - or at least that's what was professed since Feb 5th 2005 - after all there is much more to large scale modeling than LGB. Just like there always was much more to HO modeling than Athearn.[;)][:)][;)]

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry HJ but I do not understand all the initials you have used what do they all meann and how do they apply to me, here in Paradise.

Rgds Ian

See we have summer for 6 months of theyear and it has got tobe good to get us away from the beach, drinking booze, getting a suntan , watching young girls etc.

[Anonymous]

I am dropping BTOC and not joining the new LGB club. I am also dropping a large scale club and another train mag. The cost and the clutter are too much. I have encough trains and stuff to keep me busy for another lifetime.

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

I'm sorry HJ but I do not understand all the initials you have used what do they all meann and how do they apply to me, here in Paradise.

Rgds Ian

See we have summer for 6 months of theyear and it has got tobe good to get us away from the beach, drinking booze, getting a suntan , watching young girls etc.

Welllllll greetings from the "Paradise with four seasons", we have a very nice summer climate here, no humidity and temps in the low to mid thirties. A very nice Fall with colours.
A S-U-P-E-R Winter i.e. we cross-country ski on the most consistent snow in Canada from November (sometimes even October) to mid April, don't have much snow to shovel at the town level.
And in the Spring it's really hard to decide if you keep skiing til the close or if you start riding the bike, wack away at golf or paddle the kajak/canoe etc. etc.

Now, I hope that we'll always get enough snow in the valley, I want to build a RhB steam rotary and actually use it. The RhB without decent snow-fighting equipment is not much of a Mountain Railway.

Oooooooh almost forgot to tell you, going out the back garden gate it is a short five minutes downhill hike to a super beach.



The Beach with crystal clear water





Behind the water-skier on the shore is the railbed used by the KPR and OVR

[Anonymous]

At first I was going to pass on joining the LGB Club as I did not see enough benefits to justify the price to me.

After thinking about it I decided to join because among other things it is the membership that truly determines the value of a club and of a forum.

I run a lot of trains made by a lot of different manufacturers and I joined several forums because it is nice to exchange ideas with folks who have used various products interchangeably.

I appreciate the comments by Dave Snow:

"I can state here with confidence that those who are running for the various positions on the new Board, and I have the list of candidates which will be published in our next issue of the Big Train Operator magazine, have no hard feelings against LGB or their representatives. I hope and welcome the participation by LGB and/or LGBoA to promote their products, submit articles on such things as their MTS system, for publication.

The negative opinions of the few, and trust me when I say it's the few, are not the opinions of the officials of the Big Train Operator Club, Inc. My goal, as an Officer of the BTOC, is to promote and propel our club forward and be a partner with all the other largescale websites, clubs and organizations, to promote the largescale hobby. "

Because of Dave I might be inclined to join BTOC. Previous comments by BTOC members that were derogatory about LGB were a strong deterrent to my wanting to join as it is no fun belonging to forums or clubs that seem to thrive on picking on someone or some company.

Negative comments about LGB here and on other forums are a primary reason why I am joining the LGB Club and will participate in the LGB Forum (as well as others).

I simply don't understand those who don't like LGB or don't want to join the club (for whatever reason) taking pleasure out of telling the world about what they perceive to be wrong with LGB (or Aristo or Bachmann or whatever).

Sour grapes are simply unappealing. I prefer things that make me feel good.

I can go downstairs anytime and run trains that have been sitting on sidings unused for a year or more, flip a switch and everything runs fine the first time. That makes me feel good. That is why I buy LGB. Other stuff is inconsequential to me.

With folks like Dave Snow and Jack Lynch and their positive attitudes I personally think the futures of BTOC and LGB are bright indeed.

I learned long ago that if you want to feel good, hang around with folks that make you feel good about what you are doing and avoid folks who bad mouth what you are doing.

Jerry

[RhB_HJ]

Hi there Jerry,

That is precisely the reason there are plenty of clubs, plenty of fora and more manufacturers as the years go by.

For my taste I don't need to belong to the LGB Club because they don't offer enough for my money. Someone mentioned the tours being an instant pay back; well only if you join the tours.
The only tour I've been on in recent memory is the "100 years - 100 hours RhB Tour" in 1989. Of course that was organized by the RhB, revolved around the RhB and most everyone on the tour was highly interested in the RhB.

Other than that I organize my own tour, stop where I find things of interest , get to talk with people who you wouldn't get to talk to on a tour etc. etc. etc.

But basically my point is: there is a lot more to Large Scale than LGB and pointing out that fact helps any and all of the newcomers. Especially those who step up from the smaller scales and really haven't "played" with trains in many years, like all those people who consider themselves model railroaders.
They simply wouldn't consider squeezing a GG-1 or a Mikado through the equivalent of a HO 7.5" radius.

[Anonymous]

Jerry,

I will look forward to seeing your name on my monthly new member list that I receive from our membership chairman.[;)] I've always looked at a half a glass of water and say that it was half full, rather then half empty[:)] Thank you for the kudo's[:I]

[Anonymous]

Okay, Dave, you have addressed my concerns and you can count on getting another member. I'll be happy to join the BTOC as well as the new LGB club. I'm always interested in gaining information from as many diverse sources as possible, so it sure can't hurt to join both groups.

I'm still having a hard time understanding the animosity some seem to feel toward LGB, at least as expressed on this and some other forums (as don the "Yes, Virginia, there is LGB at the North Pole" thread here, to cite just one example). LGB spurred the hobby of garden railroading in the U.S., has always offered high-quality products, and provides, along with Marklin, what I believe to be the best service of anyone in the Large Scale segment of the hobby. I'm just not sure what they might have done to earn the kind of treatment I see displayed by some participants here and elsewhere (obviously few in number, but quite vocal). I suppose that's why I use the term "sour grapes"--I can't logically attribute it to anything other than a "my brand is better" kind of mentality. I see enough of the "brand wars" kind of thing in O gauge, and really hate to see that small-minded perspective invade what has traditionally been the most friendly and accepting segment of model railroading.

[RhB_HJ]

Hey guys, it isn't that difficult, really!

The LGB Club - complete with "Members Only" forum - will be an advantage; fewer threads on other fora to explain the difference between gauge and scale, that not all DCC systems are created equal and that Code332 along with 600mm minimum radius is not mandatory in the garden.

As mentioned once or twice: as the "boomer wave" rolls on there will be plenty of model railroaders joining the Large Scale fraternity. If they will enjoy a relative regression to the "good old days" of the 60s and 70s - WOW look at the size of the rail and the flanges! Hey, this I call "sturdy detail", it is all molded right to the body! - remains to be seen, but I doubt it very much if the people I meet in shops and at shows are any indication.
It's hard to sell less proto-fidelity in Large Scale when the sheer size makes things that much easier. As always strictly my opinion.

BTW for those who suspect "sour grapes" in posts/threads; you want "sour grapes" go check out LGB's reaction at the 2005 Nürnberg Toy Fair when they discovered BRAWA's surprise. [;)][;)][;)]

[Anonymous]

Come of HJ I loved the scenery but what about explaining all the initials.

You know when I use words that I think all don't understand (i put a little explanation in brackets afterward) I think not to do so is not in the spirit of good communication. Just because something is familiar to you, it doesn't mean that others from the other side of the world have any idea what you are talking about.

Rgds Ian

[Curmudgeon]

Like Big Train Operators Club, and LGB Model Railroading Club, or what?

Good reading for those so inclined:

http://www.bigtrainoperator.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1154

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

Come of HJ I loved the scenery but what about explaining all the initials.

You know when I use words that I think all don't understand (i put a little explanation in brackets afterward) I think not to do so is not in the spirit of good communication. Just because something is familiar to you, it doesn't mean that others from the other side of the world have any idea what you are talking about.

Rgds Ian

Hey Ian,

If you followed this thread you must have come across the explanation to all those initials at least three times.

[Curmudgeon]

Follow?
Thread?
Oh.

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Curmudgeon

Follow?
Thread?
Oh.

Hey Dave,

Reading the different threads on the "North Pole adventure", I was waiting for someone to point out to you that one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar. [;)][;)]
Which is undoubtedly true, [:)][:)] what some of those who harp about the "negativity" conveniently forget is that apparently even more flies are caught / attracted by b*u*l*l*s*h*i*t.
But hey: "C'est la vie".[;)][:)][:D][:D]