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"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.

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The LGB brand and concept was the brainchild of two brothers, Eberhard and Wolfgang Richter back in 1968. They literally started a revolution in garden and outdoor railroading with their robust and weather resistant products. Quality materials such as BASF Luran-S, Vestilene and Mercedes-quality paint made these plastic trains super durable. Unfortunately, Eberhard would have an untimely passing in 1984. Rolf, Wolfgang's son, who was trained as an attorney, had stepped into the family business and along with his cousin, Johannes Richter, became the third member of the family business located on Saganer Strasse in Nurnberg. Through the guidance of this family triumverate, LGB products continued to evolve both in quality and variety over several decades. In 2009, Rolf Richter unfortunately died in an auto accident at age 54, leaving a wife and four children behind! Just three years later in 2012, Wolfgang would pass, leaving  Johannes as the sole family member at the helm. By that time, economic forces in Germany were not as favorable for a high-end toy company like LGB, which had been a very successful family business for several decades and there would be several important economic changes that would eventually lead to Marklin's stewardship and principle production moved to Hungary. Still high quality, but no longer a beloved family business with German-made products. Sad.

Last edited by Tinplate Art
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The original LGB were awesome trains, loved their catalogs. They are still "good" today, but they have changed.  What's worse is I haven't seen any new American offerings in YEARS.  Mostly re-paints of old tooling.   2-6-0 Mogul, 2-4-4 or 0-4-4 Forney, Christmas Trolley, Grizzly Flats Chloe,  F7s, Rail truck, Handcar, and the orig WP&Y diesel That's it

Piko G equipment is decent, but again offerings are VERY limited and not even close to scale.

Aristo is gone

The only players are USA Trains and MTH and Bachmann (limited items, all narrow gauge and a mix of 1:24 & 1:20)

 

 

Last edited by Casey_Jones

I discovered LGB when I got into large scale almost thirty years ago.  Bought the 2019 Lake George and Boulder Mogul.  That thing ran like a champ.  It was my only loco for some time, as it was rather expensive in 1992, $275.00.  I ran it so much one of the side rods wore out at the attachment to the wheel.  LGB of America repaired it free of charge, because it was within the five year warranty period.  Not only did they install all new side rods, but replaced the original motor block wheels and all and replaced all of the lamps.  

LGB of America was located in San Diego and I'm on the east coast.  The whole process, sending it to them, the repair time and receiving it back took maybe a month.  

 

Wolfgang Richter was a personal friend, and I saw him on a number of occasions during his visits to the U.S. Also knew Rolf Richter. Their firm produced what I still regard as the most durable and reliable trains made in any scale, and I still have a number of the original LGB items as well as some of the newer trains made in association with Marklin. I don't have a place to run them at the present time (or to build the numerous G gauge structure kits I have), but hope to be able to change that situation at some point.

My first encounter with LGB was at a TCA meet here in Nashville, TN in 1978. I then purchased the typical starter set (sans power pack) with the red/green/black Stainz plus the two red/beige and blue/beige coaches. I also purchased an extra Tucher Bier wagon at that time. It was loads of fun, and I soon added more track and electric switches plus more engines and cars, and I was hooked, and still am. Their early catalogs were beautifully illustrated and enticing!

Last edited by Tinplate Art

Having had previous experience with Gilbert Flyer, postwar Lionel, prewar Lionel standard gauge, HO and some MARX, the immersion into der welt of LGB was a great experience! Rugged, beautifully decorated, smooth running 7 pole motors, weather proof with reliable Seuthe smoke units, and a realistic scale/gauge ratio for Euro 750mm and 1000mm prototypes was a refreshing change from my other brand encounters!

Michael: I know that the current Marklin/LGB digital electronics and sound systems are labeled made in Germany, while all the Marklin/LGB engines and rolling stock I have recently owned were labeled Hungarian production. I do not know the current disposition of the Saganer Strasse factory buildings in Nuremberg. Some LGB replacement parts (made by a third party supplier) that I have received were also labeled made in Germany.

Last edited by Tinplate Art

It is my understanding that all LGB production now comes out of the Marklin factory in Gyor, Hungary. I was fortunate to visit a couple of years ago before it went through a  major upgrade/enlargement. They had a small store for employees and visitors and were very welcoming. One advantage with Gyor is that product has almost no shipping time for the European market, unlike China.

Miketg

I previously owned two high-end LGB RhB coaches made in Hungary (each $350 retail) and they were the same high quality as original LGB production. I currently own only original LGB engines and rolling stock produced in Nuremberg. On different occasions, I once had two LGB/Aster "Frank S" live steam locos, which were great fun to steam up!

Last edited by Tinplate Art

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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