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LGB Motive Power

The legendary LGB, ahh what a story. Now in the middle of it's "second" bankruptcy in 2009, who knows what will happen.

Legendary quality (at least the stuff made in Germany), and workmanship.

 

Link to adding decoder to track cleaning loco:

http://www.beathis.ch/lgb/20670/20670_e.html

 

Nice page on pulling apart a Stainz and putting in other decoders

http://atw.huebsch.at/modell/g-spur/LGB_Stainz.htm

 

Finding documentation: a tip from Wendell Hanks:

On the Big Train World Netherlands website at www.bigtrainworld.com, click "LGB onderdelen Database" (left side on home page) listed are over 100 LGB loco exploded parts diagrams listed by LGB locomotive numbers.

http://fgb-berlin.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=49〈=en

Another database I found:

http://www.gartenbahn.at/index.php?menuid=44

 

Champex-Linden:  http://www.champex-linden.de/  select "Sortimentsinfo LGB" on the menu on the left side.

You can eventually get to the LGB databank: http://www.champex-linden.de/lgb_produktdatenbank_d-e/produkt.nsf/bede3443927b513dc125691c0045fb8718dd.html?OpenView

 

Another is "GBDB" http://www.gbdb.info/index.php?l=english

yet another: http://www.bigtrainworld.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_rokdownloads&view=folder&Itemid=60

 

Light bulbs

You can usually determine the voltage of an LGB bulb by the base:

  • screw threaded base - 18 volts
  • twin leads & a flat top - 5 volts
  • twin leads & a rounded top - 24 volts

DCC for LGB locos

Many people have questions about converting these locos to DCC or other systems.

Many of the latest locos will have a DCC decoder in them, but it's usually the crippled LGB system, 14 speed steps only, and limited capability.

The newer units that are "DCC ready" often have a 10 pin header on the "main board" that interconnects lights, motors, etc.

You can buy a 10 pin connector from All Electronics, CON-2410:

 

From the top:

Black - PWR - (outside black 1st location on connector)

Black - GND - (inside black 2nd location on connector)

Purple- Front light (other connectors have had a white wire here)

Gray - Motor +

Brown - Track +

Blue - Track -

Green - Motor -

Yellow - Rear light

Orange - F2 - (not used for QSI)

Red - F1 -  (not used for QSI)

Typical connections to LGB tender:

 

 

 

 

 

Some earlier locos have a motor block with 4 pins, so you can split up the track from the motor, see the LGB Acela.

Even earlier, it's often that the motor block only has 3 pins. Internally, one motor lead is connected to a track pickup. These have to be pulled apart, and the connection between the motor and the track separated, and a wire attached to that lead.

 

Quick notes in disassembling an LGB 2-6-0 Mogul:

The cab roof comes off with 3 screws, 2 in front, one in back.

The boiler section that is inside the cab comes of with 4 screws from underneath. The air cylinders underneath may have to be pulled off, normally the glue just gives way.

You should able to slide the cab back away from the rest of the boiler.

Remove the 2 brass handrails on either side of the boiler. There are two small screws underneath to remove the boiler.

I believe you pull the boiler forward to clear the circuit board.

 

Notes on the Unitah Mallet:

Per Kevin Strong, the "scale" of this loco as compared to the prototype is:

"around 1:24 in terms of length, 1:23 in terms of height, and 1:30 in terms of width"

 

LGB Lights

If the bulb is a screw in version it is 18 volts.
If the bulb has twin leads and a flat top, it is 5 volts
If the bulb has twin leads and a rounded top, it is 24 volts.