The LGB Collector - A Lifetime Story

The following is a translation of "The LGB Collector", an article by H.-Jürgen Neumann from Spring 2006. Mr. Neumann published it in his own IIm-Online News web page. You can read the original article  at http://www.lgb-much.de/20406.pdf and use a Google translation or similar. To avoid mixing-ups in context with Yours Truly you will find "(HJN)", the abbreviation for H.-Jürgen Neumann,  in places were the original author refers to himself since the article is about his lifelong journey being a dyed-in-the-wool LGB fan.

The LGB Collector - German American Friendship

- I dedicated this report to Mr. Wolfgang Richter! - Thank you! - (HJN)

Anniversary set commemorating the 10th anniversary of the American BTO-LGB Clubs in 1988. It contains a 2010D loco and three coaches in white with commemorative labeling.  On the rear side the loco has a brass plate displaying engraved initials (of the owner) and his/her club member number - in this case H-J N 1087-. Limited edition of 500. It came in a white box, made in USA, printed labeling, and individual (clubmember) names handwritten by Alfred Lenz, back then (in 1988) the president of the BTO clubs. I (HJN) received this trainset in person while attending the anniversary convention in Pittsburgh. That's not the only reason why it means so much to me but also because of the many friendships with American LGB Friends.

The LGB Collector - a very personal story
When in 1972 I (HJN) saw LGB for the very first time I was 23 years old, was moved to Siegen (about 60 miles east of Cologne/West Germany) by my employer and found myself one day in the toy department "Mehr am Markt" in Siegen. If you took the stairs to the 2nd floor and turned right there was a corner reserved for the Lehmann Big Train. There you would get everything that was manufactured back then; and they still offered rail road vehicles from the very first years with locomotives carrying Heuler motors. All items were subject to price maintenance. I remember very well that when I asked for a price discount for a pretty dusty green U-series loco the salesman had to go and call the LGB factory first to get permission to do so. That's how it used to be! If you come to think  about some of the price wars fought in later years - that early systems wasn't that bad--- in any case there were enough dealers carrying LGB. Even the "Globus" department store (compare to a SuperTarget) offered LGB. And while doing the weekly grocery shopping we regularly bought one car. Everything was so much less expensive then. Even the "Handelshof" (think Cosco concept) as a cash&carry market offered the Lehmann Big Train. I remember exactly the incident where the small, completely blue E-loco(s) LGB# 2031 were piled up high in that store because that color compared to her 'prettier' sister (engines) wasn't favored enough (by buyers). Today (2006) this loco is one of the most wanted and most valuable of her time! That's how it is sometimes...

Back then one was not an LGB collector. One just went and bought all trains, locos and cars that came out as far as your financial means let you. Most probably almost always every started (the hobby) with a starter set. Me too! Then came the various cars and track material. I remember very well the February deadline for the contest by Lehmann for the prettiest indoor layout. Another contest for outdoor layouts had already been done two years ago. This time - of course - I wanted to participate and set up my layout on the floor of my rented apartment, round-about in the living room with a pass-track to the kitchen and into the bedroom. See layout blueprint below.....

+++++++++++++++++to be continued++++++++++++++++++++++++++++