stevedenver
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If my pics dont display in the body of the post, please DOUBLE CLICK for full size image. (They were here, now i see only frames.
This is a review of LGB 24742 digital spreewald in the DEV livery, first release,( sans power buffer offered in the soon-to- be-released 24743 version.)
This comes in a wooden case part of LGB‘s “G whiz, how exxxcloosive “ limited edition trade dress. It also comes with a nice little pamphlet about the history of the locomotive.
Most noteworthy is a roof with ‘box cupola’, slightly darker green on the new version, darker red, a different roof profile, the air pump moved to the fireman side of the locomotive, as well as a steam generator, corrected buffer shape (at some periods they were all black, others, with white edging) and makers plate on the brake pump. Also, if you look closely, there is a slight difference in placement of the side windows, relative to the handrail further, the metal plates on the newer version are slightly more deeply etched than the originals. This gives them an added bit of contrast and sparkle. oh boy!
The new version has no “eyelids“ over the oval cab windows. It does, however, have a very pleasant black outline of the windows.
The decks of the newer version are painted black instead of one solid green of the older version. The tank decks have a loco jack on each.
Also now black are the steps to the cab door. Further, there is no brass cab/throttle linkage to the steam dome on the newer version as there was in the original version. The 24742 configuration is true to the prototype in its current configuration.
Both versions are somewhat accurate in that the change in the roof occurred sometime after the early 70s. For what it’s worth the “Cupola“ on the newer version roof is simply cosmetic. It houses nothing nor is there a corresponding indentation in the cab roof. The cabin interiors are identical.
One pleasant surprise on the new version, is that it has synchronized smoke, (no cylinder smoke). In reading every description of this locomotive i could find on line, including the lgb site, none indicated that it had synchronized smoke. It smokes very well, and is significantly lighter in weight than the older LGB versions. Id guess about half as heavy. Slow speed operation is excellent. Also, IMHO, the Marklin use of pale light gray plastic for the drive rod assembly is less appealing than the older metallic LGB version.
To my eye, proportionally, this locomotive looks like the prototype photos.
After comparing the new version to the photographs in the pamphlet, there are a few niggles. First , on the engineer’s side of the smoke box, the sheeting should be smooth. The model, however, retains the old mold marks of ‘brackets’ which are vestiges of the old brake pump placement. the piping has not changed, and corresponds with that of the original model. Its not accurate. This isn’t surprising given the cost of molds. The brass smoke box door on the original is, erroneously, eliminated on the newer, and replaced with a black version, i assume to give it a more distinctive , albeit non-prototypical appearance. the new lanterns are accurate.
The model has approximately 16 functions (I haven’t counted). These are relatively sparse compared to some of the newer offerings; whistles, bell, smoke, cab, light headlights, announcement, coal shoveling, brakes, etc..
I was lucky enough to find this in new condition from a US vendor on fleabay. Other than a missing black headlamp bezel, it appears new, never run, and was 50% off retail! While I have an original green spreewald , as well as the LGB DR version in all black, I am delighted to have this. It’s much more fun to run . on the other hand, I found it struggling to manage a 3% grade with two 2 axle box cars and an old 3019 postal car with old style electrical contact brushes..
Here are pics in mid February, sunny, 65f! Yoiks.
This is a review of LGB 24742 digital spreewald in the DEV livery, first release,( sans power buffer offered in the soon-to- be-released 24743 version.)
This comes in a wooden case part of LGB‘s “G whiz, how exxxcloosive “ limited edition trade dress. It also comes with a nice little pamphlet about the history of the locomotive.
Most noteworthy is a roof with ‘box cupola’, slightly darker green on the new version, darker red, a different roof profile, the air pump moved to the fireman side of the locomotive, as well as a steam generator, corrected buffer shape (at some periods they were all black, others, with white edging) and makers plate on the brake pump. Also, if you look closely, there is a slight difference in placement of the side windows, relative to the handrail further, the metal plates on the newer version are slightly more deeply etched than the originals. This gives them an added bit of contrast and sparkle. oh boy!
The new version has no “eyelids“ over the oval cab windows. It does, however, have a very pleasant black outline of the windows.
The decks of the newer version are painted black instead of one solid green of the older version. The tank decks have a loco jack on each.
Also now black are the steps to the cab door. Further, there is no brass cab/throttle linkage to the steam dome on the newer version as there was in the original version. The 24742 configuration is true to the prototype in its current configuration.
Both versions are somewhat accurate in that the change in the roof occurred sometime after the early 70s. For what it’s worth the “Cupola“ on the newer version roof is simply cosmetic. It houses nothing nor is there a corresponding indentation in the cab roof. The cabin interiors are identical.
One pleasant surprise on the new version, is that it has synchronized smoke, (no cylinder smoke). In reading every description of this locomotive i could find on line, including the lgb site, none indicated that it had synchronized smoke. It smokes very well, and is significantly lighter in weight than the older LGB versions. Id guess about half as heavy. Slow speed operation is excellent. Also, IMHO, the Marklin use of pale light gray plastic for the drive rod assembly is less appealing than the older metallic LGB version.
To my eye, proportionally, this locomotive looks like the prototype photos.
After comparing the new version to the photographs in the pamphlet, there are a few niggles. First , on the engineer’s side of the smoke box, the sheeting should be smooth. The model, however, retains the old mold marks of ‘brackets’ which are vestiges of the old brake pump placement. the piping has not changed, and corresponds with that of the original model. Its not accurate. This isn’t surprising given the cost of molds. The brass smoke box door on the original is, erroneously, eliminated on the newer, and replaced with a black version, i assume to give it a more distinctive , albeit non-prototypical appearance. the new lanterns are accurate.
The model has approximately 16 functions (I haven’t counted). These are relatively sparse compared to some of the newer offerings; whistles, bell, smoke, cab, light headlights, announcement, coal shoveling, brakes, etc..
I was lucky enough to find this in new condition from a US vendor on fleabay. Other than a missing black headlamp bezel, it appears new, never run, and was 50% off retail! While I have an original green spreewald , as well as the LGB DR version in all black, I am delighted to have this. It’s much more fun to run . on the other hand, I found it struggling to manage a 3% grade with two 2 axle box cars and an old 3019 postal car with old style electrical contact brushes..
Here are pics in mid February, sunny, 65f! Yoiks.
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