Early LGB battery-operated train sets and accessories

[SevenOfDiamonds]

Hi Guys

As "light relief" from the serious (!!!) matter of garden railways, a little while ago I managed to aquire the chassis and diesel cab (engine bonnet missing) of an early LGB battery-operated loco (1981 cataloge suggests product number 209 (though it has "START" and "20601" on the underside) . . .

. . .

You just put two D cells into the battery holder, and push the lever protruding from the right hand side air tank forwards or backwards for the loco to go in that direction. The chassis and wheels are red, the cab is green. I've added an orange engine bonnet that I had spare, so it's now something of a "harlequin" colouring, fitting in very well with my idea of "light relief"!

I have now managed to acquire a pair of the Change Over Units . . .



. . . (product 130, but also included in Set 300, which featured a steam loco with the same basic chassis), that can be set in any of four positions, to . . .

• let the loco pass (in either direction)
• stop the loco and make it go the other way (seemingly, whichever way the loco approaches)
• stop the loco (whichever direction it approaches from)
• stop the loco (if it is going in a particular direction)

Unfortunately, I do not have any LGB all-plastic track to fit these Change Over Units to, and the gap between sleepers on the standard brass-railed LGB track is not wide enough. When I get "a round tuit" I'll probably butcher some standard LGB track but the alternative is to try to source some LGB all-plastic track (any thoughts?).



I suppose my question here is whether anyone else has already gone down this road . . . and whether the "amusement factor" lasts long enough to make the effort worthwhile.

Cheers

David

PS The 1981 catalogue describes these items as being suitable for those "between 3 and 12" but I'm not sure if that's shoe size (tick), hat size (tick), or IQ level (you decide).

 

[PhilP]

Could you cut the web between sleepers, and ease them apart?

I would think that should work?

PhilP.

 

[Gizzy]

I had a battery Klein Dicke for a while, but I since sold it on. It came with 2 bright yellow feldbahn wagons which I painted brown, also now sold on....

 

[Dan]

If you have brass track, myself I would be tempted to just use the LGB powered tender (non sound version) and push the diesel loco. The coal or wood plastic can be removed.

 

[Zerogee]

I know this is an 18-month-old thread, but I missed it the first time round (had quite a long period of not being active on the forums, for various reasons) - David, did you ever get yourself sorted with any LGB plastic track?

Just wondering, as I have a small box of it that is surplus to requirements (some curves, straights, a couple of points I think) if you're still looking for some after all this time...?

Jon.

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

David, did you ever get yourself sorted with any LGB plastic track?

Hi Jon

No, never did. I did take a file to some Bachmann plastic track, to widen the gap between sleepers and while the switch units now fit between the sleepers, I found I would need to cut a tang off the switch unit (or try to re-profile the rail foot on the Bachmann track) to make it secure. Being reluctant to do either, I've left that project on the back burner for now.

I always had in mind that I could set up a short end-to-end track underneath our exhibition layout, with the loco and a wagon or two just popping out from time to time to surprise the visitors.

Feel free to drop me a private message with what you have, and what you'd want for it.

Best wishes

David