Review lgb 20483 0-10-0

[stevedenver]

I received this locomotive a couple of days ago. It is my first standard production “expensive” LGB Marklin locomotive. Being a fellow that prefers narrow gauge, an 0-10-0t is about as large as I want to go, I think.

This Loco runs superbly, especially at slow speeds. Printing is crisp, while sparse i.e. the builders plates, special information, but it’s quite good. There are many individual parts;metal handrails, separate piping.coming down from the sandbox. The Locomotive has more of a fine scale look than many of the typical LGB models.

Otoh, its typically robust. Otoh, marklins decision not to glue certain parts, as lgb once did, can lead to parts becoming detached……fwiw.

There are two motors in this locomotive and 2 articulated drive wheel units. Each unit has a pick up shoe. While opinions differ, I love pick up shoes . they work well, and they prevent wheel pitting from micro arcing. The locomotive isnt as heavy as i would have expected.i havent tested its pulling power, yet.

 

[stevedenver]

As you can see this model has very small light fixtures ,quite different than the typical LGB. I’m a ‘light guy’ and I can report that these are very bright and have the correct color temperature to imitate a strong incandescent headlamp. The headlights are held on by a single prong. I don’t know how robust they are. I have yet to run it at night, so i dont know how much they actually light up the track. You can see from this photo the metal handrails on the smoke box as well as on the boiler.

My topmost front light arrived, factory fresh, bent slightly back and up.. while its seems to have recovered from my gently pushing it back down, imho, this is more and more common with the newer, white styrofoam packing being used.

Slow speed running is excellent in both DC and digital. The top speed is limited to what I would estimate as 30 mph. The sound is excellent and at higher speeds does not run together to sound like a motor boat. in DC operation, I have also found that there are random sounds, including coal shoveling and injector noises . Im not quite sure whether this is part of the program or just fluctuations in track current that trigger them

I’m new to digital operations. I recently bought a Marklin Central Station three, and I cannot express how pleased I am with this unit. I own about seven or 8 LGB/MFX equipped locomotives. The MFX feature is wonderful for those of us that are digital idiots.mfx allows the user to place the locomotive on the track and the central station does the rest, loading the address and the locomotives operational features. I must say, the idea of a ‘control tablet’ didnt appeal to me, ive come full circle. 2 loco operation is simple. The cs3 is beautifully done.

This locomotive has 32 digital functions. It includes a wonderful long whistle which is operated either digitally or by track magnet, bell l injectors, brake squeal, announcements, short whistle, and many others, various lighting options, including running gear lighting. While interesting, im not quite sure how i feel about it. It enhances a night loco maintenance scene, i guess. Not great ‘play value’ to this geezer.lol.

A really splendid feature is a volume pot, located under the sand box/dome lid. Thoughtful , and simple, for the non digital users.

Overall, this is also the most copious smoking locomotive I own. In digital mode, idling produces plumes of smoke, which only increases with the movement of the locomotive. This locomotive also has the new simulated cylinder exhaust. Typically , in videos I’ve seen, I’ve been unimpressed with this feature. It is not exactly realistic because of the lack of “pressure“ of the exhaust, but it is interesting when the locomotive is standing or moving very slowly.

 

[stevedenver]

One niggle I have with a locomotive is that the coal Bunker hatches do not close due to a rather pathetic imitation load of coal under each hatch. The coal load does not even fill the bunker chute area, edge to edge, but is rather a little cluster, which is unfortunately, the most unconvincing coal I’ve ever seen on an LGB locomotive. I briefly tried to remove the load insert pieces, but they seem secure. I’ll live with the open hatches.

The locomotive is shipped with two engineers, at least as i recall, the first I’ve seen of all the many LGB locomotives I own. It is shipped with the delicate brake hoses as separate parts to be applied by the owner. As you can see, I have not installed them, as I have had Issues with brake hoses on some of the newer Marklin made locomotives. (Saxon meyer kiv) Overall, they are more delicate in my experience.

The back head detail of this locomotive is OK but not superb. It has many of the typical molded gauges, piping, and controls, but with no painting or decals to highlight them. The firebox glow, however, is great.

Another interesting point on this locomotive is the very long power reverse rod that runs from the fourth driver forward. When I transport the locomotive, rather than staying straight, these slightly bend with the articulation of the motor units, I find this disconcerting, but luckily, the material that the rods are made out of are a softer, more flexible plastic than used in many of the older LGB locomotives.

Not shown, is a ladder which is supplied with this locomotive. It is curved and has two tiny metal hooks that are designed to fit on the grab iron by the smoke stack. As of writing this, I find that the ladder merely hangs, and there is no point of attachment to the cylinder, upon which it rests against. Thus, I’m leaving it in the Styrofoam packing .

another first for me, is that the steam chest pipes, which would normally be attached to the smoke box are not, and are basically a floating dummy. This allows them to pivot with the drive wheel motor unit While the locomotive is running it is virtually unnoticeable

I’m extremely pleased with this locomotive. The fact that I now have digital operation of it reveals the value of the higher cost of some of the recent Marklin offerings,imho. So much so, that despite owning seven US moguls, I am seriously contemplating the latest mogul release, Nevada Central, and buying a consist to go with it. The new smoke and sound features included by Marklin are, in my opinion, a great improvement.

Ive been happy with dc operation for my entire life. Digital has entirely changed my perception.

 

[MaybachMD]

Thanks. Very interesting comments. I have a VIX from the very first release which is very similar. It is very robust and still runs well after many years use. I was very tempted by this, but decided I could not justify spending so much so cancelled my pre order.

 

[stevedenver]

Thank you.

I really want(ed) the 1st version in green. Still do. I have a particular fondness for Sachsen/KPEV equipment. Theres one in Germany for $2300 us. Just can’t bring myself to do it. In part, given marklins parts/support, i am a bit reluctant about the higher price offerings, should i need a parts a few years in the future. Yet, i decided to try one.

You’re right, they are pricey.
Otoh, im thinking ill buy the latest us mogul and matching cars. This mfx stuff is pretty wonderful. Adds quite a bit of animation to operating.
Add yet more to the embarrassment of ‘train stuff’……lol.

 

[MaybachMD]

I had the new model on pre-order but cancelled it. I have to accept that I have more than enough all ready and accept the limitations of my wallet.

All my German engines are black. I like the 60s/70s, dirty black engines and faded green coaches. My VIK is quite a few years old now. It has run a few miles but still works well. I have added some details over the years. It is behind the Meyer in my profile picture. It features in this video:

I have moved now, none of that line exists any more, I salvaged all the track for the new railway I am building.

 

[stevedenver]

I too like black locos and iron oxide and dark green equipment.
Those colors are what i try to stick to with my US narrow gauge, for a bit more subtlety against the garden.

You have some wonderful,pieces. To my knowledge, unavailable over this side of the pond.

Me, i love everything, indiscriminately, but, i have a particular affection for dark green prussian a nd bavarian locos. Ah, US Southern Railway too.

 

[tac foley]

The reason why it is nothing like the LGB models of the 'all-plastic' era is that it was designed by the same team of model engineers who come up with the wondrous Gauge 1 stuff we've been seeing over the last few years. Mostly metal, like the new Shay, they are chalk and cheese to the plastic stuff.

The FO snow plough was theirs, as is the odd-looking tram thing, as well as the lovely all-metal 'Heidi'/'Thusis' - six of which were on sale at the Llangollen show....