… and possibly dropped by the LGBoA booth: Did you get a chance to ask how the USRA 0-6-0 Switcher project is coming along?
HJ,
you are like a bulldog - you never let go (not that it is a problem).
Alas, I did not. It took me long enough to find the LGBoA booth, but since it was located right next to the Accucraft booth, I was much more interested in how the EBT 2-8-2 project was coming along :). The 2-year-old 0-2-0 I had doubleheading with me kept me from standing in any one spot too long, so the best I could do was take a quick cursory glance at the LGBoA booth. Didn’t see any names on name tags I recognized, so we kept moving back towards the Starbucks. (The particular 0-2-0 let it be known that she preferred to be fired by strawberry cream frappacinos, so we made more than one stop at that water tower.)
Later,
K
I mentioned the 0-6-0 a few months ago, “It’s kinda sad for the LGBoA boys. They had a bit of buzz going for the USRA 0-6-0 last year and that project seems to have withered on the vine.” in this post - http://cs.trains.com/forums/1367803/ShowPost.aspx
and Jack Lynch’s response was "LGB of America’s representatives were at the Nurnberg Toyfair negotiating a 2008 distribution agreement with Marklin. We are hoping to have something signed by the end of February. That’s it- simple as that. Once an agreement is reached we (LGBoA) can place an order for any US product we would like.
I’m sure the 0-6-0 will be produced by LGB. That is who would have originally produced it."
Yeah right!
-Brian
"The 2-year-old 0-2-0 I had doubleheading with me kept me from standing in any one spot too long, so the best I could do was take a quick cursory glance at the LGBoA booth. Didn’t see any names on name tags I recognized, so we kept moving back towards the Starbucks. (The particular 0-2-0 let it be known that she preferred to be fired by strawberry cream frappacinos, so we made more than one stop at that water tower.) "
Kevin,
I have a 2 year old also and any time we are near the Starbucks around here we must get one also. What is it with those Strawberry Frappacinos?
Todd Siddle
Brian,
Thanks for the link, how could I have missed that one?
As the old song goes “You don’t always get what you want”, even less so if you think that as the buyer/potential distributor you’re at the end with the clout. And it all takes money, 
especially the real R&D which isn’t done by kitbashing a few Off-the-shelf items and calling it “suitable for G”. Looks like that 0-6-0 could be produced when LGBoA (or the successor company) arrives at terms that are suitable to them. 
:lol: :lol:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:Why the interest, Hans? You gonna buy one?
.... and possibly dropped by the LGBoA booth: [b]Did you get a chance to ask how the USRA 0-6-0 Switcher project is coming along?[/b]
j
JB
I’m always interested to find out how projects that were announced with much fanfare -
Model Railroader said:
Feb 14, 2007
LGB of America to announce new U.S.-prototype items later this year"First, we want to thank all of you for your patience as we work through the issues related to the problems at E.P. Lehmann in Germany. Because the situation is sensitive, we have been hesitant to make any public statement, but we know that you are more than just customers, you are members of the LGB family. So we are writing to keep you informed of the latest developments at E.P. Lehmann and here at LGB of America.
"We learned today that Mr. Schöntag, the announced buyer of E.P. Lehmann, has been unable to secure bank financing to complete the purchase. Although we believe that another buyer or investor will be found, this is an extremely difficult situation for our many friends at Lehmann, and we wish them all the best.
"However, LGB will live and thrive, with or without Lehmann. Here is the key: LGB of America owns the trademark and marketing rights for LGB for the entire world except Germany, and we are working hard to ensure that the production of LGB products – with all the quality you expect from LGB – continues long into the future.
"There will be delays in announcing new products this year, but there will be new products, including a new American-prototype loco that we believe you’ll be very excited about. We do expect short-term shortages of some items, but we do expect to have ample supply of those items in the future. We’ll continue to ship from our warehouse in New Jersey, and we’ll continue to provide service from San Diego. In short, the LGB family has a new home at LGB of America.
"[M]eanwhile, we’re adding new rooms to that home. When LGBoA gained its independence in August, we said we would look for other quality products for our customers. For example, we are already shipping the new PIKO “Taurus” G-scale loco[motive], and you can be sure there will more announcements of new lines in the coming days and months.
“I know the road has been and will be bumpy, but the support we have received from you has given us the strength to overcome all kinds of obstacles. Together, we are family, and together, we are LGB.”
© 2007 Kalmbach Publishing
It is always interesting to have a little retrospective, especially concerning statements made by people who have been known to make grandiose announcements.
On that switcher: you never know, a little tiny switcher like that would look OK on a switching layout.
I started reading the forums a couple years back partly due to my interest in the LGB story. This is the only way to get any information, factual or speculative, about the behind the scenes action. I recall talking to an LGB distributor at a show, and he was very defensive. Apparently he was on a first name basis with the principles in Germany, and he was certain this was just a “bank reorganization”. That conversation alone was enough to tell me much more was going on. Everything I’ve learned with any real basis seems to come from the forums.
Kevin and Todd: When my daughter was two, she went through that strawberry phase too. Now, at five, it’s all about CHOCOLATE!
HJ: Someday I hope to build a real model railroad with hand laid track, and multiple locations for running realistic freight and passenger operations. In the meantime I will have to settle for basic switching layouts. So that 0-6-0 would fit right in on my track.
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/0-6-0paint2.JPG)
I got tired of waiting, like waiting for someone to make a Class A Climax…
Vic, with the right girl anything is possible.
LAO
(http://www.davidpitlyuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/dorasiq2.jpg)
Now Now Now, None of that, Dirty mind, dirty thoughts ya know…D I ment this kind of Climax you zagnut! 
(http://gold.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Class%20A%20final%203.jpg)
HJ,
the interview with big Tony had method of payment as the reason negotiations had not reached an amicable conclusion. Is it possible that under the secret handshake arrangement, that no payments had been made previously and this is why payment is now a problem. One cannot be amazed at the massive wharehousing that apparently took place in that far off land when it was thought that a certain manufacturer was going under. The recipient of that venerable benefactor still has lots of items wharehoused and is now in a position to reap the rewards - another firesale selloff or cash in on the unavailability of the product on the mainland. All very cryptic but you get my drift. Maybe they are not used to paying for what they receive?
Vic,
I know what a wingnut is, but what is a zagnut… a graduate of GnoZAGa University?
BTW, nice org… er… Climax!
Tim,
That warehousing situation has - as far as certain info indicates - come to the attention of those who take more than just a passing interest in such matters.
As far as terms of payment are concerned … well, I seem to remember that Märklin had a period of two weeks set aside for them to do due diligence prior to submitting their bid (the second time on the merry-go-round!). What are the chances that the terms offered are directly related to what was noted during that period and the interim since then?
It’s a bitch when you used to have a sweetheart deal and the new owners give you the terms that are customary in the industry. You could call that a lack of confidence; quite often that stems from someone trying to con you.
Zagnuts was one of my cousins favorite munchies. He would have a few boxes in his house.
LAO