Restoration

Why is Restoration necessary or important?

After the original old LGB closed in 2006 maintenance became quite difficult for at least 10 years Today, under Maerkin, LGB is again manufacturing new locos and cars and offering spare parts, but in a somewhat restricted fashion. A new LGB however revived the demand for old original LGB locos, increasing the collector's and market value of those old original LGB engines and trains. Restoration of LGB locos and cars is again making a come-back thus reinstating condition, value, looks, and operation-ability for these fine and highly collectible model trains.

Models like the Uintah, Mikado, Mallet, Mogul, F 7 See-through, Forney, Alco-Diesel, older Street Cars or the Crocodile Ge 6/6, older Stainz locos, Ballenberg or U-Series are becoming collectible again and their owners seek to restore what time and operation have done in damage over the years and decades.

Values of LGB locos have increased greatly over the past 2 years fueled by the fact that new hobbyists and LGB fans are entering the market. A slew of new G-Scale dealers entered the market as well. And last but not least new G-Scale Garden Clubs opened their layouts to the public generating new friends and fans after years of silence.

All the more important is has become to preserve, maintain and/or restore what is left from the past. Thankfully enough, the love for LGB has not diminished but grown among the true LGB fans and with the quantities once sold into the US market we will see a sound volume of locos to be traded; either from those who want to quit the hobby due to old age to those who want to enhance their collection or to those wanting to start a fine, fine new hobby.

(Technical) Restoration of your LGB locos and/or cars restores the value of your loco. The older your LGB loco is or the longer it has been operating on your layout the more she benefits from a restoration by Klaus.

Restoration Benefits:
loco will be technically in new condition
Loco runs great and sound, smoker, lights, couplers are fully functioning
loco is more fun to operate
loco wheels will look great again
loco value is restored and/or improved beyond initial purchase price (depending on type and edition size)
Notable Successful Restorations

2025 Forney

1980 Anniversary Girardot

French Mikado

2018 Mogul First Series

Restoration Scope
Klaus restores LGB locomotives and cars in complete compliance with the Old Original German LGB standards. These standards were co-developed by Klaus while he consulted LGB Lehmann Patentwerk in product improvement. And while Klaus worked in close co-operation with Günter Ruhland, the General Mold Master LGB.

All spare parts used in restoration work are either Original LGB spare parts or - if those Original parts are no longer available on the market - are re-engineered by Klaus according to old LGB standards. While restoring a locomotive the loco is generally completely disassembled, thoroughly cleaned with specialty cleaner to restore as much as possible of the Original appearance and looks of the loco. Wear & tear parts are replaced, paint damages restored with paint that chemically matches the plastic the loco was made of.

While restoring an LGB locomotive the wiring is checked. Where faulty wiring due to unprofessional work led to (previously resulting) shorts or failure-prone wiring, all wiring is completely redone according to Original German Standard LGB wiring.

DCC installations like digital sound installations or digital driving decoders include rewiring and sometimes slight modifications to the Original "inner life" of the LGB loco.

It is Klaus' utmost goal to (#1) keep your LGB trains running and (#2) to maintain the collector's value of your LGB loco/car.

In rare cases Klaus might advise to leave a loco untouched to preserve the collector's value rather than installing sound or switching to DCC operation.

Damages done by improper packaging are usually very costly to repair. Locos that Klaus has received in improper packaging are then specialty-packed and charged by Klaus upon return.
within the box nor inside the package the box is transported in. Run a tape around the Styrofoam shells to prevent them from opening. In case the shells opened for just a fraction of an inch the loco will get a chance to move inside the Styrofoam resulting in transport damage. In case you do not have the original packaging anymore wrap the engine in four or five revolutions of large bubble wrap and place the engine in a fairly larger box filled with flakes. Do NOT trust commercial services to pack the engine for you. Klaus has seen too much damage occurring because of their 'work'.

Damages done by improper packaging are usually very costly to repair. Locos that Klaus has received in improper packaging are then specialty-packed and charged by Klaus upon return.

For further information and advice call Klaus at 770-886-6670 or email at klaus@traincraftbyklaus.com