7.29.09 - New LGB Center Flow Hopper Arrives
Today we took delivery of the newest piece of rolling stock on the layout, an LGB 40820 Santa Fe center flow hopper. Pushing 20 inches in length, the hopper is reportedly close to 1:29 scale, the same as our relatively new LGB Amtrak rolling stock and as our Aritsocraft pieces. The hopper has opening loading and unloading hatches for each of the three storage compartments. We hope to have a picture- and detail-filled Rolling Stock Library entry for the hopper online soon, along with an entry for our USA Trains Moosehead Ale refrigerator car.
In other Rolling Stock Library news, the Stainz entry has a new, better, and bigger picture.
7.20.09 - LGB Launches New Website
Coincidentally, just as we relaunched our website, LGB has relaunched theirs. Rolled out two years after Marklin bought the assets of Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk, the new LGB website replaces what was basically a placeholder website that offered little more than downloads of price lists, availability schedules, and product brochures.
The new site closely follows the design of Marklin's own website, with sections for products, service, and online shopping. There is also a product database split into narrow gauge trains, standard gauge trains, and track and accessories. However, the database only covers products available under Marklin's LGB and, as such, is a far cry from the much more complete database that was available on E.P. Lehmann's site.
Currently, the website is only available in German. However, it is already partitioned into a German version in the same way Marklin's bilingual website is, so hopefully an English version will be coming soon.
Visit LGB's new website »
7.18.09 - New Site Launches
Two years to the day after we relaunched E&A Trains, we have refreshed the site's design. While the overall layout, function, and navigation remain the same, the design as a whole is much lighter. The altered layout also provides room for more content even though the site itself has the same width. Because the right-hand column found on most pages has been moved out of the main content area and into its own, we can reclaim previously wasted space for content. The new layout also makes it easier to access subsection pages. For example, the Archive section has subsections for the News Archive, the Rolling Stock Library, and the Building Library. Now, those three subsections are easily accessible from any page in the Archive section. We believe that this updated design will make it easier for E&A Trains to adapt and grow and we will continue to tweak the site as we adjust to our new look.
7.10.09 - New Building
A new building has arrived at the layout, in the style of a traditional downtown building with two connected spaces. The structure has two stories, though it is at a slightly smaller scale than most of the items on our layout. The building has no back wall, so we will have to build either our own back wall or an extension to the building. The latter would give the building a more realistic depth. There is also no built-in second floor so we would need to add that as well in order to outfit the structure's interior.
The building is unpainted save for the second-floor window frames, so we're looking into how we might want to decorate the building.
Most of the building is brick but there is also a variety of other materials in use. Some ideas floated for possible occupants include a bakery/restaurant (perhaps a new location for the currently MIA Fred's Cafe) and an art gallery. We have not considered a location for the building on the layout or an estimated date of installation.
7.6.09 - New Movie Online
We have posted a new movie. It takes you on a tour of our new Park at Town Plaza, which was completely redone in April. It starts during the day and shows the various amenities the park offers, as well as some of its animal inhabitants. It then turns to nighttime, where you can see the park's lights. During both segments our LGB Amtrak Genesis passes by pulling a passenger train consisting of, among others, LGB Amfleet and Pennsylvania coaches. The movie is one minute and 22 seconds long.
Watch the movie »
7.1.09 - More LGB Coming to the United States
Over the weekend, Ron Gibson, head of LGB sales at Walthers, posted a list of the LGB products being delivered soon. On the list is a wide variety of track pieces and accessories. Smoke units, wheel sets, figures, Multi-Train System units, and catenary parts are all among the items on their way. Various pieces of rolling stock are also on their way. Included are the 21423 RhB Ge4/4 III UNESCO diesel locomotive, the 24841 Rugen steam locomotive, RhB and DR passenger cars from various epochs, and three different RhB COOP container cars. Gibson didn't give a timeframe for delivery but did say that the items were on their way. He also said that an LGB shipment received a week earlier had been 95% sold out to LGB retailers.
In other LGB news, we've recently noticed that both lgb.com and lgb.de now go to the current LGB website. Previously, the addresses went to holding pages run by Silvergate Distrubtors, LGB's previous American distrutor, and directed visitors either to Silvergate's website or to Marklin's. The current LGB website is still available via its original address, lgb-bahn.de. While this change is certainly a sign of progress, the site is still only available in German and has a very limited amount of information. One feature of the old LGB site that we'd like to see return is the very useful database of new and old LGB items.
