I was in Disneyland the week before last and stopped into the Disney Gallery to check out all the cool toys.

I noticed that the HLW Kimball was perched on the suspended track, but not running. When I inquired about it, the cast member told me " we have been running that train all day, every day for the last year. They are not meant for that kind of abuse." He also told me that the train didn't do well hauling. (which made me think maybe they didn't complete the retrofit) He made a few other negative comments about the durability of the Kimball. His comments concerned me a bit, since I am the proud owner of a Kimball.

As a point of comparison, the LGB Gurley was chugging away in the Emporium, as it has been every time I've been for quite some time.

Any thoughts?

As someone that has hands on experience with both HLW and LGB trains, I'm not surprised at all. When it comes to durability, absolutely *nothing* in G scale comes remotely close to an LGB in my opinion. My LGB locomotives just run and run...decade after decade!

My mom asked about the HLW DRR 5 in the Disney Gallery too and the saleswoman there said that it usually was left on all day...and all night too! They always left it running, even after the park closed for the night. I'm not surprised that it flat out wore out.

Gosh I could only imaging that running my engines all day and all night would go. They will run into the ground if I did that. Dont they perform maintenice on their model engines at Disneyworld? I wonder if that also goes for WDW at Epcot and Magic Kingdom

I don't have any prior experience with HLW. But certainly running them round the clock isn't healthy. I know LGB pretty well. I have a set that is more than 30 years old and still runs like clock work. I just wasn't sure if the fault was disneys for running it into the ground, of Hartlands for making a faulty product. (hoping its not a Hartland issue) My Kimball will run, but not often and certainly not all day, every day.

I think its a combination of both. While I don't do large scale, I'm pretty sure there is a big quality difference between Hartland and LGB. Just go in any of the ads for hobby stores and there is a huge price difference. Plus LGB are specifically designed to run in any weather, as opposed other large scale that are just weather resistant. The Gurley if I remember correctly pulls 3 Holiday 2 cars in the Emporium and sometimes that thing is really flying. Don't know if they turn it off at night though...

LGB costs more because of import and tariffs taxes to the United States. Have you seen the prices on British Garden Scale? They are up there with Accucraft.

As far as working conditions, my Lionel O scale is original from the day my dad bought it in 1958 and his brothers Lionel in 1954. Both run great and are the original engines inside. The smoke generator still works on the steam outline.

My Marsh is 10 years old now and runs and pulls great. It is a matter of maintenance. It always has been and always will be how well you take care of your toys that makes them last.

As a person who works on LGB trains that are run daily, there is a lot of wear on the LGBs and some are more reliable than others. I have replaced wheels and track shoes on the old 0-4-0 but they go forever, wish I could buy brush assemblies. The newer starter 2-4-0 chews up the intermediate gear often, and I have replaced gears and motors in Moguls. Some of the wheels look like they are missing traction tires they're so badly worn. The simpler the drive the more reliable it is and yes the track wears also.

Most of this work comes out of a drive inn in Heber City Utah.


And there is no tariff on model railroad gear if properly labeled. I know this because I have ordered Schuco monorail items from Germany and I looked it up.

I thought LGB cost so much because of scarcity (supply and demand). I don't think LGB cost nearly as much prior to the fall of the company. The prices for anything LGB now are sort of mind boggling.

The price also went way up because the value of the dollar went down compared to the Euro and most other currency. the standard LGB motors could be bought for $50, they are now listed at Walthers for $182, and they are not as good.

Great point. Hadn't even crossed my mind. $1.25 to make one Euro. Ouch!