LGB Coach 31676

[pghewett]

A word of warning! This coach is advertised on many dealers' websites as a 1st class coach but it isn't - it's a second class one and clearly labelled as such on the box,as I discovered when opening my latest consignment. What appears to have happened is that LGB announced the production of a 1st class vehicle and then changed their minds but only after informing dealers about their original intentions. (31676 is now shown as second class on the LGB website itself). A nuisance for dealers and their customers alike - doubly so since there is a lack of an all first class green EWV coach in the range (the Viafier Engiadina is "reduced" to offering its clientele first class travel in the green and cream steel bodied saloon, although historically, the RhB appears to have stopped using its steel bodied saloons in this way before the EWV cars appeared).

Graham Hewett

 

[stockers]

I was confused (not difficult!) so looked it up.
What this one?

 

[pghewett]

A second class one - it's what you actually get when you think you've ordered the first class one (as per dealers' websites)...

 

[Gizzy]

The prototype RhB coaches have 4 figure running numbers beginning with A if first class and B if second class, as well as the First and Second Class markings.

Also First class coaches (on most European railways) usually have a yellow stripe above the windows and just below the roofline.

Thus the picture posted by Stockers does indeed show a 2nd class vehicle....

 

[Bredebahn]

The fact that it says 2 (rauchers or otherwise) by each doorway might also provide a clue! I have the first class vehicle in green from last time around - I recall it was a lot cheaper than it is at the moment!
This is Graham's point though - this is what you will receive when you thought you had ordered a first class vehicle by catalogue number. I blame it all on the Rhb declassifying this particular coach!

 

[pghewett]

Yes, this is precisely what I meant, and too often the pictures on websites are too small to pick out that crucial class number or yellow stripe. Websites where the issue arises spotted so far include Glendale Junction (who have very kindly replaced the wrong vehicle with another 1st/2nd composite*) and Grootspoor. How I wish I had had the funds to buy the 1st class when it was last offered (about £100 cheaper then, I recall...).

Graham H

* The compo looks nice, tho' and we shall just have to run our "core" rakes with two 2nd class and one compo, which is a fairly untypical RhB balance between 1st and second accommodation. I also have a Kiss centre entrance 1st class coach but this has too much centre throw to clear the line side structures on anything less than R5 and is therefore up for disposal.

 

[Philbahn]

Would love one but like you my curves won't allow it

I also have a Kiss centre entrance 1st class coach but this has too much centre throw to clear the line side structures on anything less than R5 and is therefore up for disposal.

 

[Bredebahn]

* The compo looks nice, tho' and we shall just have to run our "core" rakes with two 2nd class and one compo, which is a fairly untypical RhB balance between 1st and second accommodation. I also have a Kiss centre entrance 1st class coach but this has too much centre throw to clear the line side structures on anything less than R5 and is therefore up for disposal.

Hmmmm. I have 3 Kiss middle entry coaches (literal translation) but all of these are 2nd Class. The green LGB 1st Class coach is one of only a few that I have in green - most of my stock is RhB red. I wonder of there's the basis for a deal here?