Marklin recently released a large set of freight cars (82641) for global shipping theme (Era VI), it includes eight type Sgns 691 flat cars with tank and dry storage containers. Various railroads and shipping companies represented in the set are colorful and graphically interesting.

The release comes boxed in what Marklin calls a display box, it is intended as counter display for dealers who may opt to sell individual cars from the set. Marklin produced large car sets in the past thereby giving customers flexibility to buy 1 or all cars from the sets. With one local exception USA dealers have offered complete sets only. Cars in the set are each housed in familiar Marklin Z hard plastic boxes, and each is assigned a number 82641-….. (01-08).

Flat cars are manufactured with the relatively new technology: metal impregnated plastic. Increased weight is the primary benefit thus better running performance, and maybe casting detail is improved. Car bodies are superb, they feature open frames with extensive fine paint and lettering.

Containers are of great variety, but they are the typical containers Marklin has offered before: open bottoms with no prototypical lettering on doors, but very fine lettering otherwise. Tank containers with protective frames are standard fare offered before, tanks are finely painted and lettered, but protective frames which are manufactured apart from tanks and assembled later may need removal of excess plastic. Six tank containers are included, 3 in my set had issues: 1 missing mounting pin, 1 needed plastic trimming around pins to mount and 1 needed trimming/leveling of plastic base otherwise it wanted to pop off. Repairing tank containers took no more than a minute thus no big deal. Note: no problems whatsoever with dry containers. Further comment on tank containers: mounting has always been an issue with some collectors opting to cut off pins and epoxying the tank containers directly to the flat car. I do not recommend gluing, instead I recommend very carefully removing extra plastic in casting with a razor blade. Except for lack of graphics on doors of dry containers and mounting pin issues with tank containers this is a very good set to add to your collection.

Siding: Released in 2024/25. Marklin suggests locomotives 88136 (diesel Ludmilla) and 88235 (electric Vectron) for freight set 82641.