Author Archives: garygraves

Marklin V100’s + BR 212’s

V100 locomotives took a little while before appearing in the Marklin roster, but Marklin listened to collectors and designed a beautiful cast metal locomotive that they have produced in many versions to widespread popularity. This collection reflects many but not all versions, they always seem to sell out fast with never enough to go around. Examples can also be found in passenger train sets.

_DSF9199

from top:

  1. 88690 – German Federal Railroad (DB) class 212 diesel hydraulic locomotive in turquoise and cream paint scheme
  2. 88691 – Deustche Bahn AG (DB AG) class 212 locomotive lettered for DB Cargo
  3. 88692 – Sersa AG class Am847 ( former class 212) locomotive privately owned by Sersa AG, Zurich, One Time Series 2002
  4. 88694 – SECO/DG class 133-05 locomotive privately owned by French construction firm SECO/DG, used for construction of channel tunnel, One Time Series, Export Model for France
  5. 88698 – German Federal Railroad (DB) class V100.20 in crimson red paint scheme, One Time Series 2011
  6. 88699 – Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) class 212 locomotive in ocean blue and ivory paint scheme with current DB logo

 

_DSF9200 _DSF9201

7. 88219.1 – German Federal Railways (DB AG) class 213 in current traffic red paint scheme, One Time Series 2014. Version #1 with locomotive operating numbers printed below DB logo on locomotive end

8. 88219.2 – German Federal Railways (DB AG) class 213 in current traffic red paint scheme, One Time Series 2014. Version #2 without locomotive operating numbers printed below DB logo on locomotive end

_DSF9637 _DSF9642

9. 88216 – German Federal Railways (DB AG) class 212 in orient red paint scheme of the Deutsche Bahn AG. Prototype from 1994-1995. Operating number 212 041-8. Features large ‘DB’ logo. One Time Series MHI Release.

 

Siding: Marklin z V100’s are beautifully designed and easy to maintain, shell is held on by tension through a snug fit, careful pulling on each end will pop it off for under the hood service.

Siding: FR currently offers a two car K3 box car set that goes perfectly with the Sersa loco 88692.

Siding: Not pictured: 88693 class V100.2 in crimson red and 88695 BR 212 lettered for H.F. Wiebe Industrial, both are rare and highly sought after.

Marklin MSI’s: Locomotives

Cheese adorns the SBB class Am 4/4 diesel locomotive produced by Marklin as a special imprint in 1994 along with an Hbis car the same year.

_DSF9184

Marklin 88820 – Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) class Am 4/4 diesel locomotive with special imprinting: “Kaselocher”, Koll’s #94701, edition size: 1000 + matching freight car: 88656.5 – SBB class Hbis with special imprinting: “Kaselocher”, Koll’s #94702. Edition size: 300

Siding: Edition size for car and loco vary as reported by Koll’s more research is required to confirm the veracity of Koll’s recording.

z-bahn: SBB passenger coaches

Z-bahn type EWII coaches from the late 60’s and 70’s are works of art, they help complete another area of z scale railroading. Coach sets were delivered in foam lined hinged aluminum boxes as elegant as the coaches themselves. Z-bahn was the first to model this type of Swiss coach in z, but they were also the first to produce interior details and seating. Marklin finally produced a perfect loco for this era of Swiss railroading with the 88590 class Re 4/4 II general purpose loco in green paint scheme. Earlier Marklin SBB locos in green paint scheme are also suitable, but the Re 4/4 was more common.

_DSF9363 _DSF9366 _DSF9374

from top:

  1. z-bahn #30120 – Swiss Federal Railroad (SBB) class EWII two car set: 1- 2nd class coach and 1- 1st class coach with “Komfort” stripe.
  2. z-bahn #30050 – Swiss Federal Railroad (SBB) class EWII five car set: 1- 1st class coach with “Komfort” stripe, 3- 2nd class coaches with “Komfort” stripe, and 1- baggage car. *Top right and lower left picture.

Marklin MSI’s: railbuses

Railbuses in Germany actually look like buses and a few other countries do too. The “Economic Miracle” in Germany occurred during the 1950’s, and the class VT 98 railbus was part of this history. Marklin added this railcar to the line-up with the first one being released in 1988 as item #8112 “Chiemgau Bahn” and then the special imprint “McDonald’s” also in 1988. Versions abound but for this topic of discussion the focus is on special imprints which like the first two releases (8112) are also in part regional railbuses.

_DSF9187 _DSF9195

  1. 88701 – German Federal Railroad (DB) class 798 railbus lettered for “McDonald’s voll in Fahrt.” Sold as a starter set with track and transformer. Edition size: 1000. Koll’s #88701. Released 1988.
  2. 88817 – Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) class 798 railbus and class 998 trailer lettered for RAG. Special imprint collaboration between Railex and Z Club International. Koll’s #91702. Edition size: 3000. *Originally sold unpowered.
  3. 88164 – Prignitzer Eisenbaum GmbH class 798 railbus and class 998 trailer lettered for Prignitzer Eisenbaum GmbH regional rail line Berlin. One Time Series 2001. Produced in collaboration between Marklin and Eurotrain/idee+spiel cooperative.
  4. 88165 – Elbe-Weser GmbH (EVB) class 798 railbus and class 998 trailer lettered for EVB the Lower Saxony German regional rail line. One Time Series 2002. Produced in collaboration between Marklin and Eurotrain/idee+spiel cooperative.

Siding: 88164 + 88165 were only available to German Dealers that were members of the Eurotrain/idee+spiel cooperative.

 

Railex: Auto Transport BLS

The BLS operates an auto and people mover through the Lotschberg Tunnel connecting Kandersteg and Goppenstein. Passengers drive their own cars onto the rail cars which they occupy for the brief trip through the Lotschberg Tunnel. A quick and efficient means for travel in Switzerland are the many tunnels that have been well engineered and maintained. Railex was up for a challenge with this car set that features all metal construction with filigree metal roof supports and numerous details that are true to the prototype. Features a simple coupling system compatible with Marklin that allows distance adjustments between cars.

_DSF9348 _DSF9352 _DSF9355 _DSF9357 _DSF9361

Railex – Autotransportzug der BLS,  5 car freight set for transporting lite vehicles through the Lotschberg Tunnel: “Kandersteg – Goppenstein.” Full metal construction with numerous separately applied parts.

 

Railex: 19th century German MOW

Railex not only produced some superb 19th century German steam locomotive, they also produced rolling stock to go with them. The Railex “Work” train comprises 5 cars for the maintenance of way train set. More cars can be added by 5 are the number of car types. The Railex locomotive that pulls the work train is K.Bay.STS.B Vils C II. The “Vils” in green/black/gray color scheme is most appropriate. Some of the cool features of these cars is the full metal construction, filigree spoke wheels, crisp lettering, and interesting car types. Hard and dangerous work was in place for a day on the work train, and workplace accidents abound from steam, gas, and saws to name just a few. The impregnation wagon was probably prone to explosion along with scalding temperatures. Railroading has never been the safe affair especially in the 19th century.

_DSF9344 _DSF9345

from top:

  1. K.Bay.STS.B Arbeitswagen Der K.Bay.STS.B. Type “X”: low side car with steam engine load.
  2. K.Bay.STS.B Niederbordwagen mit Kreissage: low side car with heavy duty table saw load.
  3. K.Bay.STS.B Leuchtgaswagen: tank car for lighting gas.
  4. K.Bay.STS.B Fahr Schwellenimpragnieranstalt mit Dampfmaschine: sleeper impregnation wagon with steam compressor.
  5. K.Bay.STS.B Schienenwagen Type Ssm-Wagen Nr. 4 rungenwagen: stake wagon with brakeman’s cab.
  6. K.Bay.STS.B Schienenwagen Type Ssm-Wagen Nr. 4 rungenwagen: stake wagon with brakeman’s cab.

 

Railex + Z Club ’92: Maintenance of Way

Railex and Z Club ’92 have collaborated on a number of z items two of which can be categorized and MOW (Maintenance of Way) cars. Cars 9335 + 9340 are early MOW cars employing cast metal parts.

_DSF9335

from top:

  1. Railex/Z Club ’92 #88609 – Royal Wurttemberg State Railways (K.W.St.E.) type low rise car with Epoch 1 crane. Released 1993. One Time Series for members of Z Club International.
  2. Railex/Z Club ’92 #88623 – Royal Wurttemberg State Railways (K.W.St.E.) type low rise car with track maintenance equipment and tools. Released 1988. One Time Series for members of Z Club International.

Railex: Maintenance of Way

Maintenance of way rail vehicles comprise all equipment that performs some type of track maintenance. In the 19th century a weighted tender fitted with a plow and lanterns was used for snow removal. Advancements in snow removal have been made in a variety of ways for the past 150 years, Railex’s Epoche 1 snow plow looks a bit primitive by today’s dedicated snow plow locos and snow blower locos.

_DSF9326 _DSF9327 _DSF9330 _DSF9332 _DSF9334

Railex – K.Bay.STS.B. type weighted tender with fitted plow. Epoch 1.

 

Siding: For modern snowplow locos take a look at FR’s SJ Tc/DLL snowplow loco.

 

Railex: Locomotives

Railex locomotives are not known as good runners primarily because they don’t have motors! Pure mechanical master pieces made of brass with working side rods. A company with very little web presence also makes some of the finest “Z” items, but it is challenging to find them anywhere for sale except of course online. Not having a motor is no problem, that solution was cleverly found with “ghost’ locomotives which are coaches or box cars modified with motor and transmission. These locos chug right along with a little help from a big brother. Thus far 19th century German steam has only been modeled by Railex who also make early era rolling stock and coaches. Every Railex item is identified with their logo, but build quality is also a signature identifier. Take a close look and you will also see the engineer peering from around the cab.

_DSF9315 _DSF9320 _DSF9323 _DSF9324

from top:

  1. Railex – K.Bay.STS.B B VI Kreittmayr steam locomotive with peat burner and tender.    Epoch I. Working life 1869-? Beige color scheme. Loco used for Ludwig II royal trains. Operating number 425.
  2. Railex – K.Bay.STS.B Tristan B VI. Epoch I – 1865 version. Working life 1865-1912 (scrapped). Beige color scheme. Operating number 316.
  3. Railex – K.Bay.STS.B Vils C II Bavarian freight loco with tender type C n2 3T class CII, named Vils. Epoch I. Maximum speed: 45km/h. Working life: 1867-1900. Green/black/gray color scheme. Operating number 362.

*Siding: Railex items come packed in a black box with gold foil label. 19th century German steam locomotives have often been compared to toy trains in appearance. Or vice versa!

Z-Modellbau: Locomotives

Z-Modellbau locomotives are the smallest working z gauge locomotives today. And they run perfectly despite their small size and relative weight. How do they do it? Precision engineering and manufacturing are evident when you have one of these superb locomotives in your hand. Z-Modellbau also produces models of prototypes not covered fully by Marklin including operating shunting locos for NS.

_DSF9310 _DSF9311 _DSF9312 _DSF9314

Z-Modellbau – Nederlandse Spoorwegen – NS (Dutch State Railways) class SIK shunting locomotive, full metal construction with coreless motor.

Siding: Marklin has produced several car sets for NS including 82376, 82522, and 86304, all were Marklin “Export” models for the Netherlands.