Probably it’s the wind-splitter cab that makes the class BR 18 express locomotive recognizable, but its 4-6-2 wheel arrangement identifies it as a Pacific type. With its roots going back to Era I Bavarian class S 3/6 and Royal Wurttemberg class C are complimented by CIWL serie 231’s from Era II and III.
Marklin’s extensive offerings of this express locomotive type include sets with coaches (81…’s) and solo locomotives (88…’s).
Variations in the line-up are wide ranging and go beyond having/not having smoke deflectors and paint scheme to include various motive power: 3 pole, 5 pole, and brushless motors.
Marklin 88185- Royal Wurttemberg State Railways (K.W.St.E.) class C express locomotive. Era 1 (1915).Marklin 88922- K.Bay.Sts.B. (Koniglich Bayerische Staatsbahn – Royal Bavarian State Railroad) BR S 3/6 express steam locomotive. One Time Series 2008.Marklin 88923- K.Bay.Sts.B. (Koniglich Bayerische Staatsbahn – Royal Bavarian State Railroad) BR S 3/6 express locomotive. Era I. One Time Series for MHI Program – 2015. Marklin 8108 (train set)- Societe nationale des chemins de fer francais (National Society of French Railways/French National Railway Corporation) / Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (SNCF/CIWL)- “Nostalgie Istanbul-Orient Express” Serie 231 Pacific express locomotive with tender. Era III.Marklin 81080 (set)- French State Railroad / Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (ETAT/CIWL) “International Long-Distance Express Train (Orient Express)”: BR 231 express locomotive with tender (ETAT). Era II. One Time Series 2008. Marklin 88183- German State Railroad Company (DRG) BR 18.1 express locomotive painted and lettered for 1936 Olympics. Insider Club Model 1996. Era II. Operating number 18 137. One Time Series. Marklin 8133 (set)- German State Railroad Company (DRG) “Rheingold” BR 18 (Pacific Express with operating number 18434). Era II. Marklin 81331 (set)- German State Railroad Company (DRG) “75 Years of the Rheingold” BR 18.4 express locomotive and tender. One Time Series 2003. Marklin 81332- German State Railroad Company (DRG) “90 Years of the Rheingold” BR 18.4 express locomotive with type 2’2’ T 26.2 tender.Marklin 81426- German State Railroad Company (DRG) express locomotive with tender BR S 3/6 DRG Bavarian Group Administration (operating number 18 434) . Era II. Marklin 88910- German State Railroad Company (DRG) BR 18.4 express locomotive with operating number 18 470. Marklin 88184- German Federal Railroad (DB) BR 18.1 express locomotive based on 1954 prototype: Era III.
First the freight car set and then sometime in the future the designated locomotive such is the case with set 82435 who’s locomotive (88204) has yet to be released, thus if you plan to run that locomotive you might consider buying this set before it sells out.
The bright and lively paint scheme of this car set comprises three type Eamos side dump cars painted and lettered for the firm RTS Rail Transport Service GmbH, Fischamend, Austria.
This is not the first release of this car type which is popularly used by several rail services, it features hydraulics to lift and dump loads.
Siding: Marklin RTS diesel locomotive class 221 (former V200) is the appropriate locomotive to complete this Austrian set.
“From house to house” freight transport during the Economic Miracle thru the 1960’s comprised open and closed container types for transporting all manner of goods: gravel to food. Goods delivered from customer to customer according to Marklin literature presumably circumventing a distributor.
Cars rebuilt from war time G 10’s provided frames for the newly classified BT 10’s used to haul open bins in this Marklin new release set.
Included with the set is a Kälble delivery vehicle with trailer and Eosakrt container load.
Era III set painted and lettered for use on the German Federal Railroad (DB).
The recent release freight car set of 3 painted and lettered for K.P.E.V. includes gas car, beer car, and livestock car for Era I railroading.
Graphics and variety of early car types make for some very interesting early railroading possibilities.
Included in this set is a tank car comprising three cylinders for transporting coal gas used for lighting and heating. This car type could be dispatched with coaches to replenish a station, it was not exclusively coupled to a freight train only.
Marklin 86604_1 (KPEV)
Livestock car comprising a brakeman’s cabin, sliding doors and open gates likely included the latter for ventilation otherwise it was a closed wall box car.
Marklin 86604_2 (KPEV)Marklin 86604_2 (KPEV)
Lastly is the bier wagon car type featuring historical paint and lettering for early companies within Europe, in this example the firm Lorenz Pfannenberg Söhne, Zerbst (Germany), Exportbier Brauerei.
Just this Fall FR of Germany released 3 versions of the F5 baggage car in a limited release (20 for each car type) based on prototypes built in the 1930’s and 40’s. Included in the releases are the original prototype F5, reclassified FV (1970), and the later class Qhd for MOW service.
FR SJ Resgodsvagn FV-1 (46.225.11)
Full metal construction of etched and separately applied parts painted with historical accuracy based on SJ’s paint scheme and lettering, FR’s metal Z gauge baggage cars better approximate prototypical realism than plastic casting due to finer detail work and thinner rendition of wall thicknesses not possible from the casting process thus too a bit more precision most notably in window openings.
FR BANVERKET Tjanstevagn Ohd (46.225.21)
Based on the prototype built in small numbers in the 30’s and 40’s the class F5 baggage car featured a large baggage area plus small worker’s compartment at one end. Solid gating around end of car platforms was a characteristic of the car as well as heavy welded sections capping each end of the roof.
First in this series is class F5-L and one of the original 285 units built in the 1930’s and 40’s by the SJ (FR #46.225.01).
FR SJ Resgodsvagn F5-L (46.225.01)
Second in the series is class FV-1, former class F5 and later reclassified in the 1970’s (FR #46.225.11).
Another Christmas has come and gone but with it we are left with a unique freight car celebrating Christmas with a snowman theme: Marklin’s 80629 for Z.
A couple of decades worth of Christmas releases each with their own design and acrylic ornament, but this year’s release featured a rather curious snowman theme with etched acrylic design standing upright inside the freight car.
The very striking design including two snowmen and presents is further brought to life with crystal clear etched and polished plexiglass. Acrylic ornament is two tone with colorless front and orange background shell riddled with glitter. The very pretty low side freight car is painted red with snowflake design.
This year’s release will catch a lot of twinkle lights under the tree, and it is still available.
Harald Thom-Freudenreich’s new release “lift and dump” car for NetRail is another production in FR’s already extensive line of Scandinavian rolling stock for SJ.
FR 46.330.01 type Fs-u + Z-Modellbau 3107 class Kof II
Paint scheme and lettering depicts NetRail’s lift and dump car used for transporting loads such as gravel, ballast or other loads unaffected by weather. The striking black paint scheme and red axle bearings are further combined with applied detail work found in other FR freight cars, this one being injection molded with applied metal add-on parts.
FR 46.330.01 type Fs-u + Z-Modellbau 3107 class Kof II
The class Fs-u lift and dump car can be found on other railroads including the SBB although the odd pairing with a Koff II painted and lettered for the private firm Vanoli (Switzerland) is an unlikely pairing: Z-Modellbau article #3107.
One of the smallest locomotive types offered by Z-Modellbau is the Kof diesel who’s line-up includes this Swiss one plus German, Austrian and Norwegian variants. Painted and lettered for the private firm “Vanoli” this class Kof II features dark gray and yellow paint scheme.
Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982
Locomotive features full metal construction and brush-less motor making this one of the smallest locomotives in Z with its own motive power. Unique coupler design interfaces with Marklin, it is otherwise unobtrusive. Non functioning headlamps are very precisely painted in. Fully glazed operator’s cabin plus separately applied parts include coupling hoses.
Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982
Because of its short length the locomotive can potentially have difficulty thru turnouts otherwise the operation is smooth with very sensitive braking characteristics.
Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982
Paired with a funnel flow car the scale of this locomotive is truly impression considering it too can easily pull a line of freight cars through a yard. Unique in recent offerings by Marklin are second release freight cars which feature authentic ‘weathering’. The Swiss firm Wascosa has been featured numerous times in the Marklin mini-club line-up, but for the first time Wascosa’s paint and lettering scheme was applied to the newly produced funnel flow car type in set 82530 (2013) which included 4 blue Wascosa cars as part of the 20 car set, it was later released in ‘weathered’ variants (item #82482- 82485).
Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982
Administration building for the DB can be seen along the tracks, this laser cut building was included with Marklin turntable 89982.
Z-Modellbau Kof II “Vanoli (#3107) + Marklin 82484 + Administration Building from Marklin set 89982
Archistories “Dorpede” Fire Station #402191Archistories “Dorpede” Fire Station #402191
Another very interesting European style (German) building for Z gauge is offered in two versions by Archistories: “brick in-fill open timber” (ARC 402191) and “stucco open timber” (ARC 401191 not pictured). Although this description rather generally portrays their difference a further examination reveals contrasting materials for roofing and hose tower sheathed in “saw tooth” green tinted timber versus the continuation of stucco on the other.
Two very different buildings with the same footprint are thus offered as “Kallental” fire station (stucco) and “Dorpede” fire station (brick in-fill). Framework construction is an architectural design found in Germany and widely modeled in Z and other gauges. Archistories kits offer features not found in other kits including true to scale design, partition walls and fine detailing. The latter translates to many separately applied parts that require time and patience but worth it in the end. The two fire stations also include hinged doors which if properly installed can be opened and closed to partially conceal a fire truck.
Archistories “Dorpede” Fire Station #402191 (Wespe Model truck not included in building kit)
Window glazings are scored thus giving the builder precise parts for installation. Plus layered construction with multiple parts create a precision model few could dispute as anything short of a very good building for a layout.
At just under under 300 parts this is a building kit that should not be rushed with some very tiny windowsills capping the most difficult parts to install.
The finished building represents a solid well maintained public works building featuring large garage and hose tower used for hanging and drying hoses.
Every fire station needs a fire truck, but few are offered in Z. An exceptional fire truck delivered fully painted is produced by Wespe Models of Romania, it offers very fine detailing and hand painting.
Marklin 88955 class 74 Era III tank locomotive for German Federal Railroad (DB)
The class 74 tank locomotive painted and lettered for the German Federal Railroad is a recent release sort of (2017-2018), I got mine recently but it proved to be a rather difficult loco to get a hold of: I should have pre-ordered it! Other locos in this series with improved running gear based on the first generation 8895 (2000-2006) were much easier to find than this one. Perhaps some dealers have these in inventory, it is or should be a fairly popular loco lettered for the DB and based on Era III: a perfect loco for small railroads and regional passenger traffic.
Marklin 88955 class 74 Era III tank locomotive for German Federal Railroad (DB)
Several subtle modifications exist within the evolution of this tank locomotive for Z including brass bell prominently installed behind stack on the 88955. Identifying tank locomotives is easy, it is hard to miss the water tanks installed on the sides of the locomotive and coal hopper behind cab. Plus “tender-less” operation. Motor in the model is mounted vertically with worm-gear facing down, motor is 5 pole type with long brushes (part #89871) extending from the armature alongside the chassis providing current to the circuit board and LED lights. LED lights in this locomotive are bright and trailing lights continue to be rendered with paint versus working. Also features plastic couplers at both ends for push/pull operation.
Marklin 88955 + Marklin Special Imprint 98085: “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” Marklin 88955 + Marklin Special Imprint 98085: “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” . Plus Faller 282704- Bahnhof Huinghausen.
The curious coach seen here with 88955 is the graffiti car issued by Miniatur Wunderland (Hamburg) as one time release in 2008 (600 total): Marklin 98085 “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” and Miniatur Wunderland’s Car #10.
Marklin 88955 + Marklin Special Imprint 98085: “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” . Plus Faller 282704- Bahnhof Huinghausen.Marklin 88955 + Marklin Special Imprint 98085: “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” . Plus Faller 282704- Bahnhof Huinghausen.Marklin 88955 + Marklin Special Imprint 98085: “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” . Plus Faller 282704- Bahnhof Huinghausen.
Faller’s continuing series of laser-cut building kits included this nice train station from a few years ago: 282704- Bahnhof Huinghausen (based on 1915 prototype).
Marklin 88955 + Marklin Special Imprint 98085: “Graffitiwagen-Knuffingen” . Plus Faller 282704- Bahnhof Huinghausen.
Siding: here is a link to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg: https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/
