Category Archives: Brass Locomotives in Z

AZL’s PA1 Brass Locomotives: Design, Manufacture and Performance

Not many parts comprise the AZL Brass PA1

An article about AZL’s out-of-production brass Z gauge PA1 locomotives was not planned, but it was the result of a test drive so to speak. I recently bought a pair of these locomotives from a friend who knows and collects all things Lehigh Valley Railroad. I long admired the beauty of these locos and authentic appearance since seeing this set in his collection. So far my stuff collected since the early 80’s sits on shelves or in boxes, I don’t have a working layout, but I test everything I buy to verify everything is okee- dokee.

Wheel assemblies are permanently married in housing with gearing, cast wheel details include posts that slide into 2 holes either side of center wheel with airbrakes on top

Test driving the pair of brass PA1’s revealed a couple of surprising and interesting details for an article. They are louder than AZL’s current diesel loco offerings. And they don’t run as smooth either. One of the locos runs much better than the second which also had an odd defect: wheel set detail parts (black) do not stay on.

Current AZL PA1 on top shows design for power collection whereas AZL Brass PA1 has no such design
Current AZL PA1 on top shows wheel sets as a complete part made of plastic whereas AZL Brass PA1 has removable cast brass wheel set details painted black

Problem solving a poorly running Z gauge loco is typically narrowed down to dirty track or hardened oil. There are of course a few other issues which another of my articles addressed before. Having ruled out dirty wheels and track I was lead to look inside. Removing a brass shell is similar to plastic ones except the material is not flexible, but I simply used a pair of guitar picks (.70mm) wriggled between wheel set and mid shell, working back and forth with care and caution the shell came off: bit more involved than plastic shells. I was surprised with the locomotive’s minimal design: very few parts! As for trouble shooting: cleaning wheel gearing is limited with wheel assemblies permanently constructed: pins and gears are non-removable. Without being able to take wheel assemblies apart it is difficult to see how they work except to say motor receives electricity thru its worm gears from wheel assembly gears: bit primitive! But it works!

Current AZL PA1 locomotive on top shows a very different configuration than brass model on bottom with inclusion of circuit board thus very different handling of track current by locomotive.

AZL current model PA1’s use heavy die cast split-frames, brass PA1’s are similar in design but heavier: PA1 (current models) weigh just under 2 ounces versus PA1 (brass models) weigh just under 3 ounces.

Plastic part covers middle part of split frame, the snap-on part is a guide to how much space should exist between frame sides: it should snap-on and not fall off
Glazing for 4 small windows in shell is achieved with acetate attached frame, masking tape may have been used so acetate retains folded shape and perhaps better fitting of frame inside shell
My go to gear cleaning tool: tapered soft bristle nylon brush purchased at a home improvement store.

The frame design is ingenious as it provides a substantial amount of weight plus it functions to hold wheel sets and motor securely in place. After cleaning and removing minor amounts of lint (not sure if locos had much running time) I found the frame is not screwed tightly together, but it is screwed together just enough to allow wheel sets to move freely plus engage with worm gears, I found this part was a bit trial and error with testing on track: tightened but not too tight. A folded piece of acetate was glued on frame as it provides window glazing for shell, and masking tape installed on acetate was used to seat frame in shell (?). Cast brass wheel details are secured with post/pins that slide into holes in wheel sets as seen in photo, but with this model three could not be secured, fourth is tightly staying in place. I tried a number of things to tighten their mounting, but I settled on a tiny bead of 5 minute epoxy (size of pin head) which I can remove in the future if the need arises.

AZL Brass shell is highly detailed with authentic paint and lettering for this late 1940’s diesel locomotive
AZL Brass PA1 is handmade with numerous details built into shell which has been soldered and shaped with precision
AZL Brass PA1 interior shell detail shows much handmade work

The shell is entirely handmade with numerous parts soldered, shaped and built into the highly detailed locomotive which was painted in prototypically correct ‘Cornell Red’ with accurate operating number. And ‘Black Diamond’ logo proudly displayed on front. Couplers are interesting as they are separate from trucks: bolted to shell. Brake hoses are rendered in fine detail too. Unfortunately no working headlight which is of little concern to me as I have other early highly detailed brass models without lights. Great looking locomotive even under high magnification: a significant accomplishment in Z gauge.

Locomotive built for AZL by AJIN Precision Mfg., South Korea. The now shuttered company was well known for precision brass manufacture, this being a very good example of what they could do.

AZL PA1 Diesel Locomotives: Lehigh Valley Railroad

AZL PA1 Diesel Locomotives in Brass and Injection Molded Plastic: left to right plastic, brass, plastic, brass

This Summer I am highly focused on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. I have been reading and acquiring many books on the topic, plus weekly get togethers with a Lehigh Valley RR expert and author. Not only was the L.V.R.R. running trains from NYC to Buffalo and Toronto as joint operation with Canadian National (Maple Leaf Train), but here at home they owned and ran the Liberty Bell system of electric trolleys with runs to Philadelphia, PA. If I were a kid growing up in Lehigh Valley before the take over of the automobile I would have ridden their street cars semi weekly or more to visit the tri-city area: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, it was the way to get around Lehigh Valley, PA!

American Z Line (AZL) #1826 PA1 w/operating number 604 (brass edition)
American Z Lines (AZL) cardboard boxes for brass editions: blue top and white bottom with stickers one end. Boxes features dense foam inserts.

June included a trip to Hornell, NY to see the Union Pacific Big Boy which was a treat to see it and close to home, as my Wife and I missed it time and time again on its home turf. We chased it so to speak and saw it in Sayre (PA), Waverly (NY) and even behind a Arby’s somewhere near Binghampton, NY. The Big Boy’s trip to Philadelphia periodically had layovers including Sayre, PA on the grounds of the historic Lehigh Valley Railroad Locomotive Shops which closed March 1976. The former site includes extensive trackage and the old station is home to the Lehigh Valley Railroad Museum. A further note: Sayre is named after L.V.R.R.’s Engineer Robert H. Sayre, who made the railroad.

AZL PA1’s: 64416-1 + 64416-2 w/operating numbers 606 and 609
AZL Jewel Boxes for PA1’s include snap closures and contoured top and bottom cradles for locomotives likewise produced for other current AZL articles.

I plan to devote a couple of posts in coming weeks to the Lehigh Valley Railroad for Z Gauge, but the first one is a rather brief offering/introduction concerning paint scheme: AZL locomotive PA1. I have two pair of PA1’s: one brass and one injection moulded plastic. Note: prototypical L.V.R.R. trains ran pairs of PA1’s manufactured in the late 1940’s.. The brass set was released with four available running numbers in an edition of 16. The plastic set is currently available with two different operating numbers. Paint scheme for the L.V.R.R was ‘Cornell Red’ which is accurately represented only in the brass sets. As can be seen the current PA1’s are painted with a lighter color suggestive of orange/red. As a color it’s attractive, but it is way off from the prototypical paint which serious modelers may find disappointing. AZL got the color right with the original brass sets which also match Tru-Color’s ‘Cornell Red’ premix airbrush color. One day and perhaps another post I will have a solution to tone down the newest generation PA1 from AZL in the meantime buyers might want to consider if the ‘off paint color’ is an issue for them before buying.

Note: AZL is currently offering diesel locomotive class RS-3 for L.V.R.R. similar paint as the PA1’s. I would love to own this locomotive but not in this color.

A note about the prototypical paint scheme ‘Cornell Red’ used by L.V.R.R. includes documented variations in appearance: paint used by L.V.R.R. was ordered from various manufacturers thereby differences occurred with the color. Plus appearance of well used locomotives show color changes from dirt, soot and grime. Thus modelers concerned with prototypical trains may find historical color photos as best source for painting and finishing.

Manufacturing Note: brass editions made in South Korea by AJIN Precision Mfg. (1976-2008) and current plastic injection models are made in China.

Westmodel Z Gauge Saddle Tank Locomotive

My interest in Westmodel is new and old, I recently acquired my first models just weeks ago; they came from a dealer’s personal collection who lost track of their history. I’ve known about the company for many years, but I never had the opportunity to see a model in person. This post attempts to shed light on these amazing models from the now shuttered company Westmodel.

Few details sourced on the internet suggest Westmodel operated in Vienna, Austria (since 1973), its owner Klaus Bachmann produced model trains in various scales including: HO, HOe, HOm, N, Nm, and Z. Constructed of brass, locomotives were built with motive parts by Fleischmann and Marklin; my models include Marklin Z wheelsets. Today’s feature model utilizes a Marklin mini-club motor, frame and wheel sets. My research into the company is limited to web search which I hope is mostly accurate, I will revise/correct my Westmodel posts when new information becomes available. Interpreting the lineage of Westmodel is difficult, but they appear to have changed hands and moved over the years. Linie 8 GmbH was the last company to handle Westmodel articles as parts only (finished models were not available). In 2017 Linie 8 GmbH was liquidated. Errors in this history will be corrected as new details emerge through further research.

This post covers Westmodel #30062 for Z gauge: Saddle Tank Engine 0-6-0. Shell is constructed of brass with add-on parts including railings on water tank. Painted and lettered for “Lumber Co.” Interesting locomotive type is one of a kind in Z gauge: “tender-less” locomotive features water tank installed above boiler.

The model includes cast brass shell installed on Marklin mini-club locomotive frame with Marklin couplers, motor and wheels. Printed lettering on loco also features non-working headlights and shiny silver wheels. Best guess for date of manufacture is mid 1980’s or later. Westmodel articles in this scale were delivered in foam lined wood boxes with logo burned/stamped on lid.

After applying a little oil the locomotive operated flawlessly after an unknown time in storage. The locomotive’s considerable weight make it a good pulling locomotive for multiple cars loaded with logs and lumber.

Stayed tuned: future Westmodel posts will include N scale narrow gauge models featuring Marklin ‘Z’ wheel sets.

Happy Railroading!

Archistories American Prototype: 101181 “Goldtree Station”

If it is possible to visit a late 19th century western United States town built by gold perhaps this station in its small dimensions satisfies that goal. Measuring 5 inches in length x 2 1/2 inches in overall width x 2 inches in height the “Goldtree Station” by Archistories is the fictional hub and gatekeeper for the outside world, it greeted new comers with grand dreams of making it rich and goods to keep a decidedly inhospitable landscape habitable.

This year marks the important anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad: 150 years East and West coasts joined by rails at Promontory Point, Utah. And a good time to consider modeling a western gold rush community in Z starting with this nice building exclusively sold by ZScaleHobo.com. And Marklin’s “Bumble Bee” locomotive and its passenger set from a few years back are a good train set for this station.

A fairly simple to build kit featuring partition walls which aid in realistic lighting effects, filigree parts which add realism to platform supports, and a mix of building materials including terracotta roof tiles and wood construction.

Goldtree station signage is laser cut with an appropriate American style font of the 19th century.

Railroads grew quickly after completion of the Transcontinental Railroad as did towns throughout the United States. Station and depot types changed too thus small stations with attached freight depots largely disappeared in the teens and 20’s, they were replaced by masonry structures supporting a network of hubs as people and goods were transported all over the United States. Towns who’s singular purpose supported the gold rush either grew independent of it or largely ceased to exist.


Note: exclusive worldwide dealer for this item is Zscalehobo.com

Construction notes: the ingenious feature of this Archistories kit are snap-in window frames and glazing, pre-cut glazing snap into place with gentle pressure followed by window frames, filigree timber sections are finally glued in place and permanently seal windows. Open freight doors are possible but interior detailing will need to be designed by the builder. *use glue sparingly and use great patience with light paper parts which cannot be realigned after gluing, plus snap-in window frames are prone to easy breakage, fraying and distortion.

Another important construction note: Part F10 is a delicate filigree part comprising the main entrance framework, after removing this part from the part sheet two more tabs need to be removed from either side of door frame: brackets should be flush to the structure. In my interpretation of this building it was missed thus reflected in the photos. A second important point is to install the 4 brackets (Part H4) for freight room before attaching roof.

Marklin 88035- Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad 2-6-0 “Mogul” locomotive featuring brass construction (2004-2006)

Marklin Insider 81352: “DB Freight Train for Coal Transport”

“Remarkable things come in small packages!” An often used expression with new and veteran Marklin Z enthusiasts, but never as true as with model 81352. Here is a class 80 tank locomotive one of the smallest German steam locomotives used for shunting and general regional freight traffic exquisitely realized as a smooth running Marklin Z gauge locomotive heading 5 cars loaded with coal.

Note: photos only show 4 of the 5 coal cars!

What can be said of this locomotive referred to as “Little Bull” in the Marklin literature is all positive, it features glazed window openings, very detailed running gear with side rods of great complexity, superb weathering, LED headlamps, and brushless motor. And it looks great! Cars too!

Type 0 10 and 0 11 wagons loaded with removable coal inserts complete the Era III set.

Much care and attention to detail went into the production of this latest Insider release that will add a high level of realism to a prototypical mid century layout. Weathering was presumably applied with airbrush, but the level of quality maybe difficult to match even for the more experienced modeler.

*MBZ cardstock building #16058 (weathered) available exclusively in the United States from Reynaulds

As a bonus the train set included an unfinished brass casting of the locomotive shell, it is remarkable to see the unpainted and unfinished casting next to the finished loco which suggests the massive amount of handwork that takes place before these sets reach the collector.

A real stunner of a train set!

Siding: tucked nicely inside the small cockpit of this loco is a new brushless motor described as maintenance free, but other aspects of the loco require the usual maintenance including periodic oiling of wheels (as little as necessary which is not much) and wheel cleaning.

 

Marklin Insider 88507: cab forward BR 05 DRG

One of the more interesting Z items released in the past few years was the 2014 Marklin Insider “Fine Art” edition 88507. The release of the BR 05 Era II cab forward steam locomotive marked the first and hopefully not the last special “Fine Art” releases, it was produced in brass with numerous add-on parts and filigree spoke wheels. Motive power is provided by new coreless motor with bell shaped armature. Available to Insider Members, the release was presented in special packaging including wooden box and certificate. Possibly due to the high price of this locomotive some were not delivered and a few are still available from dealers including Reynauld’s in IL.

Built in 1937 the BR 05 003 was the only cab forward design produced of the class 05, it resumed post war service in 1950 after restoration work was performed by Krauss-Maffei, it was retired in 1958. Cab forward steam locomotives are a technical marvel which allow better visibility but require larger crews.

The Marklin model is 5 inches in length over buffers, due to brass casting it is heavy featuring a robust motor thus mechanically sound and smooth running. If the locomotive is displayed it can be fitted with full skirting provided with the model or skirting can be removed for running on track with maximum radius of 195mm, with full skirting the locomotive can only go straight. Spacing adjustable between locomotive and tender. As with past historical releases Marklin has included a cast metal builder’s plate for Borsig.

BR 05 003 was scrapped in 1960, photographs and technical models provide the historical record of this interesting locomotive.

Siding: joining the Marklin Insider Club is less than a $100 a year, member benefits include the annual Club Car in the scale of choice, Marklin Insider Magazin, Insider Model reservation certificate, Insider Club News, annual catalog, laminated club card with member’s name, and “Year of Marklin” DVD.