Category Archives: Limited and rare

IBM Starter Set

Starter sets for Marklin Z have been released in a variety of formats each includes track, train and transformer, and they have been released as regular production and special imprints. Special imprint starter sets are not released anymore, but in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s they were released in small editions that included a special imprint freight car sometimes combined with a special imprint locomotive. The “IBM” starter set is one such example, it included the ‘8615’ type car with the special imprinting of “Eye-Bee-M” designed by Paul Rand in 1981. This colorful imprint against a black ground was accompanied by a printed tag and pin each with same imprinting. This starter set includes a European mini-club transformer, small oval of track, BR 89 locomotive, and an brown 8610 freight car. The special imprinting of the “Eye-Bee-M” car includes the printed ‘m’ denoting Marklin special imprinting. This set was produced in 1995 in an edition size of 300, its Koll’s #95701. The car was featured on the cover of “Koll’s Spezial Katalog-1997”.

Insider Model 2009 “Ford build kit”

In 2009 Marklin’s Insider car featured a box car lettered for Ford Works, Inc. and used on the German Federal Railroad (DB). Released in honor of Marklin’s HO 4937 build kit from 1970-1977. Inside the facsimile box for 4937 are the component parts to assemble a z gauge box car lettered for “Ford” . Car is relatively easy to assemble taking no more than 10 minutes, coupler and springs being the trickier assembly with the car body. A soldering iron is used to melt the posts during final installation of car body and chassis, great car should be taken when using the soldering iron with these small parts. Exquisite printing!

Insider Model 20th Anniversary 82339

Insider Anniversary Model 82339 was offered to Insider members with 20 years membership in the club. Following the same format as Marklin “White Box” special editions this one is a finally printed gloss black box. Inside you will are presented with a power shovel in cast metal and orange paint, 4 Preiser track maintenance workers, and low side car with load of ballast. Track Maintenance Set for the DB is a very limited release.

z-bahn 30120 + 30050 EW II coach sets of SBB

Exquisite the first word to describe z-bahn models and the fast second is Rare. I have not a lot to offer about the origins and history of this fine manufacturer except to say sadly it is no longer in business. If you are lucky enough to find z-bahn articles for sale buy them, your good fortune may not return for a second chance. Roughly speaking the price you can expect to pay is $100 per coach, they were originally sold in sets of 2 and 5 so complete sets are upwards of $200 – $500 respectively. *Prices based on what I have seen on Ebay in 2015. The production value of the cars is equaled only by the well produced packaging. Sets were delivered in aluminum hinged boxes which were foam lined, a small booklet accompanied each set in German language only. The cars feature Marklin compatible couplers and interior details, yes interior details before Marklin did the same with the 81551 “Airport Express” trainset. Missing is interior lighting. Here we have two sets of EW II coaches: 30120 two car set and 30050 five car set. Set 30120 includes 1- 2nd class coach and 1- 1st class coach with ‘comfort stripe’. Set 30050 includes 1- 1st class coach with ‘comfort stripe’, 3- 2nd class coaches and 1- baggage car. Models are based on the prototype EW II coaches produced 1965-1976, they were used primarily in city and regional express trainsets. Later it has been described that EW I and EW II coaches may have been used in ‘relief trains’ to augment the need for additional coaches in special circumstances.

Art. Nr. 30120 EWII 2 Wag.Set Komfort

Art. Nr. 30050 SBB Wagenset EWII mit 5 Wagen mit Komfortstreifen

Marken-Express Train in action on the rails of an early Marklin layout

Kraft Marken-Express cars 1984-1986

In 1984-1986 Marklin released in cooperation with Kraft 11 special imprint cars in Z scale. Nine of the cars were included in printed cardboard sleeves comprising car or cars respectfully along with track or accessories comprising a complete train and layout if you collected them all. The illustrations on the sleeves are fun, they depict the car included hooked up to the other cars in the train in their progression of release. It has taken me many years to collect all of these cars, each features the little printed ‘m’ for Marklin notating a special release car. Two cars that were printed at the same time as the “Marken-Express” cars were ‘Frapan’ and ‘Knack & Back’, these cars differed from the “Marken-Express” releases, they included illustrated Kraft product sleeves. The Marklin style 8615 and 8600 freight cars were used for these two editions.

Here is the list of Marklin Z Kraft cars in order of release with Koll’s numbers:

1. NUR GUTES VERDIENT DEN NAMEN KRAFT + Tomaten-Ketchup: two car set that included a BR 89 loco. Koll’s #84710 (1984). Marken-Express release.

2. Scheibletten Koll’s #84711. Marken-Express release.

3. Mayonnaise Koll’s #84701. Marken-Express release.

4. Miracoli Koll’s #84702. Marken-Express release.

5. KRAFT-VELVETA Koll’s #85702. Marken-Express release.

6. Miracel Whip Koll’s #85703. Marken-Express release.

7. PHILADELPHIA Koll’s #85701. Marken-Express release.

8. FRAPAN Koll’s #85701.

9. Knack & Back Koll’s #85702.

10. jocca Koll’s #86701 Marken-Express release.