Spring is in the air, and many of the early new 2011 releases from the Roco and Fleischmann new FREE catalogues can now be found on your dealers’ shelves.
Our April newsletter brings you up to date with developments:

Hidden away in the pages of the latest 2011 catalogue is an old favourite diesel engine, in her glorious decoration of the past.

Nostalgia... The only diesel loco in the original burgundy and ivory livery of the Trans-Europ-Express colours. Now to be seen hauling the nostalgia excursion trains, like the famous “Rhine Gold” express. Although used in everyday service to haul other services, this loco has been given the prestigious TEE finish so as to proudly appear at the head of the special excursion trains ever popular today.

Not due for release until July, you can pre-order this loco from your dealer. No: 423401 is the standard DC model, whilst 423471 is the digital version with sound. 493801 is the same loco fitted with motor driven cleaning pads to clean the rail surfaces, whilst 493871 is the same track cleaner but with digital sound.

Steam fans have not been forgotten though, with the release of a superb model in DB livery – the mixed traffic tank loco – class 86. Although over 800 were made for the Deutsche Reichsbahn, only 385 survived into service on the DB.

Still keeping to the DB – Epoch IV, this model is of another classic tank engine, the class 65 –

Another heavy tank engine of the same period although on East German, DR rails – the class 94

With her huge work colleague of the Eastern DR – the mighty class 03 in Epoch III livery with the Wagner style, “elephant ears” smoke deflectors

On the rolling stock front, there’s a pair of car transporter wagons (they always ran in pairs) loaded with Herpa models of the BMW 700 series.

UK FREIGHT WAGON!

Making a welcome return to the range, the high-capacity, sliding wall wagon. Designed originally for ferry traffic to Great Britain, this DB wagon is made to the smaller UK profile enabling it to run through onto British rails! Model no: 66327 (The NEM coupling socket can accommodate different coupling styles from other makers).

LOCO & DUMMY As these two class 220 diesels were always working together as doubleheaders, particularly on loan for a period to Danish railways, the latest Roco model shows the pair (with different running numbers). One loco is motorised – the other is a dummy. Model no: 62749 Ideal load-haulers at the head of a heavy train of hopper wagons!

However, going back in time, to the steam era, and the 1920’s “Grand Tour” of Europe, here’s a sleeping car of the golden age of travel – the Mitropa sleeping car in deep red livery:

Suitable coaches to make up the complete train – 45443 / 45444 / 45445 / 45447 / 45448

The railbus was hailed as “the saviour of the branch line” and today’s modern railcars, often operated by the local administration are still carrying out that task even today;

The Roco model no: 63183 is the latest design of the Würrtemberg Regio shuttle operated by the WEG. Ideal for smaller branch line layouts!

Unfortunately, you’ll have to be a little patient for the set of latest Austrian coaches to match! They’ll be out later this year.

Set of two hopper wagons!

The complete breakdown crane for N gauge!

Used for bridge and other rail construction sites, as well as recovery of accidents involving railway vehicles, this breakdown crane set is now in DB Epoch IV livery. The complete crane can be rotated, the jib raised and lowered, and the hook raised and lowered by using the chimney as a manual handle inserted in the socket in the side of the cab.

Of course, as would be prototypical, the crane is always accompanied by a match truck and jib support wagon as well as the trucks carrying the compensating weights which would be attached to the rear of the cab when in use. These small trucks are included in this set. Can your own loco depot afford to be without this crane standing by?

For steam fans, the class 65 of the DB reappears in Epoch IV design, shortly before retirement in 1972.

Slipping a little further back in time to Epoch III, here comes a delightful addition to any layout, especially on “excursion specials”, which could be steam hauled if you like.

Carrying the slogan “Der Hamburger”, as well as the finely printed coat of arms of the ancient Hanseatic City of Hamburg, this superb model of an early restaurant coach from the immediate post-war era could fit with any steam-hauled special.

Advance Info: There has been much excitement among enthusiastic Swiss modellers in the UK about the family of Swiss coaches (nos: 890201 /890301/890302/890401) and the driving trailer coach illustrated in this year’s new items catalogue.

These coaches are not due to be released until October/November, so at least you’ll have time to save up! It would be even better to get your dealer to pre-order these coaches for you in advance to avoid disappointment as demand may outstrip supply!

And now we come to the N gauge highlight train! The Berlin to Warsaw Express

Linking the revitalised German capital city of Berlin with the capital city of Poland, the Berlin-Warsaw express runs 3 daily returns, within a journey time of 6 hours. The train is made up of coaches from both the DB and PKP (Polish Railways) (pictures courtesy of Deutsche Bahn AG) in a special blue and white livery, and is usually hauled by the third generation of “Taurus” locos.

Now this famous express can be modelled in N gauge with Fleischmann rolling stock! The loco – the third generation of Taurus – with four pantographs – model no: 731203

It has been brought to our attention by several UK modellers that the printed instructions contained in the packaging are only in the German language. In addition, the promised link printed on the instructions to download the English instructions is missing! So, here’s how to work the doors of these innovative, operating vans:

The Fleischmann N gauge “Leig” goods vans are designed to be operated digitally. They can even be operated whilst unattended on a siding. They do not need to be connected to any locomotive! As well as the Fleischmann and Roco multiMAUS controllers, they will operate with all of the major digital control systems / controllers.

The individual vans of each unit are permanently wired together and therefore care should be taken when placing on / taking off the tracks.

Each unit consists of a van with brakeman’s cab and another adjoining ‘plain’ van. The van with the brakeman’s cab has doors numbered 1 and 2, whilst the ‘plain’ van has doors numbered 4 and 5. Doors 1 and 3 are the left hand doors, whilst 2 and 4 are the right hand doors.

The units are already prepared for digital operation and have the address “4” and “5”. These addresses can be changed in exactly the same way as loco addresses can be changed. (The address is stored in CV1).

The doors are operated using the function keys of the controller. Function keys “1” and “2” will open / close the doors of the van with brakeman’s cab, whilst function keys “3” and “4” will open and close the doors of the ‘plain’ van.

The interior lighting of the van with the brakeman’s cab can be turned on / off using the function key “5” and the light of the ‘plain’ van by function key “6”.