Our March Newsletter of the young new year reviews a few of the huge amount of new models recently announced at the Nürnberg trade fair, which are already on the shelves of your local dealer.

Already available is the Prussian T18 tank as class 78 of the DB.

The class 78, mixed traffic tank loco was the last built for Prussian railways, but had a long service record lasting until the 1970’s on the DB.

Is a 1st/2nd class “silver fish” local coach, mostly used in push/pull operations on the DB until the 1980’s when the base metal colouring with the fish scale appearance of the circular grindings on the sides were painted over in later liveries.

And to accompany it, an all second class, “silver fish” coach
model no: 564201

The Roco model number 62191 is a technological leap forwards with actual “chuffing” smoke from the funnel, steam exhaust beats from the cylinders, lights, sound – all the characteristics of the prototype in miniature!

The Black Swan – with or without the steam chuffs and sound!

The prototype: Class 10 steam locomotive 001 of the German Federal Railroad (DB) as delivered in the 1950’s for use in fast and express trains. The model is a complete redesign. Finely detailed, with triple headlights and two red tail lights in LED technology. With PluX digital interface. Minimum radius 419 mm.

The Black Swan was developed in 1953 by Krupp on the orders of the German Federal Railways, even though steam loco traction was already in its twilight years and scheduled to be discontinued. In 1957, under the series number 10, two elegant 4-6-2 were delivered with a driving wheel diameter of 2,000 mm.

The loco number 10 001 was initially equipped only with a oil firing (a modification made later), loco number 10 002 was oil-fired from the beginning. The two locos embellished with silver trim lines and cone-shaped smoke box doors provided a top speed of 140 km / h., although because of their high axle load, the two locomotives were only permitted to run on certain routes. By 1962 they were in the loco depot Bebra, subsequently stationed in Kassel, where they were in operation on the heavy express train service on the north-south route and the Main-Weser railway. However, the electrification process was well under way, and thus the class 10 did not see mass production of the class.

In January 1967 10 002 suffered a fracture on a slide rod and was retired and later dismantled in the Offenburg depot. In June the following year, loco 10 001 was withdrawn from active service with the German Federal Railroad (DB) although today the 109 t heavy locomotive is preserved for posterity and can be visited still nowadays at the German Steam Locomotive Museum in Neuenmarkt- Wirzberg.

Narrow gauge fans have an extra wagon to add to their collection. The bike carrying van of the picturesque Mariazeller line in Austria.

Brings the sturdy class 57 to life in her DR clothing of the 1970’s. Used mainly for heavy goods shunting and hauling goods trains.

An early 1980’s version of the popular class 141 electrics, used mainly for “silver fish” push/pull commuter services, in the green DB livery:

The Roco model has triple headlights and two red tail lights, just like the prototype!

Climbing the mountainous stretches of Austria, the class 1245.5 of the OBB, this little model is now available with or without digital sound:

Is the same delightful reproduction of the 1980’s electric loco, but with the addition of digital sound!

Still with Austrian railways of the 1980’s, here’s the blood orange liveried class 1141.

The ever popular “Crocodile” makes another appearance, now in orange 1990’s livery:

Class 1020 of the öBB.

Swiss fans can add a little more operational value to their layout with the addition of the delightfully detailed “Jura” cement wagon set containing two wagons – each with different running numbers:

And here’s a box van, with dual Nationality! Although Swiss in origin, the van was sold to the French Railways (SNCF) but still retained the Swiss marking even while running on “foreign” soil!

Naturally, to haul your Swiss rolling stock, you would expect to find a suitable loco, and here’s the latest out of the mould - the “Canton” loco Ae 6/6, bearing the canton shield of Thurgau:

The ubiquitous Ae 6/6 in 1980’s green livery, to haul both passenger and freight rolling stock,

Here comes her more modern sister, the A 610 in modern cargo livery:

The canton shield is that of “Airolo”

For old-timer fans of branch line steam, the old favourite “Glaskasten” local loco makes a welcome return to the tracks, this time, not in her original green Bavarian livery, but in her last incarnation in DB black before retirement:

Naturally enough, you’ll need some DB coaches for this tiny loco to pull, stopping at every station for passengers and baggage – set no: 64052 Three, original Bavarian coaches in one pack.

Whilst trundling along the Bavarian branch lines, the train would also stop to pick up the arable produce of the area – sugar beet. So here’s another complementary set of the period. Three open DB trucks already loaded with the fruits of the field:

each wagon has a different running number.

Night time travel over long distances! The all blue, sleeping coach of the DB
Model no: 64761
Belonging to a more modern era.

The P8 in epoch III livery of the DB, fitted with long distance tender. Designed by the famous engineer Robert Garbe, the original Prussian P8 became widespread all over Europe and could be seen equally at home hauling expresses, passenger trains and goods trains.

Naturally, there were several variants of the P8 to be found on epoch III Deutsche Reichsbahn rails.

And, last but not least a digital version only in Epoch II, with double headlights of the period;

You’ll find a large number of suitable coaches for these locos in the current Fleischmann catalogue!

And now we welcome the return of an old favourite – the track cleaner in N gauge, with motor driven rotating discs to keep the rail surfaces clean – especially in tunnels where the hands cannot reach!

(The pantograph is dummy)

Spare discs, with sticky-back adhesive can be purchased – Part number 357969

How did the fresh fish get from harbour to market?... By train of course!

here’s a set of three box vans (with different running numbers) clearly labelled “Seefische” so that the contents would be speedily despatched to their destinations. These wagons date back to the steam age of the DRG.

Leaping forward to the present day, Epoch VI gives modellers the chance to brighten up their layout with trains of many colours. This set of two hoppers is of the Veolia company in distinctive blue livery:

Coming in May will be the cult 1960’s “mod” scooter – the Vespa in HO scale:.