The Setup: A Winter Scene from the 70s
Imagine stepping back to around 1970 in Germany. You’re looking at a classic DB Class 55 freight steam locomotive, pulling its tender, and attached to the front is a formidable Henschel-designed steam-powered rotary snowplow, complete with its own tender. It’s a "one-time series" release, meaning it’s a unique collector’s piece that captures a very specific moment in rail history.
Under the Hood: The Locomotive
This isn’t just a plastic shell; the locomotive and its tender are built mostly from metal, giving it that solid, heavy-duty feel. Inside, you’ll find a high-efficiency propulsion system with a bell-shaped armature and a flywheel located in the boiler area. All four driving axles are powered via traction tires, ensuring it pulls well even when hauling that heavy snowplow.
Tech & Details:
* Sound & Lights: It comes equipped with an mfx digital decoder. This means you get rich, authentic sound functions and extensive lighting features. The triple headlights are maintenance-free warm white LEDs that look great in both conventional DC mode and digital operation.
* Smoke: There’s space to install a 72270 smoke generator inside the locomotive. Like the lights, it works in both conventional and digital modes.
* Details: The engineer’s cab isn’t empty; it has detailed interior parts. You also get protective piston rod sleeves and brake hoses as extra detail parts. The connection between the loco and tender is a permanent close coupling, so they stay together smoothly.
The Star of the Show: The Rotary Snowplow
The Henschel snowplow is a marvel in its own right. The superstructure is metal, and the front housing is a highly detailed reproduction. It’s not just for show—everything moves.
Mechanical Features:
* The Blade: A separate motor powers the rotary snowplow blade wheel. As soon as you turn the power on, it starts spinning. You can also control the direction digitally: the wheel can be turned to the right or the left depending on the train's direction.
* Movable Parts: The side wings and the guide blade are movable, adding to the realism.
* Lights: It features maintenance-free warm white LEDs for both work lights and track headlights. You can switch between these digitally or control them in conventional mode.
Sound & Smoke:
* Like the locomotive, the snowplow has an mfx decoder for lights and sounds.
* It has its own slot for a 7226 smoke generator, which also operates in both conventional and digital modes.
Key Highlights to Remember
* Dual Decoder Power: Both the loco and snowplow have mfx decoders for impressive, synchronized light and sound effects.
* Moving Parts: The snowplow blade rotates, and the wings/guide blades move.
* Light Versatility: You can digitally switch between work lights and track headlights on the plow.
* Realistic Details: Prominent warning markings on the side wings, detailed cab interiors, and hatches on the tender that actually open.
* Size: At 45.4 cm (about 17-7/8 inches) long, it’s a substantial model that demands space in your layout.
In short, this is a heavy-duty, metal-bodied model with serious electronic features, perfect for anyone who wants a realistic, winter-themed freight run from the German rail era.
