A stunning Exotic

The great success of the H0 model of the 08 1001 of the Deutsche Reichsbahn seems to have been the trigger to announce also a gauge 1 model of the experimental steam locomotive of the GDR. A small three-digit number was probably already produced during the 2020 production of the 241.A.65 - or at least the same running gear parts for both locomotives. Unfortunately, we don't know the exact details.

Anyway, this is the reason why the models are now available so soon after the announcement. Surprising for me is that they are probably already sold out, because the class 08 consisting of a single locomotive is an exotic. If there is a high demand, it has to be discussed if the models will be produced again. This would be a good idea, because there will surely be an original version of the EST or SNCF steam locomotive. Whoever wants to have the 08 1001 with item number 55081 should hurry.

The never-ending BR story

Even twelve-year-old railroad fans know that the locomotive numbers of the DRG, DB, and DR consist of a class and a consecutive (ordinal) number. We are dealing here with a class 08. Why Märklin refers to a "BR 08 1001" in the operating instructions printed on the cheapest paper, on the presentation plate, in the decoder, and in the announcement about the history of the locomotive, is beyond comprehension. The locomotive did not belong to British Rail (BR).As an unofficial abbreviation for a class, "BR" only belongs before a class, but never before a complete locomotive number. The decoder even announces itself with "BR 08 1001 DR". 08 1001 DR would have been correct. This BR nonsense seems incompetent at such an experienced supplier as Märklin and is simply embarrassing.

Unpacking

The model comes in a 104 cm box, which is well padded in an even larger box. The tender and locomotive are bolted separately to the presentation panel with two bolts and wing nuts each. A locomotive couch (better: two) or soft cushion is needed to remove the bolts, as the locomotive and tender must be carefully laid on their sides. A plastic piece holds the distance between the chimney and the styrofoam hood.

When coupling the locomotive and tender, you have to push the multiple plug into the locomotive socket with a little force. The tender can be hooked in two steps. There are more elegant solutions with less cables and a decoder in the locomotive and a function decoder in the tender... But we can live with that.

The loco has DCC address 3 and logs on automatically with Mfx or M4 only, with all 31 functions. The sounds are varied and as always disproportionately too loud. But interesting: The simulated (quiet) blowing of the coal dust and the extremely loud coal dust burner are unusual. Fun is the passing train announcement with a Saxon accent. The Märklin decoder has a very large voltage buffer that lasts at least one minute.

Prototype and model

08 1001 is based on the 241.004 built in 1931 by the French railroad company EST. Several SNCF locomotives of this design were brought to Germany during World War 2 and were considered missing in France. Until 1952, the locomotive stood at the Deutsche Reichsbahn of the GDR to be used by Hans Wendler as a test locomotive for his pulverized coal firing system. The large firebox seemed well suited for this purpose. The performance of the de Glehn four-cylinder locomotive was well known. However, since it could only run at 16 instead of 20 bar, the 08 1001 - the only one of this class 08 - did not meet expectations. It did occasionally haul express trains from Dresden to Berlin, but was taken out of service and scrapped as early as 1955 with only 34,000 km on the clock.

Since the locomotive was rebuilt several times, there are hardly any meaningful photos and drawings. Since no one remembers what the cab looked like in detail, this led to the curious result that the Märklin model has a wheel for the filling and direction control, but no regulator for the steam supply. The decision to rather not install one than to install the wrong one can be well understood. If the fireman and engineer, which are supplied separately, stand in front of the rear boiler, which is completely different from the original, this will be accepted with confidence. Retrofitting could be done as well, even if one might be reluctant to do so with the almost €4,500 model.

As the comparison photo shows once again, only the frame and the running gear correspond to the original locomotive. The rear boiler is different, the pumps are located in other places and the cab, like the prototype, has only been trimmed a bit in the direction of the DR standard cab. The roof hatch can be opened, as can the lids of the sand dome. Many lines run quite differently, and for German right-hand traffic, the controls have been moved to the right.

The lettering is prototypical, largely legible, and etched deep enough. However, the blind oval sign on the tender would have deserved a factory sign as well.

The German-built tender looks a bit oversized due to the high attachment for the coal dust storage and the blower. However, it also makes the locomotive - and thus the model - particularly interesting.

1020 & Co.

With the compromises already described for the 241, the 790 mm long locomotive has been made movable for the minimum radius of 1,020 mm. For the display case and very large radii, frame parts are again included that limit the range of motion of the drag axle and make it partially invisible.

The spokes are extremely fine. The Telex coupler in the tender is an extra for claw coupler users, which is not really needed on a mainline locomotive. As on the 241A, the steering is servo driven depending on the direction of travel and cylinder filling. If you want, you can let artificial steam swell out of cylinders, whistle and chimney.

The steam locomotive model weighs 8.865 kg without the 40 grams of figures. The locomotive without tender weighs 6,150 g, 120 g more than the 241.A.65. Here, too, a very high tractive effort of about 1.3 kg (12.75 N) can be expected.

Conclusion

This massive model of the DR's 08 1001, a one-off of short life, fascinates with its unusual exterior, which combines a rather elegant French locomotive with a too-high brown coal dust tender. The large coupled wheels and the diagonally mounted cylinders along with the internal cylinders give the model character. The price of the mainly zinc die-cast locomotive is very high, not all details do justice to this price. However, the small edition justifies the price and should make the model a sought-after collector's item. But of course the 08 is also well suited for driving. Finescale users might regret, however, that the wheels, which are in principle very fine, are not available with corresponding dimensions.

Pros and Cons

Pro
very robust model

high traction

very fine spokes
good sound reproduction

second loudspeaker in the boiler

large current storage in the multifunction decoder

two figures

Telex coupler at the rear

detailed operating instructions and decoder functions

Neutral 


Locomotive can not be pushed
Steam generator with steam whistle

minimum radius 1020 mm

no regulator (due to lack of prototype photos)

Cons
Side noises much too loud

operating instructions on bad paper

only NEM-compatible wheelsets available

consistently wrong designation of the loco ("BR")

high price
very heavy

Märklin