BR50
German Railways BR50 – Pre-War with Wagner Smoke Deflectors
- Scale: 1:32
- Release: 1996
- Limited Edition: 60
- Model Size: 30”L x 4”W x 5”H
- Base Type: Mahogany Roller
- Base/Case Size: 35”L x 8”Wx 8”H
- Availability: Sold Out
German Railways BR50 – Post-War with Witte Smoke Deflectors
- Scale: 1:32
- Release: 1996
- Limited Edition: 30
- Model Size: 30”L x 4”W x 5”H
- Base Type: Mahogany
- Base/Case Size: 35”L x 8”Wx 8”H
- Availability: Sold Out
German Railways BR50 – French
- Scale: 1:32
- Release: 1996
- Limited Edition: 10
- Model Size: 30”L x 4”W x 5”H
- Base Type: Mahogany
- Base/Case Size: 35”L x 8”Wx 8”H
- Availability: Sold Out
German Railways BR 50
One of the most famous and successful steam freight locomotives ever produced in Europe was the German-built BR (Baureihe or class) 50. More than 3,600 of these 2-10-0s were produced between 1934 and 1944. Although they are no longer used on standard-gauge lines in Germany, some of them continue to operate today in other countries around the world.
The first BR 50s were manufactured for the Deutsche Reichsbahn Gesellschaft (DRG) German State Railway. Some were equipped with three domes on their boilers; others with four. With an axle loading of only 30,000 lbs., they could be used with few restrictions across the entire DRG system. When Germany was partitioned after World War II, a majority of BR 50s was allocated to the Deutsche Bundesbahn (West German Federal Railway).
Characteristics of these locomotives included the small, Witte-type smoke deflectors and their open front cab windows. In contrast, most Rekolok locomotives allocated to the Deutsche Reichsbahn (East German State Railway) were fitted with blanked-out front cab windows and retained their original Wagner smoke deflectors for a longer period. In addition, they carried feedwater heaters above their smokebox doors.
The BR 50 design was conservative, and most of them lasted in service with little need for modification until the demise of standard-gauge steam operations in Germany. Some also saw service in Austria, France, and The Netherlands.
Fine Art Models
Fine Art Models has produced 100 Gauge 1 models of this locomotive in three versions: 30 DRs from 1942, 60 DBs, and 10 French X-150 (post-war configuration). These were named model of the year in Germany (just as our Crocodiles earned the same honor in Switzerland). Each model comes complete with an operating roller display base (so the locomotive can be run in place by an owner who has no layout) and case.
Our BR 50 features exacting detail and includes an onboard sound system that replicates the actual sounds of the real locomotive. They feature functional headlights, sandbox covers, hatch covers and coal doors, plus a complete set of prototypical tools and working brakes. They also come with functional buffers, ball bearing wheel journals, sliding fireman and engineer windows with real glass, complete cab and backhead detail, complete underbody detail, equalized suspension with functional springs, a ball bearing gearbox and a 12-volt Pittman motor with flywheel.
Reference:
The German Railway Handbook: information about all classes of German locomotives
