Step Aside Live Steam, now there’s Live Diesel!

New From the Nuremburg Toy Fair . . .

 O scale Diesel Powered Diesels

You’ve heard of live steam in HO by Hornby in 2004. Well, we now have Live Diesel in O scale! Yes, Glockenspiel Modells, located in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, has announced two O scale diesel electric locomotives, powered by a real diesel prime mover. The first of the two models is of a 1953 German Passenger locomotive, the V-200. The second, hold on to your hats, is that of an EMD DD-40X!

 

 

Here is a German V-200 used on the DB starting in 1953, photo curbsideclassic.com

 

The real V-200 was built by Krauss-Maffei of Germany for the Deutsche Bahn and used as a high-speed passenger locomotive. The V-200 was a Diesel Hydraulic locomotive; the Glockenspiel model will not use a hydraulic drive. It will have their diesel electric drive. When asked why they chose a proto type model that was not a diesel electric for this project, they said. “We looked at several different models that would accommodate our miniature diesel electric drive; the V-200 worked the best for us.” They went on to say, “it was also a very recognizable locomotive in both Germany and Europe, something that would sell well throughout the EU.”   But why O scale and not G or HO? Hendrik Beckmann, their project manager replied, “HO was way too small, and the cost of a G scale model was out of most hobbyists’ reach, we had to take the middle way!”

The DD-40X was EMD’s most successful twin motor diesel electric freight locomotive, and a huge locomotive even in HO scale. Hendrik Beckmann: “we wanted a very impressive American Locomotive, one that everyone would recognize, both in the US and Europe.” We also know that the 150^th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad is coming up in 2019, an anniversary with strong ties to both the Union Pacific railroad and the DD40X!” The DD 40X were called Centennials, because they were delivered to the UP in 1969, the one hundredth anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike on the First Transcontinental Railroad.

 

The Glockenspiel Modell’s UP DD40X, photo modelengeneersrising.com.

 

Good luck to Glockenspiel Modells; the V-200 will sell for $2999.99, and the DD40X $4299.99. The models comes complete with DCC and air horn, brake, and coupler sound (DD40X only), but the diesel prime mover sound is real. Full product release details are expected on or around April 1^st, 2014.

 

— Ray Del Papa