Publicidad
Information about the model:
This specially prepared model is an exclusive version,
which reproduces the condition of the original after many
years of operation in wind and weather.
This special series was only produced in a small quantity.
The artificial weathering was separately applied with
careful hand work by experienced artisans. To achieve
this realistic effect, it was important that the special paint
colors researched for this model were applied only on
particular locations and in different thicknesses.
Despite a final fixing of the colors with varnish, this addi-
tional application of color does not form a homogeneous,
hard coating.
Therefore, please handle the model with special care and
avoid, scratching, rubbing, or wiping the surface and the
details. Please do not use liquid cleaners or cleaning so-
lutions. If you follow all of these directions, you will have
years of enjoyment in your unique model.
Information about the Prototype
A heavy freight locomotive with five coupled axles and a
20 ton axle load was part of the first procurement plans of
the newly founded German State Railroad (DRG). There
was a debate regarding whether it should have two or
three cylinders, and accordingly ten units each with two
cylinders as the class 43 and with three cylinders as the
class 44 were built in 1926. After various design changes
total of 1,753 units of the class 44 were built from 1937 to
1944 for the DRG. French locomotive builders delivered
226 locomotives directly to the French State Railways
SNCF. An additional ten units were built by LEW from
existing parts in Henningsdorf after the war.
On the German railways the class 44 locomotives formed
the backbone of freight transport motive power in the
postwar period. On the German State Railroad (DR) some
of these units were converted to mostly oil firing and to
coal powder firing. Thirty-two units on the German Fe-
deral Railroad (DB) were also equipped for oil firing.
When the DB switched to a computer numbering system
for locomotive designations in 1968, there were still a
sizable number of class 44 locomotives in use. The coal
fired locomotives were reclassified as 044, the oil fired
units as 043. On October 26, 1977 the no. 043 902 hea-
ded the very last steam powered train in regular service
on the DB.
3
Publicidad
