VERY LIMITED RELEASE - ONLY A FEW AVAILABLE!
Herpa in cooperation with Märklin presents an exclusive car transportation train, the “Weiße Lady“ from the German Democratic Republic’s period of change during the 1980’s. A historically unique treat, “Weiße Lady” is from the transition period between epoch IV and epoch V, aimed at the discriminating model train enthusiast.
The prototype of the locomotive was already presented as “212 001-2” to the public at the Leipzig Spring Fair in 1982. It was in particular the locomotive’s attractive appearance that aroused much interest. White with red stripes, visitors affectionately nicknamed it “Weiße Lady“ – White Lady. When the fair was over, the German Reichsbahn (DR) started the testing of the locomotive with a maximum speed of 140 km/h at the testing and development facility at Halle /Saale. At the Dessau repair workshop, it was rebuilt with the gear ratio changed and a new bogie in order to be able to test the planned 120-km/h variant 243. Because of the changed gear ratio, the tractive power could be increased significantly, whereas the maximum speed was reduced to 120 km/h. The “Weiße Lady“ then became known Europe-wide as 243001–5 and stood for the GDR’s quite powerful railway industry.
The locomotive went into serial-production at the German Reichsbahn – more than 600 trains were ready for use when the German Railways (DB) and the German Reichsbahn (DR) merged. The 143 class was used in the West as a replacement for the140 and 141 legacy classes. Following a successful career as flagship locomotive, the “Weiße Lady“ today is in service for one of the “new wild” private railway companies.
Model: The locomotive of our train model set was modeled according to electrical locomotive class 243 of the German Reichsbahn (DR) of the GDR. It was the first locomotive of the new generation's class from 1983 to 1986: 243 001 'Weiss Lady with universal gear box for deployment in front of both passenger and cargo trains. Six low side cars of the Kls 443 (DB) class were pulled and deployed for the German Reichsbahn. Locomotive with metal chassis and body, digital decoder and controlled high performance traction unit, 2 axles drive, and traction tyres. Three conventionally working lamps indicating the front of the train as well as red rear end lights, digitally switchable Stan up and brake retardation with control unit or systems digitally switchable. Functioning single-arm pantograph with red painted system of rods, drivers cabs with interior decoration, fitted metal handrails. Indirect light in machine room. Length over buffers 19.1 cm. 6 freight waggons with various registration numbers and authentic data. Close coupler in accordance with European standards for model railroads with shift gate. Holding devices for transit support for vehicles Length over buffers 15.7 cm each.
Loading: 18 exclusive, extremely detailed Herpa miniature models modeled according to the street scene of the GDR Various types in exclusive colours. 5 x Trabant 601 S, 4 x Trabant 601 Universal. 4 x Wartburg 353. 4 x Wartburg 353W, 1 x Moskwtsch 403. During the time prior to the German reunification the GDR's street scene was still very conservative. It took decades to manufacture the two types built in the GDR i.e. Wartburg and Trabant with two-stoke engines, and the delivery time was usually longer than the entire model cycle of Western cars. More than 1.3 million units of the "Wartburg 353 and its successors (353-W and 1.3) were built from 1966 to 1991. The Trabant 601 was launched in 1964 and kept its form until the four-stroke engine type (1.1) came in 1991. More than 2.8 million limousines and station wagons were built, The situation in the member states of the Council for Economic Assistance (COMECON) was similar. Cars were manufactured in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania. and in Russia The range of models was limited and stable, and delivery times were long. The Russian 'Moskwitsch" was known in the West too and was resilient - mechanically at least. In the GDR with its planned economy it was considered as rather exotic.
Overall length of the train: approximately 114.0 cm
3/26/08
Herpa has regretably cancelled this item from their program due to lack of orders.
