Hobbytrain - H4005 - Locomotive, Steam, 4-6-2, BR 18 - Deutsche Bundesbahn - 18 323

Model Information: Hobbytrain uses this model to represent different versions of the Class BR 18 steam locomotive of Germany. Although each subclass has different distinctive features, they are similar enough that Hobbytrain is able to get away with using the same model (with minor shell differences) to represent them.

DCC Information: Uses a 6-pin interface NEM 651 decoder.

Prototype History: The Class 18 locomotives were a group of related German steam locomotives operated by the Deutsche Reichsbahn between the wars. All of these locomotives were express tender units and had been taken over from the state railways. Each locomotive subclass was slightly different, but all shared a 4-6-2 (Pacific) wheel arrangement. These included: Class 18.0: Saxon XVIII H, Class 18.1: Württemberg C, Class 18.2: Baden IV f, Class 18.3: Baden IV h, Class 18.4-5: Bavarian S 3/6, Class 18.6: PKP Class Pm36, and Class T 18.10: turbine locomotives.

Road Name History: Deutsche Bundesbahn was the Western Germany DB before reunification. After World War II, Germany (and the DRG) was divided into 4 zones: US, British, French and Soviet. The first three eventually combined to form the Federal Republic of Germany (the West) and the Russian zone became the German Democratic Republic (the East). German territories beyond the Oder were ceded to Poland except for the northern part of East Prussia, which was ceded to the Soviet Union in 1945.

From 1949, the new governments assumed authority for railway operations. The DRG's (or DR's) successors were named Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB, German Federal Railways) in West Germany, and Deutsche Reichsbahn (DR, German State Railways) in East Germany kept the old name to hold tracking rights in western Berlin.

Unlike the DRG, which was a corporation, both the DB and the DR were federal state institutions, directly controlled by their respective transportation ministries. Railway service between East and West was restricted; there were around five well-controlled and secure checkpoints between West and East Germany, and about the same number between East Germany and West Berlin. Four transit routes existed between West Germany and West Berlin; citizens of West Berlin and West Germany were able to use these without too much harassment by the East German authorities.

The DB started in 1968 with changing the locomotive and passenger car serial numbers to the UIC norm. In 1970 the DR followed. The DB started experimenting with the Intercity trains in a new livery (bright orange).

In 1989, the Wall fell. Train frequency rapidly increased on the existing East/West corridors; closed links which had formerly crossed the border were re-opened. On 3 October 1990, Germany was reunified; however, this was not immediately the case with the railways. Administrative and organisational problems led to the decision to completely re-organize and reconnect Germany's railways. The so-called Bahnreform (Railway Reform) came into effect on 1 January 1994, when the State railways Deutsche Bundesbahn and Deutsche Reichsbahn were formally reunited to form the current German Railway Corporation (Deutsche Bahn).

From Wikipedia

Brand/Importer Information: Hobbytrain was an Austrian firm, that was acquired by Wolfgang Lemke GmbH in 2002. It produces HO and N scale models.