Arnold - 0225/S - Engine, Steam, 0-6-0 - Painted/Lettered - 225

Specific Item Information: This model was presented on the 'American Type Steam Locomotive' page of the 1968-69 US catalog as 'Tank Switcher'. It is actually a german class BR 80, available under reference 0225, with DB marking. The DB logo and the road number are embossed on the cabin and have been painted black on this version, and a large road number 225 painted on the firebox.

Model Information: Arnold Rapido introduced 3 types of 0-6-0 steam locomotives for the US market circa 1967-68. They all share the same mechanism.
- 0225: "Tank Switcher", is actually a german class BR 80.
- 0226: "Old Timer" with a wide smokestack and a cowcatcher pilot.
- 0227: "Switcher" with a narrow smokestack and an unusual coupler in the front.
The last two share the same tender.

Prototype History: Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and no trailing wheels. This was the most common wheel arrangement used on both tender and tank locomotives in versions with both inside and outside cylinders.
The type was also widely used for diesel switchers (shunters). Because they lack leading and trailing wheels, locomotives of this type have all their weight pressing down on their driving wheels and consequently have a high tractive effort and factor of adhesion, making them comparatively strong engines for their size, weight and fuel consumption.

For a steam tank locomotive, the suffix usually indicates the type of tank:
- 0-6-0T - side tanks
- 0-6-0ST - saddle tank
- 0-6-0PT - pannier tanks
- 0-6-0WT - well tank

From Wikipedia

Road Name History: Some items are designed to have their owner add whatever company marking they choose, usually in the form of decals or dry-transfers. These items are painted in a generic prototypical fashion but with all company affiliation deliberately left off.
These items can be lettered or numbered, but without any company name on it.

Brand/Importer Information: Founded in 1906 by Karl Arnold in Nuernberg, K. Arnold & Co. began its life producing tin toys and related items. They produced an extensive line of model ships, doll house items and other toys. In 1935, K. Arnold & Co. hired Max Ernst as their managing director. Ernst, not to be confused with the German realist artist of the same name, was a significant factor in the future of Arnold.

There are several distinct phases of Arnold's model train production. In the period of 1960 - 1962, Arnold marketed the Arnold Rapido 200 product line; this line was very crude yet it also was a sensation because of its much smaller size than TT.

The next phase was from 1963-1967, when the rapido product line begins to swing toward scale representations of the trains. It is during this period that the "Rapido Coupler" comes into production, beginning its widespread use by all model train manufacturers in N-Scale. It was in 1964 that the term "N-Scale" came into use. Between 1968 and 1970, rapido line of trains reached maturity, notably with its turntable and roundhouse. Arnold entered into a business relationship with the U.S. company Revell around 1968, beginning the marketing of Revell Rapido model trains. This relationship was marked by the beginning of production of more accurate North American prototype models by Arnold. This relationship continued for several years, ending in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Arnold continued their expanded production, with new models until the early 1990s.

On Max Ernst's 1976 retirement, Arnold employed perhaps 200 to 250 people, using three facilities in the Nurnberg area. The Company continued under family control until 1995, when Arnold went into bankruptcy and was sold to Rivarossi of Italy. Rivarossi, in turn, also went bankrupt, leading to the sale of all assets to Hornby of the United Kingdom. Production is carried out in China.