Product Features and Details
Model: The Liliput L131722 BR 45 is one of the most popular locomotives in the Liliput assortment. This impressive model offers a great level of detail and impressive running performance. The best feature about the BR 45, is that the model is all metal. Liliput did an exceptional job on the boiler details and paint livery . The BR 45 is an exquisite German Steam locomotive and no European Model Train Collection is complete with out this impressive locomotive.
Model Features:
- Body, running gear, side rods and wheels of die cast metal
- 5-pole, offset grooved motor with flyweight
- drive unit in tender
- traction tires
- close coupler between locomotive and tender
- digital interface for plug-in 21 pin decoder
- coupler pocket as per NEM 362
- triple light LED top signal alternating with the direction of travel
- recommended minimum radius 360mm
- length over buffers 295mm
Modellers Tip: The modeler who wants to display this magnificent model should use it for the heaviest freight trains. Moreover, German freight trains in the 1950’s and 1960’s had a caboose similar to L235002 (an Era II model) which was usually located at the front of the train right after the locomotive. Other tyes of cabooses can be found in the catalogues of the other manufacturers. The 41 (often) and 45 (sometimes) class were also used on accelerated trains (Eilzug) because of their relatively high speed and good acceleration. After all, many freight trains ran during the off-hours to stay out of the way of passenger trains, so these engines were available for other assignments during the day. For instance, a train consisting of Liliput L334556, L334536, L334537 and L334538 would be a plausible assignment for a 45 class. I would also recommend the Roco cars 44439/44/49/54 and Fleischmann offer a variety of Era III cars of the former DRG which could be used for such trains. The modeler should keep in mind that, in the late 1950’s, most accelerated trains were made from prewar stock that had been used only a few years ago on Express trains. The arrival of the new 26.4m long cars had freed them to be used in such lower class services
Prototype: The locomotives of the 45 class were the freight equivalent of the 05 express engines. Their origin can be traced back to the desire of the German State Railroad (DRG) to increase the speed of their freight trains. The classes 41 and 45 were given a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) instead of the standard 80km/h (50 mph) of the 44 class. While the 41 class was designed for medium to heavy trains, the 45 class was the one for fast, extra-heavy freights. In addition, their axle-load could be varied from 18t to 20t depending on the line they were running on. Unfortunately, the Reichsbahn design principles for boilers caused problems in the 45 class because the long boiler tubes were prone to breaking. The Bundesbahn scrapped most of the 45’s in the 1950’s as being too expensive to maintain. However, 10 were given new boilers with shorter tubes and a combustion chamber. The Liliput models show this version of the 45 class. Because of their high speed and brute power, they were the ideal braking locomotives for the Locomotive Testing Facility in Minden. Two survived in this role until 1968. 45 010 is maintained as a non-working exhibit.
