Product Features and Details
Prototype: German Federal Railroad (DB) class E 10.3. B-B wheel arrangement. The locomotive looks as the prototype did in Era III around 1965 with "pants crease" ends, continuous cooling grills, continuous rain gutter, and aerodynamic buffer housings as well as end skirting.
Model: The locomotive comes with an mfx decoder and the new compact design controlled C-Sine high-efficiency propulsion. 4 axles driven by cardan shafts from a centrally mounted motor. 2 traction tires. The locomotive has separately applied metal hand rails. The engineer's cabs have interior details. The locomotive has separately applied roof walks. The triple headlights and dual red marker lights are maintenance-free LED's. They change over with the direction of travel, will work in conventional operation, and can be controlled digitally. Station announcements, a locomotive whistle sound, and the direct control (acceleration/braking delay) can be controlled with a Control Unit or Märklin Systems. Length over the buffers 18.9 cm / 7-7/16".
Highlights:
* Completely new tooling.
* Metal construction.
* New compact design C-Sine high-efficiency propulsion.
* mfx decoder included.
* Sound generator with multiple functions included.
* "Station announcements" as a special sound function.
* Headlights / marker lights with maintenance-free LED's.
From New Construction to Enduring Classic The class E 10 (starting in 1953) and class E10.1 (starting in 1956) electric locomotives placed into service by the new German Federal Railroad quickly proved to be extremely multifaceted and highly reliable new locomotives. However, from 1963 on there was a desire to increase express train speeds to 160 km/h / 100 mph. The two early classes of E 10 locomotives were designed for a maximum speed of 130 and 150 km/h / 81 and 94 mph, which was not enough. The class E 10.3 was therefore developed. Its design borrowed heavily from proven components, but it was equipped with a more aerodynamic body with typical "pants crease" ends, buffers in streamlined housings, and continuous skirting at the ends for the buffer beams. This was in addition to higher gear ratios and improvements to the running gear. One other characteristic feature of these locomotives was the continuous vent grills along the sides of the units, which together with a cobalt blue paint scheme gave these locomotives a dignified, elegant appearance. From 1963/64 on the E 10.3 in this form was the preferred motive power for express train consists in important long distance service on electrified routes. The units still in use today have proven themselves with their high percentage of time available for service and their extremely durable construction. The experience gathered from this class was used as a basis for the design of the still more powerful class E 03 electric express locomotives.
