Product Features and Details
Prototype:
The introduction of super heated steam was the last essential Improvement to Stephenson design locomotives. Reason enough for the DRG to pursue a totally new concept in Germany; the building of a turbine locomotive. The contract was awarded in 1924 to Maffei, and the T18 1002 was finished in 1926 as a pure steam turbine locomotive. The boiler for the locomotive was shorter in length due to the higher pressure and the lower rate steam consumption, and was designed for an operating pressure of 22 bar (319 pounds per square inch) The forward and reverse direction turbines were arranged together in a housing. Three wheel sets were powered through side rods from the jackshaft mounted between the wheel sets for the trucks. In a departure from the specified dimensions for standard design locomotives, the wheels for the trailing truck wheel set on this locomotive exhibit the Bavarian characteristic of being only 1,206 mm (47-1/2") in diameter as measured from the wheel tread. The condensers were switched in parallel and were mounted beneath the running board on both sides; the recooling process took place in the cooling tender. After they were finished, this lococmotive was tested by the Grunewald testing facility on a main line and on a test bed. It was discovered during these tests that there was too high a level of power lost because of the empty reverse direction turbine that was rotating with the rest of the running gear. A new main turbine and another reverse gear box turbine switching work were installed. After all of the deficiencies were corrected the T 18 1002 was assigned to the Munich main station and it was used in service until 1943 on the routes Munich - Würzburg and Munich - Lindau in express and fast train service.
Model:
The locomotive has motorized condenser fans in the tender. The T18 is handmade in brass; it features full cab interior, functional boiler hatch with full boiler details and a brushless, ironless bell shaped motor. This model is a masterpiece and it features too many technical and optical details to list. Please keep in mind that we have only one left.
