Märklin 81221

Z 81221 Commuter Train with the Class 194
On the Geislingen Grade
Who does not know it, the mighty class 194 freight locomotive? Built starting in 1940, it was viewed for a long time as the optimal motive power for heavy freight service. The last units did not leave the DB until May of 1988. Prior to that these massive six-axle units with their striking hoods did countless pusher services among other things on the grades of the Mittelgebirge Region, such as on the Geislingen Grade. In 2025 they can look back on 175 years of rail service. In addition to the pusher service there that ended in 1987, the rotation planning for these units also saw more comfortable tasks in commuter service. Here these heavy athletes were suddenly pulling "n" cars, better known as "Silberlinge" / "Silver Coins" because the car bodies were constructed of polished stainless steel and had a striking, gleaming silver peacock's eye pattern. About 5,000 units were built between 1958 and 1980. Later they were given the current paint scheme of DB Regio. Currently, they are no longer in use. It is all the more attractive when a class 194 with two or three "Silberlinge" / "Silver Coins" coupled to it is doing its rounds on a layout. Just as it was on the Geislingen Grade.

Prototype: German Federal Railroad (DB) class 194 electric locomotive and a type Bnb 720 commuter car. The units look as they did in Era IVc on the Geislingen Grade.
Model: The locomotive has a motor with a bell-shaped armature. It can be operated electrically from catenary. There are warm white LED headlights that change over with the direction of travel. Both hoods are constructed of metal. Both trucks powered. The car has built-in interior details. The paint scheme and lettering on both units is finely done and prototypical. Length over the buffers approximately 207 mm / 8-1/8". A booklet on the history of the Geislingen Grade is included.