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Gauge: Z Era: II
Prototype: Propeller-driven Kruckenberg Rail
Zeppelin. The unit looks as it did in 1931 on the German
State Railroad Company (DRG).
Model: The powered rail car has
a 5-pole motor. It also has dual headlights. The rail car
has dark nickel plated wheel treads. It comes in a real
wooden case. A booklet with the history of the designer and
the powered rail car is included. Vehicle length
approximately 4-5/8".
One-time series originally
scheduled for release in 2010 to commemorate the 175th
anniversary of Railroading in Germany (release delayed until
2011).
Additional Information:
The Rail Zeppelin designed and built in 1929 by Franz
Friedrich Kruckenberg reached a speed record over 230 km/h /
144 mph on June 21, 1931 between Hamburg and Berlin. This
record stood for 24 years. The wooden propeller on the back
of the car was powered by a 600 hp BMW 12-cylinder,
lightweight airplane motor. The total weight of the Rail
Zeppelin was only 18.6 metric tons, which surely contributed
considerably to this record. The two-axle car was 25.85
meters / 84 feet 9-5/16 inches long and had a wheelbase of
19.6 meters / 64 feet 3-3/4 inches. Unfortunately, the Rail
Zeppelin was stored after being equipped with a new motor in
1934 and being used for a time for test runs. It was later
scrapped due to the poor condition it was in after being
stored.
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