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The Prototype
On June 21, 1931, Franz Kruckenberg's
Schienenzeppelin (Rail Zeppelin) set a railway speed record that would
stand for 20 years! Traveling on a track between Hamburg and Berlin, the
prototype high-speed railcar sped along at 230 km per hour for
approximately 20 km.
The Rail Zeppelin was never put into production,
but it attracted attention wherever it went. A BMW airplane engine was
used to power a four-blade wooden propeller that pushed the light-weight
railcar through the air. The construction of the body was similar to the
then-popular Zeppelin airships and the interior was Spartan; this train
was not luxurious.
The failure of the Rail Zeppelin has been
attributed to everything from the dangers of using an open propeller in
crowded railway stations to competition between Kruckenberg's
Flugbahngesellschaft company and the Deutsche Reichsbahn's separate
efforts to build a "Fliegende Zuege". The Schienenzeppelin was, however,
an important part of the evolution of high speed passenger rail
transport and continues to attract the attention of railroad fans and
hobbyists.
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Märklin Rail Zeppelin Models
Märklin GmbH, a German company established in 1859, has been making
models of the Rail Zeppelin since 1932. The variety includes:
8876 Z-Scale
This is the only Märklin version that is close to the prototypically correct length. The
H0 versions are two inches too short and have four axles; modifications
that were required to facilitate getting around model railroad curves
that are much too sharp for scale.
The 8876 Z-scale version was issued as a one year item in 1982 to commemorate
the 10th anniversary of Z-scale model railroading.
88761 Z-Scale
In January 2010, Märklin announced plans to issue another
Z-Scale Rail Zeppelin to commemorate the 175th anniversary
of railroading in Germany. Information included with
the announcement suggests that difference between the 2010
and 1982 versions will include:
3077 & 8377 H0-Scale
The 3077 was made from 1975 to 1990. Like the Z-scale unit, it has a
separate motor to power the propeller while the railcar is propelled by
a conventional motor that drives the two front axles. The 8377 was
identical except it was made for use on two-rail DC systems (vs. the
three-rail system Märklin uses for most of its H0 models).
3477 H0-Scale
The 3477 was issued as a one year item in 1995 to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of H0-scale model railroading. It is virtually identical to
the 3077, except:
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the 3477 has a bright finish and interior
details
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the 3477 has a
Delta
circuit that allows it to be used with "conventional" (analog)
Märklin systems as well as
Digital
Märklin
systems
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the 3477 has a silver-plated two-blade
propeller (the 3077 has a plastic four blade propeller)
37777 H0-Scale
In January 2010, Märklin announced plans to issue
another H0-Scale Rail Zeppelin to commemorate the 175th
anniversary of railroading in Germany. Information
included with the announcement suggests that this model will
have the 3077's matte finish and the 3477's interior
details. The 2010 version will also have an mFX
digital decoder, a sound effects generator, and digitally
controlled interior lighting and propeller:
SZ970 0-Scale (Clockwork)
The first SZ970 was issued about six months after the real Rail
Zeppelin's record speed run. The SZ970 was powered by a clockwork
mechanism almost identical to that used in the
clockwork cars, planes, and trucks that Märklin sells today. The SZ970 was sold first sold with a two
blade propeller and then with a four blade propeller. Photos of the
prototype suggest both types of propeller were used in Kruckenberg's
test runs.
SZ12970 0-Scale (Electric)
The SZ12970 is almost identical to the SZ970, except that it is powered
by an electric motor. It's likely that it was also first sold with a
two-blade prop and then with a four-blade prop. The four-blade prop unit
also had a red light on the rear of the train.
SZ12971 1-Scale (Electric)
We haven't been able to find much information on this model, but there
is one on display in
Märklin's museum in
Göppingen, Germany.
It's a little more to scale than the 0-gauge unit, which is very stubby
looking. This model may also have been sold as a clockwork unit, but we
haven't seen one.
16075 1-Scale
(Electric)
A replica of the SZ12971 was issued as a limited
production item in 2006. The replica, identified as
catalog number 16075, has the same external appearance as
the SZ12971 but the internal components have been updated to
include a digital decoder and to allow for two-rail
operation. (Click
here
for more information.)
Märklin 16075 (1-Scale) & 8876 (Z-Scale)
Rail Zeppelins
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Collection of Rail Zeppelin Models
Back Row:
Märklin 16075 - Replica
of SZ12971 (1-Scale)
Märklin SZ970 - Clockwork
(0-Scale)
Middle Row:
Märklin SZ971 - Electric
(0-Scale)
Märklin 3477 (H0-Scale)
Front Row:
Märklin 3077.82701 -
Limited Issue Weathered Version of 3077 (H0-Scale)
KATO/Hobbytrain 2621
(N-Scale)
Märklin 3077 (H0-Scale)
Märklin 8876 (Z-Scale)
Märklin 3477.99701 -
Limited Issue Museum/Treff Version of 3477 (H0-Scale)
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Links to Rail Zeppelin Videos
YouTube has videos showing the
prototype Rail Zeppelin as well as an interesting Kraftwerk music video
that combines footage of the prototype and the Marklin 3077 HO-scale
model:
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