Prototype: German State Railroad Company (DRG) class 86 steam locomotive. 2 so-called type Gll Dresden "Leig-Einheit" pairs of cars.
 

Model: All of the driving wheels on the locomotive are powered. The headlights change over with the direction of travel. The locomotive body and frame are constructed of metal. 2 pairs of Leig-Einheit boxcars make up the train. Both cars in each pair are permanently coupled together and have a diaphragm between them. Length over the buffers approximately 281 mm / 11-1/16". Important: Due to their design the Leig-Einheit cars cannot be run on the 145 mm / 5-3/4" radius curved track.
 

Highlights:

• Leig-Einheit cars are partially new tooling.

The increase in freight traffic by road caused the German State Railroad Company to accelerate freight service and to make it more attractive. This was achieved by the introduction of "lightweight freight trains" for less-than-carload-lot service. These so-called "Leig Units" usually consisted of two 2-axle boxcars that were connected by a diaphragm. The advantage to this was the sorting of freight in route. The German Federal Railroad also needed these fast freight trains and even purchased new double cars authorized for a maximum speed of 100 km/h / 63 mph. These well known freight trains did not disappear from the German rail system until 1978.