It was a real icon on DB track well into the late Sixties: The mighty express steam locomotive, road number 18 323, has what it takes to become a star as the perfectly designed model in the Märklin program. It was in use until 1969 as an extremely powerful and fast unit all over West Germany under the management of the German Federal Railroad Central Bureau. The new Märklin model is thereby a real highlight in any collection and on any layout set in the significant DB Era III. Its appearance in the midst of the ultramodern diesel and electric locomotives and the widely spread standard design steam locomotives at that time will attract a great deal of attention as in the real life prototype. With unusual stories linked with this German locomotive icon.

Prototype: Express steam locomotive, road number 18 323, with a type 2´2 T29,6 coal tender, German Federal Railroad (DB). Former Baden class IVh. Experimental locomotive at the German Federal Railroad Experimental Office in Minden. Black/red basic paint scheme. Witte smoke deflectors and an inductive magnet on the engineer's side. Smokestack with a Caledonian rim. The locomotive looks as it did around 1966.
Model: The locomotive has a digital decoder and extensive sound functions. It also has controlled high-efficiency propulsion with a flywheel in the boiler. 3 axles powered. Traction tires. The locomotive and tender are constructed mostly of metal. There is a factory-installed smoke generator in the locomotive. It has dynamic smoke exhaust that varies with the locomotive speed and is digitally controlled. The triple headlights change over with the direction of travel, will work in conventional operation, and can be controlled digitally. There are also dual red lamps on the front of the locomotive, which can be controlled digitally. The cab lighting, running gear lights, and firebox flickering can be controlled separately in digital operation. Maintenance-free warm white and red LEDs are used for the lighting. There is an adjustable close coupling with a guide mechanism between the locomotive and tender. There is a close coupler with an NEM pocket and a current-conducting guide mechanism on the tender. The buffer height on the locomotive and tender adhere to the NEM. The minimum radius for operation is 360 mm / 14-3/16. More tightly mounted entry steps below the cab are included for installation for large radius curves or display cases. Piston rod protection sleeves and heating and brake hoses are also included.Length over the buffers 27.2 cm / 10-11/16.

Passenger cars correct for the era and to go with the steam locomotive, road number 18 323, will be presented as part of the Märklin summer new items for 2024

This model can be found in an AC version in the Märklin H0 assortment under item number 38323.