DB Class 65 Deutsche Bundesbahn

There was a bit of interest in my Fleischmann collection yesterday so today I've selected one of the 'big steamers' to feature in my Blip.  I collected these as display pieces and most have only spent a few minutes running on live rails.  Fleischmann detail was, at the time I was collecting the leader in detail and quality production.  Whilst many BR outline manufacturers were still producing white metal bodies the German company had perfected fine detail injection plastic moulding and their hand assembly procedures meant they could add very intricate parts like pipework, riveting, bells and whistles (so to speak) to the main casting.  From what I recall other European manufacturers like Piko, Joueff and Lima lagged behind whilst Marklin and Trix were a close second/third but being challenged by newcomer Roco.  Ownership of these companies has changed over the years as they've struggled to meet rising costs and falling sales.


The  2-8-4 steam locomotives of DB Class 65 were newly designed, German, passenger train tank locomotives, built for the Deutsche Bundesbahn after the Second World War. They were intended for suburban and commuter trains serving German cities, where they were to replace Classes 78 and 93.5. As a result, they were allocated to the locomotive depots (Bahnbetriebswerke or BW) at Darmstadt, Düsseldorf and Letmathe. Between Düsseldorf and Essen they were even used on early S-Bahn services. And between Limburg/Lahn and Wiesbaden and in the area of Darmstadtthey also hauled goods trains.
The firm of Krauss-Maffei initially delivered 13 engines in 1951 and a further 5 from 1955 to 1956. The first engine, with operating number 65 001, was retired as early as 1966.  Source:  Wikipedia.