Class 181.2 Electric Locomotive

Pushing boundaries, building a joint Europe: The class 181.2 dual system locomotives ran to Luxembourg and France starting in 1974 pulling famous trains such as the "Mozart", the TEE "Goethe", or the overnight sleeping car train Moscow – Paris. For decades the class 181.2 pulled passenger and freight cars from every corner of Europe and changed current systems easily but reliably: At the border the locomotive engineer lowered the German pantograph, overcame with momentum a section of catenary without current, and then raised the French pantograph. The elegant, low locomotive body resulted moreover from the lower mounting of the French catenary. The fascinating class 181.2 has written European history – and will continue it on many Märklin layouts: as a truly endlessly interesting model.

Prototype: German Federal Railroad (DB) class 181.2 electric locomotive. Steel blue basic paint scheme. Road number 181 203-1. The locomotive looks as it did starting in 1984.

Highlights

• Completely new tooling.
• Intricate metal construction with many separately applied details.
• Pantographs can be raised and lowered digitally.
• The pantographs are prototypically equipped with different contact strips.
• Cab lighting and engine room lighting can be controlled digitally.
• Separately applied imitation wheels.
• mfx+ decoder includes extensive light and sound functions.
• Buffer height adheres to the NEM.

Model: The locomotive has an mfx+ digital decoder and extensive sound functions. It also has controlled, high-efficiency propulsion with a flywheel, centrally mounted. All four axles powered using cardan shafts. Traction tires. Triple headlights and dual red marker lights change over with the direction of travel, will work in conventional operation, and can be controlled digitally. The lights at Locomotive End 2 and 1 can be turned off separately in digital operation. The cab lighting changes over with the direction of travel, and the engine room lighting can be controlled digitally. Maintenance-free warm white and red LEDs are used for the lighting. The pantographs can be raised and lowered digitally. There are separately applied imitation wheels, grab irons, windshield wipers, UIC sockets, and roof conductors. The buffer height adheres to the NEM. Brake lines, prototype couplers, and various plugs are included as parts to be installed separately. Length over the buffers approximately 20.6 cm / 8-1/8".

Two FD 264 "Mozart" passenger car sets to go with this locomotive are also being offered under item numbers 42893 and 42894 exclusively for Insider Club members. This model can be found in a DC version in the Trix H0 assortment under item number 25181, exclusively for Trix Club members.

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The class 181.2 electric locomotive, item number 39583, is being produced in 2023 in a one-time series only for Insider Club members.

Digital Functions