This is probably the most interesting article I have ever had on here. Only about 35 were built by the Germans over the years. How I found them was actually quite funny. I am aching for the new V200 diesels from ESU. I was trying to find out if anybody had some inside info on when they would be available. As these surfing sessions go, you almost always end up on Youtube.
I was looking at videos of V200 and Ludmillas and some electric traction as well. It was while watching a video featuring the mighty E44, that I saw a coach running behind the loco with smoke belching out its roof. I saw this again a couple of videos later, behind a V200. Way back though, about halfway down the consist. Long row of passenger coaches, with this shorter smoking coach between them.
I started to investigate. These "coaches" are actually steam heating cars, or also known as generator cars or Heizwagen. Used to steam heat long passenger trains, where either the steamloco in front has not got enough oomph to heat coaches way back, or like in the case with a diesel or electric locomotive without steam generators, these are used to heat the coaches. They were extensively used in hospital trains during the war too. Was a bit of a lifesaver.
You will see the funnel on the roofs of these coaches..... now, I measured a normal number ten Seuthe smoker..... if you are adventurous, and you drill that hole open and fit a smoker...... hell, that would be a massively prototypically correct train. Imagine a V200, 6 passenger coaches, and this baby smoking away at the back, or right behind the loco. You will also see that these coaches SINGLE, fetches 50Euro each!!!!! Makes my price a bit of a bargain.
Made by Heris, who price themselves on building special rolling stock. Extremely well made and highly detailed, well packed and very pretty items. NEM pockets, DC wheelsets. Price is for a set of four, all with different roadnumbers. So you can basically equip 4 trains with generator wagons. Nice. It is also a 175 year jubileum set. So will probably become very collectable. Only other company that makes these, is Hobbytrain and that is in N-gauge.
