Roco 6600196 H0 - Set of 2 MITRAG tank wagons, SBB, Era V

Model of a set of two two-axle MITRAG tank wagons operated within the fleet of the Swiss Federal Railways

A set of two two-axle „MITRAG” tank wagons, run as private wagons and operated within the fleet of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The H0 models reproduce the Era V condition. These are classic, short two-axle tank wagons, characteristic of the transport of petroleum products.

The models are faithfully painted and lettered in line with the prototype. The two-axle running gear and compact silhouette mean the wagons work well in shorter freight trains and on smaller layouts.

Model specifications:

• Scale: H0 (1:87)
• Catalogue number: 6600196
• Manufacturer: Roco
• Set composition: two two-axle „MITRAG” tank wagons
• Set length: 204 mm
• Era: V
• Operation: private wagons within the fleet of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)
• Power system: direct current DC (two-rail)
• Coupler: NEM 362 standard with close-coupling kinematics
• Models ready to run
• Recommended age: 14 years and over

Note: this model consists of hauled wagons – a locomotive and a powered track are needed to run it.

The set is not a starter set and does not include track or a controller. The wagons are hauled by a locomotive. The model is produced in the DC version; for operation on a three-rail AC (Märklin) system the manufacturer offers replacement AC wheelsets cat. no. 40196.

Model railways – digital or analogue control?

A digital DCC system lets you control several locomotives independently on the same track at a constant rail voltage, whereas in an analogue system all vehicles on a given circuit respond simultaneously to changes in the supply voltage. The model described here is a hauled vehicle – it has no drive or decoder of its own, so it runs equally well on digitally (DCC) controlled and analogue layouts, since the control method applies only to the locomotive. The model is produced in the DC (two-rail) version.

About two-axle tank wagons:

For decades, two-axle tank wagons formed the backbone of rail transport of liquids, including petroleum products. The characteristic horizontal cylindrical tank, with a top filling dome and bottom discharge fittings, rests on saddles mounted on the underframe. Many such wagons were operated as private wagons of various companies and operators, registered within the fleets of individual railways.

From the early 1970s, bogie wagons came to dominate the transport of petroleum products, yet short two-axle tank wagons survived in niche, lower-volume uses. The „MITRAG” wagons reproduced in the model were operated as private wagons within the fleet of the Swiss Federal Railways in Era V.

Original technical data (two-axle MITRAG tank wagon):

• Type: two-axle tank wagon for petroleum products
• Construction: horizontal cylindrical tank with a top dome and bottom discharge, on a two-axle underframe
• Status: private wagon registered within an operator’s fleet
• Operation: within the fleet of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB)
• Era: V

About the manufacturer – Roco:

Roco is an Austrian model railway manufacturer that has been operating since 1960, founded in Salzburg and today based in Bergheim near Salzburg as part of the Modelleisenbahn GmbH group (alongside the Fleischmann brand). It released its first locomotives in 1976 and earned its reputation early on through precision and fidelity to the prototype. The brand introduced a number of innovations to the industry, among them unshortened, true-to-length coaches, track with a lower rail profile, and snag-free close couplers. Roco's contemporary H0 models stand out for their rich detail, while the digital range is rounded out by the Z21 control system. Roco models are valued by modellers and collectors throughout Europe.