Roco 7100048 H0 - Steam locomotive 85.13, kkStB, Era I (analogue)

Model of the small tank locomotive 85.13 in the livery of the kkStB

A model of the small tank locomotive 85.13 of the Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways (kkStB). It is a locomotive typical of Austrian local railways at the turn of the 20th century, reproduced by Roco in H0 scale for Era I.

The model stands out for its elaborate printing with fine decorative lining, detailed valve gear and numerous separately fitted detail parts.

Model specifications:

• Scale: H0 (1:87)
• Catalogue number: 7100048
• Manufacturer: Roco
• Vehicle: small tank locomotive 85.13
• Model length: 79 mm
• Era: I
• Operator: Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways (kkStB)
• Power system: direct current DC (analogue version)
• Decoder socket: PluX16
• Lighting: 2 head lights (LED), changing with the direction of travel
• Motor: 3-pole; flywheel
• Number of driven axles: 2
• Features: elaborate printing with fine decorative lining, detailed valve gear, many separately fitted detail parts
• Minimum curve radius: 358 mm
• Coupler: NEM 362 standard with close-coupling kinematics
• Recommended age: 14 years and over

Note: controlling and powering the model.

The model is produced in the analogue DC version. An ordinary direct-current controller is enough to run it – no digital command station is required. The locomotive has a factory-fitted decoder socket (PluX16), which makes it possible to equip it with a decoder later and switch to digital DCC control. The model is not a starter set and does not include track or a controller.

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 supplied in the analogue version (for direct current DC), with a decoder socket allowing later conversion to digital DCC control.

About the class 85 steam locomotive (kkStB):

The class 85 steam locomotives of the Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways (kkStB) are small tank locomotives with a wheel arrangement of B (two driving axles, no carrying axles), fitted with a two-cylinder saturated-steam engine. These machines came from various private railways that were nationalised, and their stock was adapted to the kkStB designation system.

When the most important railway lines had essentially been built and the benefit of the developed economic areas became visible, the backwardness of remote regions became apparent. It was decided to open up these areas by building simple „secondary railways”. Thanks to small local locomotives such as class 85, countless small towns and villages gained a connection to the wider world. The model reproduces the Era I condition.

Original technical data (class 85 steam locomotive, kkStB):

• Type: small tank locomotive, wheel arrangement B (two driving axles)
• Engine: two-cylinder, saturated steam
• Origin: machines from nationalised private railways
• Purpose: light trains on local (secondary) lines
• Operator: Imperial-Royal Austrian State Railways (kkStB)
• Era: I

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.