Maerklin 37500 " Northlander "
The diesel electric passenger train TEE I was operated
between 1957 and 1974 by Switzerland and the Netherlands
between Zurich, Amsterdam, and Paris. After approximately 4 million
km of service, four of the five train sets were sold in 1976 to a
Canadian consortium, which rented them the Ontario Northland Railway
(ONR). After modifications and repainting, the train sets were placed
in service as the "Northlander" between Toronto and Timmins. While the
coaches worked well in Northern Canada, the original locomotives did not
fare as well. They suffered from the extreme climate and maintenance
and repair of the European-built locos was quite difficult.
The original TEE locomotives were each replaced with a General Motors
FP 7 - a passenger train version of the well-known F 7 freight locomotive.
The remaining Northlander train sets ran in this configuration from 1980 until
they were taken out of service on 9 February 1992. The locomotives were
placed in service elsewhere and the remaining eight coaches were sold.
Under the project name "RAm TEE I - Welcome home", a Swiss cooperative is trying to recover and transport to Switzerland the cast-off Northlander components. Their intent is to restore a TEE train set to the configuration originally used in Europe in 1957. While it is unclear whether or not the Swiss cooperative will be successful, Maerklin assures it's fans that they will follow the situation and report back to model railroad fans. 20 years according to the legendary Maerklin model of the first " Northlanders " now again a reminiscence at one of the famous courses of the world in the H0 Massstab will appear: The " Northlander " of the second generation, as it put almost in each case 6 millions back km in the 80's. In appropriate way the special course in a unique limited special series is manufactured - and only in current digital technique.
Express train of the Ontario Northland Railway (ONR), Canada (former RAm TEE I). changed version with diesel locomotive type FP 7. With digitally regulated high-power engine and decoder c 90 in special equipment. 2 axles propelled. 4 traction tires. Electronic reversing. Lighting controlled by digital function. Horn and bell controlled by additional digital functions (only with 6021 Controller). Set includes 1 compartment coach, food car and control car. Special couplers and electrical connection between the vehicles. Automatic switching of the power supply to the front pick-up shoe. Length of the train = 88.0 cm. Vehicles not available separately. The model 37500 is manufactured with numbered certificates in a limited series of max. 5,000 pieces for sale in Germany and max. 2,000 pieces for the export. 1998 only. |
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