Since the German State Railroad could not do without the class 99.73 locomotives in wide use in Saxony, several of these locomotives were updated towards the end of the Sixties. On the one hand, they were given a basic overhaul, on the other - and this was immediately visible - they were equipped with new water tanks and coal bunkers, which were welded instead of riveted. These locomotives bore the main load on many narrow gauge lines with higher levels of traffic, in this case on the Fichtelberg Railroad from Cranzahl to Oberwiesenthal, the highest situated town in Germany at 915 meters / 2,974 feet above sea level. Operation on this 18 kilometer / 11 mile route as initiated as early as 1897, so that it can celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2022. As in the past, class 99.73 narrow gauge locomotives are used there, together with suitable cars - including open observation cars. The prototype of the LGB model, the over 90 year old road number 99 1741-0, can still show its stuff even today.
Highlights
This is a model of an SDG / Fichtelberg Railroad class 99.73 (also called VII K) narrow gauge steam locomotive. The paint and lettering are prototypical for Era VI as a museum locomotive as it currently looks in use on the Fichtelberg Railroad. Two powerful Bühler motors with ball bearings drive the wheel sets. Traction tires. The locomotive has an mfx/DCC decoder with many light and sound functions, such as headlights that change over with the direction of travel, firebox lighting, cab lighting, running sounds, a whistle and much more. The locomotive has a built-in smoke generator with steam exhaust synchronized to the wheels as well as cylinder steam. The locomotive has many separately applied details including cab doors and a smoke box door that can be opened. Length over the buffers 51 cm / 20-1/16".
