Heavy Tank Locomotive. German Federal Railroad class 85. With digital high-efficiency propulsion. TELEX couplers digitally controlled. Metal boiler. 5 axles powered. 4 traction tires. Driving wheels divided into 2 coupled groups enabling unit to negotiate sharp curves. Electronic reverse unit. TELEX couplers for remote control uncoupling of unit anywhere on a layout. Length over buffers 18.6 cm (7-5/16").
In 1932 and 1933 the German State Railroad purchased 10 new standard design class 85 locomotives with a 2-10-2 wheel arrangement. They were so effective that even steeper grades could be mastered with normal adhesion operation. With the exception of 85 004, these units were used in the Höllental area and on the Black Forest line until 1961. The German Federal Railroad modernized these heavy class 85 tank locomotives, in part by installing Witte smoke deflectors, for example.
