Product Features and Details
Prototype: The class 269 Erzberg locomotive was very impressive because it was an F-combination adhesion/rack and pinion tank locomotive. The 269 were some of the largest rack locomotives ever built. Its extremely complicated drive mechanism made it a very unique locomotive. It was built in 1912 for the heavy freight and passenger service through the mountainous Austrian Erzberg region. The Erzbergbahn was a treacherous mountain route located in the Erzberg mountain region in Austria. The Erzbergbahn was finished in 1891 and ore hauled 19.6 kilometers from Vordernberg to Eisenerz. Since the early 1900's three different rack locomotives were built to haul heavy ore trains on this route; the class 69, 269 and 297. All three of these impressive rack locomotives were able to haul 25 to 40 fully loaded ore cars on 7% grades, a remarkable accomplishment for the time.
Model: The class 269 is a functional moving work of art. It features a complete and functional inner rack system and runs with a double motion drive, just like the prototype. The outer drive rods move slower, at half the speed of the inner rods. The inner rods need to run faster to move the cog gears. Most other brass manufactures would not go through the trouble to replicate this complicated running mechanism. This double motion movement is very unique, and is definitely not found in other HO models. Model also features a brushless can motor, full cab interiors, sprung loaded puffers and much more. It is painted in the two-toned gray and black livery with black boiler bands and white pin striping. It is important to consider adding this model to your collection, especially if you already have the other Micro Metakit rack locomotives. Years ago the owners of Micro-Metakit commented that their model of the class 269 would be the apex of all Micro-Metakit locomotives, it is one of the most impressive and best models they have ever created. The model features a dual system drive unit, one to power the rack gears and the other to power the drive rods. Micro Metakit also produces cog track so you could actually run it on a 35% grade. Like the prototype, the model can run on both standard gauge track and cog track.
