Product Features and Details
Prototype: World War I couldn't have happened without Europe's railroads. Trains were the key to operational success and were the only way to supply the unimaginably large armies spread out from Belgium to Switzerland. In short, trains were the best method of mobilizing and supplying troops in 1914. Europe's railway networks would also characterize the geography of the war. In the 19th century, Prussia and Britain realized the effectiveness of the railroads for conveying troops into battle. As Germany unified, it inherited Prussia's experience in military organization, and set out on the most ambitious war of movement ever conceived to that point.
From mobility to attrition:
On Aug. 2, German troops steamed through Luxembourg on their way to the French border. Germany had controlled Luxembourg's railroads since the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 on the condition that the railroads would remain demilitarized. Berlin reneged on that agreement. During that first night, more than 13,000 German soldiers traveled along Luxembourg's railways. Berlin had planned to send a train along the line every 10 minutes toward Belgium. On Aug. 4, the Kaiser's forces violated Belgian neutrality and triggered war with the United Kingdom. Britain had guaranteed Belgium's neutrality under the 1839 Treaty of London. By August 13, 11,000 German trains had ferried 120,000 officers and 2.1 million soldiers - plus 600,000 horses - around German. In the push to the French border, 1.6 million troops mobilized on 560 trains per day. They traveled at an average of 19 miles per hour. It's worth looking at those numbers again. This was mobilization on an unprecedented scale.
Model: This exquisite WWI transport train set was created by an professional artist. Each REI Military model is professionally hand-painted and thus very unique, no two sets are alike. The set is hand painted in an intricate winter battle camouflage. You will immediately notice details like the carefully painted wheels, weathered and painted decks, metalized tracks, real wooden chocks and many extra detailed parts. The WW1 set was created with the use of a Marklin Prussian G12 locomotive with sound and cars from Brawa, and Roco. The locomotive is professionally painted in authentic winter camouflage patterns, and each one is disassembled, masked, and airbrushed before being reassembled for the final touches. You will appreciate features such as carefully attached armor plates, which can also easily be removed, painted wheels and under-frames, weathered boilers and a German Imperial Flag drapped to the front of the boiler. The Marklin locomotive has an mfx+ digital decoder and extensive sound functions. It also has controlled high-efficiency propulsion with a flywheel, mounted in the boiler. 5 axles powered. Traction tires. The locomotive and tender are constructed mostly of metal. The dual headlights change over with the direction of travel, will work in conventional operation, and can be controlled digitally. The cab lighting can be controlled separately in digital operation. Maintenance-free warm white LEDs are used for the lighting. A factory-installed smoke unit is included. There is a permanent close coupling with a guide mechanism between the locomotive and tender. There is a close coupler with an NEM coupler pocket and guide mechanism on the front of the locomotive. There is a close coupler with an NEM coupler pocket and guide mechanism on the rear of the tender. The locomotive has many separately applied details such as piping and sand pipes. Piston rod protection sleeves and brake hoses are included. REI models are made in very small quantities so supplies are always limited. This is a unique set that would make a great addition to any collection.
