Trix Class 498.1 Albatros 25498  
    

The most modern design principles determined the construction and at the same time the climax of the last Czechoslovak express steam locomotives. Between December 1954 and June 1955, SKODA delivered 15 machines of the 498.1 series as a further development of the 498.0. With the same engine and 18.6 t wheelset load, the three-cylinder locomotives shone with their welded high-performance boiler with combustion chamber and steel firebox with high performance and appealing economy. They were capable of hauling 600 t trains on the level at 116 km/h and on a gradient of 14%  at 30 km/h. The modern standard included the mechanical grate feeder (stoker), the Kylchap double blowpipe, a Skoda-type multiple valve regulator, a water purifier housed in the front dome, and SKF dome and driving rod bearings. The sleek appearance was completed by Witte wind deflectors. The fully enclosed cab added to the comfort of the locomotive crew, especially in the winter season. Sufficient for the hill stretches of the CSD was the fixed maximum speed of 120 km/h, but significantly higher speeds could be achieved. This was clearly demonstrated by the 498 106 on 27 August 1964 during test runs on the Velim test ring with a top speed of 162 km/h.

While the locomotives were initially stationed at the Prague, Prerov and Ziliny depots, from 1960 the Bratislava depot was home to all of them. This did not change until 1970, when electrification provided new areas of operation. Thus the 498.1 now also ran at the Nove Zamky and Plzen (Pilsen) depots. The 498 106 even received another HU in 1978 to replace the failure-prone diesel locomotives of the series 753 between Brno and PRerov. Together with the 498 101 and 108 in Pilsen, it lived through 1980, then it was over.

A single "Albatros" remained in Slovakia: the operable museum locomotive 498.104. At the end of 2004, however, the machine traditionally based in Bratislava had to be parked with boiler damage. Many years of refurbishment followed with substantial support from the Albatros Club in Bratislava. Since the beginning of 2006, the locomotive has been on loan to the Albatros Club, which is responsible not only for the maintenance of the 498.104 but also for its operation and the employment of the locomotive personnel. The refurbishment was completed in November 2009 and since then the mighty express locomotive has shone again in its original colour scheme with boiler, cylinder, driver's cab, tender and wind deflectors in steel blue, engine and buffer beam in red and a white continuous stripe from the running plate over the driver's cab to the tender. The roof of the driver's cab is also white.

Prototype: Class 498.1 heavy express steam locomotive with a tender. Version as Železnice Slovenskej Republiky (ŽSR) museum locomotive 498.104. Current operating condition as the locomotive is currently resident in Bratislava ready for operation.

Model: With mfx digital decoder and extensive light and sound functions. Controlled high-efficiency propulsion with flywheel mass in the boiler. 4 axles powered. Traction tyres. Locomotive and tender largely constructed of metal. The locomotive has a smoke unit built in as standard with dynamic smoke emission that depends on the speed and can be controlled digitally. The three-light headlights on the locomotive and the two-light headlights on the tender will work in conventional operation and change over with the direction of travel. The upper headlight can be switched separately. Illuminated locomotive number plate on the upper headlight integrated and operable. The cab lighting can be controlled digitally. Maintenance-free warm white LEDs are used for the lighting. Adjustable close coupler with a mechanism between the locomotive and the tender. The tender has a close coupler with kinematics and an NEM shaft. Buffer height on locomotive and tender according to NEM. Brake hoses, imitation screw couplings and an air tank for attaching to the tender are included. Minimum radius R2=437,5 mm. Length over buffers approx. 29.3 cm.

Highlights:

• Completely new construction.
• Particularly filigree metal construction.
• Many added details.
• Standard smoke insert with speed-dependent, dynamic smoke emission.
• Cab lighting can be controlled digitally.
• The locomotive has an mfx/DCC decoder with extensive light and sound functions.
• Buffer height on the locomotive and tender according to NEM.

This model can be found in an AC version in the Märklin H0 assortment under item number 39498.