20811
HSB Steam Loco, 99 7243-1, Limited Edition





To replace aging steam power on East Germany's narrow gauge lines, 17 powerful 2-10-2s were built during the 1950s at the "Karl Marx" locomotive works. Today, these engines haul almost all steam trains on the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen. A trip through steep, narrow valleys and dark forests to the Brocken peak is an unforgettable experience. To celebrate 100 years of railroads in the Harz mountains, LGB and Aster are presenting this impressive hand-made model.
This Limited Edition model is equally impressive, with metal construction by the acclaimed craftsman of Aster Hobby in Japan. Only 900 of these models were made, and only a few are still available.


The Prototype
In 1930, the Deutsche Reichsbahn designed a heavy 2-10-2 steam locomotive to replace aging steam power on Germany’s narrow gauge lines. However, only three of these standardized locos were actually built. These were manufactured by Schwartzkopff and ran on the Eisfeld-Schönbrunn line in Thuringia. Two of these locos were transferred to Norway during World War II. The third eventually was shipped to the Harzquerbahn in northern Germany’s Harz Mountains.During the 1950s, the Harz narrow gauge lines experienced a loco shortage, and the VEB Locomotive Works in Babelsberg built 17 new engines based on the 1930 design. While maintaining the overall dimensions of the original locomotives, the design was thoroughly updated using welded construction and modern features, including a large feedwater heater mounted in front of the smokestack. As a result, the locomotives have proven extremely powerful and efficient.Today, the most powerful German narrow gauge steam locos haul almost all steam trains on the Harzer S
chmalspurbahnen (HSB). The HSB, which includes the Harzquerbahn, winds through the narrow valleys and dark forests of the Harz Mountains, offering today’s steam enthusiasts a unique and unforgettable experience.

The Model
This special Limited Edition model has been handcrafted for Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk by Aster Hobby, one of the world's foremost makers of metal model trains. Production of this LGB/Aster locomotive has been limited to 900 models worldwide. This detailed replica features:
- all-metal construction and detailing
- opening cab doors
- opening smokebox door
- complete cab interior with individual gauges, valves and levers
- detailed boiler with fittings, domes, pipes and handrails
- prototypical livery and lettering
- operating drive rods and detailed Walschaerts valve gear
- three-way power control switch
- two seven-pole Bühler motors
- ten powered wheels
- voltage stabilization circuit
- smoke generator
- lighted cab interior
- automatic directional lanterns
- multi-purpose socket
- Length: 565 mm (22.2 in)
- Weight: 5600 grams (12.3 lb)