Minitrix 16898 Steam locomotive class 89.8, DB, ep III

King Steam and the German Economic MiracleAfter the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, the 
young state railways experienced an impressive heyday during the economic miracle in the 1950s and 
1960s. Although the development of modern diesel and electric locomotives began at this time, steam 
locomotives remained indispensable for many years. By the end of 1958, around 9,000 steam 
locomotives were still in use, covering over 60% of the total locomotive kilometers. Not only did 
passenger transport flourish, but freight transport by rail also experienced an unexpected boom. 
Almost every city had a freight transshipment facility, there were sidings for freight customers 
everywhere, and even small, often remote train stations were reached as freight tariff points; Line 
closures were hardly discussed. At this time, the high-maintenance steam locomotives were typically 
serviced in three shifts at the many railway depots. This also applied to the Bavarian depot in 
Ansbach, where in 1961 370 employees looked after 19 steam locomotives and 19 combustion engines. 
Even veterans of the Bavarian State Railways such as Class 89.8 (Bavarian R 3/3) performed shunting 
duties at the station and drove on the branch lines to Bechhofen and Windsbach. The powerful but 
slow 16 R 3/3 was rarely on the route, but rather served connections in the city area. However, 
occasionally they had to replace the nimble Pt 2/3 and then service often began at 3:27 a.m. with 
the local freight train 8967 to Bechhofen, with a travel time of two hours for about 20 miles 
(32 kilometers). At that time such a load usually consisted of different types of freight cars. She 
then returned with a passenger train made up of old two-axle vehicles, and the older Bavarian spent 
the rest of the day doing shunting and delivery runs. Until the early 1960s, such locomotives and 
trains still characterized everyday life throughout the Federal Republic of Germany as a small but 
fine detailed view of the legendary economic miracle period. The new MINITRIX set is therefore a 
jewel on every Epoch III system. Model: Tank locomotive 89 826 (formerly class R 3/3 of the K.Bay.
Sts.B.) of the German Federal Railway (DB). Axle arrangement C n2t, built from 1898, operating 
condition from 1959 (BD Nuremberg / Bw Ansbach).