Gauge Z

At the end of the 60's the situation on the market of model railways were fixed by two facts:
1. Market saturation of gauge H0.
2. The great success of gauge N, which Maerklin didn't produce.

In reactions to the changes of the market, Maerklin decided to develop a gauge, which hadn't been on the market before, to challenge the gauge N market. In 1972 gauge Z (scale 1:220) came on the market.Therefor with only 6.5mm gauge was a unreached minituarization achieved. Over many years Marklin had the monopoly for this gauge and today it is actually still so, in comparisson to other gauges there is only one manufacturer (Micro-Trains) to be called a "mass production manufacturer". An impulse are the small series manufacturer, espcially in model innovation and technologie they shown new possibilities. A reason for the small number of manufacturers, also within the accessory range, is among other things the relatively small spreading. For a lot of model train enthusiasts the trains are simply too small or the "kilo price" too high. In my opinion is this exactly what makes Z gauge so interisting: the detailing is unbelieveable and the especially with the zinc pressure diecasted steam engines you can feel the "weight" . This definatly maintains reasonably the value of the models in comparisson to other manufacturer creations in different gauges were the apperiance is often quit cheap.

My interest is particually in steam engines. Why? Because of their movement , steaming, hissing, exhaust beat it seems to be they are "alive' in contrary to electro or diesel engines. I have still a few diesel and e-engines in my collection, but that has rather to do with the epochs I concentrate in.

Epochs is the keyword, what does that mean actually? As for many things over the time a standartiztion is introduced. The one for model railways is NEM (Norms of European Modell Railroad). A reason for a standardization is e.g. the exchangeability of components or simple a common "language". Even the track width as such is standardized. Therefor also the epochs, the arrangement of historical sections. Each country has accordingly own epochs in the NEM standard established, because I'm concentrating on Germans and/or. German origin locomotives; here the German epochs in detail:

Epoch I: State Railways time (1835-1920)

Epoch II: National State Railroad (DRG) (1920-1950)

Epoch III: early German Federal Railroads (railways) and National Railroad (DR) (1950-1970)

Epoch IV: late German Federal Railroads (railways) and National Railroad (DR) (1970-1990)

Epoch V: Deutsche Bahn AG (1990-)

I am interested in the epochs I, II and at the beginning of III, the reason for it is quit simple: it was the golden age of the steam engines.
In the epoch I the types, technology and color variety of the different State Railways are very interesting. Epoch II is attractive because of the, in their appearance massive, "Einheits"- locomotives. The epoch III fascinates simply by the high lights of building steam locomotives and/or conversions.

View my self made display cabinet, made from a picture frame. Until now there has been enough space for my models, but very soon I will have to look for a new solution.