I “model” German trains in H0 and in one of my German discussion fora Märklins model of the supposed Henschel EA800 came up. This is the electric version (with battery backup)
of their DHG500 diesel hydraulic industrial switcher (photo below). The image above is from a German model railroad magazine, MIBA and claims the engine did exist and was sold to the US, obviously without buffers…
Anyone know anything? I’m thinking it is Märklin doing it’s thing of taking liberties with prototypes, and I say this as one who predominantly runs Märklin.
Back in the 1970s I worked at a chemical plant in Perth Amboy, N.J. There was a steel mill…Raritan Steel, located next door. They had several locos to do their in-plant switching. For a while they had a loco which looked similar, but it was a one-of-a-kind switcher built in the US by EMD in the 1950s. I have seen images of it on the internet…I’ll see if I can find it again.
According to the Northeast Railfan site, the loco was built by GM Canada, model GMDH, and was one of 5 diesel-hydraulics. They also have an image of a similar end-cab switcher.
It is plausible that Raritan River may have had a European switcher because it was owned by the Von Roll corp of Switzerland who may have orchestrated its usage.
The other place to look for an “oddball” switcher like that German diesel-hydraulic in North America is in ports or mines - at the ports in Vancouver and in Halifax, you could find British-built Hunslet switchers, both very odd by North American standards.
CN tested a German diesel-hydraulic in the 1950s (not that Henschel though) but did not buy any.
In all probability it would have been an oddball if it did exist and ownership by a European company is plausible. Most European equipment in addition to being metric in all measurements and fasteners requires far more maintenance than US built equipment. The only successful inroads of European engines was the Krauss Mafei road engines for SP and D&RG with hydraulic transmissions. The Dutch havd a cool side rod diesel switcher also that is an 0-6-0.
Maschinenbau Kiel AG sent a demonstrator in 1956 to North America. It demonstrated on the Canadian National in CN paint with the number 1000. It was a 750hp diesel hydraulic which was powered by a I-8 9.1 X 11.8 4 cycle engine. It ran on 49 inch spoked wheels wheels with rods. It had a similar long hood short hood turreted cab configuration.
See page misc-380 of the second diesel spotter’s guide for a picture.
Don’t know of an HO model but Hornby make the 08 switcher Bachmann probably do as well.
Suitable for Holland, Victoria Aus and the UK probably a few other places as well as it was exported each will need a few minor detail changes to suit the location.
Could even be turned into a very believable sold to the US Watsit manufacturer maker of the finest Watsit’s in the world. its just a case of adding the apropriate US must have to allowed on US railways details.
I remember reading an article or something about a european switcher that was shipped to the States for promotional purposes and ended up being sold to an industry or somesuch - darned if I can tell you where I saw it, though!
Possible destinations for electrics are various open-pit mines. Several Iron mines in Northern Minnesota used steeple cab electrics, also Kennecott Copper in Utah and Anaconda Copper near Butte, Montana. Niagara Junction Rwy. in Buffalo, New York was electrified.
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