A previous article from Dirk Hertel 

Remembrance of Things Past – O Gauge Trains Made in East(ern) Germany

By Dirk Hertel  

The dominant German manufacturers of O gauge trains such as Märklin, Bing, or Bub were all concentrated in the Southern and Western parts of the country. Less is known about the smaller firms in Eastern Germany , and the renaissance of O gauge that took place behind the Iron Curtain and lasted from 1945 to 1961, a period when elsewhere most firms were changing over to HO scale models.

When thinking about O gauge trains “Made in the GDR“ (German Democratic Republic), the names Zeuke and Liebmann spring to mind. Both firms became major players in the GDR model train industry that was concentrated in the states of Saxony and Thuringia as well as in Berlin , and they will be the focus of this article. The diversity of this industry has now all but been forgotten even though in 1960 there were still more than fifty firms making O, S, and HO gauge trains and accessories. The roots of the industry lay in the traditional wooden toys made in the Erzgebirge ( Ore Mountains ) as well as in tinplate toy manufacturing [Konrad Auerbach, “Mit der Eisenbahn durchs Spielzeugland, Zur Geschichte der erzgebirgischen Spielzeugeisenbahn”, Erzgebirgisches Spielzeugmuseum Seiffen, Schriftenreihe Vol. 13, 1993].

Prologue

Right from the beginning of the twentieth century, a number of firms were active [Kurt Harrer, "Lexikon Blechspielzeug" (Encyclopaedia of Tinplate Toys), Düsseldorf 1989]:

·      One of the earliest Saxon tinplate toy train manufacturers was Heinrich (Heino) Becker of Zschopau, active around 1910 with O-gauge tinplate trains and accessories.

·      Before the WWI the ‘Leipziger Lehrmittel-Anstalt’ (Teaching Aid Institute of Leipzig ) was a prominent retailer and mail order supplier of educational toys, with its own catalogues and the trademark ‘Lipsia’.

·      From about 1910 to 1930 the model shop Wilhelm Bischoff in Dresden (trademark W.B.D.) made parts and plans for model steam engines and locomotives.

·      The firm Heinrich Rehse of Leipzig , founded in 1914, offered construction plans and parts, as well as kits for steam engines, model locomotives, and rolling stock.

·      Better known are the products by Carl Bochmann of Dresden, whose ‘Fabrik feiner Spielwaren’ made O gauge accessories and goods wagons with the trademark ‘CABO’ in the 1930s though these can be easily mistaken for ‘KIBRI’ accessories. I once found a station platform with the sign ‘ Dresden ’ at the flea market by the River Elbe in Dresden (Elbufermarkt).

·       In the 1940s Heller und Schiller of Oberleutersdorf made O gauge tinplate clockwork trains.

After WW2, the firms of Zeuke and Liebmann became the most prominent manufacturers of O gauge in the GDR, though in his publication ‘100 Jahre Modellbahnen’ Botho Wagner also mentioned other firms [Botho G. Wagner, 100 Jahre Modelleisenbahn, special issue of the journal ‘Der Modelleisenbahner’, Berlin, 1991]:

§         Günther Gebert, and Modellbau R. Stephan of Berlin

§         Until the cessation of operations in 1958, Heinrich Rehse of Leipzig sold kits for building O and HO locomotives from machined metal parts

§         Beyco/Bayer & Co made models of the Berlin tramway, running on grooved rails and powered from overhead wires

Zeuke

The firm was founded in the eastern part of Berlin shortly before the end of WWII. After the war, Werner Zeuke partnered with Helmut Wegwerth to form the Zeuke & Wegwerth KG (KG = Kommanditgesellschaft = limited partnership).

When the Soviet administration ordered the resumption of toy manufacturing, Zeuke began with the 4-6-0 locomotive 'FD 50' in 1946. This was remarkable on several counts: it was a model of the famous 'Borsig' steam streamliner, with a Bakelite shell and cast metal wheels. Designed for 3-rail electric operation it had a 24V AC motor and a hand switch for reversing. The FD 50 shows that after the war the idea of model railways was already so strong that from the outset Zeuke tried to create realistic models. Bakelite became the material of choice for locomotive and express passenger coach bodies, as it permitted more detailing than traditional tinplate.

Zeuke then pioneered a unique 3-rail AC system designed to reliably solve the problem of remote reverse switching. Instead of just the middle rail, all three were insulated therefore all vehicles had to have phenoplast insulating wheels. The locomotives had two sprung mushroom-shaped pick-up shoes for each rail, six in total. The central rail was always the earth, while one of the outer rails was assigned to forward running of the special 24V AC motor that had a split field coil, one half for each direction, and the other to backward. Later models such as the 0-6-0 T55 had 18V motors. Thus Zeuke found an elegant and absolutely reliable solution for remote reverse switching, free from the previously common problem of unwanted reversing if the power is accidentally interrupted e.g. while going over the points [Udo Becher, Werner Reiche, ‘Bodenläufer, Spielbahn, Supermodell’, Leipzig 1981, pp. 168]. The only disadvantage was aesthetic: the phenoplast wheels were rather a drab brown, especially unfortunate when compared to the bright red ones of actual trains.

Zeuke made also a wide range of tinplate rolling stock with full-size transfers were often used for lettering and to provide additional detail such as the wood panelling of goods wagons. The couplings were automatic, but in my judgment much more functional and handsome than the Hornby version. Railway accessories included light and semaphore signals with stop rails, a splendid signal bridge, electromagnetic uncoupling track, and level crossings. Railway buildings were made from plaster coated and painted wood. In 1955 Zeuke & Wegwerth bought the entire O gauge production of the firm Stadtilm, and continued to distribute or even produce portions of the range including the BR 64 2-6-2 tank loco. All trains were labelled ‘Zeuke-Bahnen, Elekro-mechanische Qualitätsspielwaren’ (Zeuke-trains, electromechanical quality toys).

The Zeuke 3-rail locomotives that I know of are:

·         Steam streamliner ‘F 50’, modelled after the BR 03.10 ‘Borsig’, in 4-6-0 and 2-6-2 configurations.

·         Electric locomotive E44 with a tinplate body but a plastic roof. The 1-B-1 wheel arrangement is cleverly disguised as Bo-Bo.

·         2-6-2 steam tank BR64 (taken over from Stadtilm).

·         0-6-0 steam tank locomotives T48 (2 domes), and T55 (3 domes).

·         0-4-0 steam tank locomotive T48.

Their rolling stock included Bakelite passenger bogie coaches, plus a large variety of tinplate passenger and goods wagons:

·         Bakelite 8-wheel ‘D-Zug’ express coaches, including a MITROPA dining coach

·         Tinplate 4-wheel passenger coaches (‘Donnerbüchse’ – blunderbuss)

·         Tinplate 4-wheel goods wagons e.g. refrigerator, wine, barrel and crane wagons.

Along with its 3-rail model trains, Zeuke produced a line of toy trains with battery or clockwork versions of the T48 Bakelite 0-4-0 tank locomotives, and also a line of tinplate stock. The battery locomotives had a small 4.5V DC can motor and bright red vinyl wheels with friction tires (that were more appealing than the brown phenoplast wheels of the 3-rail and clockwork versions). The simple hook couplings were not compatible with the firm’s own automatic couplings, and the wagons had no buffers. Although the locomotives had reverse gear, the lack of front couplings was disappointing on a tank engine. The 1961/62 catalogue introduced two new battery-powered steeple-cabs ‘B60’, available as a diesel or electric version with pantograph. They were Zeuke’s last O gauge locomotives, now extremely rare because only a few were sold, and their thin plastic shells broke easily.

The pictures below show a catalogue, a box lid and the labels used on wagons and boxes. Also of interest are comparisons between the model and toy train ranges (refrigerator van), and between Zeuke and Liebmann designs e.g. for the passenger coach – the Zeuke tinplate coach with its embossed rivets and highlighted window frames is more appealing than the plain Liebmann aluminum coach.

When Zeuke showed their first TT-scale models at the 1957 Leipzig Spring Fair, it marked the beginning of the end of GDR O gauge. After 1961 Zeuke did not make any more 3-rail electric trains, even of the designs taken over from Stadtilm in 1955. 

The battery-powered toy train sets were still available for a few years until all the resources were dedicated to TT. In 1972 the firm Zeuke & Wegwerth KG was nationalised as ‘VEB Berliner TT-Bahnen’ after the state had supplied the capital needed for new expensive injection moulding equipment. However the name 'Zeuke' had proved so popular it was kept in the trademark.

Liebmann / Stadtilm

The outbreak of WWII halted the plans of Carl Liebmann for producing an O gauge electric railcar 'Fliegender Hamburger', powered by his newly developed small 24V DC can motor. Instead, he had to supply the motors to power windscreen wipers on military vehicles and aircraft. In 1945 his firm Carl Liebmann Metallwerke (= metal works) based in the Thuringian town of Stadtilm started production of the 1938-designed railcar "Der Fliegende Hamburger" No. 34, with signs 'Hamburg-Berlin'. The body was of aluminium alloy, his material of choice for locomotives, rolling stock and even 3-rail track. The trains were modelled after those of the Deutsche Reichbahn (DR). Further products were a steeple-cab locomotive called "Bulli-Lok", and a simple but well proportioned 0-4-0 goods steam locomotive with tender. All vehicles were made from 2mm aluminium plates and had an enamel finish with transfer lettering, sprung buffers, and a compact version of droplink couplings that gave relatively short distances between wagons. The large-radius model track had low rails and seven or nine sleepers. All the locomotives had can motors and were designed for a 24V DC 3-rail system. The pinnacle of achievement for Liebmann was the impressive model of the 4-6-2 express steam locomotive BR 01, brought to market sometime before 1950.

In 1949, shortly after the foundation of the GDR, the government decided to create a ‘GDR-Modellbahnindustrie’, a national model train industry. Successful private enterprises were targeted for nationalisation. When the firm Liebmann was nationalized in 1951 it became ‘VEB Metallwarenfabrik Stadtilm Thüringen’ (VEB = state-owned factory, 'Metallwaren' = hardware). Trains and boxes were labelled ‘Stadtilmer Bahnen’.

Defying the government's stride towards standardisation, both Stadtilm and Zeuke kept their incompatible couplings and 3-rail systems. However changes did begin to appear. Aluminium was replaced by stamped steel, and plastic wheels were fitted to the 4-6-2 and 0-4-0 locomotives, probably as an effort to counter material shortages. The new 2-6-2 tank locomotive BR 64 was only available with plastic wheels. Even with plastic wheels, Stadtilm’s locomotives always appeared superior to their Zeuke counterparts, with more detailed lettering and painting, plus a complete Heusinger valve gear, which Zeuke never attempted. All of the gear train was neatly concealed between the side plates. When phenolic laminate was introduced as material for gear wheels it resulted in a smoother quieter operation. The higher quality of its trains earned Stadtilm the unofficial name 'GDR - Märklin'.

Below is a list of trains that I seen up for sale on the Internet during the last 2 years that were said to be made by Liebmann/Stadtilm:

·         Liebmann passenger bogie railcar "Der Fliegende Hamburger" No. 34 in red-crème (designed in 1938)

·         Liebmann passenger railcar twin units, each coach 32cm long, about 1950.

·         Liebmann steeple-cab locomotive "E-Lok Nr. 38", known as "Bulli-Lok", one of the earliest models, 20cm long.

·         Liebmann 0-4-0 goods locomotive and tender.

·         BR 01 (DR Baureihe 01) 4-6-2 . Liebmann made two versions, first a short 45cm aluminium with wide smoke deflectors (catalogue No 40), and then a long 51cm tinplate with narrow smoke deflectors (catalogue No 108-556). The later Stadtilm version came with brown plastic wheels.

·         Stadtilm BR 64 2-6-2 tank (plastic wheels).

·         Liebmann 'Gelenkzug', articulated passenger unit (two bogie coaches).

·         'Doppelstockzug' - double-decker passenger unit with two or three coaches (69 or 98cm long), modelled after the DR commuter trains.

·         A large variety of four and eight wheel passenger, baggage, mail, and goods wagons.

·         A rather splendid twelve wheel crane wagon.

In 1955 Stadtilm stopped making O gauge trains [Kurt Harrer, "Lexikon Blechspielzeug" (Encyclopaedia of Tinplate Toys), Düsseldorf 1989, and Dieter Käßler, "Die Baureihe 01 in Spurweite 0", Spielzeug Antik Revue 1-2/2002, p. 20-22], and the production was sold to Zeuke & Wegwerth. Possibly a portion of the O gauge range was continued to be produced or distributed, and very few of the former Stadtilm steam locomotives received original Zeuke mechanisms. These are now rare oddities, making it rather difficult for the collector to differentiate between Zeuke and Stadtilm without having the original box or a catalogue on hand.

Between 1956 and 1964 VEB Stadtilm continued with a wide range of S gauge 2-rail DC electric trains, featuring Bakelite locomotives and tinplate stock. Many passenger and goods wagons were actually exact S gauge versions of the former O gauge items. Thus the 'Doppelstockzug' re-appeared in S gauge.

It is not known what role, if any, the firm VEB Metallspielwaren Weimar played in the O gauge field. After Stadtilm stopped producing S gauge in 1964, this firm continued S gauge with clockwork toy train sets in mixed tinplate-plastic construction, which were still available throughout the 1980s. One of the earlier sets featured a double-decker unit with steam locomotive.

Epilogue

My formative years as a model railway enthusiast coincided with Zeuke’s transition from O to TT. At the age of five I found a Zeuke O gauge goods set under the Christmas tree, complemented by a passenger set the following year. Each sported the T48 0-4-0 battery powered tank locomotive and three wagons. I recall how the locomotives run swiftly, smoothly and silently. However the lack of front couplings on tank locomotives was disappointing, since the double heading required by longer trains on uneven floors called for homemade wire couplings. The Bakelite buffers did often not survive train accidents, but Zeuke once sent a new shell in exchange for the broken one! I still remember the most magnificent O gauge floor layout of Herr Oskar Fröb, the retired owner of the ‘Erste Oberländische Dampfbierbrauerei’ (First Highland Steam Brewery) of Lobenstein, my Thuringian hometown. The awesome sight made me write already discontinued items, such as a baggage van, crane wagon, bogie tanker, or buffer stop on my Christmas wish list. Even with the help of the local toy shop owner, my father only managed to come up with the last two from left-over Zeuke and Stadtilm stock. This was as far as his involvement went. I felt fortunate that my father was one of the few in the world who kept out of day-to-day toy train operation. With hindsight I realise that he must then have got so fed up with the acquiring adventure that he decided to switch me over from O to TT. I sold my O gauge trains and spent the next decade with TT. Later O gauge started all over again with an inherited soapbox full of Märklin – but that is another story.

Dirk Hertel (TCS 694)

Quincy, MA, USA.

May 18, 2003

Update September 2003! Also look at the web site Lokfotos with a congregation of all 3 versions of the Liebmann 4-6-2's.

‘Any make, Any gauge, Any age’

TCS©2009