ESU 31180 – Steam locomotive, H0, T18, 78 443 DB, black, epoch III, DCC Sound, smoke

Steam locomotive, H0, T18, 78 443 DB, black, epoch III, prototypical condition around 1964, LokSound, double smoke generator, shunting coupler, DC/AC.

You can certainly see from the photos that our T18 looks beautiful and, depending on the era, has different lanterns, feed pumps, wiring, cab roofs and coal boxes. What you may not immediately recognize in the pictures is the cylinder steam, a new function for ESU steam locomotives. This occurred in the prototype when condensate was blown out.
Since cylinder steam does not escape in every driving situation, even with the original, our H0 model behaves accordingly. Of course, you can set this function according to your wishes, as you are used to from ESU. Incidentally, the smoke visible in the photo did not have to be enhanced by an image editing program.
Even if some machines at the DB were equipped with push-pull train control, the majority of the locomotives were always in front of the train, which made it necessary to move the locomotive at the destination station. That’s why we deliver our models with digitally remote-controlled clutches. These work with the ESU universal coupling 41000, but also with the Märklin short coupling, as well as commercially available bracket couplings.
As you know it from other ESU traction vehicles, many prototypical light functions can be switched on. This is how you typically maneuver with only one headlamp at both ends. In the dark, the chassis and driver’s cab lighting support the H0 personnel at work. The powerful bell-shaped armature motor with flywheel works deep inside the metal frame and, tamed by the LokSound 5 decoder, ensures smooth driving characteristics and prototypical traction. By removing or attaching the slider and pressing a switch on the floor of the locomotive, you can switch between two-wire and middle-wire operation.