Kuehn - 95017 - Locomotive, Electric, BR 180 - ČD (Czech Railways) - 371 201-5

Model Information: First released in 2014.
Features

• Minimum radius: 192mm
• extremely fine detailing by manufacturing plastic injection molding process
• Five-pole engine for excellent low-speed characteristics
• Two dynamically balanced flywheels ensure smooth running
• All four axles are driven for best traction
• Two wheels with traction tires
• direction-dependent lighting (three-light head signal and 2 red tail lights)
• NEM358 coupler pocket with short coupling kinematics

DCC Information: DCC socket Next18 (NEM662)

Prototype History: The DR class BR230 / ČSD class 371/372 is a 3260 kW dual-current electrical locomotives developed by the DR (Deutschen Reichbahn, eastern German Railways) and the ČSD (Czechoslovak Railways) for cross-border traffic between Berlin / Dresden (Germany) and Prague (Czech Republic). It is suitable to work with 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz AC in Germany and in 3 kV DC in Czech Republic.
The locomotive was manufactured by Škoda, based on ČSD class ES 499.1, and nicknamed "Knödelpressen" (dumpling press) due to its Czech origins. The prototype was delivered in 1988 and the series delivered in 1991: 20 came to the DR as class BR230 and 15 to the ČSD as class 371 (passenger version 160km/h) and class 372 (freight version 120 km/h).
In 1992, the German BR230 were re-classified by DB as BR 180. They were removed from service by the DB by the end of 2014.
The ČSD class 371 and 372 were all transferred to the ČD (Czech Railways) after the split of Czechoslovak .

Read more on this website (in German)

Road Name History: České dráhy, often shortened to ČD (English: Czech Railways), is the main railway operator in the Czech Republic providing regional and long-distance services.
The company was established in 1993, after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, as a successor of the Czechoslovak State Railways.
With a fleet of more than 2,500 motive vehicles, it operates on the national infrastructure managed by SŽDC, a network of circa 9,400 km of railway lines.

Brand/Importer Information: Kuehn Modell & Digital is a German manufacturer founded by Torsten Kühn in 1998 in Rheinbreitbach, near Bonn. From their creation, they design digital products including NMRA DCC decoders. In 2006, they started producing TT-scale models and in 2010 N-scale models.