Our “eighties” There are Märklin locomotives that trigger strong emotions for many model railroaders. The brawny class 80 steam tank loco is one of these small but mighty Märklin icons. A model of this powerful switcher rolled into the Märklin range as far back as the early 1950s as the legendary TM 800 and delighted model railroaders, young and old, especially because of its affordable price. It was subsequently followed by countless improved versions of the “Eighty,” which eventually became one of the most popular Märklin steam locos. This was certainly also due to the interesting prototype. When 39 units of the class 80 were delivered to the pre-war German State Railroad Company between 1927 and 1929 as a standard-type switcher, it was a highly modern and extremely powerful loco type. Although the German Federal Railroad (DB) retired the last of these six-coupled locos, which could generate in excess of 500 hp, as early as 1964, numerous locomotives found grateful customers at works railroads in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, where the last examples could still be admired until the end of the steam era in the 1970s. As a result, many railroad and model railroad fans were able to experience the “eighties” live under steam. Seven machines survive to this day, while road number 80 036, owned by the Dutch “Veluwsche Stoomtrein”, is currently being refurbished. It is due to be back in steam in 2026. To coincide with this event, Märklin presents a completely revised version of this classic design. Equipped with the latest technology and offering a clear view through the engineer’s cab, the new class 80 is sure to captivate many generations of young and old Märklin fans. Prototype: German Federal Railroad class 80 tank locomotive. This is a version with three boiler domes, a bell, and a turbo dynamo on the left, a smokebox door without a central lock with the number sign in the middle. Deep black basic paint scheme. Road number 80 016. The locomotive looks as it did around 1953.