Introduction
The class 218 (Baureihe 218) is a diesel locomotive that was built between 1968 and 1979. It was the latest generation of the V160 family and with 398 units also the largest. They are still in service.
Two photo's taken of the class 218 with 25 years in between. The first photo shows the 218 149-3 on the 6th of August 1994 in Cologne (Köln Hbf). The second photo shows the 218 498-4 on the 24th of September 2019 in Munich (München Hbf). Both show different liveries. The first is the ocean blue-beige color and the second the latest red (verkehrsrot) color scheme (livery).
Models
As the class 218 is an important locomotive, many HO scale models have been made. Fleischmann for many years made good model, later Roco, Märklin, Trix and ESU came with newer models.
The list below shows the 218 that are in my (or have been in my) collection.
| Number: | 218 144-4 |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 70748 |
| Era: | 1985/03 - 1995/04 |
| Description: | CityBahn was introduced in 1985 and this is the Roco 218.1 in the Citybahn version. |
| System: | DCC (Loksound5). I installed a Loksound5 decoder in an analog version. |
| Number: | 218 217-8 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 974234 |
| Era: | 1994/10 - 2002 |
| Description: | One time series of the DBAG 217 (Limitierte Sonderserie) |
| System: | DC (Analog) |
| Number: | 218 227-7 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 4938 |
| Era: | 1984-1992 |
| Description: | In old red version with exhaust 'scoops'. This is a trackcleaning locomotive but that is not in operation. |
| System: | DC (Analog) |
| Number: | 218 245-9 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 631403 |
| Era: | 11/1998-2006 |
| Description: | A model from a startset. The 218 in verkehrsrot. |
| System: | DCC (Zimo MX630F) |
| Number: | 218 306-9 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 4232 |
| Era: | IV |
| Description: | The first version of the Fleischmann 218 introduced in 1982. |
| DCC: | I installed a Loksound 2 decoder, bought with 218 sound. |
| Number: | 218 362-2 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 4237 |
| Era: | 1987/11 - 1999/12 |
| DCC: | Still DC (Analog). |
| Number: | 218 413-3 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 4233 |
| Era: | IV |
| DCC: | This is originally an analog model but I installed an ESU Loksound 5 decoder. |
| Number: | 218 433-1 (92 80 1218 433-1) |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 70767.1 |
| Era: | 2017-2022 (Bw Mühldorf) |
| Description: | In latest verkehrsrot livery and with the MTU 4000 engire, which can be seen by the exhaust scoops. |
| DCC: | PLUX22 |
| Number: | 218 054-3 (former 218 448-9) |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 70754 |
| Era: | 2020- |
| Description: | In 2020 the 218 448 has been put in service by PRESS under a new number. |
| DCC: | PLUX22 |
| Number: | 218 452-1 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 4933 |
| Era: | 1977-1998 |
| Description: | Rail cleaning locomotive. The ocean blue color is incorrect and is too green on this model. |
| Number: | 218 452-1 |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 72773 |
| Era: | 1998-2022 |
| DCC: | Factory installed Zimo sound decoder |
| Number: | 218 463-8 |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 71989 |
| Era: | IV (1996-2001) |
| Description: | A special serie for Modellbahnshop-Lippe. |
| DCC: | PLUX22 - I installed Loksound5 decoder (ESU file: S0033) |
| Number: | 218 469-5 |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 72752 |
| Era: | IV (1976-1983) |
| DCC: | PLUX22 - I installed Loksound5 decoder (ESU file: S0033) |
| Number: | 218 497-6 |
| Manufacturer: | Roco |
| Catalogus no: | 73732 |
| Era: | V |
| Description: | A special serie for Modellbahnshop-Lippe. |
| DCC: | This is originally an analog model but I installed an ESU Loksound 5 decoder. |
| Number: | 218 498-4 |
| Manufacturer: | Fleischmann |
| Catalogus no: | 4233 |
| Era: | V |
| Description: | A special model for Eurotrain by Fleischmann |
| DCC: | Factory installed Fleischmann Twin mode decoder (DCC/FMZ). |
