New ESU Class V90 Product Review

REYNAULDS.COM presents a video on the new ESU class V90 diesel locomotives. These new ESU class V90 diesel locomotives are packed with new innovations and technology including synchronized exhaust smoke and sound technology which replicates the prototypical diesel start-up sequence. When the diesel starts up, it bellows out a cloud of diesel smoke as the engine revs up, this is simply an incredible feature for a model. As with all ESU locomotives, the housing, chassis, and gearbox are all metal. One of the best features of any ESU locomotive is they are equipped with a Loksound 4.0 decoder and designed to operate on both 2-Rail DCC and on Marklin's 3-Rail digital systems. The V4.0 decoder also allows Automatic registration to command stations supporting RailComPlus® or mfx® functionality. The V90 is equipped with powerful high-efficiency motor with flywheel which makes this locomotive not only powerful but very smooth, it crawls at such a slow speed you can barely see it move. The sound quality on this model is outstanding because ESU uses high-quality speakers with specially designed sound capsules for the best possible sound quality. The sound file loaded on the decoder is the original sound sequences of a powerful 12-cylinder Maybach engine. Besides the smoke and sound features, the class V90 has digital couplers and several sensational sensors. The sensational sensors are very innovative, one sensor recognizes when the locomotive goes into a curve the sensor automatically activates squealing wheel sounds when moving slowly through curves. The other sensor recognizes when the locomotive goes over a turnout activating the sound of a locomotive going over a turnout. ESU uses many light functions one of our favorites are the yellow flickering brake sparks during sharp braking, we really love this feature, it is so realistic. The locomotive also has directional white/red headlights that can be turned on and off, shunting light sequence, cab illumination and illuminated driver’s console. Cosmetically the model is exquisite, the paint finish and lettering is excellent and the extra attention to detail is over the top. Model features roof fan grills, multi-part bogie frames with separately applied springs, separately applied grab irons and shunter’s steps. The V90 was one of the most built PROTOTYPE: The DB Class V90 locomotives are similar to DB Class V 100 locomotives, they were designed for heavy shunting and transfer traffic. The locomotives were built by Maschinenbau Kiel in co-operation with BZA Munich and designed to be a longer and heavier locomotive than the V100's. In 1974 the first production locomotives were produced they were equipped with a 1350 horsepower engine with a top speed of 80 km/h. Many variations were produced with both Mak 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the length of the locomotives were 14.32 meters, by 1974 408 had been built by MaK, Deutz, Henschel, and Jung. The class V90's were very advanced for the time they had two safety devices, a Deadman's vigilance device (German:Sifa) and "Inductive train control system" (German:Indusi). One of the most important features of the class V90 was the radio remote control systems which were utilized in order to make better use of these locomotives, Two types of radio remote control were used, Initially, locomotives were equipped with radio equipment which allowed the yardmaster to control the locomotive. A driver still occupied the locomotive for safety reasons, and to control the locomotive. This method was used in large computer-controlled marshaling yards such as Mannheim, Munich and Nürnberg marshaling yards. The Nürnberg yard has a downward gradient of the track so the locomotives are coupled with 6 axle flat wagon loaded with concrete weights that have been converted to brake tenders so that it is possible to stop trains of up to 2000 tons in weight. After 1995 a large number of locomotives were fitted with a new radio remote produced by Krauss-Maffei. The remote device is carried by yard crews in a so-called "Belly Box" and operated in a manner similar to that of a toy car or model aircraft remote control. Originally the locomotives were painted in deep red in the mid-1970s a new ivory / ocean blue color scheme was introduced, in the second half of the 1980s an eastern red color scheme was used and since the late'90s, the locomotives are found in the current traffic red of Deutsche Bahn AG. Over the years the V90's were renumbered to class 290, 291, 294, 295 and 296. Today the future of the class V90's is coming to an end, the Deutsche Bahn AG has announced that these amazing diesel locomotives will be replaced with the new Voith Gravita locomotives, which are also produced by ESU. Visit http://reyaulds.com to view all the ESU products & more.