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The 172 132-3 of the Deutsche Reichsbahn is one of those vehicles that visually define an entire era. Affectionately known as the Ferkeltaxe or Blutblase, this two-axle diesel railcar was the undisputed star of East Germany's secondary branch lines throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Roco reproduces it in HO scale with its trailer 172 732-0, forming a self-contained consist of 311 mm that comes equipped with a ZIMO MS decoder, sound recorded from the real vehicles and an integrated energy buffer.
A consist that works as a single unit
The rigid current-conducting coupling bar linking the railcar to its trailer is more than a mechanical detail: it distributes captured power and digital data throughout the entire consist in a unified way. The central motor with flywheel ensures smooth running at low speeds, and the energy buffer absorbs micro-interruptions when passing over turnouts or dirty track sections, preventing lighting flicker or sound dropouts. On the layout, the result is a unit that runs naturally, without the hesitations that often betray less carefully engineered models.
Sound and lighting that match the model
The ZIMO MS decoder manages an acoustic package recorded directly from the historical vehicles: diesel engine start-up, mechanical gear changes, pneumatic compressors, shunting whistle, DR regulation horn, brake shoe squeal and period station announcements. Directional LED lighting switches automatically according to the direction of travel 3 white headlights and 2 red tail lights and the interior lighting of both coaches can be switched independently from the controller. The decoder also allows the headlights on coupled intermediate ends to be digitally suppressed, a detail that makes a real difference in a well-resolved consist.
The 172 at the platform of an Epoch IV layout
In a rural branch or secondary station scene from East Germany, this railcar with its trailer has an immediately recognisable presence: the two-tone bus red and cream livery, light grey roof and black underframes are the DR's colours at their most characteristic. The 172 132-3 and 172 732-0 running numbers are crisply printed, and through the wide windows you can make out the interior with bench seating, luggage racks and cab partitions. With a minimum radius of 358 mm, it fits comfortably into medium-sized layouts. The model is factory-configured for DC (2-rail); AC system users should replace the wheelsets as indicated by the manufacturer.