B¹¹tz Nord Express coach LS Models

The fact that the central doors were locked out for service at the end of their career and therefore their steps and handrails removed is respected (and there is no corresponding hole!).

The engraving of axle boxes is remarkable: there is not only the Athermos acronym, but the manufacturer’s name below!

For once, LS Models has not been stingy in spare parts. We find not only detail parts: brake couplings, heating hoses, etc., but also and especially replacement parts: folded bellows, steps (that’s good!), aerators, handrails, buffers. Bravo!

This time, the Fleischmann Profi couplings can be easily mounted in the NEM box, forcing a little. On the other hand, I noticed derailments in large radius curve due to too tight buffers, whereas the passage in the same curve is normally with a space of about 0.5 mm between buffers. I suspect a random blocking of some drawbars in their guide.

See:

• Loco-Revue Forum.
• gamos81.altervista.org for the reference list of issued Nord coach models.

These coaches were originally of the 3rd class C¹¹ type, No. C¹¹y 15005 to 15249.

With a central corridor, they were equipped with 5 doors per side (one every two “compartments”) and two central WC. At the end of the career, the central door was locked out, the corresponding step and handrail removed.

I wonder about the validity of the concept of these coaches, multiple doors meant to accelerate the access of travellers, but expensive and complicated (curve, lock). Moreover, was not the time gained when the passengers were boarding up lost by the fact that an agent had to go along the entire train to close the doors? Finally, the typical and pronounced shape of the bodies, necessary to give way to the steps, reduced the space at the feet, making these coaches quite — very? — uncomfortable.