Märklin
 
The "Glückschwein-Lok"
 

There were several discussions among model railroaders when Märklin presented that model as a limited edition for New Year's Day of 2000. A pig is known as a talisman in Germany. The sheet metal box shows other symbols known as talismans.

The reason for the production of this locomotive was perhaps that there were still chassis of the former "Alpha" trains left which were used for this funny model.

 
The Camel Car
 
This "model" was a limited Insider Club edition in 1998.
 
 
BR89 der DB/DB-AG
 
The Märklin model of the BR 89.0 has become the most often produced model locomotive. It was presented for the first time in the early 1950ies als "CM 800" and later on offered as model #3000.

When production started, the model wasn't curious at all. Certainly, it was a simple model even for the 1950ies. Like it was usual at that time, there was a Märklin logo on one side and the catalog number stained on the other side of the driver's cab.
 
This changed, however, when Märklin started to deliver this model with DB emblems in 1968. But the Deutsche Bundesbahn had never had any engnine of this type in service!

A DRG, DR or a PKP version would have been possible - however, perhaps due to political reasons (communist block!), a Eastern-German oder Polish version would have never been realized at that time by a Western-European firm... 

   

But that wasn't enough yet: in 1970, there was a series where the number had been printed wrongly, i.e. mirror-inverted: "900 68" instead of "89 006".
   
Märklin realized that error, but unluckily they didn't realize that the DB-emblem were completely wrong for that locomotive.

Another interesting version came in 1996, when Märklin produced a small series with the new version of the DB-emblem like is has been used since 1994. This were, however, only a small number of test models 

 
 
The Christmas Train
 

The locomotive is a BR 81 in a "Christmas design" - blue colour printed with golden stars. The lettering on the driver's cab shows an old Märklin logo, the name "Märklin" and the year date "2001".

 
The green and auburn low-sided wagons have a golden chassis and are printed with stars as well.
 
 
April's Joke
 

The popular German Railway magazine "MIBA" presented in their 1993 April's edition a new Märklin model. A BR 120 in a blue design study.

There were several collectors ordering that model, without realizing of being the victim of an April's joke.

Märklin however, reacted by playing a trick on the MIBA - they produced the model...

Model railroaders called the model the "April's Joke Loco".
 
 
Harry Potter
 
The large success of the "Harry Potter" books and films let Märklin present a model of the "Hogwarts Express" which played a role in the story. Quite similar models were offered by the British manufacturer Hornby already some time before, on which the Märklin models were based.

These were, in fact, no "real" phantasy models - for the film, an "Otton Hall" class locomotive including some cars had been painted in the Hogwarts Express colours.

The set contained also two cars - in 2004 two additional cars were presented to complete the train.