Prior to 2019, one could hardly find any RailAdventure models in HO- (1/87), N- (1/160) or TT-scale (1/120); the 3 popular scales among German model railroaders. Jens Merte is one of those who designed and 3D printed some RailAdventure equipment such as Loco Buggy, loading ramp, low-floor freight car type Sfps and NEM coupling adapter for HO-scale.

In 2019, Tillig decided to produce RailAdventure cars and sets in HO- and TT-scale, the latter being their staple product portfolio. I bought their Tillig H0 RailAdventure baggage cars Dmz and Loco Buggy set (article no. 70043)

Tillig H0 RailAdventure Baggage Cars Dmz

The set comes with 2 separately packed baggage cars type Dmz in RailAdventure livery and coupling adapter on only one end of each car. You will notice that the Traffic Grey B stripe and RailAdventure logo are placed differently on each car. Each car is 303mm long, which is pretty obvious when you are modelling Era II/III.

Tillig H0 RailAdventure Logo Buggy

The main innovation from RailAdventure is its Loco Buggy. These are basically rollers on standard-gauge wheels, which allow rolling stocks with standard (HO: 1435mm gauge) and non-standard gauge wheels (HOm: 1000mm gauge, HOe: 600-750mm gauge) to be transported over standard gauge network. In reality, RailAdventure even transported Siemens Vectron locomotives with 1520mm Finnish-broad gauge.

Tillig is the only commercial model railroading company that offers HO- and TT-scale Loco Buggies but these are not sold separately (Foto: Jimmy Low (c))

The model Loco Buggies come in two variations: short (24mm) and long (42mm). The short Loco Buggy supports one axle; so for a 4-axle rolling stock, you will need 4 short Loco Buggies! The long Loco Buggy can support 2 axles per Buggy but there is a limited distance between axles. You will need 2 long Loco Buggies.

Tillig’s Loco Buggies come in yellow instead of the prototype Juice Green (RAL Design 110 80 70) and come with replaceable adapters for different wheel gauges (Foto: Jimmy Low (c))

RailAdventure Loco Buggy in Action

I am using the standard-gauge 1435mm adapter Loco Buggies. You can see that the each axle sits neatly on each Loco Buggy. The Loco Buggies rolled smoothly on the flex-track.

The vertical height with and without Loco Buggies is noticeable, like in prototype; hence, the purpose of the coupling adapter on one end of a RailAdventure car – be it baggage car or sliding wall freight car.

I tested the long Loco Buggy on my BR 74. The last two of the three coupled wheels on BR 74 rest on a long Buggy and supported by the adapter, while the front coupled wheel hangs freely. The leading wheel is supported by a short Buggy. I have not seen any pictures of RailAdventure transporting a tank locomotive this way but who knows.

Tillig provides 5 coupling rods (not sold separately) in the set: 2 short and 2 long for NEM 362 adapter when towing rail vehicle, and 1 rigid coupling rod (ring on both ends) for coupling RailAdventure coupling adapter cars when not towing.

I am looking forward to putting them in action at the coming MIST-61 operating session.