Kettle car, H0, Deutz, ESSO, silver, DRG Era II, DC

Even before the outbreak of World War II, the authorities recognized a significant need for tank cars for flammable liquids to secure supplies. The development was guided by the economical use of raw materials. Westwaggon in Cologne-Deutz developed a type under this guideline without a separate underframe, where the end pieces were welded to the tank.

To avoid damage to the tank from the tensile and impact forces occurring during operation, the lower part of the tank is designed as a trough, thus no longer featuring vertical tank shots as was previously common. Approximately 2000 units of the two-axle car, referred to as the Deutzer design after the developer's headquarters, were produced between 1941 and 1944. While the vehicles of the first series were delivered to private owners, military entities, such as the Luftwaffe, received the lion's share of the subsequent deliveries. Oil associations were clearly in the minority as recipients. All cars were registered with the state railway, which was then only known as Deutsche Reichsbahn. After World War II, the private cars remained with the successor companies of the oil associations, while the state cars were transferred in 1951 to the Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH VTG, founded on November 5, 1951. By 1953, VTG owned a total of 9791 tank cars of various designs. In 1961, for example, a larger number of cars were transferred to the industrial management company IVG to supply military locations with operating materials. These cars could be seen individually or in small groups throughout the Federal Republic well into Era IV. Private operators such as Shell, ESSO, ARAL, or Texaco also used the Deutzer cars until Era IV. Around 1990, the last examples were retired from service.

• Scale model of the lightweight tank car with a capacity of 30 m³
• Running boards or running grids made from etched parts
• Various separately applied fittings
• Prototype-accurate dimensions for railings and grab bars made from durable plastic
• Era-appropriate execution of the nameplates
• Profiled wheels on both sides
• Car weight 48 g for optimal running characteristics
• Axle tip bearing in metal bearings for smooth operation
• Hook coupling with non-magnetic hook in a guided standard pocket
• Minimum radius of curvature = 360 mm
• Length over buffers = 101.2 mm