KRES 17340 Gauge H0 Rail bus BR 173 002, DR Era IV with different fronts

Railbus BR 173 002, DR Era IV, with different fronts after the accident

The role model
Unconventional and full of innovations:

The 2nd prototype of the railbus from the former wagon construction company in Bautzen had the potential to become a successful model.

Technical problems in the testing phase and a lack of capacity in rail vehicle construction in the GDR stood in the way. The railcar remained a loner and was retired in 1978.

After an accident on May 11, 1973, the vehicle was repaired on one side with a 5-part window front and painted differently.

Technical Equipment
The model is available in 2 variants. The analog variant has a slot according to NEM 652. The second variant is factory-equipped with FlexDec and offers a significantly expanded range of functions for digital operation with DCC:

- 13 separately switchable light outputs
- prototypical replica of fluorescent tube lighting in the passenger compartment
- illuminated toilet rooms
- Dimmable lower white signal lights
- Signal lighting can be switched on/off for each end
- Driver's cab lighting that changes with the direction of travel and switches off automatically
departure
- RailCom active etc...

The conversion from analog to digital operation is also possible with the analog model, but with a smaller number of separately switchable light functions. There is a suitable slot for this on the roof board of the VT, which is equipped with a jumper plug in the analogue delivery state. This can be replaced by a suitable digital decoder.