Märklin Thalys "Tintin" - ToToTrains

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July 31, 2012
© Geert Maes
Tim and Struppi THALYS Special Train
E

Thalys, Tim and Struppi, Schulze, and Schultze, Captain Haddock...
The comics about the ageless reporter and detective Tim
as well as his white fox terrier Struppi (in the original
“Tintin & Milou”) belong to the classics of children’s
literature. In 1929 the Belgian Georges Remi (1907 to
1983) published the first episode under his writing name
“Hergé”. The name “Hergé” came by the way from the
French pronunciation of his initials (reversed). The 24 original
stories have sold about 230 million copies since the
first story appeared and have been translated into over 80
languages. Hergé’s characters such as Professor Bienlein,
Schulze and Schultze, Cap’n Haddock, the opera singer
Bianca Castafiore, and many others populated almost every
child’s bedroom in the second half of the 20th century.
© 2011 Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Thalys. All Rights Reserved
In 1999 the title “The Blue Lotus” placed eighteenth among
the most important books in the 20th century according
to a survey by the French newspaper “Le Monde”. “Tim
and Struppi” were in good company with Aldous Huxley,
Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Anne Frank. The secret of his
success was no doubt Hergé’s clear way of drawing
and telling a story.
Director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson,
two visionary story tellers of their time and both Oscar
winners, took up the filming of the famous comics of Hergé
in 2009. Spielberg had already secured the rights to the
“Tim and Struppi” stories 30 years ago. Their computeranimated
film combines the three adventures “The Crab
with the Golden Scissors”, “The Secret of the Unicorn”,
and “The Treasure of Rackham the Red” into a new story.
The characters correspond exactly to the originals with all
of their quirks, their angles, and edges. For example, Captain
Haddock swears constantly and is a heavy drinker –
but is always there for Tim in spite of this and bucks him
up when he needs it.
© 2011 Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Thalys. All Rights Reserved
© 2011 Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Thalys. All Rights Reserved

© Geert Maes
© Geert Maes
© Geert Maes
The international railroad company Thalys International in
Brussels is a subsidiary of the French (SNCF) and Belgian
State Railways (NMBS/SNCB). Additional partners are
the subsidiary of the Dutch State Railways Thalys Nederland
and the German Railroad. The participating railroad
companies SNCF, SNCB, DB, and NS agreed in June of
1992 on a common train for high-speed service between
Paris, Brussels, Cologne, and Amsterdam (PBKA). These
four-current PBKA high-speed trains with their characteristic
paint scheme in Bordeaux red and gray metallic
are a further development of the TGV, are marketed under
the product name “THALYS”, and are operated by Thalys
International.
With its headquarters in Brussels it absolutely made sense
for Thalys International to be the official partner of Steven
Spielberg’s new film and Thalys International staged a
spectacular advertising stunt for the premiere of the film
“The Adventure of Tim and Struppi – The Secret of the
Unicorn”:
The premiere celebrations for the Spielberg film took place
on October 22, 2011 in Brussels and Paris. This film was
awaited with excitement and the world premiere started in
Brussels. Just a few hours later the second presentation
began in Paris. This allowed a Thalys PBKA to connect
both metropolitan areas at high speed. On that day the
travel time of 1 hour 22 minutes was done however in a
special “Tim and Struppi” Thalys.
This Thalys with road number 4343 was in a completely
“Tim and Struppi” design. Several characters from Hergé’s
famous comics were applied to the train with adhesive
sheets; these characters were given new life in Steven
Spielberg’s 3D film. Tim and Struppi were on the train again
just like Schulze and Schultze and naturally also Captain
Haddock. This train was presented for the first time to the
public on October 22 and transported the world famous
director and his entire team after the Brussels premiere,
among them the actors Jamie Bell and the producer Kathleen
Kennedy. Numerous photographers and fans were
waiting at the Paris Gare du Nord station for the train with
Steven Spielberg and his film team. They all applauded
this famous director when he signed a Thalys powered
end car.

About the THALYS PBKA
Initially, 17 Thalys train sets were ordered from GEC-Alsthom
by the four participating railroads SNCF, SNCB, DB,
and NS. Of them the SNCB took seven units (4301-4307),
the SNCF six (4341-4346), the NS two (4331-4332), and the
DB two (4321-4322), which the DB internally designates
as the class 409. The Thalys PBKA has been in operation
since December 14, 1997 from Paris to Brussels and then
further on to Amsterdam or Cologne.
With its rounded nose the Thalys PBKA externally resembles
the TGV Duplex; from a technical point of view it is
related to the TGV Réseau, the third generation TGV. The
Thalys PBKA was 50% more expensive to purchase than
the TGV Réseau, because it has to be able to handle four
different electrical current systems and seven different
signal systems, which its onboard computer automatically
recognizes. The Thalys is designed for left or for right
hand operation. The engineer’s controls were therefore
arranged in the middle of the cab. The power output and
the operating speed depend on the electrical current system.
The continuous power output of the trains at 1.5
kilovolts DC (the customary Dutch network) and at
15 kilovolts/16 2 / 3 Hertz AC (German network) is only
3,680 kilowatts / 4,933 horsepower. At 3 kilovolts DC
(the customary Belgian network) it is at least 5,210 kilowatts
/ 6,984 horsepower. All of this is only enough for
a maximum speed of 220 km/h / 138 mph. The Thalys
reaches its permissible 300 km/h / 188 mph only with 25
kilovolts/50 Hertz (parts of the French, Belgian, and Dutch
high speed routes) with a power output of 8,800 kilowatts /
11,796 horsepower.
A train set consists of two powered end cars and eight intermediate
cars. The intermediate cars are connected to
each other by means of Jakobs trucks and thereby form
an operating unit. Five intermediate cars (one with a bar)
are for passengers in 2nd class and three intermediate
cars are for 1st class. The about 200 meter / 650 foot Thalys
has seating for a total of 377 passengers. These cars
have been freshened up intensively in recent years with
the following innovations: new interiors and a new look
in flaming red and silver – borrowing from the previous
Thalys colors but with new graphic elements. The trains
are serviced in Brussels; for that reason the DB train sets
have not been given DB numbers. They are currently run
in Germany on approximately two hour cycles between
Paris and Cologne and with one pair of trains even going
on to Essen.
Ostende
PARIS
Bruges
Gent
Mons
Rotterdam
Antwerp
AMSTERDAM
Schiphol
BRUSSELS
Aachen
Liège
Namur
Charleroi
Essen
COLOGNE

...onboard a unique special train.
$/cehN+j8|
37795 High Speed Train.
Prototype: High speed train painted and lettered for
the THALYS PBKA of Thalys International, Brussels,
Belgium in the multi-system version for service
between Paris, Brussels, Cologne, and Amsterdam.
2 powered end cars (TK1 and TK2), 1 transition
car (R1), 1st class, 1 transition car (R8), 2nd class.
2 transition cars (R2 und R3), 1st class, 1 bar car
(R4), 2nd class, 3 intermediate cars (R5, R6, R7), 2nd
class. Special version for the premiere of the film
“The Adventures of Tim and Struppi – The Secret of
the Unicorn”. The train looks as it did for the special
run on October 22, 2011 from Brussels to Paris.
Model: This is a complete 10 part train. Both end
cars (TK1 and TK2) are powered. The train has an
mfx digital decoder and extensive sound functions.
It has controlled, high-efficiency propulsion in
both powered end cars, centrally mounted. 4 axles
powered through cardan shafts in each end car.
Traction tires. The transition and intermediate cars
have factory-installed interior lighting. The triple
headlights and dual red marker lights change over
with the direction of travel. They and the interior
lighting will work in conventional operation and can
be controlled digitally. The third headlight for the
French headlight code can be turned off separately
in digital operation. The headlights and interior lighting
are maintenance-free, warm white LEDs and the
marker lights are maintenance-free red LEDs. The
powered end cars have separately applied metal
grab irons and inset windshield wipers. The engineer’s
cabs in the powered end cars have interior
details. The powered end cars and transition cars
as well as the intermediate cars are permanently
coupled together in pairs and have special close
couplings with a guide mechanism. There is an additional
guide mechanism in the Jakobs truck. The end
cars have a pickup shoe changeover feature so that
the pickup shoe at the front of the train is the one
picking up power. The interior lighting is powered
through a continuous electrical connection through
the entire train. Each powered end car has 2 SNCF
design single-arm pantographs. The pantographs
work mechanically but are not wired to take power.
The train is a scale reproduction. The minimum
radius for operation is therefore 360 mm / 14-3/16”,
when there is sufficient clearance on both sides.
Length of the 10-part set 230 cm / 90-9/16”.
The complete train comes in exclusive special
packaging. A consecutively numbered certificate
of authenticity is included.
One-time series.
**
• Extremely limited edition,
2,499 pieces.
• Consecutively numbered
certificate of authenticity included.
• Exclusive special packaging.
• A scale reproduction in 1:87.
• Both end cars powered.
• Extensive sound functions.
• Factory-installed interior lighting
in the transition and intermediate
cars.
Order deadline July 31, 2012.
Delivery planned for 1st quarter of 2013.
Digital Functions
Control
Unit
Mobile
Station
Mobile
Station 2
Central
Station
Headlight(s) x x x x
Interior lights x x x x
Light Function 1 x x x x
Electric locomotive op. sounds x x x x
Horn x x x x
Direct control x x x x
Sound of squealing brakes off x x x
Doors Closing x x x
Whistle for switching maneuver x x x
Conductor‘s Whistle x x x
Stat. Announce. - Fren. x x
Station Announcements x x
Station Announcements x x
Stat. Announce. - Engl. x x
© Dennis Koster
© Stichting Railpublicaties

Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH
Stuttgarter Straße 55 - 57
73033 Göppingen
Deutschland
www.maerklin.com
We reserve the right to make changes
and delivery is not guaranteed.
Pricing, data, and measurements may
vary. We are not liable for mistakes and
printing errors.
Some of the models shown in the
photographs are hand samples.
The regular production models may
vary in details from the models shown.
* All prices are suggested retail
prices. If these edition of the presentation
book does not have prices,
please ask your authorized dealers
for the current price list.
** Age Information and Warnings:
For adults only.
All rights reserved.
Copying in whole or part prohibited.
Printed in Germany.
190260 – 06 2012
© Copyright by
Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH
© Stichting Railpublicaties
An explanation of the symbols can be
found in the current Märklin catalog.