Following on from my research into the older 00 scale 700/800 series Marklin models I decided to look for the prototypes that the models represented.

It is fairly clear that the early Electric OO models were closely allied with their bigger O gauge brothers. However I was convinced that there would be a prototype of each so the models I chose for my investigations were the RS800 and RSM800.

1. RS800 (R=Reisezug, S=Stromabnehmer or Schweiss) Swiss Electric Passenger Locomotive.

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I believe it was modelled on the "A 2-Co-1" TYPE electric locomotive built by the famous firm of electrical engineers, Brown-Boveri, for service on the lines of the Swiss Federal Railways.This locomotive was Marklin's first Swiss outline for OO it followed the design of their O gauge models RS910 and CS 70/12920.

The front snouts at each end and the box cab shape with side windows are characteristic of the "Swiss A 2-Co-1" electric locomotive.
Because of the OO size the headlamp was limited to one lamp not two as on the O gauge model and it has two driven wheels not three as in the prototype. Also the front and rear bogies are omitted as this was to be a simple starter toy model for table railways that was affordable. Other manufacturers in UK and Europe adopted similar drive mechanisms for their models.

see: https://railwaywondersof...ctrification-europe.html
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2. RSM800 R=Reisezug S=Stromabnehmer M=Mischverker (Electric Mixed Traffic Locomotive).

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I believe this was another swiss outline modelled on the preserved swiss loco SBB CFF FFS Ae 3/5 Nr. 10'201 - 10'226. The RSM was fitted with twin flywheels and triangular coupling rods characteristic of the Maschinenfabrik Oerliken Electric prototypes. But like most toy trains the simplified model omitted the leading and trailing bogie trucks and compressed the body. It was similar to the O Gauge Models RS880, RS900, RS920,

The Be 3/5 class of four test locomotives were ordered by the Schweizerischen Bundesbahnen (Swiss Federal Railways) (SBB) in June 1917. Intended to provide experience with electric traction, the locomotives were intended,along with the Ce 6/8I class locomotives, to be used on services on the Gotthardbahn (Gotthard railway). The Be 3/5 was something of a stopgap offered by Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon (MFO) because they felt that the requirements for the Gotthard Railway could not be fulfilled at the time. As the MFO did not feel that it could produce a freight locomotive with six drive-axles, a smaller version of the BLS Be 5/7 was offered. This meant that the locomotive did not fulfil the SBB specifications for the Gotthard line; it was too weak and, compared with the A 3/5 steam locomotives, too slow. However, due to a lack of available stock, the railway still took delivery of the locomotive, a decision that later proved correct by the long operational life and reliability of the Be 3/5.

see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB-CFF-FFS_Be_3/5
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Love your comment re Sound of Music an all time favourite of mine captures Switzerland and Austria wonderfully well. Yes I agree early model makers were more concerned with an item that captured the spirit of the thing than an exact scale model that we have become obsessed with today. Even clockwork mechanisms were rudimentary propulsion until later when they become sophisticated with fowrad and reverse and fast and slow action. Cheers Allyn

Thanks Jaques for the updated info much appreciated.