Vintage and Rare 1959 Fleischmann HO Locomotive Santa Fe No 1341S Working For Sale

Vintage and Rare 1959 Fleischmann HO Locomotive Santa Fe No 1341S Working
Yes, you read that correctly, WORKING!
Nealy 70 years old.
West German Made
Bought from an estate sale of individual who used to own a hobby store.
THIS IS THE 1st Year they made this one as signified by the "S" after the 1341.

• Brand/Manufacturer: Fleischmann (Made in Germany)
• Scale / Gauge: HO scale (1:87), 2-rail DC analog system
• Prototype: ALCO FA-1/FA-2 style cab diesel locomotive decorated in the iconic Santa Fe "War Bonnet" red, yellow, and silver livery (noting that the real-life Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway historically operated ALCO PA units rather than the shorter FA freight variants modeled here).
• Length: Approximately 20 cm (7.9 inches)
• Body Material: Die-cast metal / injection-molded alloy components typical of European production in that era.

·Features: Two-rail DC powered operation,featuring working directional or basic lighting depending on the sub-run, androbust mid-century mechanical engineering.

• The Production Run: Introduced around 1959/1960, this die-cast metal F-unit/ALCO FA hybrid variant was built for a limited window specifically to target the mid-century American market. Finding them in Europe is relatively common, but finding clean versions in North America is harder.
• The "Condition" Rarity: The heavy zinc die-cast alloy shell is highly durable, but the painted Santa Fe yellow, red, and silver warbonnet paint is prone to heavy play-wear, flaking, and paint loss. Finding one with pristine, unmarred lettering and clean silver paint is genuinely rare.
• The Completeness Factor:

• The First-Year Mark: True first-year editions often feature an explicit fractional or numeral date code stamped directly into the casting mold or ink-stamped by the factory. Look for the number 59 (1959) or 60 (1960).
• Later Variations: Units built through the mid-to-late 1960s either transitioned to a different numbering sequence (e.g., a month/year stamp format like 11/4 for November 1964) or had no date code at all, displaying just the manufacturer name.

• Early Run: The box and earliest instruction sheets read exactly 1341 S.
• Later Run: As the line expanded into the 1960s, Fleischmann streamlined catalog systems, and the "S" suffix was slowly dropped from standard packaging and invoices.

• Couplers: A true 1959/1960 model features heavy, full-metal loop or hook couplers standard to Fleischmann’s early international export phase. Plastic elements or swapped NMRA hook-and-horn couplers mean a later production batch or a user modification.
• The "Warbonnet" Paint Fill: First-run units feature an exceptionally thick layer of silver paint that wraps cleanly around the casted grilles and nose details. Because the mold was crisp and new in 1959, the cast lines underneath the paint on first-year models look exceptionally sharp compared to late-60s runs where the factory molds began experiencing slight wear.

• First-Generation Box: Features a classic text-heavy or dark-bordered vintage cover showing illustrative model train artwork. The stock number will explicitly read 1341 S stamped on the end flap.
• Second-Generation Box: By the mid-1960s, Fleischmann transitioned to a brighter box style featuring updated graphics or window cutouts.

***PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS!!!***
***PLEASE VIEW PHOTOS AND VIDEO!!***
Items in this great of condition AND THIS RARE are getting harder and harder to find.
A great gift for any Fleischmann TOY buff. Especially a VINTAGE RAILROAD TOY collector.
Please write and ask any questions as I will answer them to the best of my knowledge and ability. Please view photos for better detail as they are part of the description. Item is sold without warranty and "as is" with no returns.
All pictures are considered part of the description and should be examined carefully by buyers.
WE WILL PACKAGE THIS ITEM TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. BUT THIS IS A VERY OLD TOY THAT WAS NEVER MEANT TO LAST THIS LONG. WHILE WE ARE NOT INSINUATING THAT SHIPPING COMPANIES ARE NOT CAREFUL WITH PACKAGES, ONCE IT LEAVES OUR STORE, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ACTIONS THAT ARE DONE TO IT WHICH MAY/MAY NOT AFFECT THE OPERATIONS AFTER THE SALE.
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