This very nice N gauge locomotive by Roco is 23330 a DB BR 181 electric locomotive in blue livery with running number 181 209-8. 

The DB series 181 were purchased by the Deutsche Bundesbahn from 1966 specifically for cross-border traffic to France and Luxembourg. These machines were also used in the Metz–Saarbrücken–Kaiserslautern–Mannheim–Heidelberg/Darmstadt–Frankfurt express train service, often with SNCF Corail carriages . The express and express trains on the Saarbrücken–Trier–Koblenz routes ( Saar line , Mosel line ) were also part of the passenger transport operations. The use of freight trains was limited to the Saarbrücken-Forbach/Border, Trier-Perl/Apach and Wasserbillig -Luxemburg routes, where the locomotive also came with passenger trains.

Later they were also used between Strasbourg - Kehl - Karlsruhe and Stuttgart . The locomotives were used for return services in front of intra-French passenger trains on the Strasbourg-Metz route. It was not until 1990 that the new Saarbrücken–Mannheim–Stuttgart Interregio trains received the 181s, but due to the new Mannheim–Stuttgart line they were replaced just a year later by the new 120 series locomotives.

The locomotives also ran in EuroCity traffic.

After another large series of parked locomotives were scrapped in 2017, the 181 series was finally parked at the DB on December 8, 2018. The remaining locomotives at this time were transferred to the DB's standstill management.

Because of their area of ​​operation, four locomotives were named after the names of the regions they served: 181 211 “ Lorraine ”, 181 212 “ Luxembourg ”, 181 213 “ Saar ” and 181 214 “ Mosel ”.

At the end of 2019, the three machines 181 204, 181 213 and 181 215 were acquired by the private company Schlünß Eisenbahnlogistik (SEL) and gradually refurbished by Baltic Port Services (BPS) in Mukran on Rügen. A fourth machine followed in 2020 with 181,211. The locomotives are offered for rent by SEL.

The Nordliner Gesellschaft für Eisenbahnverkehr uses several of these locomotives in freight transport (mainly transfer of locomotives, car trains and combined transport ) and is itself the owner of the 181 215.

The loco is in good condition as you can see in the pictures, it is tested and runs with working lights. A complete external visual inspection has shown the overall condition is very good. The box is in good if slightly shelf worn condition. 

Overall this is a really nice scale locomotive and would look fantastic on a layout.

Do please have a look at our other listings, we typically have various HO and OO locos on offer as well as an extensive range of imported N gauge locos and other items. 

Note: we do recommend all locos are cleaned & serviced, as they have some age to them even if the quality looks at the highest level (fairly standard advice for all locos!).