History




	Class 38 steam engine with three enthusiasts

Rokal was originally founded in Dusseldorf in 1914 as a metal casting company. The company later moved to Lobberich in 1926, being named ROKAL. The name Rokal is an acronym for: RObert KArmann Lobberich. Robert Kahrmann is the founder of the Company. Lobberich is a town northwest from Köln, very close to the Dutch border. Rokal began manufacturing its model train line in the late 1940’s, probably around 1948. Initial model train development was under the direction of Eugen Englehardt, who left the company in the very late 1940’s. Development continued under the direction of Heinz Thieme. At that time, TT-Scale was in its infancy, yet to be discovered by model railroad enthusiasts around the world. Even the Rokal company itself was a bit reluctant about its role in the model train world. The words describing the Rokal factory in the Company's catalogs always were just a bit evasive. "Covering an area of almost 24 acres, ROKAL employs over 2,000, in extensive and modern facilities, in which ROKAL TT gauge model trains are produced as a part of widely diversified metal products". This is technically accurate, but the key phrase here is "...part of widely diversified metal products", since the Rokal factory also produced plumbing fixtures, automobile carburetors, and architectural hardware such as door handles. In short, metal castings. The electric train business was a sideline for Rokal, more the hobby of the owner, Robert Karmann. Yet, the nature of this manufacture did not detract from the quality of their electric train products. The existence of a profitable manufacturing facility insured that Rokal trains would be produced to high standards of quality materials.



		Rokal factory in the 1950’s

From the looks of the photograph in the Rokal model train catalog, this was a huge enterprise devoted to model trains. But, in fact, the model train operation was always delegated to a few small buildings at the Factory. In the very earliest days, model train production had been at night, after the Factory had ended its production day of the items which Rokal sold. A few hardy souls stayed on into the evening, making the beginnings of a model train line. In time, the trains would be built during the days, but for the first few years, production was furtive at best.

What we do know is that the model train line reached its height in about 1968. At this point, the product line was well established and, like every other line of German made model trains, complete with everything necessary to build a model train layout that could run automatically.

The Rokal model train product line would change in 1968 when Rokal ran into financial troubles. Herr Karmann died April, 1972. His model train line was sold to Willy Ade of Röwa in 1969. In turn, Röwa would go bankrupt in a few years and its assets were sold, in turn, to Roco of Salzburg, Austria, where the Rokal model train line would disappear forever.

The Rokal company continues in existence today in Löbberich, Germany, its home town.

The modern day Rokal factory in Lobberich

The town honors Herr Karmann with a street named for him

Although Herr Karmann’s trains are no longer manufactured, there are those who remember him for what he accomplished. These pages are dedicated to his memory. Take a look at what he and the talented personnel of the Rokal company created.

1887 - 1972


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