EHEIM GmbH was founded by Günther Eheim in 1949. In the early years they were well-known for their trolley busses. The assortment of EHEIM was extended rapidly. Not also accessories for the trolleybus system were made, they also created different cable cars, a television tower (made from a cable car tower), a model airplane and a city fountain that used real water. EHEIM developed a silent water pump for this. The water pump brought Günther Eheim closer to his real passion: aquaria. He decided to concentrate on aquarium equipment and in 1965 sold the production of railway accessories to Arthur Braun, who in 1963 had founded the firm ‘BraWa’ in Waiblingen, Germany (this means Braun-Waiblingen).
This small EHEIM diecast model was to represent a VW Service Bus for the Deutsche Bundesbahn that was able to run on the train tracks. It was intended for use on the MÄRKLIN & FLEISCHMANN tracks. Basis for this rail VW were the original metal MATCHBOX VW Transporters of the early 60's. Bodies were purchased by EHEIM and converted with motors & rail wheels. When MATCHBOX discontinued the vans (for window kombis), EHEIM purchased the van molds and made very slight changes (VW emblem smoothed to allow for the "DB" Deutsche Bundesbahn emblem on the nose). Very good details for its size which included the VW emblem, headlights, taillights and a front mounted service light. Small electric motor and miniature train wheels powered the VW Bus on HO scale tracks. Painted the Deutsche Bundesbahn burgundy color of the time. There were two types of the EHEIM VW Busses available. Number 451 for the MÄRKLIN 6-16 volts and Number 452 for the FLEISCHMANN 3-12 volts track systems.
