Hi, Ray!

I have some of those Märklin locos (ER 20, 185, 285). They were relatively inexpensive when they were introduced, but with mfx and sound the price is significantly higher (and load regulation became worse).
Trix and Märklin also make TRAXX 2 locos with a plastic body - much nicer than the metal version.
All locos with a plastic body have white LEDs, but many with a metal body have yellow LEDs.
It's a Märklinism to use the frame and wheels of the TRAXX locos also for the ER 20.
Will we see a TRAXX 3 from Märklin next year?

Piko make TRAXX 1 in the Hobby range and TRAXX 2 and TRAXX 3 in the Expert range. Piko's detailing is better.
And a Piko TRAXX 3 with mfx and sound is very close to the Märklin price.

Roco also make the ER 20 and various TRAXX models. I haven't seen any of the latest TRAXX 2 models - AFAIK they improved them.

Other brands like Brawa and ACME also make TRAXX locos, but I didn't test any of those yet.


While I have enough TRAXX locos, I might buy an Re 482 with the current "Alpäzähmer" livery. Piko, are you reading here?


A very successful prototype loco that led to many H0 models.

With the multitude of models of these locos produced I'm surprised nobody else has an opinion.

There are several more of the Marklin models I would love to buy, including the TRAXX European Bulls electric to go with the ER20 diesel, and the ALEX ER20 with its train. For the latter I prefer the green version, not the yellow and white.

The blue and silver CFL TRAXX electric is also one that I want to add to my CFL stock.

All these first generation hobby locos are available on Ebay usually at less than €100, so I can build up my collection at little cost.

Hi, just thought i would put my penny worth in. I did have two of the Marklin budge.t traxx locos myself. And sold them to get myself a Brawa Traxx 186. I have to to say that it looked very nice, it was very accurate in detail. And the sound decoder was the best i have ever heard!! In any model. But and there is a big BUT😩😱 it would not shunt Marklin stock around ,or through K track curved points without, pushing off its own snow plow and therefore stopping the train or derailling it. The problem is the Marklin or Brawa coupler is just not desighned to have that much play to allow it to swing out. It therefore has no were to go and just pushes the snow plow off as there is not enough cut out above the snow plow. This may be ok for those who have large radius track and therefore will not have the problem.
The other problem by far. Is its pick up shoe is far to thin and flimsey. It has a very poar spring and will therefore make bad contact and a stop start run around the layout. It was very annoying! All my Marklin locos run on my track without fault and at a very slow pace without stopping. So it cant be my track.
I sold the two Marklin Traxx locos which were very reliable little runners. Its most upsetting
On a plus point. modellbahn Kramm took the Brawa loco back without any nonsence, and i exchanged it for a Nice new Marklin SNCB series 23 elok with full sound and a nice heavy metal body. Ive learned from this. I will stick with Marklin i think



Heres a youtube clip of my Marklin traxx ECR. Im going to get a new one again i think

Thanks Ray. I think its a case of once bitten with me
I cant bring myself to go there again. I have the new Marklin G2000 on order. So thats my next one. And after that it will be another hobby Marklin i would think. And i have a long list of stock as well

My layout is a small one and therefore i will have issues ,if a change again im sure. So to keep myself and my wife from being stressed with me for making a bum perchase. I will stick with Marklin as i have done since 1978

Funnily enough I haven't found this to be a problem very often. I have successfully fitted Marklin close couplers to Roco, Piko, HAG, Jouef and Lilliput wagons without issues. I had to remove them from one Piko locomotive because they touched the buffers, but so far that is all.

The Roco universal coupler is fine as it is quite low profile, but I find it difficult sometimes to uncouple with a Marklin electric uncoupler.

Collisions between Märklin couplers and buffers (with Märklin rolling stock, buffers are higher and/or smaller to avoid collisions) are a problem with long rolling stock only.
You do not have this problem with a short two axle or four axle freight car.

The last time I had this problem was when I tested the long Roco transformer car next to a short Märklin freight car with a Märklin coupler.
A blog post about various H0 couplers:
http://blog.mailez.de/eb...-couplers-for-h0-models/

A review of my Märklin 36608 TRAXX loco (side by side with TRAXX locos from Roco and Trix):
https://www.marklin-user...XX-Locomotive#post340743

A post about DIY conversions from yellow to white LEDs:
https://www.marklin-user...re-white-LEDs#post467267

Here are pictures of mine so far:

Hi, Kimball!
Looks like a loco from the premium range: five-pole motor, only two axles powered, maybe even with red rear lights.
The loco was sometimes downgraded for train sets, locos sold separately had nine-pole motors (C-Sinus or SDS).