Hi Neville, congratulations - what a beautiful A-A combo [:p][:p][:p] !!!

#33621 is DELTA, whereas #37621 is DIGITAL. Both wear AMTRAK livery, and both were released in 1997.
You are right, both have 2 DCM motors. Since you run CS I'd give her MFX w/ all the whistles & bells

Joh, Pieter,

Thanks for the info, it is great. I will probably go for the Loksound MFX Decoder.
Any need to change the the DCM Motors?

I think I got it for a good price, anyway I was happy.
Nev

Pieter,
What Part Number ESU Decoder did you get to have all of the correct sounds??
Nev

Hi nevw,

Congratulations, the Amtrak F7 "Bloody nose" is one of the finest liveries they ever made for an F7. I like it very much, and it looks perfect with the streamliner coaches.

I have converted mine to digital, too, see
https://www.marklin-user...ault.aspx?g=posts&t=4682
and this is a real improvement. With the original 6603 delta decoder, it is very difficult to haul a heavy passenger train at constantly low speed, and it fails to work with digital brake modules. But with an ESU lokpilot it is a dream!
Didn't try mfx or sound, but I agree this would be nice, too.

My recommendation is: convert it, it's not too difficult.

Hans Martin

Thanks Pieter. I am looking forward to getting my hands on theLok and giving it a run. Hopefully they should arrive by Friday.

Hans,
Did you get the motors as Spares or is there a Part Number for the Motor.
Thanks,
Nev

Hans,
Thanks, I could not find those part numbers in the Marklin Parts list???
Nev[:(][:(]
PS: could you give me a Link or a Pointer in the right direction

Smoke Signals !!
Thanks Hans Found them.
Nev

Will do so when I start. May have to wait a while before I get to it as I have to do the Ghan First, Build scenery etc or make a good effort in building before I can spend too much more.

the F7 arrived this morning, looks almost new. All paperwork came with it. Manual Spare parts list etc. After setting the Switches from Analogue to Digital it ran well. Motor is quiet but the slider is noisy. May fit a new one. Slider did not look as it had much use but one of the Copper Spring Leaves had a Kink in it.
Lok looks good. Pickies later today.

Nev

Have some Pickies of the F7.





Could not resist these:
An International Station on the border of Germany, Belgium, Switzeland and the US:
German Goods, Swiss Passenger, Belgium Passenger going Head to Head with the US Amtrak.

Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 09:44:48(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Nev, I believe the correct part to order is the ESU 62436 - this is listed as "Diesel - Universal US-Diesel (Prototype: F 7)"

Coolness, Neville - congratulations [:p][:p][:p]

Will you be so kind and list all the parts used for that conversion, please ... thanks

See this topic from Hans Martin. He has done one:

https://www.marklin-user...ault.aspx?g=posts&t=4682

Parts List so far,(Remember I have not started yet only ordered the parts:
ESU Lochsound Decoder:
ESU 62436 - this is listed as "Diesel - Universal US-Diesel (Prototype: F 7)"
93 Euro
2 Of Each:
386820 5-pole rotor
386940 motor shield
389000 field magnets
About 40 Euro worth.

I am going to get a DCC 8 Hole Socket to match the Decoder Plug.
Hans Made his.
Hans recommends changing the 16V Bulbs to 19 or 22 Volt Bulbs as he feels that they are too bright, but no heat problems.

More news as it happens. Read it here first. Maybe[}:)]
Nev

Cool layout,thanks for sharing pictures.

Nev,

I am watching your conversion carefully. I will be doing the same thing to my Alaska F7 set.

Bob

Well the big day arrived, the Operating theater and necessary instruments, Specialist Surgeon (My 2 Rail Friend who was a Radio Tech in the Airforce), Diagrams from Hans Martins Conversion Topic :
https://www.marklin-user...ault.aspx?g=posts&t=4682

at hand and all of the necassary bit assembled.

Lids off and New 5 Pole Permanent Magnet DC Motor fitted. Used the brushes out of the 3 Pole Motor. (forgot all about getting new brushes). Changing the Motor was a breeze. Well not quite, as we found out later. A Small Piece of Cotton on one pole,sort of mucked things up for a while.

Desolder the necessary wires, Located the Decoder againts the Old Decoder Mount, Hold with Blue tak (white in our case).
Mounted the DCC Socket with more blue tak.
USU give long lengths of cable on the decoder and also the Socket.

AS per instructions, removed the capicators from the motors and the RF Suppression choke.

Connected up the motors, Lights front and back. As the socket was a bit further away we had to run longer wires to the rear Light.

Mounted the speaker in the Rear Unit, again lengthen the wires to the Speaker.
AS per Capt John's Suggestion changed the Slider to a short one.
Lids still off, a test. On to the Layout, Fire up the CCs and LO and Behold CS Starts Blinking and loads the Lok. US Diesel. All the functions, Lights Horn Bell etc. [:p][^] One motor not working, and Lights in opposite sense.[V]
Back to the bench and dismantle motor, Found the Piece of Cotton, removed, and also changed the Motor connections around.
Back to the Layout and another test. Perfect.

Lids on and back to the layout. Magnificent.
On starting , nothing happens, Diesel motor sound starts, speeds up and off goes the Lok. Runs very smoothly on the VERY First speed step. speed up, very quiet.

Hooked it up to 12 Wagons. Stopped it on an Incline (about 3-4 degrees). First Speed Step and no hesitation (after the Diesel noise starts).[:p]
A higher speeds still very quiet.

Parts Used:
ESU 51950 DCC Socket
ESU 62436 MFX Loksound decoder.
Marklin 389000 Magnet (2 Off)
Marklin 386820 5 pole Rotor (2 Off)
Marklin 386940 Motor end Shield (2 Off)

some wire and Blue Tak

Now the Down Side.
Sometime when working Somehow we lost a Number board 105 from the rear Lok.[:(][:(]. Still looking but I think we may have to get a new one. Not in the Parts List,
Does anyone know the Part Number or where I may get one.???
The Next one is a bit more serious and I have slapped my hand on this one[^]
Changing some settings, Volume etc and in a Seniors Moment [:(!].
I reset factory defaults. Never Never do this. [V][xx(][:(].

I think it removed the file from hte decoder. CS does not recognise it now [V], so somehow have to get it all back in. Have shot off an email to ESU.
Edit: Fixed. Thanks to Luis

Thats all Folks.
Would I do it again.
YES

SOme Pickies:
Old and New Decoder


Gerneral views of the Cables etc before they were tidied up.

Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 09:39:32(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hello Jon,

I also have that F7 and I had to adjust the volume down to an acceptable level equivalent to a PA1 sound. I am not a specialist in MRR sounds, but my impression is that horn sounds on Märklin's Amercian locomotives are never realistic or close too.

That is also a reason why I would like to see Märklin to produce their locomotives in two versions, one low cost version without sound and another one with sound for those who like it.

Pierre.

Corrected ! Thanks Nev.

Pierre. [:I]

nevw,

Whenever you have the space, always replace the bundled 23mm speaker another as big as it fits. It'll be night and day in terms of sound quality.

In your case, a 28mm will fit perfectly. A 40mm x 20mm will also fit, but I prefer the 28mm.

Luis

Thanks again Luis, Will keep that in Mind.

Nev

Congratulations, Neville - great conversion [:p][:p][:p] !!!

Fair right [^] ... And thanks, Neville - for fighting that decisive first battle for us

Sounds most promising, Neville ...

Congratulations, Nev, for your successful conversion! Didn't follow this topic as I was on the road last week.

Makes me believe that I should replace the soundless ESU Lokpilot of my Amtrak F7 by a Loksound, too. (and take the Lokpilot for some other loco that still awaits conversion)

Hans Martin