Hi, my name is Eric. I have an old Marklin train set that was given to me years ago by my grandmother. She's German and either she or my grandfather aguired the set in Germany. I've had it tucked away for about 20 years in an old cardboard box and I would really like to know what I have; for value and personal interest. I know it's quite old. It's got an old manual "Gleisplane" and "Spur HO" are on the cover. Uses a blue Marklin 278A Transformer 110 Volt 50P/s 16VA. HO scale with 3600,3700 track. Don't know how to describe the engine; black, with the numbers: 89 028. I'm sure this info is very sparse, but I'd like to know if anyone could direct me to a site that I can identify my set.

Hi,

from the sounds of it the engine is a 3-axle steam engine ? It is one of the oldest German 89 series steam engines Marklin ever build. I have one too, it is about 35 years old and still going. Over the years they have build many of them, and every new series typically has a new engine number ....

As far as the rest, that is very difficult for me to 'see' from here, but hope this helps at least a bit.

Thanks,

Gerben

Well,
my source is Koll's 2001. And there is no exact fit, and it has been said before that there are too many variations to list them all.

But I'll share what I can see or guess.
The loco first. The number 89 028 is significant, if you can answer Juhans question we will get further. There are three listed variations of that loco, called 3000.2, 3000.3 and 3000.4. .2 has 2 front lamps and the label CM800, was produced 53-56, estimated value DEM 150. .3 has 3 front lamps and label 3000, 59-61, DEM 70. .4 has transparent body.

I've found one set with 4 variations with this loco, called CM805/3, later 3200. The 89 028 fits only for the .4 variation, which includes, white refrigerator car, red 'Kippwagen', and a low flat car.
However, this set have the new 51xx series tracks and was produces 57-63. The other variations, up to 1955 but not 1956 had the B 3600 D and B 3600 A tracks.


Never mind, the 3000/CM800 seems to have been produced first 1953, and the 3600 tracks were replaced around 1956. So there you have got it somewhere.

Regards,
Lars Westerlind