Joined: 21/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: , New Jersey
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I bought the Big Boy HO a couple of years ago as an insider model. It was digital and used the 6021 controller. Now I see that there are more sounds in the latest Marklin Insider BigBoy offering. Can I get the new sounds if I get the new MFX decoder and the Central station? Also, will the Mobile Station allow me to get the same sounds?
I bought the 1 Gauge insider last year. It was the biggest locomotive ever produced. Now after all that money, I will probably need to add the decoder to that also. This is just expensive.
Please let me know if adding the $100 decoder will get me the sounds. and that is after I add the $600 Central station.
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 Joined: 13/07/2004(UTC) Posts: 642
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Hi,
well I'm not sure if you can rebuild the 37990 to a 37991. Off course you could insert a MFX-decoder, but that won't give you the new sounds. After having a short look at the spare-part sheet i can see most of the electronics are different in the newer one (different part-number), which includes decoder and sound-module (on decoder in 37991), as well as rear-light PCB and the tender-chassis.
Part 37990 37991
Decoder: 216929 610596
PCB-interface: - 610566
Tender-chassis: 216833 216993
PCB-rear light: 216895 606431
PCB-sound: 216896 -
Loudspeaker: 508601 508609
Mounting this spare-part decoder (if available) should give you the new sounds though...
How much sound that's included in the 6092x-set's (or possible to "upload") I guess noone know for now.
The MS will not allow you the get all of the sounds - I'm not quite sure, but I think it'll give you the same functions (and sounds) as running the 37991 with a 6021. Only the CS will give you full access.
Fredrik. |
Fredrik.
*ECoS 2 + ECoSDetector + SwitchPilot + ECoSTerminal; *Z21 + Loconet + Digikeijs + MGP; **CS3+ + CdB (** coming soon...)
WWW: MJ-fjärren |
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 Joined: 08/08/2003(UTC) Posts: 1,614 Location: Birmingham,Alabama
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ESU is currently advertising their Loksound MFX Series of decoders. I am going to convert some of my locomotives when these decoders are available.
These are in fact the decoders that Marklin is using and the conversion should be fairly simple. I have not seen pricing on the new Loksound MFX decoders, but I do not expect them to be cheap - since they are new to the market. However they have one advertised for the Big Boy
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Train Collection Insured by "Croc's" with "Big Boys" as Backup"
CS/MS Digital Era 1/2
Apple Man iPhone / Macbook Pro / iPad - the end of the windows PC occurred on April 4, 2010.
Love those Era 1 Tank Locomotives - the more the merrier.
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Joined: 15/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 707
Location: Texas, USA
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Yes, you can put a ESU MFX Loksound decoder in the older type Big Boy. They should be available in January. They will be more than $100, I estimate $150 - $170
And welcome to the forum! |
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Joined: 21/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: , New Jersey
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Thank you very much for the information. I looked up ESU and AJCkids for the l0oksound information. Like Frostie pointed out, there is a decoder with the sound on it that they are selling. fredsaf mentioned that the new decoder does have the sound on it. This might mean that this ESU decoder is potentially the one Marklin are using. This way,atleast I will have a BigBoy as good as the 37991.
Is ESU a company that makes decoders? and Marklin buys it from them?
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Joined: 21/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: , New Jersey
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Thank you charlie. I did not see your response before I sent my query. I feel a little better now. I will get the decoder. and the central station when it comes up.
Would there be a decoder for the class 01 - Gauge 1 - insider forlast year? it was M 55900.
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Joined: 25/07/2004(UTC)
Posts: 202
Location: ,
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Yes, ESU is a company that makes decoders, see http://www.loksound.de/Some wellknown products are the LokSound and the LokPilot decoders. ESU developed the new mfx system, not specially for Märklin, but Märklin was the first modelrailway manufacturer interested in the system. The new mfx decoders are indeed made by ESU, but sold by Märklin. But ESU sells them also under their own name.
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Joined: 08/08/2003(UTC) Posts: 1,614 Location: Birmingham,Alabama
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One feature that the Old Big Boy has (37990) that the new one (37991) will not is switchable on/off smoking. I have not gotten my arms arround this change on the MFX series of Steamers. You might want to really think about the change, and wait until others report back to us on this. |
Train Collection Insured by "Croc's" with "Big Boys" as Backup"
CS/MS Digital Era 1/2
Apple Man iPhone / Macbook Pro / iPad - the end of the windows PC occurred on April 4, 2010.
Love those Era 1 Tank Locomotives - the more the merrier.
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Joined: 21/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: , New Jersey
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I think I will wait for some time anyway because I will wait and see how the Central Station will fare.
As it is, i am not very happy with Marklin because I paid a ton of mony for Big Boy and now two years down there is already a better one.
Secondly, I bought the BR01 (55900)as an Insider for $3200 earlier this year and now am looking for a roller test stand and a display case ($400). Guess what, right now there is the same loco (00900) for sale with the display stand and a test bed for $2900.I am mighty unhappy about that. I still have'nt taken mine out of the box becuase my son is 3 years old and does not quite understand the delicate/expensive nature of these locos. He is happy with Thomas.
I suppose what Marklin is telling me is to not buy anything when it first comes out and then maybe think about it.
My feeling is that this mobile station is going to turn out like a Delta with the Central Station being the Digital.
I wanted to buy the Goliath but now i will wait till they come with mfx..
Soon I am going to quit the Marklin Club and just buy stuff when it gets cheaper.
pretty unhappy in NJ
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Joined: 21/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: , New Jersey
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Sorry about the long post. I needed to Vent. I feel it is better here than to the wife.
The real question is, the BigBoy 37990 has two digital decoders. Would I be able to use one
ESU 62411 Loksound MFX Steam Loco Big Boy
to get the same exact sounds as the 37991? I suppose I am questioning the use of the decoder as the replacement in the BigBoy. I hope they are the same sounds that will be in the 37991.
I will then try to do the same for the 55900.
Thanks for all your help.
No matter how I feel, I still love Marklin quality!
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by trainman
<br />1. ... not very happy with Marklin because I paid a ton of money for BigBoy and now two years down there is already a better one
2. ... bought the BR01 as an Insider for $3200 earlier this year and now am looking for a roller test stand and a display case ($400). Guess what, right now there is the same loco for sale with the display stand and a test bed for $2900
... what Marklin is telling me is to not buy anything when it first comes out and then maybe think about it
3. ... my feeling is that this mobile station is going to turn out like a Delta with the Central Station being the Digital
4. ... I am going to quit the Marklin Club and just buy stuff when it gets cheaper
5. ... pretty unhappy in NJ
Hi Trainman, welcome to The Forum ! ad 1. Don't be sad - such happens to all of us, eventually  ad 2. Insider locos are always top money when they're released - prices go down later (most of the time) when M discovers a dwindling demand ...  ad 3. You're right on the money with that one - Mobile Station replaces old Delta while Central Station should be a replacement for Control Unit (whenever that CS will be released ...) ad 4. You're right, too [:p] ad 5. Be happy - New Jersey is just nice John |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators.
AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only.
CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ...
Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Trainman:
Welcome from a fellow New Jerseyite. There was a phrase popular a number of years ago: "planned obsolescence" whereby no matter what you bought, a better model would come out soon. It is true not only in model railroading but is a characteristic of our economic model. It doesn't really matter. Your Big Boy is still a fine piece of machinery, so enjoy it.
I also am a member of the Insider Club, but I have never been tempted to buy the overpriced special editions (at least not yet). I probably will stay in the club at least for another year because I enjoy the magazine we now get. I don't plan to upgrade from the current Marklin digital to the new digital, at least not for the forseeable future. I am quite happy with what the present system gives me.
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Joined: 15/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 707
Location: Texas, USA
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Trainman, You will only need one MFX decoder to take care of all the functions and sound effects. At least some good news  Charlie |
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Joined: 21/11/2004(UTC)
Posts: 17
Location: , New Jersey
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Thank you all for your support. For some odd reason, this hobby is something yhou canbnot get away from. For about more than a year stayed away from this, and now, I am back for more. I was looking at the Marklin catalog for 2002 and saw the Mallet was a one time series then. I always wanted that and now I regret. I guess I love this hobby but it is gettign too expensive for me. Just on this last friday, the day-after-thanksgiving, I got a $115 ticket for parking in NY city for parking in teh commercial and I had fed the Municipal Meter also...turns out it was a commercial parking.. I was at the Marklin dealer buying the Hopper cars for Union Pacific for the Big Boy!! The car set was cheaper than the ticket. its the holiday season! God bless the ticketing Cop also!...besides I am going fight it with the help of www.parkingticket.com
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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Don't worry too much about missing the limited edition. These things continue to be available through eBay. I've bought a number of really neat items at good prices from eBay. By the way, I was away from the hobby for about 20 years before I got hooked again. |
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Joined: 04/06/2002(UTC) Posts: 754 Location: Täby
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Charlie
<br />Yes, you can put a ESU MFX Loksound decoder in the older type Big Boy. They should be available in January. They will be more than $100, I estimate $150 - $170
And welcome to the forum!
This is good news, because you don't have to buy everything from Märklin to use the new technology. The it's just a matter of time when other manufacturers produce similar decoders... But there is still a benefit in buying original digital locos, they will identify themselves in MS (and CS). To program this into an mfx decoder probably takes a little more effort. |
K-G / H0 and Z model train user |
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