G'day everyone,
Although I have visited the site a few times recently I have been a bit quiet. Now just because I mention Fleischmann, please do not sent me to the Marklin re-education camp just yet. I have a friend who has inherited some Fleischmann gear. Unfortunately neither of us knows anything about the operation of Fleischmann trains. (Marklin is my thing.) The question is that some of the Fleischmann locos have what appears to be a round silver pickup shoe, looks a bit like a button. Is this for Fleischmann locos designed to run on 3 tail track eg Marklin or did we miss the point entirely?
Any help would be much appreciated.
chhers Bob

Hi Mike, thanks for the reply regarding the pickup/sensor. You may be corect. I read something in one of the Fleischmann catalogues about locos activating turnouts etc, but I would still like to know how this all works.
Thanks
Bob.

Hi Tom,
Thanks for that information, I am still a bit of a novice with regards to HO trains. So I really appreciate it when members of the forum help me out.
regards
Bob.

n/a.

Edited by user 27 August 2011 22:11:21(UTC)  | Reason: Violates general forum spirit of sharing knowledge to all members

Hi, I've bought a few years ago a set of three Fleischmann thunderboxes.
They are really great with a lot of details and no need to replace the DC axles.

I've just had a problem when I tried to equip them with the Märklin close couplers
(Fleischmann has its own incompatible close coupling system).

I discovered that the Fleischmann buffers on these coaches are wider and maybe a bit lower than Märklin ones,
so when passing small radius curves, the Märklin coupler had not enough room
and was hitting the bottom of the buffer and pushing on the coach until it was derailing.

So I put back the Fleischmann close couplers one them and bought a fourth thunder box
this time a Märklin one with a Märklin close coupler on one side and a Fleischmann close coupler
on the other side. This was the only way for me to use the Fleischmann coaches on a train pulled
by a Märklin locomotive, with close couplers.

I'm not sure to be very clear


Fleischmann locomotives have their entire chassis connected to one DC pole called "ground".
So the mushroom under is also connected to ground and is this way used to detect train when passing on a special track. So a big danger of shortcut on 3rails tracks.


Regards
Joël

Over the years, I have acquired a number of Fleischmann coaches, especially those of older design from eras I, II and early era III. I cannot begin to tell you how extremely satisfied I am with Fleischmann in terms of both fine detail and robustness, at the same time. I think their coaches are simple exquisite. And they run without any problems on Märklin C-track and switches.

Hi everyone,
Thank you very much for all the information you have provided. It certainly has cleared up the application of the mushroom button. The one thing that confused us a bit was that not all of the locomotives had that button, but that is also covered.
thanks to all
cheers
Bob.

Hi Bob,

Firstly, the sensor button is also found on some HAMO models. My converted "Le Capitole" (8359) had one which I removed when I converted. I believe it rubs along a rail adjacent to the main rail to provide triggering of remote devices.

Secondly, I doubt anyone is going to criticise Fleischmann, their quality and respectibility is on a par with Marklin, and I remember being told once that German schoolboys were at one time just as divided by who ran Ma. vs who ran Fl. as they would be over who supported which (pick your favourite sport) team or racing driver. Who knows why F. does not command quite the same worldwide loyalty as M. but they've certainly made some fine models in their time.

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve - u absolutely right, the "fight" between Fl and Ma took place right here in Cape Town as well!
As schoolboys there were a number of us who "fought" vigorously over who was better: Fl or Ma...naturally as I had Ma, I supported the better side!!............I seem to remember Triang coming in a distant third.....
cheers, Joe

I have a Fleischman BR56 2-8-0 for three-rail A/C digital. It is nicely detailed and runs great. Nice and quiet tender drive system. The noisiest part is the slider.

Stuart