Marklin BR 81 Question

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PhillipL		#1 Posted : 23 January 2017 00:58:08(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		Hello All, I have slowly been building up my Marklin collection since starting AC about 2.5 years ago. I am a long time DC railroader but finally gave into my urge to try Marklin. All of my model locomotives are from the Startup line (BR 89, BR 216, DHG 500 and DHG 700). I really enjoy my BR 89 (30000) and I am considering ordering the Marklin BR 81 (36321). Can anyone tell me if it is a reliable model? From the photos I have seen, it seems to have the same level of detail as the Br 89 which is fine with me. My Marklin setup is very small such that my freight trains are normally in the 3-4 car length so pulling strength is not a major issue for me. Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!


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mrmarklin		#2 Posted : 23 January 2017 04:21:48(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 27/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 890 Location: Burney, CA		Originally Posted by: PhillipL Hello All, I have slowly been building up my Marklin collection since starting AC about 2.5 years ago. I am a long time DC railroader but finally gave into my urge to try Marklin. All of my model locomotives are from the Startup line (BR 89, BR 216, DHG 500 and DHG 700). I really enjoy my BR 89 (30000) and I am considering ordering the Marklin BR 81 (36321). Can anyone tell me if it is a reliable model? From the photos I have seen, it seems to have the same level of detail as the Br 89 which is fine with me. My Marklin setup is very small such that my freight trains are normally in the 3-4 car length so pulling strength is not a major issue for me. Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! BR 81 is a very solid Lok. You will love it. The boiler is an all metal casting.
		From the People's Republik of Kalifornia

1 user liked this useful post by mrmarklin		Joe Meiring
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Markus Schild		#3 Posted : 23 January 2017 09:34:57(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 14/01/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,802 Location: Wurttemberg		Hi Philip, The class 81 has been in the assortment since 1961. There are many different versions. Around 2009 Märklin revised the motor-type. If you look for the spare-part drawings you can easily see the difference. Instead of the 36321 I would prefer the 30322 (some series came with a 609X-decoder istead of DELTA) or the loco from 29185 (also sometimes with 609X-decoder). These models also have a complete Walschaerts valve gear, not the simplied one of the 36321 Regards Markus
		WWW
2 users liked this useful post by Markus Schild		Joe Meiring, 3rail4life
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RayF		#4 Posted : 23 January 2017 10:18:03(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,839 Location: Gibraltar, Europe		I have both the older version and the newer one both from starter sets. The older one has the full valve gear modelled as mentioned by Markus, but unfortunately has a terrible decoder that makes it useless for slow speed running. With a decoder and motor upgrade it is not too bad. The newer model with a can motor has much better running characteristics and will crawl along at slow speed very nicely, though the valve gear has been simplified. I would go with the newer if I had to choose one of the two types.
		Ray Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.

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Dave Banks		#5 Posted : 23 January 2017 11:00:40(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 08/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,026 Location: Gold Coast, Australia.		Newer version: My older version #30322:
		D.A.Banks

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PhillipL		#6 Posted : 23 January 2017 11:43:28(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		Thanks everyone! Sounds like it is exactly what I want!


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ktsolias		#7 Posted : 23 January 2017 11:47:16(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 01/05/2016(UTC) Posts: 610 Location: Athens		I have two 81 Beautiful Locos 3031 from 1959 with TELEX Couplers 3032 from 1989 Both with the old SFCM analog waiting conversion to Digital I love them Costas


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jvuye		#8 Posted : 23 January 2017 22:28:14(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 01/03/2008(UTC) Posts: 2,881 Location: South Western France		Originally Posted by: mrmarklin Originally Posted by: PhillipL Hello All, I have slowly been building up my Marklin collection since starting AC about 2.5 years ago. I am a long time DC railroader but finally gave into my urge to try Marklin. All of my model locomotives are from the Startup line (BR 89, BR 216, DHG 500 and DHG 700). I really enjoy my BR 89 (30000) and I am considering ordering the Marklin BR 81 (36321). Can anyone tell me if it is a reliable model? From the photos I have seen, it seems to have the same level of detail as the Br 89 which is fine with me. My Marklin setup is very small such that my freight trains are normally in the 3-4 car length so pulling strength is not a major issue for me. Any information will be greatly appreciated! Thanks! BR 81 is a very solid Lok. You will love it. The boiler is an all metal casting. Couldn't agree more! ..and I'll add: probably the best all-around switcher ever made by Märklin!
		Jacques Vuye aka Dr.Eisenbahn Once a vandal, learned to be better and had great success!

1 user liked this useful post by jvuye		ktsolias
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franciscohg		#9 Posted : 23 January 2017 22:38:07(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/07/2002(UTC) Posts: 3,267 Location: Patagonia		Hi, i have all versions, it is great loco, in the newer i have upgrade the decoder and installed roco telex coupler. It runs just great!
		German trains era I-II and selected III, era depends on the mood, mostly Maerklin but i can be heretic if needed XD, heresy is no longer an issue.. LOL

2 users liked this useful post by franciscohg		ktsolias, grnwtrs
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PhillipL		#10 Posted : 26 January 2017 02:23:53(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		Hi All, I wanted to thank everyone for sharing their knowledge on this locomotive. I have ordered one today. Thanks again!

2 users liked this useful post by PhillipL		Dave Banks, ktsolias
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PhillipL		#11 Posted : 23 May 2017 11:49:50(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		Good morning, I finally received by Br 81 and had a chance to run it on Sunday. It runs and looks great! Thanks again everyone for your help and advise!

4 users liked this useful post by PhillipL		ktsolias, Joe Meiring, franciscohg, Dave Banks
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artfull dodger		#12 Posted : 28 May 2017 03:08:47(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 31/08/2014(UTC) Posts: 476 Location: Indiana, Kokomo		Which version did you end up getting? The older one with the full valve gear or the newer one with the simplified valve gear? I prefer the older one for 2 reasons, one is the full valve gear and two, all the drivers are geared together with spur gears. New ones, I believe, depend on the side rods to transfer motion to the other drive wheels. I had one of the older ones with Delta control, I thought it ran really nice, even slowly. Took awhile of just letting it run with a nice load hooked on to break in the drive train though. Also check out the new class 24, that is what my starter set came with on my new start back into Marklin with digital control. It is also mostly made of metal. Mike
		Silly NT's..I have Asperger's Syndrome!!!!


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PhillipL		#13 Posted : 30 May 2017 01:52:10(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		I purchased the latest version.

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river6109		#14 Posted : 30 May 2017 12:20:44(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 22/01/2009(UTC) Posts: 14,707 Location: On 1965 Märklin Boulevard just around from Roco Square		couldn't agree more, , mine still runs, converted it to digital, it was a pity they didn't include a smoke generator, I've added one. regards., John
		https://www.youtube.com/river6109 https://www.youtube.com/6109river 5 years in Destruction mode 50 years in Repairing mode
		WWW

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RayF		#15 Posted : 30 May 2017 13:10:24(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,839 Location: Gibraltar, Europe		Originally Posted by: PhillipL I purchased the latest version. I agree with your choice. I have both versions and prefer the smooth, silent slow running characteristics of the newer one. The older version is quite nice too but shows its heritage, having been designed in the 1950s.
		Ray Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.

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PhillipL		#16 Posted : 31 May 2017 12:08:00(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		I purchased the current production model because I wanted the warranty and I wanted to be able to purchase parts easily if I needed to. I am relatively new to Marklin (I have been a DC modeler for years). I always wanted to try Marklin and jumped in by purchasing a small starter set. My purchases have been limited to the StartUp line (BR 89, BR 81, DHG 700 etc). I currently do not have a layout for my AC trains but rather set it up on a table when I run my trains. My goal is to have fun rather than being prototypical which I have been doing. I also plan to bring my grandchildren into Marklin but one is 3 years old and the other is one years old so I will have to wait a couple of years yet. I was also attracted to Marklin because of this forum. Many of the DC forums can be judgmental and very prototype orientated., which is not the case here. I really appreciate the advice and help I have received here over the last couple of years.

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borntman		#17 Posted : 01 June 2017 02:37:55(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/01/2010(UTC) Posts: 120 Location: Huntington Station NY		Originally Posted by: PhillipL I purchased the current production model because I wanted the warranty and I wanted to be able to purchase parts easily if I needed to. I am relatively new to Marklin (I have been a DC modeler for years). I always wanted to try Marklin and jumped in by purchasing a small starter set. My purchases have been limited to the StartUp line (BR 89, BR 81, DHG 700 etc). I currently do not have a layout for my AC trains but rather set it up on a table when I run my trains. My goal is to have fun rather than being prototypical which I have been doing. I also plan to bring my grandchildren into Marklin but one is 3 years old and the other is one years old so I will have to wait a couple of years yet. I was also attracted to Marklin because of this forum. Many of the DC forums can be judgmental and very prototype orientated., which is not the case here. I really appreciate the advice and help I have received here over the last couple of years. To chime in I am in a similar position as I don't have a layout or care too much for overly prototypical operation, I prefer to run trains and have fun not count rivets (though I have no problem with rivet counting as I can learn useful things myself). I also agree that this forum is very non judgemental and friendly which is a good thing.


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rugauger		#18 Posted : 05 June 2017 14:33:37(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 19/12/2003(UTC) Posts: 1,205 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire		Originally Posted by: PhillipL ... I also plan to bring my grandchildren into Marklin but one is 3 years old and the other is one years old so I will have to wait a couple of years yet. If they can sit up unaided, the can operate a controller. If they can operate a controller, they're old enough
		Richard
		WWW
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PhillipL		#19 Posted : 06 June 2017 03:04:34(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		Originally Posted by: rugauger Originally Posted by: PhillipL ... I also plan to bring my grandchildren into Marklin but one is 3 years old and the other is one years old so I will have to wait a couple of years yet. If they can sit up unaided, the can operate a controller. If they can operate a controller, they're old enough I have found the hard way that they can be very destructive while just being curious. I have had to do some emergency repairs to my existing DC layout after a couple of minutes time with them. I am going to wait a bit to the point where they are not grabbing everything.


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dominator		#20 Posted : 06 June 2017 06:31:39(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 20/01/2015(UTC) Posts: 1,195 Location: Kerikeri		My 3 year old grand daughter often asks to go play with the trains. She has a basic idea of how to turn the knobs and make things go and she likes making the whistle blow on my [ new to me ] BR64. I would not let them at that age be alone as their attention span isnt that great at that age and often she starts exploring whatever else takes her fancy in the train room. They are cute at that age though. Dereck
		Northland. NZ REMEMBER 0228 for ä


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PhillipL		#21 Posted : 07 June 2017 01:50:43(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 24/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 123		Originally Posted by: dominator My 3 year old grand daughter often asks to go play with the trains. She has a basic idea of how to turn the knobs and make things go and she likes making the whistle blow on my [ new to me ] BR64. I would not let them at that age be alone as their attention span isnt that great at that age and often she starts exploring whatever else takes her fancy in the train room. They are cute at that age though. Dereck Mine are also absolutely adorable as well. They love playing with Thomas plastic trains we bought them.


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