 Joined: 20/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: Houston
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Dear All, This Christmas I was given by my manager a lovely custom company logo HO locomotive (#36624.001). I work for Clariant, a Swiss based chemical company. I have no HO Marklin rolling stock and immediately realized it is completely incompatible with my OO/HO railway. I am very keen to run it but totally new to the 3rd rail system. Some on line research indicates that the minimum I would require is: Oval of HO 3rd rail C-Track Suitable transformer Connection cable  Nothing fancy..just want to get it running. Could all of the experts here give me some pointers on how to do this in the most cost effective way. I spend way too much of model railways lol……having OO/HO, N, Z and T scale layouts 1. I have a few really newbie type questions: 2. How does the power cable connect? Does each track have a connector? 3. Are there other transformers possible, Marklin units seem very expensive..I have a Rokuhan on my Z scale layout..it’s great 4. C track?? eBay I suspect? Many thanks to all Grahame Taylor (Houston, Texas)
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Joined: 20/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: Houston
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Its currently sitting in a siding safely insulated from the main OO/OH rolling stock.
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Hi, Grahame,
A simple option: Buy a Trix loco of the same class (any livery will do) and swap the shells. Then you will have a Clariant loco that drives on your H0/00 layout.
Do you have a digital H0/00 layout? Converting the loco to two-rail operation is simple as it already has insulated wheelsets. It may require a new decoder, but otherwise you just have to resolder a few cables. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS  |
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Joined: 20/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: Houston
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Thank you!!!!! Not digital layout....all humble analogue.
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Joined: 20/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: Houston
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Does anyone have or know of a place to get a Trix HO Class 486 locomotive?
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 Joined: 04/05/2015(UTC) Posts: 777 Location: England, London
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A cautionary tale!
30 years ago on the birth of my eldest son my sister in law and husband arrived from Geneva "to assist" bringing with them a bottle of very best Remy Martin cognac and a box containing a marklin swiss three rail lok. The Remy was no problem that soon went but the Marklin lok didn't like my two rail set up.. So research (without internet in those days) and I soon decided that this Marklin stuff was rather good and they had recently introduced this digital system that was better that the Hornby blobs of paint jobbies. So I binned the Hornby converted the lok to digital and set off on an amazing journey that is still ongoing today. It has cost a few shillings over the years though!!!!!!!!!
Good luck
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 1 user liked this useful post by Rwill
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Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,976 Location: CA, USA
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Welcome! Unfortunately a conversion from DC to AC is rather simple, but AC back to DC requires new wheelsets etc...
I agree a trix loco and a shell swap is the way to go, and if you are patient you can probably find one very cheap on ebay, and even perhaps sell the AC leftover locomotive here on the forum.
If you want to keep it marklin, you simply need some track and a transformer. People often break up start sets on ebay or similar. You can be in business for maybe $100 with a reasonable amount of track, or a bit more if you want a digital control
Good luck! |
SBB Era 2-5 |
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Originally Posted by: 5HorizonsRR  Welcome! Unfortunately a conversion from DC to AC is rather simple, but AC back to DC requires new wheelsets This loco has insulated wheelsets. Märklin use the same wheelsets for two-rail and three-rail with these TRAXX locos. But most likely the decoder will not work with analogue DC voltage. Otherwise conversion is simple with that loco. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS |
1 user liked this useful post by H0
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Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC)
Posts: 2,465
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Originally Posted by: grahame Thank you!!!!! Not digital layout....all humble analogue. Then keep your analogue layout as a historic MRR! Restart with a brandnew digital MRR H0 layout. You always will be pleased, because the possibilities and variety of a digital layout supersedes the analogue one extremly. I still do have both too, but I only use the digital one. It is just more fun. One major point is, you run 2 different locos with 2 different controller by 2 different regulated speed control on one and the same tracks. Hello imagine what may happen, if you do not pay attention to your loco! Other points are sound, lights switch on and of, et., etc. all digital controlled. Minimum requirement are for a 3-rail layout, which will be always a Märklin one tracks, track box, digital controller MS 2, power supply, but never a transfomator. This may damage your inside decoders at a loco, turnouts, signal or special event decoders. You see, not only a loco has a decoder inside. Märklin offers special starter sets. See here: https://www.maerklin.de/en/products/starter-sets/forget about myworld - its by battery usage start-up is fully compatible to the regular Märklin components, but specialized for your kids. This one is the right package to you. https://www.maerklin.de/...s/details/article/29000/There you put up your loco on it, plug in and play. For further questions, use this forum.  Happy playing X-mas days Best regards TEEWolf
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Joined: 20/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: Houston
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Thanks everyone...I think I am going to try the option of finding a compatible motorised chassis for the body shell. There is lots of room inside it. 
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Originally Posted by: grahame I think I am going to try the option of finding a compatible motorised chassis for the body shell. Three-rail models are sold in Märklin boxes, two-rail models are sold in Trix boxes. They come from the same mould - it's one company that uses several brand names. Just make sure you buy a Trix loco with metal shell. Beside Re 486 you can also look for class 186 or class 185.2 locos. Some TRAXX locos from Märklin/Trix have plastic bodies and different frames. Older models have yellow LEDs, newer models have warm-white LEDs. Pay attention to that if you care about the colour of lights. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS |
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