A friend has let me have a Marklin 1 gauge 20V electric loco and track.

I believe the loco and tender are a model of the Midland Railway maroon 4P 4-4-0 numbered 999 from the Deeley 990 class. I think Marklin made an earlier shorter version of this model, with the brush covers exposed and a ‘B’ on the cab plate. The one I have is the longer version with the hinged flap over the brush covers and a ‘C’ on the cab plate. It has E.65/13021 on the right-hand splasher. It’s in original condition , in the sense that there has been no restoration that I can see. The loco and tender are complete as far as I know, and the loco paintwork is good, and better than the tender which has “browned” a little.

They were purchased from Gamage’s in Holborn, London, along with Marklin track, transformer and controller. The loco and tender have the Gamage’s stamp on the undersides. The track has ‘Gamage’ pressed into the middle sleeper of each track piece. There are also some without this. There are two points, one LH and one RH, both with Bond’s London stamped under the base.

The transformer, reference VDE TK1 No. 13475B, is in its original wooden box with a good part of the red label remaining, and there is also a Gamage’s label.

After some careful cleaning, the loco and tender look pretty good. The inside of the transformer is very good with just some small corrosion on the leaves, and I have replaced the mains lead. The track was quite rusty, but looks cleaner now after some hard work.

I’m pleased to say that I’ve had the loco running around an oval of the track, using the original transformer and controller. I think the track needs a bit more work to improve conductivity on the rails and between pieces.

Sorry to go on a bit, but I wonder if someone could help me with some questions:-

1. One of the brushes was missing, and I have temporarily used a Hornby Dublo type replacement carbon which is shorter in diameter. Is there somewhere I can get original or replacement brushes, please?
2. Likewise, one of the headlamp bulbs is missing – the other works but is a bit frosted. Where might I get replacements?
3. As well as the two centre rail pick-up shoes, the loco has a small copper(?) cylinder mid-way between the two shoes. Centre rail friction wear has cut this into two pieces, still held on the pin. Does this matter, and what is it for? If I had to guess, I would say it’s to improve contact through points.
4. The loco has a small slot ahead of the chimney at the top of the smokebox door. Is this perhaps for a name-board, now missing?
5. My guess is that this model was made in the early 1930s. Is that correct, please?
6. Does anyone have any paperwork relating to this model that they could share, please?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. It’s been great fun getting this far!

Thanks.

Philip

Hello Philip,

Welcome to the forum.

Ritter Restaurationen is well known for their parts for pre-war Marklin.
I think you can find your light bulb there and maybe some other parts too, like the coal and brush, in the Gauge 0 spare part section of their site.

See here: https://www.ritter-resta...mail=;usrPwd=;katKey=2.8

Marco

Many thanks Steve, Marco and Peter for the very helpful comments.

I'm pretty certain Marklin would have modelled this loco on the real thing on the Midland Railway (absorbed later into the LMS) which made ten of these engines numbered from 990 to 999. I gather they were built between 1907 and 1909, and the last one to be withdrawn from service was 999 in 1929. None have survived.

I've attached a few more photos. The track photo is just to show the difference between the middle sleepers on the 'Gamage' version (most of the track) and (I assume) the standard version.

All the best.

Philip

There is a mark on the rear of the tender - photo attached.

Kind regards.

Philip