Example:

With acknowlegment for photo to David (Bigdaddynz).


Kimball

Hi Shannon,
The cost is certainly cogent, I would be happy to pay 35-50%.
And I think lighting etc is not necessary for it to sit on a shelf.

Of course it is possible that the chassis and body is more than 50% of the cost, in which case Maerklin would never sell it at 50% or below of the motorised version.

regards
Kimball

Exactly. I certainly think that a market for dummy locos exists, namely for easy making up a double-headed train (very common especially in my country). And, as you correctly point out, it makes life easier for all those collectors who don't need or don't understand all the digital gimmicks and the CV setting ordeal.

So please count me in.

Kimball,

Some time ago on a different thread I made a suggestion that maybe Märklin could devise a drive module that would be interchangeable with a large number of locos, obviously due to sizes, complexity and uniqueness of some locos it would more than likely not be possible to make one unit that would fit 100% of all locos.

The idea would be the motor and the decoder (and sound) and part of the drivetrain would be on a modular assembly that would be sold separately, and which could be inserted in your loco of choice. The decoder would be programmed with the applicable information for the loco you have chosen (the new decoders from Märklin can already be changed and downloaded too). When you wanted to run a different loco the assembly would be removed the decoder reprogrammed and then inserted into the new loco.

The locos which took the assembly would then be sold without motor and decoder. You would only need to buy the number of motors for the number of trains you needed to run, and all those locos sitting in your display cases would not have expensive and largely unused motors and decoders inside. The motorless (and decoderless) units would also be cheaper to buy.

There would also be an opportunity to make different motor assemblies available to suit different pockets, so there could be a basic digital with no sound, and a sound version, but there could also be different motor choices for instance with the basic versions using the current can motors, and then maybe a mid priced option with a better motor and a top range motor that was say an updated version of either the C sine motor or the soft drive sine motor. People would then have a choice over the motor they wanted to have in their locos.

Judging by the number of locos people have stored in boxes or in display cabinets, if this idea could be made to work, I think it might be popular way of reducing the cost to the end user and also offering a wider range of choice to the end user.

Regards

Yes Alan I was thinking the same, where there is still some basic hobby activity to finish the model.

Remember the Athearn US kits which were snapped/screwed together within about 10-20 minutes.
Locos with handrails took an hour or so.

But in the end, it comes down to how much the cost to Maerklin is of:
1. a driverless chassis, bogie, and body compared to
2. a complete decoded and motored model

Kimball

Hello guys, it is an interesting and good question. But I don't believe the manufacturers will produce many dummies anymore. I live in the United States, where Athearn and some other American companies used to sell dummy locomotives, for double heading with their powered locomotives. The dummies were quite a bit cheaper to purchase, sometimes half the price. Because they did not need motor, flywheels, gears, head lights or metal wheels. The Athearn dummies often came with plastic wheels. But eventually Athearn stopped making any dummy locomotives, (except for the dummy RTR F7B, which is included in the box with the powered RTR F7A). RTR means "ready to run". Over time the market changed, and so did the ownership at Athearn. They no longer make any kits anymore, they stopped. As far as I'm aware, Athearn only makes RTR models now.

I would certainly like to see manufacturers (any of them) make dummy locomotives, for the reasons mentioned above. Whether for sitting in your display cases, or to be used on dioramas, or for double heading of trains, etc. But I don't see it happening, because the economics have changed. They don't produce models in the huge amounts, like they did in the past. Almost everything it appears is limited edition now, produced in limited quantities. Marklin (unlike the past) is no longer making locomotives in the hundreds of thousands or millions, like they did in the past. Just look at the common BR 89 (3000) steam locomotive, Marklin produced 5 million over a 50 year life span.

The same with Athearn during the 1950's thru 1990's, they produced locomotives (and freight cars) in such huge numbers, they could economically offer dummy locomotives. That is because they kept using the same plastic molds for many years. The basic Athearn locomotive changed very little, with just minor little updates, done once in a while.

I don't know what to suggest with modern Marklin locomotives, especially in the era V and VI. You could perhaps buy a damaged used locomotive, where the digital decoder is burnt up, and remove the decoder and motor, and turn it into a dummy yourself. Keep the motor (if it works) in your spare parts box, it could be used in the future.

Or buy any HO scale Marklin locomotive ever made, especially if you find it cheap enough in price. Then remove the motor and reversing unit (or digital decoder), and turn it into a dummy. For instance It could be a steam locomotive sitting inside, or next to the roundhouse. It does not need to work, it just needs to look nice enough as a display piece.


Howard

The weight of the dummy locomotive is usually about the same as that of a large wagon or coach. Assuming your layout is not marginal on pulling power due to steep inclines it will make little difference to the length of train that you can pull.

Good question 👍
I know Märklin have done double sets with a permanently coupled twin, such as an sncb nohab set and two SNCF bb7200 electrics which are on my near to collect list. But for me. it de-values your model collection if your loco is non powered. But i would want Marklin to do more double headed permanently coupled locos. Quite often, bombardier Traxx 186 electrics are run in multiple and would make a nice addition with a new road numbers. Maybe they just want you to buy a cs3 to run multiple.
I even thought of re buying a model just to remove the motor to make a double header or banker?
but you are perhaps a third of a way to a cs3
Dan
https://www.google.co.uk...523#imgrc=Jp_I0vmC8pfkWM
https://www.google.co.uk...mp;imgdii=eHzPaT-zTFLF9M
https://farm4.staticflic...7081885_de14bc544f_o.jpg