Hello all,

New member Paul joining from Joburg, South Africa. I've been a loyal M-track, catenary-powered Marklin user since 1973. I'm looking to expand my roster of e-loks and have long coveted the SBB Ae 6/6.

I understand that the later Marklin versions of the loco came with plastic bodies but I am looking for a diecast body. Which model numbers or years should I focus on in my quest? I don't need DCC anything like that -- just a good old, metal body, analog Ae 6/6.

Thanks very much in advance for your help.

cheers

Paul

Perhaps you have gotten your wires crossed with the 3056 crocodile that appeared with a plastic body, and was then replaced later with metal again.

The 1960s model was slightly out of scale. There was the 3050 Canton Lok Bern, the 3350 City Lok Schaffhausen and then finally the 3332 City Lok Altdorf in red.
In 1991, Maerklin reissued the Ae 6/6 in exact scale to commemorate the 700th Anniversary of the Swiss Confederation and put out a new model of the Canton Loks Bern (3338) and Geneva (3336). The next year, they followed up with models of the City Loks Basel Stadt (3337) and Zurich (3339). Digital versions of the Bern and Geneva Loks were available under 3636 (Geneva) and 3638 (Bern). Digital versions of the City Loks were available under 3737 and 3739, although 3739 had a different road number and crest.

Since then, a number of other models have been released with different numbers and representing different eras (1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, etc) including the latest and final Cargo versions.

The Swiss company Hag also makes a very nice die cast model of the Ae 6/6. If you can find an older model (128), it is a very nice model.

If you are using AC analog, the 3338/3336 should be nice choices. If you choose to go for one of the older 3050 type models, look for one of the versions which had clear plastic instead of opaque cellophane windows.

Regards

Mike C

Hi all and thank-you for the warm welcome and the excellent info.

I'll probably go for the 3050. I kind of like the idea of the "original", even if out of scale. Might even look for two because as locos go, I reckon you can't have too many Ae 6/6s on the roster.

Would also love to pick up one of the SNCF BB12000s. But I understand these cannot be run off catenary, which is a bit of a dealbreaker for me personally.

Anyway, thanks again. Great to be here.

Good night, all.

Thank-you, John, for setting me straight. That is excellent to hear and it is really useful!

I really appreciate it.

All the best,

Paul

Yes that shop seems to sell only quality models.
And if there is a flaw in the model, he always describes it properly.
He also sells new Märklin models which is handy at times when the Australian dealer is unable to obtain.

regards
Kimball

The 3167 was released at some point in the mid to late 70s and had a plastic shell from the start.
I have never measured the model (as I don't have one) with the original design to see if it is to scale, but it seems about right.

Regards

Mike C

My focus has been post 1968, so I never really paid attention to older designs, especially those that I had not seen in person on trips.
It is remarkable that the 1950s RET/RE 800 had Swiss lighting changeover, something that newer models did not have until the 1990s.
The 3050 and that era's models had milled light channels, which amplified the light from the bulb into a focused beam. Today's models just have a plastic channel that transmits a diffused light. I used to love seeing the actual beams in the dark.
I would love to see interior coach lighting that would have separate LEDs for compartments and corridor and especially lights for the washrooms and entrances. That would be a nice digital feature that would go over better than a restaurant with a conversation...

If you like SBB Loks, the key ones to get are an Ae 6/6 (either new or older), a Re 4/4II (red or green), a crocodile and a Re 460. If you want to go beyond that, try the Piko Ae 4/7, Maerklin or Piko Re 4/4I and then repeat.

Regards

Mike C

Hello Dave,

Thanks excellent for the link, I really appreciate it. Things have gone a bit haywire in Joburg these last few days and being a journalist means I'm a bit distracted.

Thank-you all for the information. I will let you know how I get on.

All the best, Paul