 Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 632
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Hello, dear Märklin friends,
Maybe, my message can be a bit out of topic, but I do hope not. Well, speaking with a Märklin enthusiast I've realized that in the '50 and '60 this French Factory made a lot of marvellous models, using a system of tracks very similar to the Märklin's ones. The engines work on DC current, but the rails are 3 ways one as the Märklin's ones. Has anyone any tips, please?
Best regards
Stefano
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 1 user liked this useful post by Rocca
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 Joined: 02/02/2017(UTC) Posts: 694 Location: England, South Coast
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VB, Vollon et Brun made some excellent locos and rolling stock, especially the Mistral and its Inox coaches.
Most were available in DC for two rail, DC for 3 rail (like Hornby) and AC for Marklin
Others will have more information about the track.
There was a good website for VB but I think it is down.
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3 users liked this useful post by Michael4
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 Joined: 23/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 2,061 Location: FRANCE
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Hi, For information, ten years ago I purchased a 3rails DC BB9001 from VB. Here is an old video of the locomotive running on my previous M-track layout: at 1:32 you can start to see the inside of the locomotive. For this loco to run on my previous M-track layout, I removed the two pickup shoes I powered the catenary with a 12v DC transformer, and switch the loco to power the pantographs. This is the thin red wire from the electric line upon the roof that really brings the current ! The locomotive is full metal and looks great ! The locomotive runs a bit too fast even at low voltage. The ground returns from the locomotive chassis and body. Only one light bulb turning with the powered bogie. No plastic light diffuser. The locomotive derails easily upon M-tracks turnouts because of the wheel space. Il would be difficult to reduce the wheel space on this locomotive, because there is no space left between the metal bogie flanges and the back of the powered wheels. Maybe it runs better on C-Track turnouts, I still not have tested it yet. Best Regards Joël |
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7 users liked this useful post by TrainIride
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 Joined: 26/03/2019(UTC) Posts: 753 Location: Florida Classic but Successful Swampland City
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Jimmy T
Analogue; M-track; KLVM; DDR; Primex; Sarrasani Zirkuswelt
There is a Prototype For Everything |
3 users liked this useful post by Jimmy Thompson
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Joined: 26/03/2019(UTC) Posts: 753 Location: Florida Classic but Successful Swampland City
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Jimmy T
Analogue; M-track; KLVM; DDR; Primex; Sarrasani Zirkuswelt
There is a Prototype For Everything |
3 users liked this useful post by Jimmy Thompson
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Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 632
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Hello, dear Joel for the useful tip, but have you any idea if we can make these Locos working on Ac? Well, I've yesterday purchased a VB track set on E-bay and I'm waiting for it. I'ven't yet found the feeder track......do you suppose I can use the Märklin ones for giving power? Best regards Stefano Originally Posted by: TrainIride  Hi, For information, ten years ago I purchased a 3rails DC BB9001 from VB. Here is an old video of the locomotive running on my previous M-track layout: at 1:32 you can start to see the inside of the locomotive. For this loco to run on my previous M-track layout, I removed the two pickup shoes I powered the catenary with a 12v DC transformer, and switch the loco to power the pantographs. This is the thin red wire from the electric line upon the roof that really brings the current ! The locomotive is full metal and looks great ! The locomotive runs a bit too fast even at low voltage. The ground returns from the locomotive chassis and body. Only one light bulb turning with the powered bogie. No plastic light diffuser. The locomotive derails easily upon M-tracks turnouts because of the wheel space. Il would be difficult to reduce the wheel space on this locomotive, because there is no space left between the metal bogie flanges and the back of the powered wheels. Maybe it runs better on C-Track turnouts, I still not have tested it yet. Best Regards Joël
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2 users liked this useful post by Rocca
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Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 632
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Dear Jimmy, your link sound so great.....I'll watch it deeply day by day,,,,,realy thank you for the input! Best regards Stefano Originally Posted by: Jimmy Thompson
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1 user liked this useful post by Rocca
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 Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC) Posts: 6,764 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Hello Stefano, I have quite a bit of the VB 3 rail track. It is of excellent quality construction, and the curves have a sensible superelevation created in the tinplate base pressing. I use it to create different track arrangements for my English Hornby Dublo 3 rail (DC) from the 1950s. The VB is perfectly compatible (also with the Märklin 3 solid rail track I believe) with the Dublo track, and the VB large radius curve extends the normal Dublo double track to a third track. On VB track each of the 3 rails is isolated. I can also use this track to run 2 rail (DC+-) locomotives of any type. Kimball Edited by user 04 July 2024 07:43:51(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified |
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge. |
2 users liked this useful post by kimballthurlow
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Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 632
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Hi, Kimbal, thank you for informations and I can't look forward to have my purchase from E-bay delivered. I've only difficulties in finding the feeder track....apparently in this time there is no seller. Do you think I can use the normal old Märklin 3600 series feed track. How do you give power to the 3 rails, please? Besta regards Stefano Originally Posted by: kimballthurlow Hello Stefano,
I have quite a bit of the VB 3 rail track.
It is of excellent quality construction, and the curves have a sensible superelevation created in the tinplate base pressing.
I use it to create different track arrangements for my English Hornby Dublo 3 rail (DC) from the 1950s.
The VB is perfectly compatible (also with the Märklin 3 solid rail track I believe) with the Dublo track, and the VB large radius curve extends the normal Dublo double track to a third track.
On VB track each of the 3 rails is isolated.
I can also use this track to run 2 rail (DC+-) locomotives of any type.
Kimball
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1 user liked this useful post by Rocca
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Joined: 18/03/2007(UTC) Posts: 6,764 Location: Brisbane, Australia
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Hello Stefano, I do have in my collection list a 112mm VB straight feeder track. But I have plenty of compatible Dublo feeder tracks which are quite easy to track down. Definitely try the Märklin M track version which I believe would work. Quite often I use a temporary power connection using clips or a bit of solder. VB track seems to be based on a standard 224mm straight length, and also 1/2. Then there are large and small radius curves with 1/2 sections. The outer rail on curves, is super-elevated by 1-1.5mm, by a clever pressing and folding of the metal track bed. The small radius VB is 530mm radius to the centre rail, section length is 21cm, and 4 sections form a 90 degree curve. The large radius VB is 570mm radius to the centre rail, and 4 sections form a 90 degree curve. The diameter of a large radius circle made up of 16 curved sections (centre rail to centre rail) is 1141mm give or take a few mm. The VB catalogues quote the large radius section length as 23cm. Kimball Edited by user 10 July 2024 10:02:14(UTC)
| Reason: added a word to improve the sense |
HO Scale - Märklin (ep II-III and VI, C Track, digital) - 2 rail HO (Queensland Australia, UK, USA) - 3 rail OO (English Hornby Dublo) - old clockwork O gauge - Live Steam 90mm (3.1/2 inch) gauge. |
2 users liked this useful post by kimballthurlow
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Joined: 23/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 2,061 Location: FRANCE
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Originally Posted by: Rocca
Hello, dear Joel for the useful tip, but have you any idea if we can make these Locos working on Ac? Well, I've yesterday purchased a VB track set on E-bay and I'm waiting for it. I'ven't yet found the feeder track......do you suppose I can use the Märklin ones for giving power?
Best regards
Stefano
Dear Stefano, This locomotive has a DC motor (the one I have) , so you cannot send directly Märklin AC current. So you will need to place a decoder in the locomotive, and you will have to insulate the motor from the chassis ground return, not so easy. And if you run it on Märklin tracks, you certainly have to replace the pickup shoe, you will also have the problem of the wheel spacing, corresponding to the DC trains of today. As I told you, I had this problem with Mârklin turnouts, where the locomotive often derails. If you run it on a dedicated layout, I suggest you to purchase a DC Regulator. It will be fine. Have fun with this trains ! Best Regards Joël |
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2 users liked this useful post by TrainIride
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Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 632
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Hello, dear Kimball, I definitely try tomorrow with my M♪2rklin feed track....your suggestion is very useful. thank you so so so much. I'm an old Märklinist but I just want to get experiencw with such old French Firma! Best regards Stefano Originally Posted by: kimballthurlow Hello Stefano,
I do have in my collection list a 112mm VB straight feeder track.
But I have plenty of compatible Dublo feeder tracks which are quite easy to track down.
Definitely try the Märklin M track version which I believe would work.
Quite often I use a temporary power connection using clips or a bit of solder.
VB track seems to be based on a standard 224mm straight length, and also 1/2.
Then there are large and small radius curves with 1/2 sections.
The outer rail on curves, is super-elevated by 1-1.5mm, by a clever pressing and folding of the metal track bed.
The small radius VB is 530mm radius to the centre rail, section length is 21cm, and 4 sections form a 90 degree curve.
The large radius VB is 570mm radius to the centre rail, and 4 sections form a 90 degree curve.
The diameter of a large radius circle made up of 16 curved sections (centre rail to centre rail) is 1141mm give or take a few mm.
The VB catalogues quote the large radius section as 23cm.
Kimball
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3 users liked this useful post by Rocca
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Joined: 28/01/2004(UTC) Posts: 632
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Hello, dear Joel. thank you so so much, but which type of DC regulator do you suggest. I'ven't any and I'm not reall into them, being a Märklinist! Best regards Stefano Originally Posted by: TrainIride Originally Posted by: Rocca
Hello, dear Joel for the useful tip, but have you any idea if we can make these Locos working on Ac? Well, I've yesterday purchased a VB track set on E-bay and I'm waiting for it. I'ven't yet found the feeder track......do you suppose I can use the Märklin ones for giving power?
Best regards
Stefano
Dear Stefano, This locomotive has a DC motor (the one I have) , so you cannot send directly Märklin AC current. So you will need to place a decoder in the locomotive, and you will have to insulate the motor from the chassis ground return, not so easy. And if you run it on Märklin tracks, you certainly have to replace the pickup shoe, you will also have the problem of the wheel spacing, corresponding to the DC trains of today. As I told you, I had this problem with Mârklin turnouts, where the locomotive often derails. If you run it on a dedicated layout, I suggest you to purchase a DC Regulator. It will be fine. Have fun with this trains ! Best Regards Joël
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2 users liked this useful post by Rocca
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Joined: 23/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 2,061 Location: FRANCE
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Dear Stefano,
I am not a specialist in HO DC trains either,
so for my tests on the VB locomotive, I used a small regulator that I had bought a long time ago for a HOe scale train.
I don't remember the model anymore, I must find it somewhere in my cupboards.
Any analog HO DC train regulator will do. There are currently some at Roco and Piko, even at Trix.
They have low power, the right output voltage, but little current, enough for 2 trains I think.
And then I don't know the size of your future VB layout.
Otherwise, perhaps in your lovely country of Italy, you will find second-hand regulators from Lima or Rivarossi which will be sufficient for your first tests.
Best Regards
Joël
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1 user liked this useful post by TrainIride
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