Hi

I am looking into buying my first Roco coach set (# 74063 / NMBS set), and have a couple of questions before pulling the trigger....

How do they hold up against the modern M* coaches?
I know I will need to change the wheels and the couplings to be able to use them on my layout...
How about fitting lightning in them, can I use the same axle contacts from M*?

Regards
Jean-Pierre

Edited by user 06 August 2024 01:10:42(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Depending how Roco is picking up the power in these, you may not even need to change wheels for S88 detection. Many Roco coaches use the axle journals for rail pickup, and all you need to do is open the coach and solder those together. This connects both sides for detection, and also gives an additional/better ground pickup for the cars and lighting. I don't have a railjet set myself to check

I have a large number of Roco 303mm (1/87) Eurofima coaches, in SBB, DB, FS, OBB, MAV, SNCF and SNCB liveries. Most of them run on my Maerklin tracks (M, K and C) without any issues. You can swap out the wheelsets with AC ones if you choose.
The only issue that I have experienced with these models was that Maerklin's close coupling occasionally hit the buffers, which I solved by using the Roco universal couplers. The longer coaches have a larger overhang in curves than the shorter Maerklin versions and that S-curves could be an issue on tighter radii.
What you will surely love is the multicoloured interior and the overall look of the model. I run my SNCB I6 A9 and B11 with a SNCB Bc10 and a SBB Bcm.
Depending on the consist, I can add SNCB I11 (Heris, LSM) or I5 or I10 models from LSM or SBB or FS coaches.
https://www.belrail.be/F...tl/classique/suisse.html
https://www.belrail.be/F.../intl/classique/old.html

The Roco coaches are pretty easy to outfit with lighting. The ground contacts come with the lighting kits and the AC slider can be glued to the underside of the bogie. Most models include a replacement piece to swap out with the plastic part on the Roco slider which will then mount on the two pins on the underside of the bogie. I recommend using one slider per consist and connecting the coaches with single pole conducting couplers like the Fleischmann based one from Viessmann. If you don't want to swap the wheelsets, you can invert one set per bogie which will then create a contact between both rails through the bogie ground contact. Once this has been done, you can no longer use the coaches on DC tracks without undoing it as it will create a short between rails.

Regards

Mike C

I don't have a eurofima coach on hand to check, but I suspect per my note above these will already have the pickups, making the system mike reccomends a very easy setup.

Look at where the wheels pop into the bogies/trucks. If there is a metal piece between them and the plastic that is the pickup and you are good to go.

If not, you need a "ground spring" which is available from Schoenwitz and a few others. Or go the formal roco light kit option

For Roco coaches I now just use battery lights. No need for CC couplers or sliders etc and they work well with no flicker. Coaches can uncouple easily. Lights come on a start up and stay on for a few minutes when stopped before switching off. Cheaper option as batteries last for ages. Never had to. Change Roco wheels. I had in the past power from a Loco to the coaches via Cc couplers to a Viessmann light strip which was Ok.

The two best known trains from Belgium to Switzerland were the Vauban and the Iris.
I have the Iris from LS Models in the 1980s orange C1 livery (SBB Coaches)

The Vauban over the years has been made up of SNCB coaches, SNCB and FS coaches and by SBB coaches

In addition to those trains, there were also a few trains that were less known, including the night train to Brig and Sion.

My models all represent the train consists as seen on Swiss rails, so the traction is a mix of SBB and can also include BLS locomotives.
For the 1980s versions, this primarily means Re 4/4II and Re 6/6, but also the Re 4/4IV and BLS Re 4/4
For the 1990s versions, this means the above plus the new Re 460 and Re 465.

The Vauban used to travel as far as Spiez with a SNCB Class 16 locomotive. I don't know why it did not travel further. Maybe somebody else can explain.

The consist options include the I6 (Eurofima) type. In 1/100 I have them from Maerklin. In 1/87, I have them from Roco, LSM and ACME (couchette version).
The Roco coaches run with my Heris I11 coaches, representing the Vauban shortly before it stopped running to Brig (prior to 2005). https://www.belrail.be/F...tl/classique/suisse.html
The combined LSM and ACME consist represents the INT 498/499 https://www.belrail.be/F...lassique/old.html#int498

If I want to modify the consist, I can mix the Roco I6 with FS Eurofima (XMPR) from Roco which was common when the Vauban still ran to Milano.

Another interesting consist I can put together is the INT 298/299 https://www.belrail.be/F...lassique/old.html#int298

If you want to add to your SNCB coaches, LSM has issued some new models of the I10 in the orange C1 livery with and without air-conditioning:
https://www.reisezugwagen.eu/?p=47891
https://www.reisezugwagen.eu/?p=47895
https://www.news.lsmodel...%20LS%20Models%20I10.pdf

It was not uncommon to still find the occasional orange coach in SNCB consists up until around 2000 and beyond.

Regards

Mike C

I don't know what year this was, but you could definitely do a mix of SNCB and SBB EC coaches: https://live.staticflick...7548070_7f16dd3969_b.jpg

Here's an even more exotic mix: https://live.staticflick...1026212_d4281022c2_b.jpg
The post Cisalpino livery of the silver coach dates this one as post-2009

Here's one with a BLS Re 465, BLS EWI and SBB EC coaches: https://live.staticflick...6308298_c48644b05e_b.jpg

Here's another mix of SNCB (I6, I10 and I11) and SBB coaches: https://photos.smugmug.c...f3scV/0/L/CNV00006-L.jpg

Here's a mix of SNCB, SBB and FS: https://live.staticflick...3518052_98d631c95f_b.jpg

Have fun and try not to mix 1/87 with 1/93.5 and 1/100

Regards

Mike C