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Evergreen		#1 Posted : 21 April 2025 15:47:07(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		I just recently got a couple of old used märklin cars with what I assume is interior lighting. This made me wonder if I could use them with the light feature on my digital system? I know the article number of a few of the cars. The article numbers are 4027, 4023 and 4032 and they all have the "regular" märklin pickup below the car. One of the cars i got is missing the box so I dont know the article number of that one and it has a slightly different pickup. I will provide a picture of the pickups of that car. Many thanks
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BenP		#2 Posted : 21 April 2025 16:50:25(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 491 Location: USA		Lights will work on track power, incl digital AC. Slider is old type and needs exact positioning to avoid shorts that may reset digital control, especially over switches. Ben
		Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9
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Evergreen		#3 Posted : 21 April 2025 17:18:29(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: BenP Lights will work on track power, incl digital AC. Slider is old type and needs exact positioning to avoid shorts that may reset digital control, especially over switches. Ben Thanks for the reply! Would you say that it is better to use the cars without the slider? The other cars that I mentioned, but did not provide pictures of, all have the "regular/modern" slider. I assume that they dont have that problem?
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BenP		#4 Posted : 21 April 2025 17:29:08(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 491 Location: USA		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: BenP Lights will work on track power, incl digital AC. Slider is old type and needs exact positioning to avoid shorts that may reset digital control, especially over switches. Ben Thanks for the reply! Would you say that it is better to use the cars without the slider? The other cars that I mentioned, but did not provide pictures of, all have the "regular/modern" slider. I assume that they dont have that problem? Both work, but short one may flicker lights more. Longer one between wheels is better positioned and has more contact. Just see what works; won't damage things. Ben
		Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9
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H0		#5 Posted : 21 April 2025 20:25:36(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,456 Location: DE-NW		Consider replacing the light bulbs. The type for analogue operation is typically rated 60 mA at 19 V, the type for digital operation typically has 20 mA at 22 V. Analogue light bulbs can become very hot with digital operation and maybe even damage plastic parts.
		Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Evergreen		#6 Posted : 22 April 2025 00:35:29(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: H0 Consider replacing the light bulbs. The type for analogue operation is typically rated 60 mA at 19 V, the type for digital operation typically has 20 mA at 22 V. Analogue light bulbs can become very hot with digital operation and maybe even damage plastic parts. Thanks for the tips! I will certainly try to change the bulbs then. Do you know any good place where you could buy those kinds of bulbs cheap in Europe?
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White Buffalo		#7 Posted : 22 April 2025 04:18:51(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 509 Location: South Dakota		I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers.
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White Buffalo		#8 Posted : 22 April 2025 04:20:40(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 509 Location: South Dakota		Originally Posted by: Evergreen She's a beauty by the way!
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Bill L		#9 Posted : 22 April 2025 23:43:12(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 08/12/2021(UTC) Posts: 141 Location: California, Sonoma County		https://www.lctm.info/Se...teca/Catalogos/index.php gives link to older Marklin catalogs, with pictures and description. You can find your passenger car here, probably early 1960s. Try 1960 and page 28 for this red car.
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Evergreen		#10 Posted : 23 April 2025 00:41:24(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: Bill L https://www.lctm.info/Secciones/Trenes/Biblioteca/Catalogos/index.php gives link to older Marklin catalogs, with pictures and description. You can find your passenger car here, probably early 1960s. Try 1960 and page 28 for this red car. Your right that looks like the car I got. I will have to try to hunt down the other cars! I am trying to find a cheaper alternative than the märklin 43369 car set for my ae 6/6.
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Evergreen		#11 Posted : 23 April 2025 00:47:44(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights.
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mvd71		#12 Posted : 23 April 2025 06:18:56(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,933 Location: Auckland,		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights. Try these: https://www.ebay.de/itm/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6qH7o3MZQ
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mvd71		#13 Posted : 23 April 2025 06:24:13(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,933 Location: Auckland,		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights. Or these for an older yellow look: https://www.ebay.de/itm/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5qjlI7MZQ
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Evergreen		#14 Posted : 23 April 2025 18:09:13(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: mvd71 Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights. Or these for an older yellow look: https://www.ebay.de/itm/...D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5qjlI7MZQ Thanks! I will look into that!
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White Buffalo		#15 Posted : 24 April 2025 19:55:39(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 509 Location: South Dakota		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: Bill L https://www.lctm.info/Secciones/Trenes/Biblioteca/Catalogos/index.php gives link to older Marklin catalogs, with pictures and description. You can find your passenger car here, probably early 1960s. Try 1960 and page 28 for this red car. Your right that looks like the car I got. I will have to try to hunt down the other cars! I am trying to find a cheaper alternative than the märklin 43369 car set for my ae 6/6. Here is a list of Wagons that will go with it sir, I'll try to go through what I have this weekend if you might be interested. Just PM me if you are.
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White Buffalo		#16 Posted : 24 April 2025 19:58:55(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 509 Location: South Dakota		Originally Posted by: mvd71 Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights. I started checking various sets & wagons when I experienced a couple of overloads to the limit I had set. I am using the load monitor on the ESU Command Station, I am sure you have a similar way to monitor.
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BenP		#17 Posted : 24 April 2025 23:02:59(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 491 Location: USA		Originally Posted by: White Buffalo Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: Bill L https://www.lctm.info/Secciones/Trenes/Biblioteca/Catalogos/index.php gives link to older Marklin catalogs, with pictures and description. You can find your passenger car here, probably early 1960s. Try 1960 and page 28 for this red car. Your right that looks like the car I got. I will have to try to hunt down the other cars! I am trying to find a cheaper alternative than the märklin 43369 car set for my ae 6/6. Here is a list of Wagons that will go with it sir, I'll try to go through what I have this weekend if you might be interested. Just PM me if you are. I have those too. Refitted with led strips but then retrofitted with old overhead light holders, using leds instead of bulbs. Gives that 1960s vintage look. Low power draw in both cases.
		Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9
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Evergreen		#18 Posted : 26 April 2025 21:12:11(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: White Buffalo Originally Posted by: mvd71 Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights. I started checking various sets & wagons when I experienced a couple of overloads to the limit I had set. I am using the load monitor on the ESU Command Station, I am sure you have a similar way to monitor. I am still a beginner when it comes to model model railroading so I have never checked how much power my trains are drawing but I assume that I can do that on my MS2. Regarding the Rheingold set, I have never actually used the complete train yet becuase I found it to be such a pain to use the old powered couplings to connect the cars together.....
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Evergreen		#19 Posted : 26 April 2025 21:18:32(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Speaking of wagons, I have had a bit of trouble with the coupling on a märklin 4788 set that I picked up lately. The wagons are using an "old style" coupling that I find quite to couple with the new style coupling. Do you guys know a good way to replace the coupling on these kinds of old wagons?
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mvd71		#20 Posted : 26 April 2025 21:21:07(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,933 Location: Auckland,		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo Originally Posted by: mvd71 Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: White Buffalo I have also noticed that incandescent lights in my older 346 wagons, the ICE 37780 (8 wagons) and Rheingold 4228 (with table lights) will put a large power demand on the digital controllers. I am currently using a MS2 so a larger power demand on the controller is probably not optimal in my case. I will have to try fix those bulbs... I have the märklin 26750 set which I think includes the same Rheingold cars as the ones you have. I did not even consider that those also use the old kind of lights. I started checking various sets & wagons when I experienced a couple of overloads to the limit I had set. I am using the load monitor on the ESU Command Station, I am sure you have a similar way to monitor. I am still a beginner when it comes to model model railroading so I have never checked how much power my trains are drawing but I assume that I can do that on my MS2. Regarding the Rheingold set, I have never actually used the complete train yet becuase I found it to be such a pain to use the old powered couplings to connect the cars together..... If by powered coupling you mean the drawbars that have to be inserted into the nem pocket everytime, these can be replaced with couplers: https://www.maerklin.de/...ts/details/article/72025
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mvd71		#21 Posted : 26 April 2025 21:29:21(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,933 Location: Auckland,		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Speaking of wagons, I have had a bit of trouble with the coupling on a märklin 4788 set that I picked up lately. The wagons are using an "old style" coupling that I find quite to couple with the new style coupling. Do you guys know a good way to replace the coupling on these kinds of old wagons? That one could be more tricky: https://www.maerklin.de/...cts/details/article/7205 Or perhaps you could find a suitable NEM pocket as a sparepart to retrofit?
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marklinist5999		#22 Posted : 26 April 2025 23:57:53(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,947 Location: Michigan, Troy		I still use some of the old current conducting draw bars. They are trouble free for running because they flex up and down and twist. Just a hassle railing a train. So I keep two coupled and use the close current couplers between the pairs.
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White Buffalo		#23 Posted : 27 April 2025 21:13:30(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 509 Location: South Dakota		Originally Posted by: mvd71 If by powered coupling you mean the drawbars that have to be inserted into the nem pocket everytime, these can be replaced with couplers: https://www.maerklin.de/...ts/details/article/72025 I installed these a few years ago and they work well . Prior to installing, just clean the copper contacts on the car with some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip so you get a good electrical contact & no light flickering. You can get them directly from Marklin, Trainz or Ebay as well.
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Evergreen		#24 Posted : 28 April 2025 01:05:51(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: White Buffalo Originally Posted by: mvd71 If by powered coupling you mean the drawbars that have to be inserted into the nem pocket everytime, these can be replaced with couplers: https://www.maerklin.de/...ts/details/article/72025 I installed these a few years ago and they work well . Prior to installing, just clean the copper contacts on the car with some rubbing alcohol on a Q-Tip so you get a good electrical contact & no light flickering. You can get them directly from Marklin, Trainz or Ebay as well. Thanks! those couplers sure would make coupling the train a lot easier.
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Evergreen		#25 Posted : 28 April 2025 01:18:59(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 30/12/2024(UTC) Posts: 49		Originally Posted by: mvd71 Originally Posted by: Evergreen Speaking of wagons, I have had a bit of trouble with the coupling on a märklin 4788 set that I picked up lately. The wagons are using an "old style" coupling that I find quite to couple with the new style coupling. Do you guys know a good way to replace the coupling on these kinds of old wagons? That one could be more tricky: https://www.maerklin.de/...cts/details/article/7205 Or perhaps you could find a suitable NEM pocket as a sparepart to retrofit? The coupling looks like this: It looks like it would be quite difficult to replace it, but I have no clue.
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mvd71		#26 Posted : 28 April 2025 06:51:02(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/08/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,933 Location: Auckland,		Originally Posted by: Evergreen Originally Posted by: mvd71 Originally Posted by: Evergreen Speaking of wagons, I have had a bit of trouble with the coupling on a märklin 4788 set that I picked up lately. The wagons are using an "old style" coupling that I find quite to couple with the new style coupling. Do you guys know a good way to replace the coupling on these kinds of old wagons? That one could be more tricky: https://www.maerklin.de/...cts/details/article/7205 Or perhaps you could find a suitable NEM pocket as a sparepart to retrofit? The coupling looks like this: It looks like it would be quite difficult to replace it, but I have no clue. Yeah, the ones in the link may work, but it’s hard to say. Those ones are held on with a retaking ring on what looks like a metal bogie. Might take a customised solution.
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White Buffalo		#27 Posted : 08 May 2025 03:41:45(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 29/12/2016(UTC) Posts: 509 Location: South Dakota		Is the Marklin 4788 the 3 wagon Tank Car set? If so, you would not need the current conducting couplers (for interior lighting) that I posted.
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