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Offline dave55uk  
#1 Posted : 30 November 2025 23:17:22(UTC)
dave55uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 15/09/2023(UTC)
Posts: 117
Location: Ely, England
A mate of mine, who buys and sells OO gauge model trains, has aquired an older Marklin 103 Electric loco (in it's orange & blue box).
How easy would it be to DCC this loco? I'm no expert so an easy way would be preferable if possible.
Offline EB421  
#2 Posted : 01 December 2025 00:13:51(UTC)
EB421

United Kingdom   
Joined: 10/04/2025(UTC)
Posts: 56
Location: UK
Originally Posted by: dave55uk Go to Quoted Post

How easy would it be to DCC this loco? I'm no expert so an easy way would be preferable if possible.


Same as any other Marklin loco, I think - you'll need a 5-pole motor conversion kit, a DCC decoder, and some soldering (unless it's a HAMO product in which case you just need a decoder).

Looking online, your friend probably has a mechanical reverser so will have slightly more difficulty than my 3320 (I just pull out the Delta decoder and the 21MTC carrier clips into the same spot) but it shouldn't be the end of the world.

If you're concerned, I'm sure Trains4U over in Peterborough would be willing to do this work - as long as you lent them some C-Track to test it on!

Edit:
I should probably ask - do you mean 3-rail DCC/mfx or the full 2-rail DCC for use with Hornby etc?

If the latter - it's a nightmare. I'm about 3/4 of the way through a 3320 - I've done the 2-rail conversion and the motor upgrade, but I haven't gotten a decoder yet. No-one has stock of the drop-in HAMO conversion parts, nor are there aftermarket replicas, and while the electrical pickups were thankfully easy to find - wheelsets are not. I had to disassemble and file down Lima replacement wheels to properly fit the original axles; needing a bunch of tools and vast effort.

So if your friend was thinking to do that - gently discourage them.
Offline dave55uk  
#3 Posted : 01 December 2025 10:38:07(UTC)
dave55uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 15/09/2023(UTC)
Posts: 117
Location: Ely, England
EB421, thanks for your reply. It was ME that was thinking of doing the conversion.
The loco looks so nice, even though my layout would never see a TEE train or trains of that ilk.
But the conversion sounds too much for me and IF I really wanted a 103, then I guess buying a digital-ready one would be my best bet.
Offline EB421  
#4 Posted : 01 December 2025 10:56:31(UTC)
EB421

United Kingdom   
Joined: 10/04/2025(UTC)
Posts: 56
Location: UK
Originally Posted by: dave55uk Go to Quoted Post
EB421, thanks for your reply. It was ME that was thinking of doing the conversion.
The loco looks so nice, even though my layout would never see a TEE train or trains of that ilk.
But the conversion sounds too much for me and IF I really wanted a 103, then I guess buying a digital-ready one would be my best bet.


Hold your horses! If it's for your setup; that's an MS2 on 3-rail C-Track, right? So no need for the nightmarish wheel replacement. ;)

The motor parts basically just bolt in, and for basic motor drive without lighting there are (I think), six solder joints - and the PCB end is pre-soldered for you. The fiddliest part is installing the brushes, it's not awful.

I would work out what kind of motor you have (so you know what replacement kit you would need) and evaluate costs. Because the last thing I need is more temptations in Waterside!
Offline dave55uk  
#5 Posted : 01 December 2025 11:30:06(UTC)
dave55uk

United Kingdom   
Joined: 15/09/2023(UTC)
Posts: 117
Location: Ely, England
MS2 3 rail - correct!

Lights would be nice but not the end of the world.

Fiddy = awful (for me anyway).

But. I'll get the loco from my mate* (he's not likely to sell it any time soon), get the body off, snap a photo if it helps, and post it here.

And would highly appreciate knowing the replacement bits (inc. decoder) as I haven't a scooby re these things.




* - might be a week before I'm over his again.
Offline bph  
#6 Posted : 01 December 2025 11:45:41(UTC)
bph

Norway   
Joined: 04/08/2018(UTC)
Posts: 1,244
A good option if you don't want to replace the motor is the 60906 decoder.
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by bph
Offline EB421  
#7 Posted : 01 December 2025 11:51:28(UTC)
EB421

United Kingdom   
Joined: 10/04/2025(UTC)
Posts: 56
Location: UK
Originally Posted by: bph Go to Quoted Post
A good option if you don't want to replace the motor is the 60906 decoder.


Good shout! If I recall this correctly (I've never used one of these), the high efficiency motor + 60972 gives you modern (ish) performance due to 5pole, DC, high frequency negative feedback between decoder and motor?

And the 60906 gives you "vintage Marklin performance, but on a modern controller so you don't have to have a separate track"?
Offline bph  
#8 Posted : 01 December 2025 12:05:32(UTC)
bph

Norway   
Joined: 04/08/2018(UTC)
Posts: 1,244
Originally Posted by: EB421 Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: bph Go to Quoted Post
A good option if you don't want to replace the motor is the 60906 decoder.


Good shout! If I recall this correctly (I've never used one of these), the high efficiency motor + 60972 gives you modern (ish) performance due to 5pole, DC, high frequency negative feedback between decoder and motor?

And the 60906 gives you "vintage Marklin performance, but on a modern controller so you don't have to have a separate track"?


The 60906 is basically a modern alternative to the 6080 decoder (or delta). Even if the performance is unregulated, it uses a PWM regulation to control the motor, so you get better driving performance e.g. at slow speed. My primary choice is e.g 60941 and e.g. 60977 or 60972 decoder, however, I have used the 60906 on a select few locomotives for nostalgia and/or cost reasons.
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