Hi all - here's a thread with a difference that I hope a few of you will enjoy.

We all (well, many of us at least) have them.

'ORPHAN ITEMS'

What do I mean, well here's some examples.....

* - A tender without a loco (or vice-versa)
* - An instruction leaflet that you don't own the item for
* - One portion of a larger item or set
* - A Coach/Wagon without a Roof/Wheels and vice-versa (spare wheels don't count)
* - A box without an item to go in it (items without boxes don't count either because EVERYONE has those)
** very old starter-set boxes (red or very early blue) are definitely in as these can be fun and hard to make complete again get finding examples of everything that would have been originally with it.

I'm sure you get my drift. And you hang on to whatever it is, because "one day" whatever else you need might just turn up. Ever the optimist.

Here are my examples.

1: G800 Box - I'm not sure where/when I even got this which really irks me but I've had it several years. It's got the wooden base, an oil-stained cloth inside and the Red corner-stapled lid, and in pretty good condition (around C8). For a long time I've been looking for a suitable G800 but they are very hard to find, and when you do, very expensive, and usually with a box anyway. There's a basket-case on Ebay right now which I was tempted but the pictures and damage description are not clear enough to take the risk... G 800 on Ebay.com

2: 323 box (Red) - you'd think this would be simple - the 323 is just a simple wagon - but again, finding one without a box is quite a different story.

3: 314 BP - This one was proof of persistence - I had a 314 BP Red box for many years also. One day a 314 BP wagon came up on NZ Trademe, without a box, and at a price I could manage. It wasn't in top condition, but neither was the box for that matter, so a marriage made in heaven.

4: But probably my most frustrating orphans are two mis-matched halves of an ST800. I have the chassis/motor from the Front unit (ST800A - Antriebwagen) and the body from the ST800 Rear unit (ST800S - Schlußwagen). They came as a pair and obviously did not match. At the time I rather hoped the seller would find the rest of the missing bits but after several years that has not happened and the seller has left NZ. So somewhere floating around are the other parts of this train.

When I got it, it had been repainted and was in a very sorry state. I stripped them and soaked them to loosen the paint which then came off very easily revealing the original paintwork, somewhat the worse for wear but well-within restoration. It was fun stripping and overhauling the Motor and Jacobs Truck and what a fine piece of engineering it all is. And it now runs like a dream. I'd absolutely love to have one of these ST800 trains but they remain well beyond my budget so in the meantime I dream about the day the other items will turn up for a song - wishful thinking.

I probably have other items but these are a good start to get the ball rolling.

And what do we do with these items?, hang on hoping to get the other part, or risk selling it only to know that what you have been searching for will turn up the next week. And this my friends, is the absolute core of Men's Garages and Workshops. "Might need that one day". Is that just a Kiwi/English thing or are blokes all around the world like that? (hoarders).

Of course if I knew someone who could really use what I have, then some sort of Trade is highly acceptable and strongly encouraged in the spirit of good modelling camaraderie.

I'm sure I read somewhere (possibly on the B&G) that someone had a Marklin wind-up key for a clockwork motor (perhaps from an old Metall set), but nothing to use it on - that would be funny, and just the sort of thing die-hard collectors keep. I'm sure there's many a clockwork loco with no original key either.

If an item bears any of the Marklin logos in any shape or form, that will do nicely thank you.

I did once have an Orphan Tender also which I think was a GN809 or something like that with some mild Zinkpest. I gave that to a close enthusiast friend who I thought might be able to use it. I'm not sure if that is the tender that would match a G800, but I do know the box and the tender did not come into my possession at the same time.

Hope at least a few of you are amused enough to contribute your story. I shall post this to the B&G to get a wider audience and hopefully some interesting feedback and stories.

Cheers

Cookee
Melbourne
Displaced Kiwi

Hi! I do have a pair of bogies for your 4015...
Do you want them?
Cheers

Perfect example of what I was talking about. And it's the sort of thing that would probably not happen through the wanted to sell/buy process because people don't tend to list things like that, but perhaps this will spark that happening.

:-)

I have a Ma 3011 basket case. I bought the motor & chassis for 5 dollars at a swap meet. I didn't even know what I had, except I saw the ski on the bottom, so I guessed it was Marklin. It ran! So I have embarked on a quasi-restoration. I bought a body, pantographs, couplers, and miscellaneous part and now I have over 100 dollars into it, and I still need a few more pieces!! I know what you all are saying, "you could have bought a complete original, for that price"...oh well, everyone loves a project.

Hi Paul
Excellent!
Let's get started : do you have a roof for a 351?
Even if it's missing a couple of ventilators, no prob. I can get these from Ritter.
On the other hand,if you have that roof, I'll end up with an orphan 352 roof... (Yes, you guessed it: I have a 351 with a 352 roof!)
Any need for it?
A swap?
Cheers
Jacques

The SET had two (small) separate pick up shoes and light fixture on one end only.
The 3011 has a single (regular) pick up shoe, in the middle of the chassis and lights on both ends
Cheers

You are quite welcome, but I do get quite a lot of satisfaction myself, as it is so true that the more you know...the more you discover you don't know much!!
Now: 3011 or SET for the scan? Single or double pick up?
Lights on both sides?
My scanner is ready...
Cheers

Thank you for the offer.Yes please. I will PM you.

I'll have to check. The Museum is a bit 'buried' at the moment.

Thanks for the 3011 scan Dr. Eisenbahn, much appreciated.

I have a 6051 Digital interface that I know I will never use again...

I've got one.....

I call him: Naked Man





It was part of a lot of used trains my dad bought in the 70's. He never had a cover (cloths) and never will. I don't know who he is, where he came from, nor why he's naked.

But, like that 'invisable man' science set from the 70's, I can see and show others what the inner workings of an electric model train look like.

Any ideas on identity of my Naked Man would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Well for a start it is 3 rail but what gauge?

regards
Kimball

Hi,

This is my contribution:



Just a middle-car for the Rheinuferbahn from Marklin. Okay, it's a replica by TWERENBOLD, Switzerland but still an impressive and very heavy model.
I never gave up the hope to get the other cars. too. But my wife always decided for a new car instead. ;-)

Regards

Markus

Paul,
I believe that they are the Brush Holders. Could be wrong and often are.

NEv

Yes, quite correct.
Märklin was using a similar set up, starting in 1935, in fact *following* TRIX' lead in creating an HO gauge range.
It would be interesting to see how the "clothed" Trix Express looks like, underneath.
We could at least have a feel whether the body I have here corresponds (looks a bit like an RS 790)
Cheers

Joining in the fray!
I have aquired a rather care worn 3028 class 515 battery railcar. However it is missing the plastic surround that stops the power bogie rising up too far into the body away from the guides. I believe the part required is 786190(with a 227510 retaining screw - which is also missing). Can anyone out there help this poor orphan go round corners - instead of just in straight lines!

Simon Haynes
Watlington

Thank yoy Dr!

the parts are indeed 33 & 34 on your diagramme - will contact mission control.....

Simon

If that fails, there are also options for replica boxes, or methods to make your own to at least make it 'look' like it's packed.

http://www.3rotaie.it/3r...tola_Replica.htm#English (this was also posted here back in '99)

A friend of mine (Rex Trye) back in NZ had a go at this and got surprisingly good results, he sent me one of his boxes as a surprise right down to the label and orange/brown tape and it's jolly good - would fool anyone at first glance but looks great in with the original ones.

These kind of projects are wonderful in the wintertime or wet nights/weekends.

Good luck

Steve

Hello

I have this crane boom and no base, If interested let me know

Hello Ricky,

Would it be possible to post a picture of the CCS 800 leaflet.

I might be interested in buying the leaflet from you or selling you a CCS 800 to go with your leaflet (if you're interested).

Best regards,

Paul

G'day Ricky,

Old threads never die, they just get more interesting!

I think there would be a few people (myself included) who would like a scan of that leaflet for their archives, we need to preserve history and references like this whenever we can.

Do you have a scanner?

Cheers

Steve

Ok, found it (the CCS800 instructions leaflet), at last!!!

Here it is (attached.) Each page is A4 format, so when it is open the format is 59.4cm x 21cm. Note that the color of the paper is not correctly rendered by the scanner, it is actually "old yellow"/light brown, like old newspaper. Unfortunately it has been folded pretty hard, so much that it made a hole in the center of the pages, as well as in between pages 2 and 3.

By the way I love the "true-to-scale" statement, we all know that it was much bigger than 1/87.

For us who are not lucky enough to own a CCS800: note the 4 switch positions (page 1), interesting feature long before the digital era!

Cheers,
Ricky

Hi Ricky,

Excellant, very good quality scans thanks so much. I don't (yet) own one of those beasts but it makes very interesting reading all the same. And you scanned straight - extra attention to detail!!

Re the Reverse unit, the design allowed for the usual reversing, as well as the operation of Telex independently. A side 'feature' for loco's not equipped with Telex is that the 'neutral' position meant you could leave the loco on the layout and the headlights would usually still work without the train moving. It would have been an expensive unit to produce however which is why it was probably discontinued. It's also more fiddly to adjust and maintain but when it works and if it's looked after they work exceptionally well.

Thanks again

Cookee
Melbourne

Thanks Cookee!



It's because I'm a nerd!!

Cheers,
Ricky.