The one thing that puts me off Roco steam locos is that many of them have the motor in the tender. Does your Br01 have it's motor in the tender, Steve?

Dave,
I agree with you, I was lucky with my DR 18201, this loco apparently uses 2 tenders and Roco bought out a second tender and also a loco with 2 tenders. I've motorized the 2nd tender and now it can haul the amount of carriages.
Another Roco Steam loco I have in my posession and its a 2' 10' 0', a Swiss model Ce 5/6, a beautiful steam loco but when it comes to pulling power (St. Gotthard line) it is hopeless.
I wouldn't mind getting a second one of these bauties but I think it's not getting to the point.
It surprises me and the same goes for Marklin, one one hand they have this inspiration to bring out or introduce new technology, e.g. BR 10 with dynamic steam and yet the haven't solved a fundamental problem with the pulling power of any tender loco unless you use 2 locos.
I've written about Marklin and the Motorplate with drum armatures (Brushshaft in another topic) which hasn't been improved or modified since the 1970's.

There seems to be a movement, if the loco is not prototypical they are so scared about the critics finding a verdict of incompetence or not good enough.
Some have been critical about the shaft coming from the tender to the main Driving axle (and this is not the right term because the main drivng axles are in the tender.

(Employees at Roco are so intrenched with their models, they refer to the main driving wheels in the tender) and this is where the irony starts on one hand it should be as prototypical and on the other hand, oh well, its just a model.

All they had to do add a rubber tyre to one of the front driving axle via a driving shaft and they would have solved the problem for once and ever, but no, they said it may interfere with the braking shoes.

I personally feel, looking at the detail of these Roco steamlocos if they solve this tender driven problem they could sell a thousand more locos, but who are we, to suggest we could have a point of interest, I even suggested it as a sparepart to be delivered with the loco with other words give the customer a choice.
the problem in these establishments no one wants to stand up and to be counted, he or she would be branded "as smart" which is a "no no" in a provincial environment, like changing the long tradition of Wiener Schnitzel, Apfelstrudel or Salzburger Nockerln.

John

Dave the motor appears to be in the loco body, I could certainly see a problem with the motor being in the tender, it would put extra stress on the loco body, surely it would contribute to more derailments?

For larger pictures of Roco's 01 196, please have a look here and here.

Regards
Frits Osterthun

PS: Many Roco steamers have not only the motor in the tender, but a connection-axle between tender and locomotive (right trhough the cabin) wich gears the 3rd drive axle.