Interesting. I didn't actually realise that there were so many railways in Finland! I will make my first visit in Q3 2014 stopping off enroute from Bangkok to London. Intend to do a side-trip by train from Helsinki to St Petersburg. Any good Marklin shops in Helsinki?

Hi,

Yes we have quite long distances as Finland is a around 1300 km long country. If you want to go to a MRR shop that sell also Märklin and has the largest number of products in their shop I recommend Mallikauppa. It is some kilometers from Helsinki center. Here is a link, but unfortunately only in Finnish :

Mallikauppa

Here is information:

Shop name: Mallikauppa / Fintir Oy
Address: Hämeentie 19, 00500 Helsinki
Phone / Fax (09) 4540713
Opening hours Monday - Friday AM 10 - PM 17
Saturdays AM 10 - PM 15 (shop is closed on summer Saturdays on June, July and August).


I buy mostly from H0 Junamatkat Oy, but it's location is difficult for a tourist. It is located in a house at Marjaniemenranta, Helsinki. There is not so much stuff available, but by ordering all is possible.

If you want the closest Märklin shop near Helsinki city centrum there is another shop Hobbypoint, but I have not been there for over 10 years and don't know how much Märklin there is available. It is very pricey shop so I don't use it.

Here is some info (in Finnish only ):

HobbyPoint

If I were in your shoes and would like to go to shop that sell Märklin I would go to Mallikauppa. Not the cheapest shop, but best collection of MRR stuff available in Helsinki.

Welcome to Finland and Helsinki .

Best regards,
Janne

IMHO Hobby Point is very good. Almost all new items, models from previous years, MHI stuff, catalogues, brochures, Marklin magazin always in stock. Perfect location in the city centre. Slightly pricey, that's true.

But my absolute fave is HO Junamatkat. Super-friendly staff. Not many items in stock, but almost all M* items, including MHI, can be ordered for very reasonable prices. Possibility to check various models on the layout immediately and chose the one you like. 100% best shop in Finland.

OK, need to stop that OT: Janne, about 2 years ago there were talks in Finland that M* considers producing VR Class Sr2 electric loco. Have you heard something about it?

All the best, Andrey

Many thanks Janne - that's tremendously helpful, and I will take up your advice and make an effort to visit Mallikauppa. I have 9 months to browse their website so even someone of my poor languages calibre, should be able to pick up a bit of Finnish. No doubt I will also drop into Hobbypoint to check it out aided by some useful insight from Andrey. Cheers guys!

I hope Siemens will not use cheap 3 pole motors in the Vectrons

Now a bit more serious: How do the Vectrons compare to Traxx and to ES64F1?

Thanks Tom and also Janne for starting this thread.
CP, the Portuguese railways company, have 25 ES64F1 with a maximum speed of 140Km/h and 4684 KW.
25KV AC, 50Hz and broad/wide gauge.
It is a bit strange that in terms of appearance our ES64F1s look more like the Vectron than the ES64F4 and ES64U4. It is just the look!
The link below points to a site with photos of them.
http://www.trainlogistic...fias/loc4700%2801%29.htm

I read the portuguese wikipedia and it is written there ES46F1 and not ES64F1 as I wrote (exchanged the 6 with the 4, but that is a difference in result!). I was investigating a little more and all other sites mention B1, so it is as you say ES46B1.