Is the loco on the programming track when you click read? If not, put there and try again.

Also, make sure your CS3 is updated to the latest version.

my first instinct is verify the wiring and that brown and red are on the correct connection from track to CS3.

I never used a CS 2. I cannot tell you anything about a CS 2. Myself I got a CS 3+. To learn the usage of a CS 3 is like to learn a new software of an operating system on a computer. But a CS 3 for me is rather different to a CS 2 and I was quite happy that I only have to learn using a CS 3 without knowing anything about a CS 2.

Which locos by which decoders inside do you get? Only mfx locos are registering automatically. All others have to be registered by yourself manually first. Did you download the manual for a CS 3 from Mäerklin's website? There it is detailed described which type of registration are available and how to register locos. All Mäerklin controllers have a standard sequence reading their formats: mfx - MM - DCC. If you only use DCC than it is recommended to switch off mfx, MM and MM2. Then delete all your locos from the controller before you register them again.

There you got one loco running, your CS 3 cannot have any failure. Logically it must be something with the registration process.

Thank you for your time to write all these details. I'm quite sure I don't do something right with the registration. The steam loco is a digital 18473. I assume it should be mfx and register automatically. Or am I wrong? The electric loco is E40 072, it must be mfx too. What setting could be wrong when I try to register?

Thank you Tom. He is writing in this community by the avatar name H0. He answered this question in another community.

http://forum.miniatur-wu...73-mit-sound-t16712.html

You got the starter set Märklin art #29855 from the year 2001 to 2004. This set includes a S 3/6 with the number 18473 and an E 40 with the number 072. They do not have a mfx decoder, They got a fx decoder. The locos do not have their own art number. They are only listed under their starter set number 29855.

See here

https://www.pierregillar...lin/mrm/startersets.html (scroll down to thhe applicable starter set)

https://lokmuseum.de/sho...20&SID=jixtsypqgahqf

Originally it came with a delta controler and both locos have a fx (also often named as MM2) decoder on board. This you see in Märklins database here

https://www.maerklin.de/...e/details/article/29855/

At this website you also find the manual for this starter set.

This locos you should easily register in your CS 3, but you have to do it manually choosing the locos out of the CS 3 database.

https://static.maerklin....065db123781498138103.pdf

This is a PDF file in 6 languages for the CS 3. From page 11 onwards you find the manually registration of a loco at the CS 3. There you have only fx and/or DCC (Rocco loco?) you may switch off the mfx format at your CS 3. Even Märklin recommends to switch of these track formats which are not used with a CS 3.

Also for information of a CS 3 I always recommend to buy this Märklin book

https://www.maerklin.de/...e/details/article/03082/

It is also as art #03092 in English available.

It has an own chapter explaining to people who are switching from a CS 2 to a CS 3. Also about decoders, programming a CS 3 and of course how to register all different types of decoders for the multiprotocoll controller CS 3. And much more. The book has 201 pages.

You can buy this book easily by an internet Märklin dealer, like here:

http://joes-modellbahnla...15f08b03b/Products/03092

regards

TEEWolf

I guess as the CS 2 is dead it is a nonstarter but is t there a way to transfer ones loco data from a CS2 to the CS3?

Thank you for the detailed suggestions. I still have to learn a lot here. I got that the two locos are not mfx but fx, I wasn't aware of that. Indeed, they are coming from the 29855 starter set that I got in 2002. Now changed the DCC protocol to MM but it still failed to red the loco. Obviously I still don't set something right, but can't figure out what. This is how my set up looks like now:

The CS3 can try to read the address from the loco (and nothing else). If you know the address (18 is the default) then just enter it into the address field.

A better approach could be adding the loco from the database (if the CS3 has this feature) by just selecting the ref. number 29855. The CS3 will then use the default address and will have a loco name and appropriate symbols for the available functions. Address can still be changed if the loco no longer has the default address, but you do not have the hassle of setting symbols for the functions.


It would have been useful to write the ref. number in the first post. Would have saved us and you quite some time and maybe several roundtrips on the forum.

Yes, when I entered the 29855 starter set, only the steam loco came up, not the electric. I'm still having problems with the manual entry, don't quite get the screen for it that's in the manual...

Does the electric loco not come up as 29855b ?

Hello Martigny,

Märklin offers explaining videos also for a CS 3, but mainly in German.

https://www.maerklin.de/...erung/central-station-3/

https://www.youtube.com/...UC_ulAkE0RxHUEhpvWf49pRQ

and even here aas to register a mfx or a MM loco at a CS 3



Nevertheless AJCKIDS.com offers a lot of explaing videos too - in English!

https://www.youtube.com/...ch_query=ajckids+marklin


Various parts I found for you. Here are the links



part 2 video



shall explain adding new locos to a CS 3







Have a nice time registering your locos while you see videos bbeside.

regards

TEEWolf

Are your locos now registered and running? The pictures always changable and not the most important fact at the rgistration process.