Hi, Jörg,
Welcome to the forum.
Study the specifications to eliminate some stations from the list, then get your hands on the remaining stations and make your decision.

We had dozens of threads about this question and I do not see new information coming in this thread.

P.S. Welcome to the forum

Why a CS 2 and not immediately a CS 3? A CS 3 is much better than a CS 2, especially you got plenty of k83 decoders already. As @H0 mentioned already via the search function you will find many threads about comparison of CS 2, CS 3 and other controllers.

The 32 functions relate to the functions of the decoder in the loco, what he can do for you. The decoder must offer the possibility for using these 32 functions. This you have to look up loco by loco, either in Märklins database or locos manual. There you find the possibilities of a loco decoder, like toggel lights, sound, pipes, bells, smoke, etc..

Do not know as many locos you want to store in a CS 2. In a CS 3 I did not read about any limit yet. On the screen you see up to 28 locos. If you have more than 28 locos, the CS 3 creates more and more pages with 28 locos. For each page it shows at the bottom of the screen a little white strip, which tells you as many pages of locos you have setted up.

These 11 locos you are writing, relates to an MS 2 only. But you always thinking to get a CS 2 or CS 3. Absolutly different controllers. BTW your set up of locos with a CS 2, CS 3 or MS 2 is unlimited, if you are using loco cards. Only Märklin offers you these loco cards.

For more explanations I highly recommend to you the Märklin book art#03092

https://www.maerklin.de/...s/details/article/03092/
https://www.maerklin.de/...digital/digitalbuch-cs3/

This book is in English available. If you are undestanding German as well, then I can recommend another book (art# 03070) to you too:

https://www.maerklin.de/...al/wiedereinsteigerbuch/

There was also a book for the CS 2, but this one is sold out and was never available in English.

https://www.maerklin.de/...ieg-in-maerklin-digital/

I am afraid you are guessing wrong here. The CS3 Plus has a plug for feedback modules and you can use it as an additional booster, should you be lucky enough to have more than one. Both CS3's can connect to a computer.

As for Jörg:
If you are in the market for CS go for the CS3. Do not limit yourself with old equipment. If you already had a CS2 I might tell you to wait until the CS3 gets a feature that you really want. But when you start from scratch, don't consider the older stuff.

I can tell you that it will take 2000 locos with ease. I did a test where I wrote a script that would add any given number of locos to a CS3 backup file. I added 2000 locos to see how it would deal with that. It had no problems.

The only thing I did notice was that the paging of the loco list does not deal very well with that many locos. The small "page dots" that you use to scroll through the pages becomes very small. The search feature is definitely your friend in this case. Again, the search is fast and it easily finds the loco you are looking for.

I would say that when you get over a 1000 locos, the page dots becomes a problem. Other than that, nothing.

Since you are in Alberta, I am not sure why you state "our 220VAC 60Hz". Our Canadian voltage is 120 V 60 Hz except for special plugs for things such as ranges that are indeed connected across 2 poles to 240 V 60 Hz. For a model railroad setup in Canada it is best to go with a proper 120 VAC power supply.

Peter

Does this mean I have to scrap my reliable CS 2? A new CS 3, and power source?
Then I have to reload all my locomotives into a new system.
This is the worst railroad news since the end of the steam engine!!!😢

Hi Mr Dreadnougt

The CS2 (especially later model 60215) is a very good and appreciated unit. On ebay in Germany they sell from 350 to 450 €. Some functionalities of the CS2 are not yet replicated on the CS3 (decoder programing). This is what I use together with a PC control and Rocrail.

IMO if your unit is still good there is no rush to replace it now (remember Märklin has still to finish their developments and possibly come with an improved hardware release. This is definitely what happened to the CS2, 2 years after its introduction.

Cheers

Jean