Hello:

I recently purchased and received this week a new 40691 French "Tin-Plate" coach set from a dealer who still had some in stock. Beautiful set. Good price. It will go nicely with my much older 3038 that looks very close to the newer 30380. My question is: Has anyone installed (or even attempted or contemplated to install) any type of coach interior lighting in these coaches? It doesn't appear that this option is available in a standard made-to-order way. The coaches do not appear to be designed or built for access into the interior. So I'm thinking that there may be some creative and ingenious folks on our forum that may have an answer or at least some thoughts.

Please know that on one of the bogeys there is a small hole (maybe two or three millimeters in diameter) that allows access into the interior, and the hole is along the aisle side of the coach. Maybe the coach could be lit from the floor? That would be different. There is also the possibility of bending the little metal tabs to separate the coach top from the floor, but I'm not keen on that option. I like the way they look now, and while I'm inquiring about a possible change, I would not apply something that would ruin the look.

Bonus inquiry: If anyone knows the prototypical differences (and maybe it's simply ERA III vs. ERA IV?) between the 3038 and the 30380, I would enjoy hearing about that as well.

Thank you all in advance for your input,

Beaver 1986

Paul:

Thank you for sending me in the right direction. Much appreciated!

I didn't see the connecting point on the bogey for the pickup shoe--though it was right there. And I didn't know that the roof could come off, and how easily it could be removed. I'm used to other coaches where you need to remove the end door black passageway plastic part thingy first (I'm sure there's a name for that).

For the benefit of other newbies like me...

As Paul pointed out, the Marklin 7198 Pickup Shoe Kit could be attached with the included screw to one of the bogies of each of Marklin's 40691 coaches for power pickup. Then light up the coaches (per Paul) with the Marklin 7077 Lighting Kit--which I think would give the coach a certain, nice retro modelling look since there is no light diffuser. I suppose one could also install lighting with LED strips, etc., with the 7198?? In looking at this further, I wonder if the Marklin 7320 Car Lighting Kit (which appears to have the same pickup shoe as the 7198, bulb, etc., but adds a light diffuser) would work/fit??

I suppose there may even be a way to add current between the coaches? Maybe add capacitors to keep the lights from flickering?

Thanks again for the assist,

Beaver

Jean:

Thank you for the warm welcome. This is kind of like a radio show for me: I'm a long time listener and a first time caller.

Like Paul before, you've given me more options with lighting. Thank you.

Your history lesson on the BB9200 and the locos is also well appreciated. I took a zoomed-in picture of the side of one of the 40691 coaches and then magnified it. The small little sign said: Hyeres - Toulon - Marseille - Lyon - Dijon - Paris-Lyon (I'm amazed at how well Marklin's printing/painting can do--can't read that with the naked eye).

At some point I will also be upgrading my 3038 with a 5-pole motor and the latest sound decoder. I bought the 3038 at a local train show for $10, and it's in very good shape. The dealer wasn't a Marklin dealer (in fact no one there was) and she just wanted to get rid of it (along with a 3060 Sante Fe loco for another $10 that was in fair shape at best).

Thanks to all,

Beaver

Hi
Yes David, this BB 9200 by Hornby-France was just superb. Thanks for the great pictures in a typical Hornby world with parallel tracks (are they repro?).
Hornby France also released a BB 13 000, also in die cast Zamak. I don't have one but here it is:

I don't own the rights of this beautiful picture on sale on ebay
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/36400365...cAKSDIlnwTgaAnu9EALw_wcB



Cheers
Jean