What are you using for a controller? Without knowing that, the size of the speaker limits to a certain degree the volume of the sound so the smaller locos such as the B VI do not produce a large volume of sound.
If you have a CS3 controller you can edit the sound volume of each function separately or the sound level overall. I think you may also be able to do that with the CS2 but don't have one to confirm it.

Hi Eino
I think, Märklin models from 2000 have an improved mechanics because of sound decoders, it was important to reduce the noise.
Also try to avoid "coffee grinders" traditional Märklin motors even 5 poles ones.
So, opening the Märklin website:
- pick a steamer you like (earlier models before year 2000 do not show
- look for "Veröffentlichungen" and you will know which year they started to sell on the market
- look for Description to see which motor type. I tend to avoid SDS motors: they have an excellent running characteristics but are not repairable.
- best choice is (IMO) models with Bell-shaped motor and CAN motors
- if you don't like yellow LEDs pick models past 2005.

Cheers
Jean

Unfortunately it is only a Windows program, and the dongle uses a special name that program expects to find. I have tried using it with Wine on Linux, but the problem is getting the special dongle name defined in Wine so the program can find the appropriate port. I haven't given up yet, it is just another project I need to get back to ...

Hi
My favourites are (all MFX and sound locos):
- the BR24 (36240) I fitted mine with a sound decoder and a Telex couling.
- the SNCF 241A65 39241 Really splendid but difficult to find. Excellent runner even on R1
- the BR 65 30650
- the BR 01 138 (39008) with coal-level adjust depending on consumption. Very nice and detailed but servo is fragile.
- BR 58 (37589) a wonderful dirty coal loco for coal transport
- the BR 50 from Mega set (29640) back in 2012 with a "Kabine" tender. Simplified model with sound telex and articulated chassis.
- the BR96 (3795) from1995, upgraded with MFX Sound
- the BR 18.5 (39030) from 2015 Very detailed but some issues with the link Tender-Loco (Fixed working platform)

I have the BR45, nice, impressive but not such a good runner (does not derail but sometimes jerks aside when crossing R2 switches and DSS)
I also have the T16 KPEV (37166) splendid livery, Telex coupling

I hope this helps
Cheers
Jean

Hello, no I refer to the mechanical sounds of the electric engine, gears and pistons. Listen to this Instagram video and you get the idea how loud this loco is: https://www.instagram.co...CZF/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

BR,
-Eino

Most of my locos have running sounds and I run them with it on so the engine motor, and other real operating sounds including the click of the wheels over the track joints, which sounds the loudest on the video, are covered. I know some people prefer to run trains silently and even complain about the noise from the track but steam trains were noisy and dirty in reality. That is why the phrase the pricier the ticket the further from the engine.

Well the age does not matter in itself. What is important is that the mechanics are silent enough, so I can enjoy the digital sounds without a cacophony.

I can do conversions but it would be good if the motor was already made for digital. Most my trains run with 60944 motor and I think it is silent enough, although non of those locos have digital sounds (either FX or mLD3 decoders). I'm planning to upgrade them to sound versions during this year though... Or at least one of them to find out the truth about how it will turn out...

Anyways, if the loco price and conversion price goes over half the price of a new loco, then I'm off to buy new ones. Older locos ofcourse are cheaper.

Thanks Jean for the list!

yes, that makes sense.
And with the old Marklin locomotives that have Faulhaber and Maxon motors etc, you can just add a new decoder directly, the downside is spare motors, but if the motor fails you can most likely use a spare one from a newer version. but remember to set the decoder to type 4 (bell anchor) and do an automatic calibration.
also since you are ok with 60944, you might consider some older 37xx steamers with permanent magnet motors (60941) eg the 3790 is quite nice. An advantage with that locomotive is the big tender and space for i decent speaker. eg like I did with this: (kept the original motor, used an msd3 and ESU 50344 speaker) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTExPVkUPWc
this is just an example, there are plenty of other good candidates out there that are fairly cheap second-hand. And don't rely on the number series alone for the type of motor check the description in old catalogues and parts lists etc.

note that some very early Marklin permanent motors had magnets that dissolved over time, so if possible ask for a picture of the motor.

Those locomotives from 37187 are very nice

a Br 24 is also a nice little locomotive, but I'm pretty sure it has a "standard" dc motor. Few locomotives with that "general" motor shape have a bell armature motor. (ref the drawing). but there are some that have, eg the 37938 that has an Athlonix bell armature motor, and the class 39 versions of that locomotive has a SDS motor. eg 39393. except the 39395, which has received the standard new Marklin dc motor.
and the wiki.3rail.nl is a good source for different model information. and it translates fairly well with google. but there might be occasional errors as Marklin sometimes also change things during production.

it is actually a variation of the 60760 decoder made for the br 24, ref: https://moba-hgh.de/modellbahn/umbauten/lokomotiven/maerklin-trix/maerklin-standard/168-modellbahn/umbauten/lokomotiven/maerklin-trix-hobby-lokomotiven/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=645:maerklin-decoder-familie-pic&catid=122:standard&Itemid=445#150436-36240-2


as for the motor, does it have any markings/numbers etc?

This is what Märklin customer service tell me: ”It is a high performance DC drive. (no bell armature).”

-Eino

Yeah I remember just wanted to be sure. Thanks!