 Joined: 11/07/2018(UTC) Posts: 217 Location: Aruba (general), Oranjestad
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Hi I am looking into buying my first Roco coach set (# 74063 / NMBS set), and have a couple of questions before pulling the trigger.... How do they hold up against the modern M* coaches? I know I will need to change the wheels and the couplings to be able to use them on my layout... How about fitting lightning in them, can I use the same axle contacts from M*? Regards Jean-Pierre Edited by user 06 August 2024 01:10:42(UTC)
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 Joined: 21/05/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,768 Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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Originally Posted by: cintrans  Hi
I am looking into buying my first Roco coach set (# 74065), and have a couple of questions before pulling the trigger....
How do they hold up against the modern M* coaches?
I know I will need to change the wheels and the couplings to be able to use them on my layout...
How about fitting lightning in them, can I use the same axle contacts from M*?
Regards
Jean-Pierre The set you've asked about appears to have its own special 4 pole current conducting coupler due to factory installed lighting in conjunction with control car, and appears designed to work with the matching locomotive You never need to change the wheels unless you want S88 detection, otherwise DC wheels work OK (unless they are low profile wheels that may cause derailments) on Marklin track just not the other way around. You can run it otherwise straight out of the box. It does mean you'll need to convert the control cab from DC to AC, meaning re-wire and install a slider if you want the lighting and cab functions to work. Probably not a good idea unless you know what you're doing or are technically capable to work it out. Otherwise, almost anything is possible if you're prepared to do what it takes. I've done pretty much everything at some stage. Historically Roco had better detailing and accuracy than Marklin. Marklin would focus on robustness instead, such as grab handles moulded into the body and stuff like that. Current Marklin is really nicely detailed though like Roco and Brawa so not much of an issue anymore. |
modelling era IIIa (1951-1955) Germany |
 2 users liked this useful post by applor
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 Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,976 Location: CA, USA
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Originally Posted by: applor Originally Posted by: cintrans Hi
I am looking into buying my first Roco coach set (# 74065), and have a couple of questions before pulling the trigger....
How do they hold up against the modern M* coaches?
I know I will need to change the wheels and the couplings to be able to use them on my layout...
How about fitting lightning in them, can I use the same axle contacts from M*?
Regards
Jean-Pierre The set you've asked about appears to have its own special 4 pole current conducting coupler due to factory installed lighting in conjunction with control car, and appears designed to work with the matching locomotive You never need to change the wheels unless you want S88 detection, otherwise DC wheels work OK (unless they are low profile wheels that may cause derailments) on Marklin track just not the other way around. You can run it otherwise straight out of the box. It does mean you'll need to convert the control cab from DC to AC, meaning re-wire and install a slider if you want the lighting and cab functions to work. Probably not a good idea unless you know what you're doing or are technically capable to work it out. Otherwise, almost anything is possible if you're prepared to do what it takes. I've done pretty much everything at some stage. Historically Roco had better detailing and accuracy than Marklin. Marklin would focus on robustness instead, such as grab handles moulded into the body and stuff like that. Current Marklin is really nicely detailed though like Roco and Brawa so not much of an issue anymore. Depending how Roco is picking up the power in these, you may not even need to change wheels for S88 detection. Many Roco coaches use the axle journals for rail pickup, and all you need to do is open the coach and solder those together. This connects both sides for detection, and also gives an additional/better ground pickup for the cars and lighting. I don't have a railjet set myself to check |
SBB Era 2-5 |
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Joined: 11/07/2018(UTC) Posts: 217 Location: Aruba (general), Oranjestad
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Hi guys
Thanks for the reply's
But I made a typo in my first post, it is not the railjet I am after, but set # 74063 (the NMBS set)
So those are "normal" coaches, without lightning as far as I could figure out...
I thought the wheel sets needed to be changed because DC wheels tend to derail on M* track....., so that is not the case then?
I know about the insulation for DC, but thought the flanges were different....
Regards
Jean-Pierre
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 Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,227 Location: Montreal, QC
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I have a large number of Roco 303mm (1/87) Eurofima coaches, in SBB, DB, FS, OBB, MAV, SNCF and SNCB liveries. Most of them run on my Maerklin tracks (M, K and C) without any issues. You can swap out the wheelsets with AC ones if you choose. The only issue that I have experienced with these models was that Maerklin's close coupling occasionally hit the buffers, which I solved by using the Roco universal couplers. The longer coaches have a larger overhang in curves than the shorter Maerklin versions and that S-curves could be an issue on tighter radii. What you will surely love is the multicoloured interior and the overall look of the model. I run my SNCB I6 A9 and B11 with a SNCB Bc10 and a SBB Bcm. Depending on the consist, I can add SNCB I11 (Heris, LSM) or I5 or I10 models from LSM or SBB or FS coaches. https://www.belrail.be/F...tl/classique/suisse.htmlhttps://www.belrail.be/F.../intl/classique/old.htmlThe Roco coaches are pretty easy to outfit with lighting. The ground contacts come with the lighting kits and the AC slider can be glued to the underside of the bogie. Most models include a replacement piece to swap out with the plastic part on the Roco slider which will then mount on the two pins on the underside of the bogie. I recommend using one slider per consist and connecting the coaches with single pole conducting couplers like the Fleischmann based one from Viessmann. If you don't want to swap the wheelsets, you can invert one set per bogie which will then create a contact between both rails through the bogie ground contact. Once this has been done, you can no longer use the coaches on DC tracks without undoing it as it will create a short between rails. Regards Mike C
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Joined: 21/05/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,768 Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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Originally Posted by: cintrans Hi guys
Thanks for the reply's
But I made a typo in my first post, it is not the railjet I am after, but set # 74063 (the NMBS set)
So those are "normal" coaches, without lightning as far as I could figure out...
I thought the wheel sets needed to be changed because DC wheels tend to derail on M* track....., so that is not the case then?
I know about the insulation for DC, but thought the flanges were different....
Regards
Jean-Pierre DC wheelsets do tend to have smaller flanges but in most cases they will run OK. I have close to a hundred Roco wagons they all run fine on my K track except one. The low flanges cause the wagons to wobble over turnouts but they shouldn't derail. Worst case scenario you just order the replacement AC wheelsets if you run into problems with the DC. The only wagon I had with DC wheel issues was a Roco WR4ü-28 (64892) which had really low flanges and it would derail even on wide radius turnouts, it was rather strange. I had enough spare wheels sets of a suitable type to swap them out. |
modelling era IIIa (1951-1955) Germany |
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Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,976 Location: CA, USA
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Originally Posted by: cintrans Hi guys
Thanks for the reply's
But I made a typo in my first post, it is not the railjet I am after, but set # 74063 (the NMBS set)
So those are "normal" coaches, without lightning as far as I could figure out...
I thought the wheel sets needed to be changed because DC wheels tend to derail on M* track....., so that is not the case then?
I know about the insulation for DC, but thought the flanges were different....
Regards
Jean-Pierre I don't have a eurofima coach on hand to check, but I suspect per my note above these will already have the pickups, making the system mike reccomends a very easy setup. Look at where the wheels pop into the bogies/trucks. If there is a metal piece between them and the plastic that is the pickup and you are good to go. If not, you need a "ground spring" which is available from Schoenwitz and a few others. Or go the formal roco light kit option |
SBB Era 2-5 |
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Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,227 Location: Montreal, QC
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I have a pair of the Roco SNCB Eurofimas, alongside a Bc couchette. I run them with Italian Eurofima coaches. I also have a consist made up of LS Models SNCB Eurofima (I6), ACME SNCB I6 Bcm, LSM SNCB I5 Bc and SNCB WLAB MU.
My Roco coaches run on K and C Track with the original wheelsets. I don't usually have too many switches on my floor layout as I use R4 and R5 and the switches are R1 or R2. I have a few Roco coaches with lighting and simply inverted one of the wheelsets so that the both rails are connected to the bogie contacts. I never got around to ordering a quantity of AC wheelsets for my Roco coaches.
Regards
Mike C
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 Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,453 Location: Scotland
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For Roco coaches I now just use battery lights. No need for CC couplers or sliders etc and they work well with no flicker. Coaches can uncouple easily. Lights come on a start up and stay on for a few minutes when stopped before switching off. Cheaper option as batteries last for ages. Never had to. Change Roco wheels. I had in the past power from a Loco to the coaches via Cc couplers to a Viessmann light strip which was Ok. |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
1 user liked this useful post by David Dewar
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Joined: 11/07/2018(UTC) Posts: 217 Location: Aruba (general), Oranjestad
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Thanks for all the info guys!
My layout uses also K-track, so I should be OK then with the DC wheels.
Good idea to invert one axle per bogie!
Ordered the set yesterday, but it will be a while before I get them here on the Island to "play around" with them.
What lok do you have in front of the SNCB Eurofima's Mike?
Regards
Jean-Pierre
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Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,227 Location: Montreal, QC
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Originally Posted by: cintrans What lok do you have in front of the SNCB Eurofima's Mike?
Regards
Jean-Pierre The two best known trains from Belgium to Switzerland were the Vauban and the Iris. I have the Iris from LS Models in the 1980s orange C1 livery (SBB Coaches) The Vauban over the years has been made up of SNCB coaches, SNCB and FS coaches and by SBB coaches In addition to those trains, there were also a few trains that were less known, including the night train to Brig and Sion. My models all represent the train consists as seen on Swiss rails, so the traction is a mix of SBB and can also include BLS locomotives. For the 1980s versions, this primarily means Re 4/4II and Re 6/6, but also the Re 4/4IV and BLS Re 4/4 For the 1990s versions, this means the above plus the new Re 460 and Re 465. The Vauban used to travel as far as Spiez with a SNCB Class 16 locomotive. I don't know why it did not travel further. Maybe somebody else can explain. The consist options include the I6 (Eurofima) type. In 1/100 I have them from Maerklin. In 1/87, I have them from Roco, LSM and ACME (couchette version). The Roco coaches run with my Heris I11 coaches, representing the Vauban shortly before it stopped running to Brig (prior to 2005). https://www.belrail.be/F...tl/classique/suisse.htmlThe combined LSM and ACME consist represents the INT 498/499 https://www.belrail.be/F...lassique/old.html#int498If I want to modify the consist, I can mix the Roco I6 with FS Eurofima (XMPR) from Roco which was common when the Vauban still ran to Milano. Another interesting consist I can put together is the INT 298/299 https://www.belrail.be/F...lassique/old.html#int298If you want to add to your SNCB coaches, LSM has issued some new models of the I10 in the orange C1 livery with and without air-conditioning: https://www.reisezugwagen.eu/?p=47891https://www.reisezugwagen.eu/?p=47895https://www.news.lsmodel...%20LS%20Models%20I10.pdfIt was not uncommon to still find the occasional orange coach in SNCB consists up until around 2000 and beyond. Regards Mike C
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Joined: 11/07/2018(UTC) Posts: 217 Location: Aruba (general), Oranjestad
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Thanks for the comprehensive feedback Mike! Learning a lot from it. The set arrived today at my sons place in Holland, looks nice, can't wait to get it here....  Good to hear an Re 4/4 or Re 460 is also "compatible" with the Eurofima set next to the Class 16 lok. Does that mean my M* 4367 set (the 6 piece Swiss coach set) would also be correct in a consist with these or not really?? Regards Jean-Pierre
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1 user liked this useful post by cintrans
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Joined: 28/11/2007(UTC) Posts: 8,227 Location: Montreal, QC
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