Märklin Locomotive numbers
Purchasing a Märklin new or used locomotive;
The moment we would like to purchase a locomotive we have the possibility to buy a new one or an used one. The used locomotives are mainly offered at exhibitions, on line auction sites or via someone we know. How do we know if this locomotive is useful on a digital multi train control system.
All Märklin locomotives does have an article number. During the years those article numbers are changed due to new available technique. With a small and relative simple overview it is easy to discover the possibilities of this locomotives and prevent us to purchase to wrong type of locomotive.
Numbers starting with 30 and 31 are supplied with an internal mechanical driving direction switch and are useful for a Conventional system.
Numbers starting with 33 and 34 are supplied with an internal electronic driving direction switch and are market without a Delta module which are useful for only a Conventional system. The same numbers 33 and 34 are also supplied with a Delta module and can be use on both Conventional- and Delta-multi train and Digital systems.
Numbers starting with 36 are supplied with an internal electronic driving direction switch for both Conventioneel- and Delta-multi train and Digital systems.
Numbers starting with 37 are supplied with an internal electronic driving selection switch, a starting delay and an adjustable maximum speed. They are useful for both Conventional- and Delta-multi train and Digital systems.
Numbers starting with 38 are only useful for 2-rail DC systems and are market by Märklin under the brand nam Trix.
Numbers starting with 39 are supplied with an adjustable Softdrive Sinus-drive. They are useful for both Conventional- and Delta-multi train and Digital systems.
We also have the option to purchase a locomotive with an old technique and modify it with a new motor, new type of permanent magnet and a digital decoder with driving technique or a full sound decoder. Märklin started in 2012 with a range of new decoders for modification of older locomotives. Sounds can be easy imported to the decoder by using the Märklin loc programmer or the Central Station 2.
Below is visible an example of an Conventional (or Analog) electronic driving system of a brand new E-loc from HAG (the Re4-4). This locomotive is been upgraded to a digital version with changing the standard magnet to a permanent magnet, a new 5 pole-motor and a digital decoder, the ESU Lokpilot 4. Also the standard light bulbs (front and back) are removed and LED lights are installed. For this LED lights there is a separate function connection on the digital decoder to make it possible to control the lights like the Swiss railroad way. The ESU Lokpilot 4 is a MFX decoder type, means that the Central Station 2 recognize this train automatically.
