Category Archives: Diesel Locomotives

88731 Max Liebermann special repair notes that deserve consideration!!!

The Max Liebermann class 601 special one time series from 1997 is a two locomotive set that deserves a special highlight with regards to any under the hood repair. I just upgraded mine with new 5 pole motors, and it deserves some special considerations before you might consider doing the same. As with others in this series, Marklin continued to make changes and improvements including more durable couplers that allowed less gap between coaches and locos thereby making some parts non interchangeable between the 1st release of this loco type #8873 (DB) and the second release 88731 (DR). Those non interchangeable parts include the circuit boards and couplers all other parts are interchangeable through the series. The first coupler designed for the 8873 was a plastic clip with electrically conductive brass under spring tension, cars and powered end cars were simply pushed together gently until clip engaged with post located inside each car. The 88731 used a new design coupler that was flat with electrically conductive brass surrounding it and more surface area for electric transfer than the 8873. The new coupler necessitated the elimination of the center post in each car end which thereby led to a newly designed circuit board that would accept the newly designed couplers.

Please note before you make the motor upgrade to this set there are two distinguishing  remarks I would like to make that might be helpful: 1. one loco coupler is semi-permanent, it needs to be carefully released from the clip that holds it in place. Use gently pressure to wriggle up the opening in the loco shell and with little pressure slide out coupler. *Other coupler will simply slide out at the normal 90 degree angle that is used to couple cars and locos together in this set.  2. Marklin did not have their heads on straight when they assembled my set, they soldered the circuit board whiskers directly to the motor wires. I am not sure if this was widely done with this set, but this is the first I have seen it. In order to change the motor or do a strip down cleaning and re-oiling 4 solder points need to be removed (2 each powered end car). *Do not attempt to remove circuit board without removing the solder points first, motor is held in place under circuit board mounting plates held in place with 7 screws, it is impossible to remove motor and circuit board at the same time. In order to remove solder points heat them up with iron and pull wires away, remove any roughness of solder left on wires by gently heating residual solder with iron, bend wires back in place to make contact with new motor wires. *The down side to this repair are several opportunities to break parts or melt plastic parts with soldering iron. Not all three pole motors need to be replaced and maybe this is one.

Speaking from experience with a couple of 8873 sets, couplers used in this train work great, I have never had one break or malfunction.

“Good night, and good luck.”  -Edward R. Murrow

“Lollo” that’s the name! or BR V 160 for sure!

“Lollo” is the cutest nickname for a hardworking diesel locomotive, but what’s in the name? The loco was nicknamed “Lollo” as an apparent allusion to the actress Gina Lollobrigida and because of the apparent shapely front end of the loco (?). After a quick google search, I told my Wife about the nickname given to this loco, my Wife rolled her eyes when hearing that a loco would be named after an Italian sex symbol; one wonders what else is named ‘Lollo”?

Thus far to the best of my knowledge Marklin has produced 4 variations of the V 160: 3 individual releases and 1 with a train set. Note: two of these locos were renamed in 1968 following Germany’s new classification thus they are technically BR 216’s.

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from top:

  1. 8866- German Federal Railroad (DB) BR V 160 pre-production general purpose diesel locomotive. Operating number V 160 003. Era III (1962). Originally sold with 3 pole motor. Build date: 1990-1994.
  2. 88785- German Federal Railroad (DB) BR V 160 pre-production general purpose diesel locomotive. Operating number V 160 005. Era III (1962). Current catalog.
  3. 88782- German Federal Railroad (DB) BR 216 005-9 former BR V 160 reclassified in 1968 as BR 216. Operating number 216 005-9. Build date: 2005-2008.
  4. 81411- HEG – Hersfelder Eisenbahn GmbH privately owned former BR 216, operating number BR V 31. Sold as part of train set 81411 which included loco and 4 hinged roof hoppers. Originally sold with 3 pole motor. Build date: 1997. One Time Series for MHI (Marklin Handlers Initiative).

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Photo: the new “Lollo” with bright new grill is second from right!!!

*Note: LED’s on all these locos with warm white and red lamps that change over with direction of travel. Great feature found on all versions of this loco type even with the early ones!!!!! And they are superb runners!

Siding 1: 8866 and 81411 can be upgraded with E211903 5 pole motor.

Siding 2: check out the cool elliptical window that disappeared following modifications to the V 160.

Siding 3: In 1968 the V 160 was reclassified as BR 216, V 162 became BR 217 and V 164 was reclassified BR 218. A very informative Wikipedia page is dedicated to the V 160 that fans should check out.

What was once is here again: 8866 + 88785

The ‘pre-production’ 1962 BR V 160 “Lollo” was released as Marklin 8866 in 1990-1994, here it is again as 88785 with the recent release. Class 160 was an important locomotive development in Germany thereby creating a successor to steam unmatched by other locos at the time. Germany’s new classification of 1968 renamed it BR 216, by then it had also undergone a transformation which will be presented in other posts.

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from top:

8866- German Federal Railroad (DB) BR V 160 pre-production general use diesel locomotive. Operating number V 160 003. Build date: 1990-1994.

88785- German Federal Railroad (DB) BR V 160 pre-production general use diesel locomotive. Operating number V 160 005. Build date: current catalog.

Variations in the Marklin models are subtle:  Paint maybe a little brighter (?) on 88785, door numbering is smaller on 88785, frame no longer says ‘Made in West Germany’, electrical equipment insignia has been removed from side panels on 88785, door latches painted on 88785, bright silver grills on 88785, different operating numbers, wheels darkened on 88785, and 5 pole motor is standard with 88785.

 

Siding 1: 8866 can be easily upgraded with 5 pole motor #E211903.

Siding 2: All variations of V160, BR 216 and BR 218 have always used LED’s thus warm white and red lamps that change over with direction.

Next generation of mini-club box?

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I just received the latest BR 212 diesel locomotive, it arrived with a brand new box design. Is this the start of a new box for mini-club? Going from the previous black to predominately white box with new graphics is a nice departure from the former. This will be the fourth generation of mini-club box since 1972 with the ‘wood grain’ design fold-out display box followed in due course by the brown photo illustrated box that was out for many years. The third of course is the black box roughly corresponding to the transition to 5 pole motors, roughly corresponding because the first loco with a 5 pole was the newly tooled DB class 143 released in the characteristic brown box,  it would be a year or two before the black box arrived but close enough to signal the new direction for mini-club. Now a new box coming at a time with the advent of new motors, enhanced retooling of locos including increased detail and action of steam loco side rods, and of course the many newly designed locos and rolling stock ! An infusion of excitement is unfolding and the new box maybe signalling a new future for mini-club!

Featured: Marklin Z 88216

 

Marklin 8873: Tales of HOS!?!?!?

I just received the original Marklin TEE VT 11.5 train set 8873 and matching coach set 8793 from a dealer’s old inventory. For a train set that has been stored for almost 20 years and probably on its side I expected HOS (hardened oil syndrome), I wasn’t disappointed! Not only did the trucks not move freely, but the loco shells were cemented onto the chassis. With gentle nudging on each side of the shell I was able to eventually work them free, but the window glazings came too! Typically HOS is evidenced by an opaque tan clay like substance from the oil drying out, but this time it was an all over clear residue that even leaked onto the outer chassis thereby gluing the window glazing tight to it. The motors were even glued to the chassis frame thus began the repair and restoration work that started with soaking all unpainted surfaces in a mild solvent otherwise known to this blog as ‘Original’ Windex (blue) followed by the pain staking process of using no scratch toothpicks to gently loosen the rough crust of old dried up oil. Usually bringing back an old Marklin Z loco is straight forward and easy, but this time was very unusual due in part to too much of the wrong oil used and then long term storage on its side. Patience is expressly stated for the best results and lots of toothpicks. After moving points are cleaned up use new Labelle oil (viscosity for Z only) sparingly and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Window glazing was reattached using 5 minute epoxy. *Use only 5 minute epoxy when reattaching plastic parts, it is the only glue for tough durable repairs that don’t damage plastic. ****Avoid plastic cements like Faller ‘Expert’, they will melt your loco and coaches.*****************

Siding 1: The shells of both end units on all VT 11.5’s and versions should easily slide off using gently pressure with a small screwdriver placed in the car end located in the coupling hole (*remember to remove coupler before attempting to remove shell) if it is sluggish work both sides with very gentle pressure to avoid cracking or marking shell housing.

Siding 2: 8873 greatly benefits from upgrading the original 3 pole motor to the new E211903 5 pole motor. Because each end unit is powered this train set will require 2 motors with an approximate cost of $100 total, but you can sell the old motors on Ebay for $20 each.

Siding 3: Store your Marklin Z locos on their wheels otherwise the oil will pool inside the loco and not out the bottom. This is an important rule for long term storage.

Marklin Railbuses

Marklin Z Railbuses were introduced in 1988 with model 8122 and MSI model “McDonalds” followed in 1989 with 8816. Model 8122 was a railbus and trailer set decorated and lettered for the regional line “Cheimgau-Bahn” and 8816 was a standard class 798 railbus (*trailer was sold separately). In 1991 another MSI model was released, this one was made by Railex and lettered for RAG Germany’s largest coal mining corporation, special edition RAG railbus and trailer set was sold unpowered which included the shell only for the powered end unit. Next came the 8802 in 1991 (released in two versions) and later (1999) replaced by the 5 pole motor version 88021. 8802 and 88021 were very interesting MOW railbuses, but in Z they are used for cleaning track with the unique and very interesting design using a buffing wheel that successfully dislodges large dirt, grease, oil and oxidation needs to be removed with a pass of denatured alcohol on a clean cloth. Not pictured in this collection is the MSI 88161 with imprinting for        5. mini-club Treffen Speyer 28./29. September 96: One Time Series 1996. The Austrain railbus 88162 was a One TIme Series in 1998, it is much sought after today. From 1994-2008 the 8831 lettered for “Jagermeister” enjoyed the longest run in railbuses from Marklin with early ones employing the original 3 pole motor and late ones with the 5 pole motor installed. Two MSI’s followed in 2001 and 2002: 88164 + 88165. In 2008 a One Time Series for the MHI program was released in a special edition, the railbus and trailer were lettered for Doorncaat and included two Doorncaat glasses. Finally the limited release of the railbus and box car set 88313 in 2010.

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from top:

  1. 88701 – Special imprint class 798 railbus lettered “McDonald’s voll in Fahrt,” Koll’s #88701, edition size: 1000. Originally sold as a starter set with track and 9 volt battery throttle.
  2. 8112- Chiemgau-Bahn class 798 railbus and class 998 railbus trailer. Build date: 1988-1994.
  3. 91702 – Special imprint class 798 railbus and class 998 railbus trailer lettered for                RAG (Ruhrkohle AG). Collaboration between Railex and Z-Club International. Class 798 railbus included shell only and boxed in a standard Marklin plastic case with trailer.

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4. 8802.2- SCHIENENREINIGUNGSWAGEN class 724 rail maintenance railbus for the DB. Build date: 1991-1995.                                                                                                                                            5. 88021- Indusi – Messwagen class 724 rail maintenance railbus for DB AG. Build date: 1999-2010.                                                                                                                                                      6. 8816.5 + 8817- German Federal Railroad (DB) class 798 railbus and class 998 railbus trailer. Five versions of 8816 were produced with subtle design changes in lettering.                                 7. Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) class 5081 railbus and class 6581 railbus trailer. One Time Series 1998. Originally sold with 3 pole motor.

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8. 8831- German Federal Railroad (DB) class 798 railbus with advertising for “Jagermeister.” Build date: 1994-2008.                                                                                                                                    9. 88164- Prignitzer Eisenbaum GmbH class 798 railbus and class 998 railbus trailer, privately owned and lettered for Prignitzer Eisenbaum regional rail Berlin. One Time Series 2001. Originally sold to dealer members of Eurotrain/idee-spiel cooperative.                                               10. 88165- Elbe-Weser GmbH (EVB) class 798 railbus and class 998 railbus trailer, privately owned and lettered for Elbe-Weser (EVB), Lower Saxony German regional line. One Time Series 2002. Originally sold to dealer members of Eurotrain/idee-spiel cooperative.

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11. 88311- Elmshom-Barmstedt-Oldesloer Railway (EBOE) class VT 98 rail car and class VS 98 control car. Painted with advertising for spirits of the sixties, lettered for “Doornkaat.” Includes two Doornkaat schnapps glasses. One Time Series 2008.                                                                      12. 88313- Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) class 798 railbus, type Gos-uv 253 box car, and type Gbrs-v 245 box car. Limited production. Released 2010.

Siding: Marklin Z railbuses are easy to repair and upgrade. Check out Marklin Z Repair Notes category.

Marklin V100’s + BR 212’s

V100 locomotives took a little while before appearing in the Marklin roster, but Marklin listened to collectors and designed a beautiful cast metal locomotive that they have produced in many versions to widespread popularity. This collection reflects many but not all versions, they always seem to sell out fast with never enough to go around. Examples can also be found in passenger train sets.

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from top:

  1. 88690 – German Federal Railroad (DB) class 212 diesel hydraulic locomotive in turquoise and cream paint scheme
  2. 88691 – Deustche Bahn AG (DB AG) class 212 locomotive lettered for DB Cargo
  3. 88692 – Sersa AG class Am847 ( former class 212) locomotive privately owned by Sersa AG, Zurich, One Time Series 2002
  4. 88694 – SECO/DG class 133-05 locomotive privately owned by French construction firm SECO/DG, used for construction of channel tunnel, One Time Series, Export Model for France
  5. 88698 – German Federal Railroad (DB) class V100.20 in crimson red paint scheme, One Time Series 2011
  6. 88699 – Deutsche Bahn AG (DB AG) class 212 locomotive in ocean blue and ivory paint scheme with current DB logo

 

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7. 88219.1 – German Federal Railways (DB AG) class 213 in current traffic red paint scheme, One Time Series 2014. Version #1 with locomotive operating numbers printed below DB logo on locomotive end

8. 88219.2 – German Federal Railways (DB AG) class 213 in current traffic red paint scheme, One Time Series 2014. Version #2 without locomotive operating numbers printed below DB logo on locomotive end

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9. 88216 – German Federal Railways (DB AG) class 212 in orient red paint scheme of the Deutsche Bahn AG. Prototype from 1994-1995. Operating number 212 041-8. Features large ‘DB’ logo. One Time Series MHI Release.

 

Siding: Marklin z V100’s are beautifully designed and easy to maintain, shell is held on by tension through a snug fit, careful pulling on each end will pop it off for under the hood service.

Siding: FR currently offers a two car K3 box car set that goes perfectly with the Sersa loco 88692.

Siding: Not pictured: 88693 class V100.2 in crimson red and 88695 BR 212 lettered for H.F. Wiebe Industrial, both are rare and highly sought after.

Marklin MSI’s: railbuses

Railbuses in Germany actually look like buses and a few other countries do too. The “Economic Miracle” in Germany occurred during the 1950’s, and the class VT 98 railbus was part of this history. Marklin added this railcar to the line-up with the first one being released in 1988 as item #8112 “Chiemgau Bahn” and then the special imprint “McDonald’s” also in 1988. Versions abound but for this topic of discussion the focus is on special imprints which like the first two releases (8112) are also in part regional railbuses.

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  1. 88701 – German Federal Railroad (DB) class 798 railbus lettered for “McDonald’s voll in Fahrt.” Sold as a starter set with track and transformer. Edition size: 1000. Koll’s #88701. Released 1988.
  2. 88817 – Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) class 798 railbus and class 998 trailer lettered for RAG. Special imprint collaboration between Railex and Z Club International. Koll’s #91702. Edition size: 3000. *Originally sold unpowered.
  3. 88164 – Prignitzer Eisenbaum GmbH class 798 railbus and class 998 trailer lettered for Prignitzer Eisenbaum GmbH regional rail line Berlin. One Time Series 2001. Produced in collaboration between Marklin and Eurotrain/idee+spiel cooperative.
  4. 88165 – Elbe-Weser GmbH (EVB) class 798 railbus and class 998 trailer lettered for EVB the Lower Saxony German regional rail line. One Time Series 2002. Produced in collaboration between Marklin and Eurotrain/idee+spiel cooperative.

Siding: 88164 + 88165 were only available to German Dealers that were members of the Eurotrain/idee+spiel cooperative.