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4
‘Trains at School’ Project
Check that the collector brushes of the motor are in good condition,
replace if necessary. When replacing brushes, insert the carbon brush
in the socket with the straight spring, and the copper brush in the
socket with the angled spring.
The wheels must be kept clean at all times to ensure proper current
collection. Remove dirt on wheels with a rag dipped in a little
“Shellite” if necessary. The traction tyres on the driving wheels
should fit well and be free from grease and oil. For locomotives
fitted with connecting rods, these must first be removed when
replacing traction tyres.
Should the relay switch fail to engage when required, the locomotive
will move at high speed. This may be caused either by the locomotive
being located too far from the nearest feed point (resistance in the
track), or the return spring on the reversing unit may be too strong.
If the relay switch engages when the locomotive is moving at full
speed, then the return spring on the reversing unit may be too weak.
This problem may be rectified by carefully bending the spring hook of
the reversing unit one way or the other. Please note that even a
small adjustment will have a great effect.
Maintaining rolling stock:
All rolling stock should be checked regularly for dirt on wheels
(follow cleaning instructions above). Lubricate the axle bearings
with a drop of oil. Also inspect the couplings to make sure they are
not damaged or bent.
Track Elements:
Märklin has produced many different track systems over the years. The
earliest (and the simplest) was in production only up until World War
II.
The early post war period saw the introduction of the 3600 track. Its
geometry is based on standard straights of 180mm and curves of 360mm
radius and 30° length. The points measure the same as a standard
straight or curve. Crossings have an angle of 30° and they correspond
to a standard curve. The straight, however, is slightly longer at
193mm. Large radius curves (435mm) were also made. These can easily be
identified by the brown dots on the roadbed.
The 3600-series was offered in a budget and a deluxe version. The
cheaper option had rails formed from sheet metal, whereas the
expensive ones had solid drawn brass or steel rails.
