MÄRKLIN H0 conventional driving and electromechanical automatisation
The Prototype Märklin-H0-Knowledge Layout-Building Modelstock
Märklin-H0-Knowledge A: The very first basic knowlege about conventionally controlled Märklin H0 model railways A12: Couplings - Who can with whom?
This article is for those who have just started to deal with model railways and are currently building a fund of vehicles. The question arises again and again: Does this model match my existing ones? In addition to the correct scale (1:87) and the gauge (H0), the coupling is an important feature. There is no way I can deal with the subject of couplings completely. The variety is just too big. But one thing I can say: Bracket couplings from different manufacturers usually fit together. All model railroad manufacturers have bracket couplings in their range. And they are compatible with each other.
The couplings from Märklin are the most stable; all others are more delicate, thinner in material, more filigree. A significant difference in size can hinder coupling, as with the pairings shown here. But some manufacturers also have specific couplings that can be found on used models.
In this article, we will first look at the most important Märklin couplings and then a few special couplings from other manufacturers. Why are there other couplings than the yoke coupling? Bracket couplings are universal, but not necessarily beautiful: o A connection in which a bracket coupling is involved has a lot of play in the push / pull direction. o The distance between the buffers with bracket couplings is very large. o Train disconnections are more likely with bracket couplings than e.g. with Märklin short couplings. The page hpw-modellbahn.de provides a good overview of the variety of couplings (german): page 1, page 2 The Märklin couplings Anyone who has a "Koll's Märklin 00 / H0 price catalog" will find an overview of 27 coupling types there (mine is from 1996). Unfortunately the copyright law forbids me to show the pages here. But my collection contains the most important types.
My oldest Märklin wagons have bracket couplings without pre-uncoupling. Picture 2, built from 1950.
Three old wagons and one locomotive have the preliminary stage of the RELEX coupling, the bracket couplings with wide pre-decoupling from 1956. Picture 3.
The RELEX coupling then followed in development from 1957, a bracket coupling with a small pre-decoupling. Picture 4.
What is a pre-uncoupling?
If the lower bracket of a RELEX coupling, which hangs on the opposite hook, is lifted, the small plate of the pre-uncoupling falls onto the hook and prevents the bracket from re-engaging. Picture 5 (coupled above, pre-uncoupled below). The wagon formation can be pushed further, but the coupling remains open. You can use it to open the coupling on an uncoupling track and then push the car to its destination.
The couplings from pictures 2 to 4 are straightened by resilient elements, otherwise coupling is not possible. It used to be a tension spring that connected the two couplings of a car. But there were also a number of other springs, leaf springs, plastic springs. Examples picture 6.
Since these couplings are made entirely of metal, they can be aligned using the 7001 coupling jig. Picture 7. Manual
The RELEX coupling is still in the Märklin range, e.g. in the start-up segment, but now with a shaft and hook made of plastic, which makes it almost impossible to adjust the height. Picture 8.
Most of the current Märklin models since 1986 have a close coupling these days. Picture 9. This also has a shaft and hook made of plastic and a bracket and pre-uncoupling made of metal. Therefore, they cannot be adjusted in height.
And there we have the first problem:
The Märklin close coupling is significantly deeper than most bracket couplings. Therefore, there are often problems with coupling, because the bracket of the close coupling hits the baffle plate of the bracket coupling. Picture 10.
Opinions as to which coupling is better, the RELEX or the close coupling, differ widely. My irrelevant opinion is that the Märklin close coupling is much better than the RELEX coupling, because it couples very precisely without significant resistance, has hardly any play in the direction of pull and practically never separates without an "explicit request". That is why I convert almost all Märklin freight cars and locomotives to the Märklin close coupler on a long-term basis.
Under the number 7205 you can get exchange close couplings in a pack of 50, which replace the RELEX couplings from picture 8, see picture 11.
The spare part number of the RELEX coupling: E701570. The spare part number of the close coupling: E272910. The conversion is not a problem with a little sensitivity.
Many wagons from all manufacturers today have a standard mount for the coupling according to NEM 362, technically the "NEM shaft" (NEM = standards of European model railways), picture 12.
This allows the couplings of all brands to be exchanged very freely, e.g. against the Märklin close coupling 7203, picture 13.
The most modern models have a "close coupling kinematics" according to NEM 352, which causes the wagons to travel in a straight line with almost no gaps between the buffers or the bellows of the old coaches or the rubber bulges of the modern coaches and to swing apart in curves. This gives the train a very prototypical appearance. Pictures 14 to 16.
In my video I use the combination of bellows and rubber bulge, which is actually possible in the original.
Bellows to bellows
and rubber bulge to rubber bulge
Problem with the old TELEX coubling The Märklin close coupling does not fit the old Märklin TELEX coupling and the locomotive coupling with a wide mouth from 1959. I have reworked mine: Link to my adaption of these couplings On the other hand, bracket couplings do not fit the modern TELEX coupling, with which I do not (yet) own a vehicle. Converting cars from other manufacturers to Märklin couplings Old Märklin wagons and all wagons from other manufacturers without an NEM shaft can be converted with some manual skill using the RELEX coupling 701570 or the close coupling 7205. Link to examples from my workshop Using retrofit kinematics such as Roco 40343 and 40344 carriages can also be converted for buffer-to-buffer travel. Wagons with NEM shafts are very easy to convert with Märklin RELEX 72060 couplers or 7203 close couplers. BUT:
With Märklin cars, the buffers are higher than e.g. at Roco wagon. As a result, the Märklin coupling sometimes collides with the buffers of other manufacturers' wagons. Picture 17.
It depends on the radii driven whether there are problems in operation. Märklin revised the close coupler head in 2022 and made it flatter. The new CC has the no. 72000 in a pack of 50 or E 357874 individually. Now Märklin also builds the latest models according to NEM.
In order to avoid problems with fixed associations of wagons, you can use rigid coupling drawbars (Märklin 7204, Brawa 2250, Symoba fixed connecting drawbar 104) or the universal coupling from Roco or the close couplings from Roco or Fleischmann, which are not as uncoupling safe as these Märklin close coupling. See below.
Couplings from other manufacturers Roco In addition to the bracket coupling 40243 and its predecessor, Roco has two other coupling systems:
1^st The universal coupling 40397 (picture 19) is similar in many details to the Märklin close coupling and couples perfectly with that, but is a bit flatter and has bevels on the bracket that reliably guide the coupling under the buffers. That's why at least the non-Märklin freight cars get this coupling from me.
There is also a height-adjustable version of this coupling under the number 40396. (picture 20).
The close coupling with pre-decoupling 40271 (picture 21) can often be found on used cars from Roco. This coupling only fits on their own kind.
Even with the similar-looking Roco short couplings without pre-uncoupling 40270 (picture 22) they do not fit.
The advantages of this coupling are the very soft coupling, the very slim design, the freedom from play and the possibility of simply being able to take a car up out of the formation, because the coupling does not overlap in height like the Märklin close coupling or the Roco Universal coupling. I occasionally use this coupling with fixed associations of / with Roco wagons. Fleischmann
Old Fleischmann wagons have a hook coupling that only partially or not at all couples with bracket couplings. Picture 23.
In addition to the bracket coupling 6511, the professional close coupling 6515 is remarkable. It is similar to an American dog clutch. Picture 24.
The advantages of this coupling are the buttery-soft coupling, the freedom from play and the possibility of simply being able to take a car up out of the formation, because the coupling also has no overlap in height like the Märklin close coupling or the Roco universal coupling. Compared to the Roco close coupling, the Fleischmann professional close coupling is a little more tolerant of unevenness because the coupling jaw is a little wider. I occasionally use this coupling with fixed associations of / with Roco and non-Märklin wagons. Röwa
The Röwa brand, which has long been defunct (see Wikipedia {german}) had an extremely delicate close coupling. Picture 25.
The comparison with the RELEX coupling makes the tiny thing clear. Picture 26.
It couples very securely; both hooks are involved. Picture 27. Just as the models are very rare in the second-hand market, this coupling is very rare.
The backlash of the couplings in comparsion I measured the couplings play on the couplings I used. The backlash of the couplings is the freedom of movement in the coupling when changing from pull to push.
Märklin close coupling with its kind		0,8 mm
Roco universal coupling with its kind		0,8 mm
Märklin close coupling with Roco universal coupling		0,8 mm
RELEX with RELEX		2,7 mm
RELEX with Märklin close coupling		3,3 mm
RELEX with Roco universal coupling		3,7 mm
Fleischmann professional coupling		0,0 mm
Roco close coupling with pre-decoupling		0,0 mm
Roco close coupling without pre-decoupling		0,1 mm
Röwa close coupling		0,2 mm
Therefore it is now clear to me: Märklin freight cars and locomotives get the Märklin close coupling. Roco models with NEM shaft get the Roco universal coupling. Passenger cars with NEM shaft and transition, i.e. bellows or rubber bulges, which should drive on the straight without a gap, get the Fleischmann professional coupler except at the ends of the train, where the Märklin close coupler or the Roco universal coupler come on, so that the Märklin - locomotives fit. If you provide a wagon with different couplings at the front and rear, you can use otherwise incompatible wagons in one train. This is where my current experience ends. Other coupling systems The Märklin close coupling is also available electrically conductive. Kato clutches are widely recognized on the forums. There are several magnetic couplings, including electrically conductive ones. And - as I said - this list can never be complete ...
The Prototype Märklin-H0-Knowledge Layout-Building Modelstock
state: 10.10.2023 19:37
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