Swiss electrial locomotive SBB Ae 3/6 II mostly Märklin models

Published 15Jan2012, updated 7Mar2021

This page is in group Models. This page is my first SBB Ae 3/6 II page. Please add comments here. Additional search words: CFF Ae 3/6 II, SBB/CFF Ae 3/6 II, SBB Universallok Ae3/6II, SBB Ae 3/6 2, Ae3/62.

Table 1 intro

See chapter Comments to table 1. Legend: “Here” points to Märklin pictures here, “Here!” to my pictures here and “There” to another blog note of mine there. “@left” and “@right” means position of revision text (also search for “@” for more).

Table 1 SBB Ae 3/6 II H0 models

SBB#	At	Rev.	Model	CatYear	Colour	Comments
10401	There	..	Lemaco H0-096/a or HO-096/a	2005	Brown	Brass model 80 units
10402	There	..	Roco 68402	..	Green	All doors in use. Two fan frames on each side. Metallic wheels and rods
10403	Here!	1944.07.31 "31.7.44" @right	Roco 68402 (variant)	2011	Green	As 10402, but with gray patinated wheels and rods
10406	Missing	1968.02.05 "R1 YV 5.2.68" @right	Märklin 03167.1 Märklin 3167.1	2001-2002 (2004?)	Green	In 29516/29517 freight train set with 5 cars. Three vents on each side!
10406	There	..	Lemaco H0-096/1 or HO-096/1	2005	Green	Brass model 105 units
10408	There	..	Roco 41305	..	Brown	In SBB digital start set. Has two ventilation frames on each side. Pictured in criteria picture (below)
10409	There		Metropolitan 713G	..	Green	..
10412	Here		Roco 78293	2019	Brown	First with sound of this model
10421	Here!	1931.09.17 "17.9.31" @left	Märklin 37512-1	2006-2007	Brown	In 37512 set of two
10426	Here	1933.03.23 "23.3.33"	Märklin 37510	2004-2005	Brown	Also called 37510.1. Swiss export catalogue
10431	There	"A B" (?)	Fulgurex 2017 KS155 Catalogue 4208	..	Green	Brass model. Two models: one "Singerfinish" and one 1.series. Two doors
10432	Here!	1968.01.18 "18.1.68" @right	Märklin 03167-1 Märklin 3167-1	1983-1984	Green	Holes for handle bars next to each cab door
10432	Here	..	Märklin 03167-2 Märklin 3167-2	1985-1988	Green	Handrail holes right next to their cab door closed with metal plugs
10432	Missing	..	Märklin 03167-3 Märklin 3167-3	1985	Green	No handle bars next to the holes in each right cab doors. Press gift?
10432	There	..	Fulgurex 2017 KS101 1st serie	..	Brown	Brass model. Four doors. Three fan frames on each side
10432	There	..	Fulgurex 2017 KS101? 2nd serie	..	Green	Brass model. Four doors. Three fan frames on each side
10435	Here	1927.dd.m	Märklin 37515	2021	Brown and black	Next version after Märklin 37514 (2021)
10438	Here	1937.04.30 "YV Rev. 30.4.37" @right	Märklin 03351-2 Märklin 3351-2	1994-1996	Brown (dark)	..
10439	Here	1976.06.11 "R3 YV 11.6.76"	Märklin 03351-1 Märklin 3351-1	1990-1994	Brown	..
10439	Here	1996.11.29 "CT Yv 29.11.96" 1976.06.11 "R3 Yv 11.6.76" @right	Lemaco H0-096 or HO-096	2005	Brown (dark)	Brass model 120 units
10439	There	2004.12.23 "23.12.04"	Roco 68400	..	Brown (dark)	Model of the only remaining loco (at Olten)
10439	There	..	Metrop ME-313B	..	Brown	Same as the below?
10439	There	..	Metropolitan 713B	..	Brown	Same as the above?
10439	Here	2011.03.17 "R** OI 17.03.11" "CT YV 29.11.96" @right (second and first lines of text)	1/1 original in Olten	2015	Brown	The only left! Go see it!
10443	Here!	1935.11.08 "REV YV 8.11.35" @left	Märklin 37514	2017	Green and gray	First Märklin of this loco with full sound and LED lights. "Next" is 37515 (2021)
10447	Missing	..	Märklin 03351-4 Märklin 3351-4	2004	Green	..
10447	Here	..	Märklin 03167.11 Märklin 3167.11	2005	Green	In 29510 train set
10452	Here	..	Märklin 37513	2011	Brown (dark)	Some sound effects
10453	Here	1968.01.18 "R1. YV 18.1.68" @right	Märklin 03169 Märklin 3169	1985	Green	..
10453	There	1973.08.06 "R1 YV 6.8.73" @right	Roco 68401	..	Green	..
10456	Here!	1973.11.02 "2.11.73" @left	Märklin 37512-2	2006-2007	Green	..
10460	Missing	..	Märklin 03151-1 Märklin 3151-1	1979 - 1980?	Brown (light)	Roof brownish
10460	Here	1938.01.18 "18.1.38" @right	Märklin 03151-2 Märklin 3151-2	1980-1984	Brown (light)	Roof grayish
SBB#	WHERE	REVISION	MODEL	CATYEAR	COLOUR	COMMENTS

Again, here’s Comments to table 1

Goal of this page

The goal of this page was (and still is) to make the table above, and fill in with the details.  I wanted to know so that the models on the shelf or running on the tracks would represent – more than mere locomotives. I want to find their stories. I started asking myself how different each of the Swiss electrical locomotive SBB Aa 3/6 II Märklin H0 (HO) models were from each other? I discovered that an answer was not possible without also considering the other manufacturers’ models – even including other gauges! So I made 037 and 042, which have now been moved over here and there. My background as a collector may perhaps be seen by my A-Class model collection page at [1]. And an experience in San Gimignano in Italy that triggered a little texts called “A model to fulfil” may be read at [2].

Basic info and sources

• See Wikipedia Glossary of rail transport terms [3]
• The German Wikipedia page about the SBB Ae 3/6 II (and a translation) may be seen at [4]
• There is a 130 page magazine in German about the model, “LOKI-Spezial Nr. 23. Faszination Ae 3/6 II” here and  [18]. This magazine is just fantastic and a must to have – even if you don’t understand German! It tells everything! Also that SBB built a single test engine called SBB Be 3/5 with road number 12201 as a “probelokomotive” or feasability study for the later Ae 3/6 II
• märklin magazin 6/2004 – 6 pages [19]
• SBB Historic 2/2011 – 1 page [20]
• SBB stands for “Schweizerischen Bundesbahnen” in German and “Swiss Federal Railways” (SFR) in English [5]
• The 60 locomotives were produced in the ninenteentwenties and assigned road numbers #10401 to #10460
• The gauge (or scale) H0 (half zero) is used in the German tradition while the English tradition is HO (half oh). They are both the same: 1/87 [7]
• Ae 3/6 II : Ae means A normal track above 80 km/h, e means electric. 3/6 means 3 powered axles of 6. II tells the ‘baureihe” or build series (but not the era, see below). It may also be written SBB Ae 3/6″ or SBB Ae 3/6”
• The axle arrangement is 2’C1′, (2′ C 1′) which means two axles in front, then three (=C) and then one. Also used is 4-6-2 which lists number of wheels, also called configuration. 4-6-2 is also named “Pacific”
• The asymmetric wheel construction, the Wikipedia article (discussion at [8] (correctly?) claims, comes from the fact that there is only one transformer but two electric motors (even if the front bogies also were designed to tackle the curves better at high speeds). Also note that the motors are paralleled on the outside by the rods, so there are two driving (and three driven) axles. About the same time the Swedish Da locomotive (Wikipedia, Märklin 3030, I have one [9]) was designed after a tour to several countries, also Switzerland, to there study the new Ae 3/6 II. It was seen that it ran equally well in both directions (probably both speed-wise and capability to tackle the curves and switces). The Ae 3/6 II was a nice tool to study the behaviour of bogies vs. single axle at each end. It’s the bogie end that’s the front, named Roman letters I and the single axle is the rear, named II. But I see lots of pictures of train sets where it even pulls long trains “backing”, probably at full speed. The box for the Z-scale 8851 shows the loco running “backwards” (see here). The artist or the marketing guys at Märklin may not have known the difference? Strange. Back to the Swedish D-series. It has one transformer, but the two motors are connected on the inside. Read here (Swedish, [10]). The D-series has only one driving axle, but still three driven axles
• The “Koll’s katalog” series is supposed to contain all I need to know about Märklin! Does it? [11]
• Variant nomenclature seems not to be concistent. Märklin used 37512-1 and 37512-2 in the box with the two locomotives. However 37512.1 and 37512.2 seem also to be valid? Is nomenclature also like this for over-the-years variants?
• There is a nice overview with nice pictures at the SwissLoks page, “Die Triebfahrzeuge der Schweizer Eisenbahnen im Vorbild und Modell” [12]. I must study it thoroughly against my table above
• “SBB Stangenlokomotiven Be 4/6 + Ae 3/6 II” by Heinz Sigrist. (2016). See [22]. Fantastic book!

Visit #10439 in Olten, the only remaining original

#10439 is taken care of by SBB Historic, see this page: www.sbbhistoric.ch. Their page about the locomotive itself is here. It has some beautiful pictures. Team 10439 Historische Loks Olten also has a page: www.lok10439.ch. They even have a calendar that shows when #10439 may be seen out of the shed. “To avoid damage due to extended standstill, the historic engines of the Olten location are moved on a regular basis, which present nice photo-ops. We are sorry, but there are no possibilities to board the engines on these occasions! For security reasons it is forbidden at all times to cross the rails while taking pictures! ” quoting a mail from them. It looks to me like they also take visitors on other days, see the applicant form at “Beitrittsgesuch”. The August 2015 Fitnessfahrten where the 10439 (celebrating its 90th year with a flowers garlan!) and others are shown in the above page. It’s also on YouTube, see Fitnessfahrten SBB Historic / Team Olten.

On the movie above they show that the valid revision in 2015 was tagged as in the table (left column, below). I mailed the team at Olten about this, and got a nice reply. I hope I got this ok (right column):

CT Yv 29.11.96	CT = Control Technical. Is some kind a major revision where they “control everything and open everything”
R** OI 17.03.11	R** = means a control whereby they will be opening all, but they don’t have the necessary machinery for the repair. So both R0 and R** are large services that they are not able to do themselves

The Lemaco H0-096 10439 (here) has the same “Yv 29.11.96”, but not the “CT”. And not a second line, since it was produced before 2011. Observe that the revision labels are also listen in Table 1 (above).

I also found an earlier revision label picture (here or here):

CT Yv 29.11.96	Same as above
R* OL 23.12.04	Earlier revision

More about revisions at SBB Ae 3/6 II revision dates?

There also is a nice movie (actually several) of #10439 running at Olten at YouTube [6].

Time line and railroad eras in Europe

According to [13] the railroad eras in Europe (covering the life time of this locomotive) are divided into eras (also called epoch (epoche in German)):

• Era I – 1835 to about 1925 (SBB Ae 3/6 II new 1921 to 1926 ..) 
• Era II – 1925 to 1945
• Era III – 1945 to 1970 (.. some doors removed in 1954 ..) (.. and first SBB Ae 3/6 II to be retired 1965 ..)
• Era IV – 1970 to 1990 (.. to 1977 ..) (.. only #10439 left)

Repeating that II in Ae 3/6 II is not related to era II, but is a build series number.

Comments to Table 1

1. Table 1 (SBB Ae 3/6 II H0 models) is listed on top, as I assume that when the text has been read, the table would be most interesting.
2. Together with REVISION date there is a @left or @right (search for @). This is the position of the revision date, the right/left side of the locomotive as seen from the side. Is this a discrepancy? The “YV” in some revision dates stands for Hauptwerkstätte Yverdon, which is where these revisions were made. The LOKI magazine has a full chapter on revisions [18]. I try to plea people for revision text, see here.
3. In the 4th (Model) column I have added a leading zero before all 4-digit Märklin models (like 3167 becoming 03167) to make them sortable with the 5-digit. But I have also kept the 4-digit numbers. This is contrary to how Märklin sort the models, they add an imaginary trailing zero without showing it. I am not able to do this!
4. I have excluded some early models with three axles: RSM800-1, RSM 800-2 and RSM 800-3 (all green, 1950-55) and 3033 (green, in train set 3233, 1959-61). I have also excluded 3167 S1, which is like 3167-2, but with transparent house.
5. I have also excluded in the table Z-scale (Z scale) mini-club 1/220 Märklin models. But i have a page covering mostly 8851here. Also mentioned may be the full Märklin Swiss Passenger Service Train Set Z 81418
6. The #10409 locomotive wrongly has three ventilation frames, it should have had two (so, this is “faulty”). See point 3 in next chapter.
7. There also is a brown, #10439 by ZettZeit (here) for reconstruction of additional detail. ZettZeit also sell brass #10409 badges. This paragraph needs more research!
8. I am a little confused about some models found at Roundhouse here. There, Märklin 3151 is used both for #10460 (brown, 4 doors), #10439 (brown, 4 doors) and #10432 (green, 2 doors). And 3167 S is #10453 (green, 4 doors), which seems wrong since 3169 has that road number I have later discovered. All have 3 ventilation frames on each side. Roundhouse probably confirmed this in a mail.
9. I have also seen #10406 (green, 3 ventilation frames on each side (faulty), 2 doors) on eBay, described as having been part of the 29510 train set. No Märklin product number. Not confirmed.
10. As mentioned above the table, observe that there is a comprehensive list of models also in LOKI-Spezial Nr. 23. Faszination Ae 3/6 II” [18], page 110. I discovered this in July 2013, 1.5 years after I started this list. I see that I have already covered most, but my list will have to become influenced after this. Also the non-H0 models overview, seen at my blog SBB Ae 3/6 II (Scale models).

Selection criteria

This chapter tries to establish when a model changes so much that it is “enough different” from a previous model, also selected the same way. There are some “absolute criteria” like colour, but I will still try to find out when I personally should collect. I want to collect as few H0 models as possible, at a fair price, running on Märklin layouts, old AC or new digital. I plan to have a small loop for both. The figure below is shown with (#10421 (leftmost), #10432 and #10456 – top of figure) (21 and 56 are Märklin 37512 1/2 and 32 is 3167-1) and Roco 68402 (#10402, bottom of figure) locomotives (full pixel press picture):

1. Colour (the full sized SBB Ae 3/6 II were originally all brown and but painted green in the late twenties. Models also brass and transparent. And 3151-2 #10460 is light brown. There seem to be nuances, as the colour schemes did change to reflect different design concepts over the years. I have failed to find out how.
2. A – Altogether four or two side doors in use (i.e. two or one on each side), seen by handrails and stairs, or not – since after 1954, one door on the right side of both sides of the locomotive was welded shut. B – Simultaneously both end doors were also welded shut, and the engineer’s walkover grab irons and two footplates were removed (#10456, right of three above). Later (when?), the ends were completely sealed due to rust developing in the welding seams (#10432, centre of three above). (#10421, left of three above is the original pre 1954). Observe also that grab irons differ (turning “up” or “down”)! (Best seen in full pixel, see above picture).
3. Two or three ventilation frames or grilles on each side (and a window has moved). Two ventilation grilles on #10401-#10420 only. See point 9.
4. For the model: plastic (also transparent) or metal (brass or zamac Z410 etc). See blog 042 for some brass models. Märklin have made some “metall-edition” models (see Märklin Gesamtprogramm DA catalogue 1997/98 p54) but I have found no SBB Ae 3/6 II.
5. Colour and detailing of wheels and rods – and frame
6. Colour and detailing of roof – and electrical wiring and pantograph
7. Road number (#10401-#10460) (“fleet number” also?)
8. Sunshades (sonnenblenden) over driver’s windows. Not for #10401-#10420. See point 9:
9. Discrepancy with real prototype locomotive? A version of Roco #10408 and “some Märklin engines” wrongly have three ventilation grilles, see point 3. More examples in next chapter
10. The @right or @left in Table 1 tells where the revision date is painted, as seen from the side
11. Small details of anything you like, even texting and the center badge. See [15], where some details are very well documented, comparing a Märklin and a Roco locomotive. – And look above in the leftmost picture, see the bodies’ corners? The left’s corner is green as the body, the right’s corner is black as the underframe. That certainly is detail – but which is right?
12. Motor type, electrical system, functions like sound etc.
13. If you buy it used: is it as the original or has it been rebuilt? Will it run on your layout?
14. Revision number on front right side or front left sides in driving direction. (I have 4 locos, and they’re half of each)
15. Visible studs. The part beneath the windows of the 45 degree corners will have different number of studs. All my Märklin models have different number of studs on three corners, but not the front right, which is without any studs. The Roco #10403 model has no studs on any corners. I assume it’s virtually impossible to track studs to different revisions, but I could easily think that the fewer studs the more modern is that part.
16. Painting of the roof. The Märklin 3151 #10460 is the only I have seen where the roof has been painted past the walking strips (?) and down over the sides, to just above the windows.

Some discrepancies

Referring to bullet 9 above, here are some faulty examples of both Märklin and other manufacturers:

1. Roco #10408 (4135) has hoods above the cab windows that are out of place.
2. And why does the Roco #10402 (68402 / 62402) in the picture above seem to have the walkover grab irons upside down? The #10403 version of the same (here) have the walkover grab irons correctly(?) mounted.
3. I have seen Märklin #10406 (in set 29516/29517) wrongly have three ventilation grilles instead of two. The 29517 set’s presentation in the German Märklin catalogue 2003-04 p25 reveals the three frames.
4. But the strange thing is that I also have seen #10406 (but in set 29517) with two ventilation grilles. On some rather bad pictures this latter with 2 grilles (ok) – and window closer to the center (ok), looked like having scars from the window and grille. Strange.
5. As mentioned earlier, the error with three instead of two ventilation frames also is present for Z-scale model in Märklin Swiss Passenger Service Train Set Z 81418 from 1999 (brown, #10409).
6. Search for “faulty” comments in this document.

Am I correct in stating that these “faults” are low cost relabeling of other models that Märklin and Roco already had?

Five in a row

Here are the five locomotives I consider being the “most different”. Aside: The distorsion in the camera lens makes the edges appear wider than the center (easily seen on the leftmost Roco’s somewhat oval wheels!). All pictures in this page are taken with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 in manual mode with macro and aspect 16:9. I crop the pictures and add them into OSX Pages to add text and a frame to my liking. Then I export as best quality PDF and import to GraphicConverter 400 dpi and crop again. I had to arrange the locos especially to be able to make these photo shoots, with dangerously close distance between the tracks. I also needed the catenary to almost come from the horizon, not a lot of catenary masts. Here is how I did it. Press the pictures to get full resolution.

I have lined up (from left to right) Roco 68402 (#10403), Märklin 37512-1 (#10421), Märklin 3167-1 (#10432), Märklin 37512-2 (#10456) and Märklin 3151 (#10460).

And here you can see that all the four rightmost (Märklin) have different fronts. I am not really aware that Märklin would have more variations. All of this is described in the rest of the text as well.

Individual models

The Table 1 Where-column has links to articles, or out of this page. I have only made a chapter here if I thought I might add anything, like a high-resolution picture. Like, there is no chapter on Märklin #10406. I haven’t bought one just for a picture. I am not that much of a collector.. even if it has a discrepancy with the ventilation frames.. But I did buy the Lemaco #10406! 

#10403 – Roco 68402 (variant) SBB Ae 3/6 II (green)

This model is a guest on this “Märklin page”. It’s here just for the picture, making it easier to compare. Roco 68402 (AC digital) comes in two versions: #10402 and #10403. It is described more in blog note 048, there. I have not mounted all the small details that come in a plastic bag. As I do run the model, I’d rather keep them in the bag. This picture (as opposed to the other pictures that I have taken here) is seen with the front first. The bogie is at the front. Inside the model there is a driver in the cabin. Nice! But did they drive alone? Observe that the walkover grab irons are correctly(?) mounted? (not upside down, as seen on the Roco #10402 model’s picture).

#10412 – Roco 78293 (variant) SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

Update 10May2019. See SBB Ae 3/6 II (Scale models) in note 048.

TODO: I’ll be back with a real picture!

#10421 – Märklin 37512-1, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

The Märklin model is from 2006. It came in a box together with 37512-2 (below). The set of two cost 2815 NOK in Jan. 2012 at HOBBY-SHOP here in Trondheim, fairly much down from the original 2006 price of 3518 NOK. Thanks, owner Kåre Windsheimer! The center badges read “10421” and “Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Oerlikon No 2920, Winterthur 1924”. At the left side the revision date reads “17.9.31”, and on the right it reads “OLTEN.” Enjoy beautiful pictures by skatuba, start here (flickr).

#10426 – Märklin 37510, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

This catalogue has a double page with the model. Detail of the same picture I have also seen in the “Märklin Galleri” 2005 (Danish, page 116). Quoting from Jeroen Schrage’s comment: Marklin 37510: this model differs from the picture in the 2004 catalogue. The model is more accurate! It has four side doors with handgrabs and front doors, all of it exactly like 37512-1. 37510 has no sound. Rev. date is 23.3.33 and its ‘heimat’ is Basel. I think the picture in the catalogue was made of a quickly painted ‘green version’. I would add that any locomotive with one door on each side must have revision date not before 1954 (and the supplied has 1933), which is when the right door on each side was removed (selection critera 2). So the picture must be wrong. See [15], where some details are very well documented (also by Jeroen), comparing this 37510 with Roco 68400 (#10439). Beneath the Swiss flag it says that “This model is being offered by Trix (T22321) for two-rail DC systems.” Allegedly (from an internet page) the first time that this locomotive appeared on two-rail DC systems.

This is present in Galleri Baumgartner.

#10432 – Märklin 3167-1, SBB Ae 3/6 II (light green)

My main rationale for collecting this is that the front and rear doors are completely removed, as described in criterion 2B (above). It is old analogue AC powered from 83-84. I do not plan to convert it, as just as my other analogue locos all will be kept as they are. I bought it on eBay, used – with two windows broken, with open eyes. But I will repair. The sparepart number for all windows is E492800, Märklin said in a mail. Compared to the Märklin 37512-2 #10456 the colour is more light green. And the pantograph and electrical wiring to it differs. Here the lower horizontal part of the pantograph is green plastic, there it is metal. And here there are no bolts in the boxes just behind the buffers, and there is also no bolted vertical metal band in the chassis just behind the rear non-powered wheels. And here the driving rods are more shiny metal, but I am not certain how this is seen in view of being a scale model. But I think I can say that this model is less a scale model than the 37512-2. Also, this model does not have a vertical line between the side center “10432” and the “Oerlikon” badge. The holes for the handle bars at the closed non-used doors are not welded, they are still visible. This looks strange compared to the “after 1954” time frame when the front and rear doors are completely gone (2B above). (Please help with correct terminology!) The badges (as decals only) read “10432” and “Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Oerlikon No 2994, Winterthur 1924”. At the right side the revision date reads “R1. VV. 18.1.68”, and on the left it reads weight class “98t 2x 25t P/V 63t G/M 63t”.

#10432 – Märklin 3167-2, SBB Ae 3/6 II (green)

I believe that this is the best picture in any Märklin catalogue I have seen. For some reason the pictures in the English catalogues outdetail the other catalogues by a large margin. According to my sources the 84-85 is the 3167-2, but since the holes for the handle bars should have been “welded shut”, I believe that the picture above is of the 3167-1. So, the text in the picture may be wrong I don’t know what the badges say. There is no extra text in the catalogue. The accompanying HOBBY-SHOP price list shows that it cost 860 NOK in 1983/1984.

#10435 – Marklin 37515, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

This is new in the Marklin News Items for 2021 catalogue. It’s shown here. I guess it’s the 37514 (2017) model that’s been repainted from gray and green to black and brown. This model has a revision date 1927.mm.dd.

#10438 – Märklin 3351-2, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

This is the only Märklin catalogue entry that I have seen where the road number is detailed. From no mention to a close-up! This locomotive has white internal tooth wheels. It is an AC, Delta/digital model. I don’t know what the badges say. The revision number reads “YV Rev. 30.4.37”.

#10439 – Märklin 3351-1, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

The picture above is from a page in the catalogue where Swiss cars are shown (page 190). Märklin have used a different locomotive (#10439) than the one presented in that catalogue (#10438 on page 137, see that picture above). They must have had the picture already. An interesting fact is that the newest (not any more the newest in 2017) Märklin model (37513) – the SBB #10452 – is the only engine that’s left in a museum. But in disguise. Because the #10452 was renumbered to #10439, since the #10439 was too worn to be kept. So #10439 was scrapped and the plaques moved over to #10452. There also is a Märklin model for the #10439 (3351-1). See [15], where some details are very well documented, comparing a Roco version of #10439 (68400) with Märklin #10426 (37510). Revision is “R3 VV 11.6.76” (thanks to mr.treno eBay seller!)

See chapter Visit #10439 in Olten, the only remaining original (above) about the depot where it is now based.

#10439 – Lemaco H0-096, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

Read about this Lemaco H0 (manufacturer uses HO and HO-096) brass model that’s got all detail in place there. I also have shot some more pictures, see blog note there.

#10443 – Märklin 37514, SBB Ae 3/6 II (green, with full sound and LED)

New loco in 2017! This is the first loco of this model from Märklin with fully operational sound plus sound effects and first with LED lights. The some years older model 37513 has sound effects only. It’s made as the loco was in era II. At the left side the revision date reads “8.11.35”, and on the right, by the ladder, it reads “OLTEN”. The date can almost be read from the picture in the catalogue, the best printing in any catalogue I have seen. (French catalogue since on vacation in Nice when I discovered – by an eBay offer! I didn’t think I would find news there!) I bought mine at Trønderfrim in Trondheim in Sept. 2017.

The next in the range from Märklin in 37515 (2021).

See https://www.maerklin.de/en/products/details/article/37514/. There is an excellent video of this loco made by Modelleisenbahn-Club Fulda (here), presented by brunellorosso at YouTube – see Modellbahn-Neuheiten (666) Märklin 37514 Ae 3/6 II published in October 2017.

#10446 – Märklin 3351, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

I really don’t know anything about this engine. Here’s a translation from the catalogue, which has both Swedish and Danish texts (but Norwegians take both!): “SBB series Ae 3/6” is characterised by its interesting wheel drive system. The locomotive mostly pulls passenger trains in the confederation’s lower lands.” The (N) in the picture seems to mean “new”. I don’t know what the badges say.

#10447 – Märklin 3167.11 in starter set 29510, SBB Ae 3/6 II (green)

Is this locomotive called 3167.11 or 3167.II or 3167-something? What’s the right nomenclature? I found this beautiful picture in the 2005 “Märklin Gelleri” in Danish (“Gallery”), over two pages (28-29). This is a bound book. I don’t know what the badges say.

#10452 – Märklin 37513, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown, with some sound effects)

Here is a picture from the newest catalogue, but it’s perhaps the least inspiring of them all! According to the graphic symbols it has metal frame, is a digital locomotive with high-efficient propulsion, mfx digital decoder, built-in sound effects, triple headlights and a white markerlight that change over with the direction of travel, power supply can be switched to operate from catenary, Märklin close couplers, era II (1925-1945). I think the sound effects are station announce and locomotive whistle only. I don’t think it includes engine and operational sound (as does the newer 37514). I only found one movie at YouTube (here) and the data sheet doesn’t say that any operational sound may be switched on or off (here). It is a “one-time series” the catalogue says. I don’t know what the badges say.

#10453 – Märklin 3169, SBB Ae 3/6 II (green)

In May 2013 this is sold on eBay by seller 8pinache (see here). This seller has helped me with revision number (see table above).

#10456 – Märklin 37512-2, SBB Ae 3/6 II (green)

The Märklin model is from 2006. It came in a box with 37152-1 (above). The badges read “10456” and “Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Oerlikon No 3096, Winterthur 1926”. At the left side the revision date reads “R1. Yv. 2.11.73”, and on the right it reads weight class “96t 2x 25t P/V 63t G/M 63t”. The chassis has a Märklin number label “H6302881 CE”. The body of this model basically seems to be the same as #10406 that came with Märklin 29516/29517 some 15 years earlier. Three ventilation frames on each side (which was wrong on #10406), one handrail and stair on each side. No walkover footplates, end doors closed but not yet welded shut or removed like they have been on #10432. See curve overhang discussed at blog 052 there.

#10460 – Märklin 3151-2, SBB Ae 3/6 II (brown)

I have made another copy of the same basic image, full pixel. See it here – or a different full pixel with shadows in the sun is here. You may notice rather large colour differences. The above picture has been in OSX Pages, export as PDF and scale with GraphicConverter. The full pixel pictures have been in Preview only (added the text there). The light source for all pictures is the sun (but for all the other pictures I have not used the sun). So this rather unusual colour is rather difficult to get right. And then there’s ypur screen!

In the German 1980 catalogue (p30, above) it looks quite orange. It is supposed to be light brown. The catalogue does not really look faded in colour. In the English catalogue 83/84 the same models looks like a browner orange or light brown. My model (above) certainly is light brown, easily distinguishable from the brown versions. And they roof is gray. So, the model I have probably is a 1981-83, because the roof colour differs from the 1980 catalogue I see. Painting of the roof is done further down on the sides than any other of the models. See Selection criteria, point 16. A reader mailed me and told that “3151 was introduced by Märklin in the 1979 catalogue and new items brochure, but that they had difficulties in production at the time, which led to delayed delivery of the new items. So in fact the first 3151s left the factory in 1980. I remember very well because as a child I eagerly awaited this model (even though couldnt afford it at the time anyway). 3151-1 (brownish roof) was certainly 1980. Am not 100% certain, but have the impression that 3151-2 (grayish) followed that one also in 1980 already (and was produced until 1984)” The Lokmuseum states that the 1980 loco that has brown roof, and a 1981-84 has gray roof, see here. The LOKI magazine [18] seems to start with 1979, not 1980. Which my reader has   explained above. The center badges (as decals only) read “10460” and “Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, Oerlikon No 2994, Winterthur 1294”. At the right side the revision date reads “R1. YV. 18.1.38” (the 8 may be a 6, but I don’t think so). On the left it reads weight class “96t 2x 25t P/V 63t G/M 63t” (the first 6 may be an 8). The walkover grab irons in the front and back are not present, but have been modeled as vertical irons up-down. Whether this is Märklin’s simplification or as on #10460 I don’t know. There is a rebuild recipe by Martin Jaray at [16]. The light colour is commented by Jeroen Schrage here (translated). Also, a nice picture at 3railforum here – translation must be done after log on.

Clarifications

No advertisments: There is no money involved in any of my blogs.

Copyrights

(*) – Copyright Märklin etc. I have had mails with Maerklin Customer Service in Göppingen about scanning from copyrighted Märklin catalogues and showing them on this blog. Therefore this clarification: This site is a private blog note, not an official Märklin site. I will only show pictures taken by myself and scans from Märklin here. I do the scans. Observe that I always scan from paper, there is no electronic input, like jpg or pdf. But I don’t collect scans! Whenever I buy more locomotives, I will take a private picture and maybe remove the Märklin pictures. But I would not collect more than a few locomotives, so I guess the scans will always tell their story, of catalogue style and Märklin’s thoughts behind this locomotive.

Invisible model?

I have looked through a lot of Märklin catalogues and books in several languages, and not yet discovered any arbitrary layout where the SBB Ae 3/6 II model is seen driving around! There are hundreds of layouts! This nice locomotive does not seem to be foremost in Märklin’s mind. Mail me or comment if you see one! To compensate Märklin could make a 1-gauge model of it!? However, in the Sommerfeldt 2009 catalogue for catenary systems [17], I spot two pictures, on page 20 (H0) and 29. I’ll bet much that both carry the Ae 3/6 II models. Sommerfeldt nicely replies in a mail that the page 29 picture has 12 mm H0m tracks in front and 16.5 mm H0 tracks in the back. So, the SBB Ae 3/6 II is H0, of course – also obvious because the real model never was made or modified to run on 1 meter tracks (Switzerland still seems to have 1383 km og “metre gauge”, see here). Another point, Märklin doesn’t tell the road number in the catalogue texts. Why? There is an exception, see #10438.

Forums

I did register as aclassifier (my standard name on the net, named after this page) and informed about this and the 042 blog notes at marklin-users.net community forum, with the topic “SBB Ae 3/6 II blogs“. There certain are some comments well worth looking at. Same aclassifier and info thread at http://forum.3rail.nl (translated): “SBB Ae 3/6 II blogs (H0)” (in English)

Acknowledgements

I am impressed by all the knowledge that is being disclosed about such a narrow topic! Thanks from several people, among some are: Saebonet – Unholz – Bart – Jeroen. My plea page is here! Thanks to scotty1954 on eBay for taking close-ups of the text on Märklin 3167 #10406, so that its revision date was disclosed. And thanks to Ralph (rb700) on eBay for revision data on Märklin #10438 and to 8pinache for revision data on Märklin #10453. Further, thanks to lok81667 on eBay for revision data on Roco #10453. Thanks to Hans H. (in Holland) for 3151 clarifications.

Comments

Please add comments here. Jeroen said in a mail that I could just copy this from 037 (so I deleted it there). Jeroen also sent me his table, which helped me build table 1. Thanks!

Dear mr. Oyvind,

Since I own two Ae 3/6 models, I can give you some answers. Marklin 37510: this model differs from the picture in the 2004 catalogue. The model is more accurate! It has four side doors with handgrabs and front doors, all of it exactly like 37512-1. 37510 has no sound. Rev. date is 23.3.33 and its ‘heimat’ is Basel. I think the picture in the catalogue was made of a quickly painted ‘green version’. I also own a Roco 68400. This machine has ‘betriebsnummer’ #10439 and is an exact copy of the actual SBB Historic loco. Last Rev. date is 23.12.04 (2004!) and Heimat is Olten. This loc has white sides on the wheels. Although I’m an old Marklin enthousiast, I think the Roco model is even prettier. I have also built my own ‘table 1’ over the years with discriptions of different Marklin models of Ae3/6. This table says that 3151-1 has a braun roof and 3151-2 has a grey roof. Since I do not own these models, I can’t tell you if this is right. Last but not least: the II in Ae 3/6 II does not refer to the era, but to the so-called ‘baureihe’ (order?). Here a two nice pictures: http://www.hobbytrain.ch/berichte/s_sbb_loks.html

Jeroen Schrage (Netherlands) (April 2012)

References

037 – Märklin Swiss electrial locomotive SBB Ae 3/6 II H0 models, obsoleted there, all moved over here 14.Oct.2012 042 – Other Swiss electrial locomotive SBB Ae 3/6 II H0 models, obsoleted there, all moved over here 27.Oct.2012

1. My Mercedes-Benz first generation A-Class model page, at http://www.teigfam.net/oyvind/hob/a-class
2. I wrote “A model to fulfill” about SanGimignano1300 and some reflections on my childhood Märklin experience, at http://www.teigfam.net/oyvind/blog/001
3. Glossary of transport terms: Wikipedia Glossary of rail transport terms
4. German Wikipedia page: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_Ae_3/6_II. English translation by Google at http://translate.google.no/translate
5. SBB: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schweizerische_Bundesbahnen_AG and SFR: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Federal_Railways
6. #10439 at Olten on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com (by Transalpin76) and a very nice picture of it at http://forum.3rail.nl (by Spoorman)
7. H0 or HO scale or gauge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HO_scale
8. About the assymetric wheel construction at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskussion:SBB_Ae_3/6_II
9. Swedish Da-locomotove, a successor to the SBB Ae 3/6 II at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SJ_D
10. The story of why the Swedish D-locomotive was a successor to the SBB Ae 3/6 II is called “D-loket satte fart på Sverige” and written by Håkan Abrahamson (in Swedish, the title reads “The D-loco gave momentum to Sweden”) at http://www.nyteknik.se/nyheter/fordon_motor/jarnvag
11. Koll’s katalog” at http://www.koll-verlag.de for Märklin
12. Ae 3/6 II at SwissLoks at http://swisslok.bplaced.net/swisslok_005.htm
13. Railroad and eras, at http://www.marklin.com/tech/eras.html
14. …
15. Detailed photo comparison of Märklin 37510 (#10426) and Roco 68400 (#10439) by Jeroen Schrage: forum.3rail.nl (translated). Also available at Picasa
16. How to rebuilt SBB Ae 3/6 II AC to digital, “Umbau Märklin 3151 Ae 3/6 II braun (#10460)” at http://www.jaray.ch/eisenbahn/mae_3151_ae_3_6_ii.htm (translated)
17. Sommerfeldt catalogue for catenary electrical overhead systems, 2009: http://www.sommerfeldt.de/data/sommerfeldt-katalog-2009.pdf
18. “LOKI-Spezial Nr. 23. Faszination Ae 3/6 II” by Franz Eberhard and Hansueli Gonzenbach. Fachpresse Zürich AG See http://www.loki.ch/custom/shop/index.php3. This is the absolute reference for SBB Ae 3/6 II. It is in German, but order it even if you don’t (think you) understand a word! You will pick up more than you think. It’s got circuit diagrams, a myriad of pictures, and a list of models that I need to pick a line or two from, to finish my table! (June 2013: You order it from the reference above and after a few days a letter arrives in the mail with paying details. I had to pay through the bank. No PayPal!)
19. märklin magazin 6/2004, “Elektro-Lok Ae 3/6 II der SBB. Ein Klassiker mit flottem Vorwärtsdrang”, pages 72-77. http://www.maerklin.de/mm/archiv.php
20. SBB Historic 2/2011. A small chapter with two pictures, pages 68-69. https://shop.vgbahn.info/eisenbahn-journal
21. (Added 28Nov2017) At RailPictures.net there are some quite nice photos. Start here
22. SBB Stangenlokomotiven Be 4/6 + Ae 3/6 II by Heinz Sigrist. ISBN 978-3-906691-90-9 (2016). Publisher is Edition Lan (here). In German. 144 pages and 194 colour and black/white photos. 16,5 x 23,5 cm, Hardcover. I purchased this book. After the LOKI-Spezial Nr. 23 (above, also referenced in the book) it’s well spent money. SBB Be 4/6 and its prototypes cover about 60 pages, SBB Ae 3/6 II about 45 pages and models about 15 pages. Also (here)

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