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I've meant to do this review for some time. However each time I decided to write something It turned out to be; one step forward and two step backwards. I do not know if any of you have experience this kind of feeling; that you wait so long for a product that you want so badly that when it arrives it turns out to be well below your expectations and consequently frustration prevails there on. You are simply put off with that product. Well...thats what happened to me and this is its story.
French manufacturers built almost 700 BR44ük for the Germans during WW2. The BR44ük is the transitional war time design of the BR44: the design was simplified but provisions were made to allow the engines to be restored to their original type after the war. In the BR44ük, the smoke screens, the cab window, the running plate front end, the smoke box door central lock are removed. The German specifications were scrupulously followed but owing to war restrictions, some parts had been replaced by their French equivalent (buffer stock, compressor, injectors, …
. Consequently, one engine may be slightly different from the next.
226 engines BR44ük still under construction in 1944 were taken over by the French railway (SNCF) when delivered and incorporated as 150X in SNCF rosters. They were very successfully used for the heavy haul of coal and iron in northern France. Most of the 150X were coupled to a 2'2'T34 tender (SNCF 34X).
In 1954, SNCF sold 48 engines made redundant by 25 KV electrification to TCDD. These 150X were barely 10 years old and in perfect condition. The 48 engines were picked for their original Knorr compressor and Knorr feed water heating already familiar to shop crews in Turkey. All the engines were fully overhauled by SNCF prior to delivery. Overland shipment occurred between 30 April and 25 July 1955. TCDD fitted them with a snowplow and a third light on the smoke box door. Later on, TCDD made other modification to the engines such as the restoration of the smoke box door central lock and the fitting of safety valves on the cylinders.
TCDD kept the 56700's in service until the late 70's (1977?). They were used on all kind of duties from long haul passenger to local freight.
So when it was announced by Trix that a new version of these remarkable beasts was going to hit the market, April 2008, you could easily imagine my joy. Although I have two Roco 44's this was the prototypically more accurate TCDD version with a shorter smoke stack and all..
So I pre-ordered one. It sells at a retail price of 419,95 Euro's on Trix's online shop, I got mine for 325 Euros.excl VAT. Still a hell of a lot of money but who cares I wanted it.
Just a footnote before continuing; this was going to be my first encounter with the MaTrix group. All my other stock are from either Fleischmann-Roco-Gützold-Liliput or Piko. This was going to be an experience so I kept my fingers crossed.
A bit of a research showed that Trix produced the first SNCF 150X with art no:22318 in green/black livery in 2004. The new one would be all black which suited me.
To cut things short it arrived in August.
As far as I know there are no other manufacturers of the Br44 other than Roco so the comparison naturally would be among both.
I do not plan to go into the Roco 44 details, enough has been said on it in various MRF threads.
Anyone interested can check the below threads:
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=5400
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=5332
Specially;
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=5302
Trix SNCF 150X, art no 22147, came with a factory preinstalled sound decoder and a crew car. The crew car, or the so called "camp car" was specially set up for the purpose for the second loco crew so that relatively long routes could be traversed as quickly as possible without long intermediate stops.
The first impression you get is from the box it came in:
![]()
Very robust in appearance, infact to be honest, the best I have come across so far,
![]()
The loco is packed in strong hard plastic cover ,supported by side covers which inturn supports the flip up cover, which in turn goes into another plastic hard cover and finally the styrofoam . Its like Russian matruskas. Throw it out of the window and I guarantee you, nothing will happen to it. I have to give credit to them.
![]()
The Roco box? Well...they have improved from styrofoam to sponge.
![]()
Hopeless they are.
![]()
Anyway, after wrestling with the matruskas I finally had it on my bench.
![]()
Looks fine does it? Err...not exactly. Upon close inspection found that you can not see inside the cab, something was blocking the cab window!
![]()
Guess what? There is no cab interior. Will you please look at where the firebox area is!!??
![]()
Funny isn't it. Well it's not over check this out:
![]()
You can actually see the GEARS !!!! ( I will come back to the gears later on) and other bits and pieces !!! Toy like!!!
![]()
I am not going to mention the horrendeous wheel flanges....
![]()
only positve side is, and that is if you are using R1 on your layout, this 2-10-0 'er will gallop its way around. Its articulated:
![]()
Details? The Roco 44 is the undisputed winner.
![]()
![]()
You think its all over? What about running characteristics?
MaTrix is the company who brought us the magnificant " Soft Sinus Drive " motor. On a 2008 release model you have all the right to expect not , a sinus motor, but a reasonable up to date motor, NOT A PANCAKE dinosaur motor with gears sticking out from everywhere and at this PRICE!!
The motor is in the loco and the loudspeaker in the tender as in all MaTrix steamers . When first tested on the programming track, ECOS named the decoder on it as "Generic NMRA", what ever that means? Has about 12 functions. It sure isn't a loksound but a Trix invention decoder which you cannot alter the CV values because they are all factory preset. At least I couldn't with the ECOS.
Now comes the funny bit. The sound.
When running, the sound of the motor supresses the sound from the loudspeakers !!!! Its that noisey. The chuff rate is stupendous.
Slow running? you gotta be kidding me.It loves galloping.
Being a 2008 release model and paying this kind of money one does not expect the things that I have put forward. This is simply regarding customers as suckers.
From now on I will not have anything to do with MaTrix related products.
Baykal
French manufacturers built almost 700 BR44ük for the Germans during WW2. The BR44ük is the transitional war time design of the BR44: the design was simplified but provisions were made to allow the engines to be restored to their original type after the war. In the BR44ük, the smoke screens, the cab window, the running plate front end, the smoke box door central lock are removed. The German specifications were scrupulously followed but owing to war restrictions, some parts had been replaced by their French equivalent (buffer stock, compressor, injectors, …
. Consequently, one engine may be slightly different from the next.226 engines BR44ük still under construction in 1944 were taken over by the French railway (SNCF) when delivered and incorporated as 150X in SNCF rosters. They were very successfully used for the heavy haul of coal and iron in northern France. Most of the 150X were coupled to a 2'2'T34 tender (SNCF 34X).
In 1954, SNCF sold 48 engines made redundant by 25 KV electrification to TCDD. These 150X were barely 10 years old and in perfect condition. The 48 engines were picked for their original Knorr compressor and Knorr feed water heating already familiar to shop crews in Turkey. All the engines were fully overhauled by SNCF prior to delivery. Overland shipment occurred between 30 April and 25 July 1955. TCDD fitted them with a snowplow and a third light on the smoke box door. Later on, TCDD made other modification to the engines such as the restoration of the smoke box door central lock and the fitting of safety valves on the cylinders.
TCDD kept the 56700's in service until the late 70's (1977?). They were used on all kind of duties from long haul passenger to local freight.
So when it was announced by Trix that a new version of these remarkable beasts was going to hit the market, April 2008, you could easily imagine my joy. Although I have two Roco 44's this was the prototypically more accurate TCDD version with a shorter smoke stack and all..
So I pre-ordered one. It sells at a retail price of 419,95 Euro's on Trix's online shop, I got mine for 325 Euros.excl VAT. Still a hell of a lot of money but who cares I wanted it.
Just a footnote before continuing; this was going to be my first encounter with the MaTrix group. All my other stock are from either Fleischmann-Roco-Gützold-Liliput or Piko. This was going to be an experience so I kept my fingers crossed.
A bit of a research showed that Trix produced the first SNCF 150X with art no:22318 in green/black livery in 2004. The new one would be all black which suited me.
To cut things short it arrived in August.
As far as I know there are no other manufacturers of the Br44 other than Roco so the comparison naturally would be among both.
I do not plan to go into the Roco 44 details, enough has been said on it in various MRF threads.
Anyone interested can check the below threads:
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=5400
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=5332
Specially;
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index...?showtopic=5302
Trix SNCF 150X, art no 22147, came with a factory preinstalled sound decoder and a crew car. The crew car, or the so called "camp car" was specially set up for the purpose for the second loco crew so that relatively long routes could be traversed as quickly as possible without long intermediate stops.
The first impression you get is from the box it came in:
Very robust in appearance, infact to be honest, the best I have come across so far,
The loco is packed in strong hard plastic cover ,supported by side covers which inturn supports the flip up cover, which in turn goes into another plastic hard cover and finally the styrofoam . Its like Russian matruskas. Throw it out of the window and I guarantee you, nothing will happen to it. I have to give credit to them.
The Roco box? Well...they have improved from styrofoam to sponge.
Anyway, after wrestling with the matruskas I finally had it on my bench.
Looks fine does it? Err...not exactly. Upon close inspection found that you can not see inside the cab, something was blocking the cab window!
Guess what? There is no cab interior. Will you please look at where the firebox area is!!??
Funny isn't it. Well it's not over check this out:
You can actually see the GEARS !!!! ( I will come back to the gears later on) and other bits and pieces !!! Toy like!!!
I am not going to mention the horrendeous wheel flanges....
only positve side is, and that is if you are using R1 on your layout, this 2-10-0 'er will gallop its way around. Its articulated:
Details? The Roco 44 is the undisputed winner.
You think its all over? What about running characteristics?
MaTrix is the company who brought us the magnificant " Soft Sinus Drive " motor. On a 2008 release model you have all the right to expect not , a sinus motor, but a reasonable up to date motor, NOT A PANCAKE dinosaur motor with gears sticking out from everywhere and at this PRICE!!
The motor is in the loco and the loudspeaker in the tender as in all MaTrix steamers . When first tested on the programming track, ECOS named the decoder on it as "Generic NMRA", what ever that means? Has about 12 functions. It sure isn't a loksound but a Trix invention decoder which you cannot alter the CV values because they are all factory preset. At least I couldn't with the ECOS.
Now comes the funny bit. The sound.
When running, the sound of the motor supresses the sound from the loudspeakers !!!! Its that noisey. The chuff rate is stupendous.
Slow running? you gotta be kidding me.It loves galloping.
Being a 2008 release model and paying this kind of money one does not expect the things that I have put forward. This is simply regarding customers as suckers.
From now on I will not have anything to do with MaTrix related products.
Baykal
