Since 1977ish I have had this facination with the Swiss Crocodiles. So I have being do some initial research on some the models that are available of these engines. Roco and Marklin are the two available models. I know all about Marklin (I have several), but I have little expierence with Roco beyond one box car. How good is Roco?
The answer depends on what you expect from the model.
There is nothing wrong with Roco in terms of general quality. Roco equipment is, however, not as robust as Marklin, but maybe a little more detailed. Unfortunately, many of those detail parts have to be user installed, which can be quite awkward.
I assume that you run DC and not AC. I´d than say, get the Trix version of Marklin´s Swiss Crocodile. It is a smooth performer, plenty of detail, robust and if you add ESU´s Loksound V3.5 sound decoder to it, you have a superb loco with proto sound!
Is the Trix version worth the $400 price difference. I have been finding the Roco for about $250ish, usually less, but nothing less than $575 for the Trix version.
Wow - that much?
In Germany, the Trix non-DCC version is about the same price as Roco. No doubt that, IMHO, the Trix model will give you the better service, but 400 bucks is a steep surcharge!
Btw, there is a slight difference between the Roco and the Trix model. Roco´s model is a Ce 6/8 II and the Trix version is a Ce 6/8 III
Roco loco
Trix loco - see the difference in the drive train?
Is the Trix version worth the $400 price difference? I have been finding the Roco for about $250ish, usually less, but nothing less than $575 for the Trix version.
I had seen the difference. The Trix doesn’t have the counterweights, or the rocker arm. The Roco does. I was leaning more towards the Roco and would “settled” for the Trix.
Do you have a chance to take a look at either the Marklin/Trix croc and the Roco one? Both have a quite different “feel”.
Maybe I am a little biased, but even though the Marklin locos are quite expensive, they have become very dear to me, just for reasons of quality. What other brand can you just put on the track after 20 years of storage and it will run like a Swiss watch?