Trix collectors won't be amused if they see these pictures. To quiet them: I admit to have done an outrage. I did not only convert an old Trix model for AC operation; I went so far that it's not possible any longer to restore  the original condition. So I can only recommend to all those who prefer to see old stuff in its original condition, to leave this site as fast as possibe. But even if this model was conversted for AC, so also DC railroaders and Trix-Express friends can profit from my suggestions.

Most visitors should know the page of  Hans-Günter Heiserholt. He converted the engine from the Rheingold train set 31326 for AC.

In the first half of the year of 2004, I had purchased an old BR 112 from Trix via ebay for a nice price. It was a Trix International model, so I thougt I would not have to exchange the wheels and that I could to the conversion much easier. This model was a previous version of the loco contained in the 31326 set. Not only the shell, also the bogie show that both models are members of the same family.

I converted the loco, leaving most part of its technical equipment unchanged. The picture shows the mounting of the pickup shoe. The Märklin pickup shoe 7175 doesn't have to be screwed, it is pressed, with its pertinax plate, into the bogie's middle keyway. It is fitting exactly into this keyway! Because this bogie isn't driven, the pickup shoe has enough space on turnouts.

Unluckily, this model disappointed from the first day on. Especially the bad, gruff driving characteristics attracted attention. It stopped aprubtly in front of red signals, and the coaches of the train derailed. This condition couldn't be remain unchanged.This old Trix "technology" is very robust and indestructable; but it's no longer stisfying today's model railroaders wishes. When I purchased the set 31326, the fine driving characterisitcs of its engine convinced me at once! What smooth and silent run!
But also optically, there were great differences. The grey windows were a kind of "optical deathblow" for the old loco. This can be ssen on the picture right hand. The loco of the 31326 has a reworked shell with clear windows and interior furnishings of the driver's cabs. The set contained no spare part list, so I asked the Trix spare part service for the numbers and ordered the parts. The numbers are: 12238500 for the interior furnishings 301708 for the windows

I removed the sheet metal coverings, and the light circuits are removed. They should be handled with care, by pressing it out with a little screwdriver, in order not to damage them. After dismantling the railings, the old grey windows can be removed which still hold the windows.

After you have set in the new windows, the railings and light circuits can be fitted again. .

The original condition of the interior furnishings.	Front view of the reworked interior furnishing. The reworked interior furnishings seen from the front side. The back wall filed down on the height of the doors to the engineroom. The notch on the front side shouldn't either be enwidened at all or only a little bit; myself I have filed off a little bit too much!	Side view of the interior furnishings. Very well visible is the new notch between the back wall and the forstanding part of this wall. This had the be done to create place for the shell's holdering. IN the newer versions of this model, this has been changed.

I dídn't order the new sheet metal coverings for the lightings. However, I recommend to everything who follows my instructions, to do this. It has been a lot of work to adapt the old coverings: I had to bend the part a lot an the holdering had to be soldered into a new lentgh and position.

The pantographs can as well be orderd by Trix under the number  75 0981 00 - or just take the fitting Somerfeld pantograph of the DBS 54 type!

But there was still another problem: the shell was coated with a layer of grey dirt. I had never seen that before. Using the well-known SR 24 cleaning oil brought now success. After other attemps to clean the shell failed, I decided to use wahing-up liquid which finally brougt success.

Unluckily the several attemps had damaged the lettering.  The letterings printed on the shell remained undamaged, while the the DB logos and number plates had been detached. The consisted of nothing else than printed paper.

So I ordered new lettering. There are firms offering to produce individual lettering at request. For example Modellbau-Kreye or Kuswa. 

The dimensions of the footprints are:

7 mm x 5 mm - for the DB-logos

10 mm x 2 mm - for the number plates

4 mm x 3 mm - factory plates

I decided for a lettering where the DB-logos were still metal plates, the running numbers however, only were stucked on as a foil. This was in fact the early era IV condition of the BR 112. This is a step I recommend for al locos of this class, because the original lettering with paper can't really be called a nonplusultra!

If you have to exchange the wheels, depends very much on the track you use on your layout. On C-track, the model won't cause any problems with the original wheelsets. If your loco is a Trix Express models, the wheels have to be exchanged in every case. The 14 mm wheels from Märklin, which this manufacturer uses for many enginges.

Normal wheels:

bronzed:

344830 with traction tires
344860 without traction tires

plated with nickle

217 610 with traction tires
217 660 without traction tires

Spoked Wheels:

209 690 with traction tires
209 620 without traction tires

Don't forget to fit spacing washers! Otherwise, ths loco could get a lot of side flow, so that it could slide for example a platform and derail. The reason for that is the narrower frame, which is prepared for the broad Trix Express wheels.

Trix axles have a diameter of  2,5 mm, like those of Märklin und Gützold. So I used spacing washers with an inner diameter of 2,7 mm. On every side I installed two spacing washers, which is enough.

Hardly to believe that this one ist the old Trix model! The new number plates from Kuswa. They are looking far better than the old ones. I kept the old running number, which, of couse can be changed.

However, pictures say much more than a thousand words:

Also if the needed parts were all mentioned, I have composed a list with all of them and of couse with their catalog numbers. 

Without any doubt, the  BR 112 and 110.3 belong to the most beautyful and optically most succeeded electric enginges ever built in Germany. Now, the model does meet these high requierements in every case. Sometimes, during the conversion, I thought if it would be better to stop with it or to go on. Every time when I operate this engine on my layout, it shows that I have decided right!

Disclaimer. I can NOT be held responsible for any damage you cause by following my instructions, on modifying your model railway equipment. Everything you are doing, you are doing it on your own risk!