Being Canadian, I am set on North American HO, and N trying out. I disocvered a while back EurorailHobbies, a Canadian based dealer and importer of Eurpoean made and prototype specific model trains.I took interest in the upcoming (third quarter of 2020) EMD made Class 66 bi-directional diesel locomotive offered by both Trix and Marklin for the same price. However from your experiance with both manufactures, which do you think is best to you. Any product demos or test sample video avaible to watch? I'm not set on a prototype, as I am figuring out where my interest lies within the old world of model railroading.
Random,
I have two of the Trix NYC 2-8-2 Mikes (ca. 2005) and they are terrific runners and beautifully detailed. I don't know if it's still the case but Trix was/is intended for the American market and Marklin, the European market. Marklin is generally for 3-rail operation and Trix, 2-rail.
A few years ago I mistakenly purchased a Marklin caboose and found out that it shorted my DCC layout. The fix was easy: Swap out the uninsulated trucks for insulated ones. Problem solved.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Stay away from Marklin unless your layout is 100% Marklin. These are 3 rail models like Lionel and not compatible with anything else.
Trix is owned by Marklin, so the quality is similar, but will operate on 2 rail layouts.
Be aware, these are intended for the European market, so might have oversized flanges and incorrect details to be able to negotiate tighter curves.
I have never owned a Trix locomotive, so I will stop here.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Märklin is one of the oldest toy train manufacturer of the world and the one we owe the "name" HO scale to. Märklin HO scale products are designed for their proprietary 3-rail AC system, whereas Trix products are intended for 2-rail DC. Both follow European NEM standards with flanges slightly larger than RP25 wheels. They do run on code 100 track, though. Both Märklin and their DC counterpart Trix are quality products and - with a little care - will give you a lifetime of service. They are equipped with NEM coupler pockets, allowing to easily swap the couplers to Kadees.
Kevin´s remark about incorrect details is simply not correct. It may have been so 50 years ago, but so were your Tyco or Model Power products. Today, European model railroading products are often much more detailed than what you buy at your end of the Big Pond.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Tinplate ToddlerKevin´s remark about incorrect details is simply not correct.
I was referring to allowances needed to make it possible for the models to negotiate tighter curves, not fine detail on the carbody.
SeeYou190 Tinplate Toddler Kevin´s remark about incorrect details is simply not correct. I was referring to allowances needed to make it possible for the models to negotiate tighter curves, not fine detail on the carbody. -Kevin
Tinplate Toddler Kevin´s remark about incorrect details is simply not correct.
Wrong again, Kevin. Märklin, or any other European manufacturer, are way above in terms of detail, quality and durability of any BLI, MTH, Athearn, Bachmann and you name it products.
It´s certainly misleading to refer to the way products were made 50 to 70 years ago!
Tinplate Toddler Märklin is one of the oldest toy train manufacturer of the world and the one we owe the "name" HO scale to. Märklin HO scale products are designed for their proprietary 3-rail AC system, whereas Trix products are intended for 2-rail DC. Both follow European NEM standards with flanges slightly larger than RP25 wheels. They do run on code 100 track, though. Both Märklin and their DC counterpart Trix are quality products and - with a little care - will give you a lifetime of service. They are equipped with NEM coupler pockets, allowing to easily swap the couplers to Kadees.
I feel it could fit on, as my PC (Presidents Choice) Mehano made Canadian National locomotives that where part of the tran sets released by the grocery brand, where made for the Code 100 loop track and even fit on the Kato HM1 track loop which are code 83.Dont mind the second paragraph. I was trying to insert a sentance or two between the first two, but the linking too made it automatculy purple.
Märklin won´t do any good for you! They run on 3-rail AC, the third "rail" bein stud contacts buried in the track bed. In any case, go for the Trix DC version.
In Europe, DCC is called DCC. DC does not stand for direct control but for direct current, while AC stands for alternating current. While DC does not change its polarity, alternating current constantly changes the polarity, usually at a rate of 50 to 60 Hertz, i.e. 50 to 60 times a second. DC motors simply won´t run on AC and vice versa.
Tinplate Toddler Märklin won´t do any good for you! They run on 3-rail AC, the third "rail" bein stud contacts buried in the track bed. In any case, go for the Trix DC version. In Europe, DCC is called DCC. DC does not stand for direct control but for direct current, while AC stands for alternating current. While DC does not change its polarity, alternating current constantly changes the polarity, usually at a rate of 50 to 60 Hertz, i.e. 50 to 60 times a second. DC motors simply won´t run on AC and vice versa.
Your Trix class 66 comes with a DCC sound decoder, so running it with your NCE Powercab is no issue.