Are different brands of trains compatitble?

[Anonymous]

What I was wondering are different brands of trains compatiable with diferent types of track. for example, can you run a Life like train on a Bachman track or vise versa.

Thanks

[CP5415]

I presume you are talking about HO scale?
Yes you can, unless it's a Marklin set.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Why is Marklin different? Are they not NMRA standard?

[IRONROOSTER]

Marklin uses AC current and everything else is DC current. Also, Marklin uses a third rail pickup on the center of the bottom of their locomotives and a series of "buttons" down the center of their track. Both rails are wired together. This simplifies wiring. If you use Marklin, you use their engines and their track (or modify someone else's - a pain in the rear end). You can use cars from any manufacturer with Marklin, but you'll probably have to use their wheels or trucks as I think the flanges are oversized. If you use Marklin cars with your regular DC trains you will probably have to switch wheelsets or trucks to avoid shorts. Buildings are not a problem. In short you use Marklin or you use everything else.
Enjoy
Paul

[vw-bug]

Other than Marklin...All DC trains can run on any brand of DC track. This is so you can run your trains at your friends house.

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem I encountered between different brands was putting US couplings on the German rolling stock I had brought home. No problem though on US rails.