Am I the only modeler out there that runs Marklin

[Anonymous]

Yes, I know before you say it, is expensive, but that is all the LHS here in germany offers. I am wondering if any other of 3-railers out there have converted 2-rail engines to 3rail. If so was it worth the effort?

[Anonymous]

Probably one of a very few. Marklin trains I do not like at all. They are pretty corny. I am glad I do not have that crap.. We love our Katos, Athearns, and P2Ks. Marklins are a no go.

[Anonymous]

Well, there aren't to many 3 rail HO modelers over here in the US, but I know there are tons in Europe.

Anyways, I prefer Marklins' American 2 rail HO line, Trix.

[gvdobler]

Since you ask. Why are 3 rails so popular in Germany, or anywhere. When I was a little boy with my first Lionel 3 rail system, I never gave a thought to why that middle rail was there. But as I got older I noticed that the trend toward acurate looking layouts conflicted with the 3rd rail.

I have seem a few Marklin Engines that were gorgeous, but idea of realism seems to go away when you see the 3rd rail. A Lionel or 027 size layout does not look very realistic, but they are a thing of beauty.

Maybe I answered my own questions. Lets see some pictures. [:D]

Jon - Las Vegas

[Anonymous]

It will be a couple of days till i get some pix, I run marklin HO, their K & C type track is not like lionel's, the "3rd rail" is just a small bump in the tie not an actual middle rail. the advantage of the three rail system marklin runs is that middle "rail" is the positve, and the two other is the negative, which allows you to have return loops and so without having to wire in switches to reverse the polarity. Plus their new DCC system is a dream to work with.

Also I run athern, and other american rolling stock, as the european stuff really don't appeal to me. Marklin models american power also, not just euro, I have an F-7 A-B-A set and just got a set of GP9's on ebay. There was a pretty recent issue of MR that had the Marklin PA-1 in their product review.

[Anonymous]

DB212,

I ran Marklin for 35 years. High Quality gear that ran quite well. Only problem was that it was/is mostly European prototype. I still have my first Marklin loco that I got whaen I was about 5. It still runs!!! I have gone over to US prototype 2 rail DCC on my new layout. Click on the link in my signature for a few pics of some Marklin gear on the old layout.

[AggroJones]

If I had $700 I'd be running a Trix/Marklin Big Boy right now. State-of-the art. Cost is the only major flaw with them.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the forums. I ran some Marklin equipment some years ago on a layout that I was visiting. I was impressed with the quality, the quiet and the smooth running.

I hope more knowledgeable members offer some suggestions. The first response, rude & unhelpful, is not representative of the members here.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

DB,

To answer the question in your post. I did look into converting two rail DC locomotives into three rail. I gave up after deciding that the easiest conversion would be to put a diode bridge in the tender to get dc for the two rail loco. There were other issues that stopped me.

Marklin 3 rail uses the NEM standards for their wheel sets and for the size and spacing of points, guard rails and frogs in their switches. These are slightly different than NMRA Rp 25 standards and the resulting mis-matches show up when you run through a switch on the diverging route from the frog end. The NMRA standards cars derail (I fixed this by shimming certain stuff, but it was a hassle and I was never completely satisfied).

I was able to get Athearn and Proto 2000 cars (especially tank cars) to run through the 2271 wide radius moveable frog swtiches. I had cars with a Kadee on one end and a Marklin coupler on the other that I would hook up to Marklin locos and pull a string of Intermountain reefers around the layout. (E-mail me off forum if you want more info) I eventually quit torturing equipment and started a new layout with US prototype gear in two rail.

BTW: There is a guy on Ebay selling converted 2 rail locos for Marklin 3 rail. I saw a Spectrum Shay for sale as a three rail conversion. you might email him and ask how he solved these issues. Or buy some of his conversions.

Here is a link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1557&item=5960683198&rd=1

[Anonymous]

I think I know how you feel.....Being a lone wolf, so to speak.running a system not commonly used, at least over here. One of the fellows on our round robin club operates LGB large scale on an indoor layout with LGBs command control system. He is one of the few in our area operating European prototype. Its actually kinda fun for a change from the 'usual'. His young grandkids also run the railroad and so far have been unable to danage anything. The LGB is not only very reliable, its tough. Some of the European systems are actually very good, even if different than what we normally see in the USA.