HO Advice needed

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone. I'm a new member on the site.

I need some general advice on HO scale modeling.

I have a bunch of '60's era Marklin HO equipment that was given to me in the 1970's. I have gotten permission from my wife to have a layout and am trying to learn what I can about HO railroading.

My knowledge of all the different brands of HO equipment is really low. All I "know" about Marklin is that it seems relatively expensive, is a little hard to find in the US, has a limited selection of USA railroad equipment, and some people seem really devoted to it.

I have too much Marklin stuff to just start over. But in terms of expansion, I would love to know what people on the forum think. Should I stick with Marklin? Is Marklin worth the extra money? Are there comparable quality US-made brands that are easier to find in the US? Are there other brands of locos that will run on the Marklin track?

In terms of goals for my layout, I'm not going to go too large (wife would never let me). So I'd rather have less stuff, but have it be really top-notch.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I couldn't seem to find info on this subject on the internet.

Thanks,
Dean

[BR60103]

Hi Dean. Welcome to Model Railroading.
Marklin is in some ways the BMW or Rolls Royce of Model railroading. It is incompatible with North American trains because it is 3-rail and uses AC power.
Because Marklin has very little US prototype equipment, they don't sell very much there. Because they don't sell very much, they don't expand the line.
If you can find a way to put Marklin couplers on US cars, you could expand that way, but it would be unrewarding to try to convert US locomotives. Marklin cars would short out 2-rail layouts. Some European made cars are imported with European style couplers.
--David

[dknelson]

Dean, David is correct: Maerklin uses a proprietary method using AC "third rail" (not a rail but tiny studs in the track)
So normal track and locomotives that you see in the stores would NOT be compatible and you would have to use Maerklin only or the fairly limited amount of Maerklin compatible stuff that is imported. Nor could you run your trains on other people's layouts unless they had Maerklin too.
They make some USA prototypes but not much. So you might have to accept being a European modeler. The one advantage to that is all those great Vollmer and Kibri and Heljan buildings that are European prototypes would fit right in.
Can I make some suggestions? First DO NOT modify your Maerklin stuff with American couplers. I think there is a collectors value to older Maerklin trains that you could be destroying.
Secoond, I would think seriously about selling your Maerklin trains perhaps on EBay. You might make enough to get good quality American style trains. I really do think there is a market for them.
On the other hand if the stuff runs, and you like European trains, and are able to afford to buy the new Maerklin stuff to expand your layout and collection I am sure a Maerklin layout could be lots of fun, which is after all the main point.
Dave Nelson

[nfmisso]

Hi Dean;

Expanding on what Dave Nelson wrote.

Roco and Flieschmann make some Marklin compatible locomotives and rolling stock, all European style. No other locomotives will run on Marklin track.

If you want a European prototype layout, stay with Marklin. If you want an American prototype layout, you really don't have much choice but to sell your Marklin. If you have the original boxes, and it is in good shape, it will bring top dollar. Take a look at:

http://listings.ebay.com/pool3/listings/list/all/category1557/index.html?from=R0

All other HO scale trains are compatible with each other. Most "American" brands are made or assembled in China.

Let us know what you decide.

Good Luck
Nigel

[Anonymous]

Everyone,

Thank you for the feedback. That is very helpful. I figured that someone in this forum would be able to answer those questions pretty quickly.

I think what I'll do is just set up my Marklin stuff as a separate lay-out. If I become really frustrated at the lack of Marklin US prototypes, I can make a new setup w/ other brands.

Any suggestions there? Who makes US prototypes that are similiar build quality to Marklin?

Thanks,
Dean

[Anonymous]

Dean; as David said earlier, Marklin is kind of a Rolls Royce or Mercedes of HO quality.
"Who makes US prototypes that are similar build quality to Marklin ?"
A bit of a tough question...depending on what attributes you seek the most, maybe no one.
There are US or US controlled manufacturers with as good or better detail, or paint, but maybe no one with as rugged, durable, or long lasting a product...AND unlike with Marklin, you will have to go to DIFFERENT SOURCES for locos, cars, track, switches, power sources, and buildings, in order to obtain optimum quality.
It has really always been that way with North American modelling, totally unlike the horizontally integrated manufacturers like in Europe.
Not mentioned in this thread so far, is that Marklin themselves, and their Trix division, have begun producing high quality North American HO models.
Yes, they are expensive.
Good luck & regards / Mike

[Anonymous]

I have seen a few DISPLAY LAYOUTS were several tracks are layed for the trains to run on and one or two of the tracks are dedicated to the three rail setup on the others for standard two rail HO. You might be able to do that, run two tracks, one for Marklin and one for everything else.................Jamie

[Anonymous]

I had a similar dilemma with my American HO stuff after I was transferred to Europe a few years ago. I wanted to continue to expand my American equipment, but found the availability in Europe was both scarce and much more expensive locally than the Marklin and Roco HO products. I found the Marklin and Roco products superior in build and detail to most of my American trains (mostly Walthers).

I merged the two systems where I have a three-rail AC track running in together with my American DC track. One half of the 12’ x 6’ layout is American (with structures/vehicles/yard) and the opposite side is European with associated structures. Each track system is allowed just to run through the others’ territory and provide continuous running capability. A 14” high scenery backdrop divides the two. This way, I have the best of two worlds, and I can keep my American HO stuff up and running in Europe and enjoy what Marklin and Roco has to offer cheaply until I get transferred again.

By the way, Marklin is a great system. It’s really a shame that they have so few American models and that the cost is sometimes prohibitive for endless expansion like what we have all come to appreciate from Asian imports available in the US. Have fun with Marklin!!