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December 13th, 2007 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Helpful comparisons between Marklin model trains and other brands

Marklin model trains are some of the most popular and favored around the world. They give many hobbyists a lot of enjoyment and offer beginners a great way to get started in the hobby. There are however some differences that you need to be aware of before buying them. There are some differences in the way that Marklin model trains work and this article is going to explain them.

You need to understand both the comparisons and the differences of different manufacturers, in order to get maximum usage from the trains that you collect and operate.

As with many of manufacturers of model trains, Marklin can be used on the HO scale. Indeed this is one of their best selling scales. Usually, you will find that most brands are compatible with each other on the HO scale, meaning you can collect models from many different manufactures and operate them on the same track. This is a great incentive for both hobbyists and manufacturers alike.

However, with Marklin there are some differences that make them more unique, but can cause issues. As they are made in Germany, they have a unique set of standards and many of them are not compatible with other brands of model trains (in the HO scale).

The reason for this lies in the fact that most HO scales use a two rail track. Marklin model trains are different and use a three rail AC system.

The two rails tracks use one rail with positive DC power and the other with negative DC power. If you live in North America then you will be probably be used to two rail DC tracks. The issue is that Marklin use three rail AC systems. In this setup, both outer rails are electrically connected to each other. They are also grounded. The middle rail is then used for supplying the AC power.

In fact, the modern Marklin kits have a third rail which is very hard to see and not even a solid rail. Instead it is a series of studs that are placed on the sleepers of the rail track. This is the case for the HO track M, K and C.

These different features mean that trains and railroad cars built for three rail tracks will not run on two rail tracks unless the wheels are first insulated from each other. You can use trains from two rail track and have them run on three rail tracks, but they won’t activate certain controls. This means that you will lose part of the functionality.

This means that many hobbyists actually convert three-rail trains for two-rail operations. The opposite conversion is also made. In order to do this, it requires the person to replace the wheel assemblies of the train or car. You can also replace metal axles with axles made from a non conductive material.

Remember to keep these points in mind when you are thinking about merging Marklin trains with trains from other manufacturers.

About the Author

Philip Redfearn is an avid Model Train enthusiast. For more great information on model trains, and to sign up for a free Ultimate Model Railway Secrets 11 lesson mini-course, visit http://www.ultimatemodelrailway.com

Marklin Trains