Welcome to Märklin!
The guide for beginners and returners
People who were once able to experience the magic of a Märklin model railroad keep this experience in their memories.
All beginnings are - not so difficult! Would you like to relive your old hobby? Perhaps you still have a large number of earlier Märklin products and are wondering if you can still use them all? With our guide, (re)getting started is no problem. In addition, we have lots of advice and tricks for expansion and digitization.
Tip: With our book for beginners and our YouTube series We build a model railroad, you get all the essential info on getting started again and the digital world. Of course, we also offer a huge selection of track plans for beginner layouts.
- Re(entry) made easy
- Compatibility of old and new products explained
- Great tips on products and extensions
- Digitizing your Märklin layout
Märklin beginners YouTube tutorials
Simple and easy to understand (Currently only in German)
Get started now. Here, newcomers and those just starting out will find lots of tips and tricks for the Märklin model railroad.
Märklin YouTube Kanal
- Always available
- Tips and tricks
- Latest tutorials
Track layouts for beginners
Expand your model railway layout now
Here you will find numerous track plans for the expansion of your model railway layout. Here you will find numerous track plans of various degrees of difficulty for the expansion of your model railway layout. You will receive exact information about the space required and track material. (only in German)
Find track layouts now
- Track layouts for beginners
- Track layouts for Re-entrants
- Track layouts for Professionals
- Tips and Tricks
With our tips and tricks, you can take just a few steps back into the world of model railroading.
1 | Cleaning vehicles
2 | Rails - cleaning and the C-track
3 | Everything is running again - what's next?
4 | Digitise your Märklin layout
5 | Frequently asked questions
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Can the former M track be combined with the current C track?
- Unreservedly yes. Both are center conductor systems.
- An M track can be attached to one side of a 24951 transition track and a C track to the other side.
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Can today's cars be combined with the older locomotives and cars?
- Today's vehicles also run on the M track.
- The Relex coupler is still identical.
- The close coupler head is designed so that it can also be combined with the Relex coupler.
- The lighting in cars works on analog and digitally controlled layouts.
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Can a digital layout be built with the M-track?
- Provided the track is in decent condition (no corrosion damage, no deformation or signs of wear), digital control can also be used on this track.
- Please note: It applies to all track systems that interference suppressors such as permanently installed interference suppression capacitors, which may be installed in sidings for analog operation, must be removed.
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Can today's locomotives also be controlled with the earlier traction transformers?
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Earlier traction transformers are designed for a mains voltage of 220 V. Today we have a slightly higher mains voltage of 230 V in our household networks in Europe. This could lead with a certain decoder generation to the fact that with simultaneous occurrence of different tolerance conditions it could come to damage of the decoders when using such an old driving transformer. However, all our decoders used in today's H0 models are designed to be so voltage-resistant that there are no longer any problems here. Therefore, if you prefer to buy new models and not on the second-hand market, you are on the safe side here.
- The use of the earlier driving transformers is not prohibited. However, you must be aware that these older devices do not comply with today's stricter safety regulations. Therefore, such an exchange is recommended but not a must.
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I would like to rebuild my former M track layout with C track. Where is there a comparison list which former M-track can be replaced by which C-track?
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The philosophy behind the geometry of C-track is so different in detail from M-track that there can be no simple comparison list here. To convert an old M track layout into a C track layout, it is best to use a track planning program (e.g. Märklin software "Track Planning 2D/3D", version 9.0). The M-track layout is drawn in one layer. Now you can draw the desired C-track layout in a second layer as congruent as possible above it.
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Can all earlier H0 locomotives be digitized?
- Digitization of the older locomotives is possible with a few exceptions. In many cases, the model can even be retrofitted with a digital high-performance drive. With sufficient installation space, optionally also with integrated sound. Your specialist dealer will be happy to advise you.
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Where can I still get the earlier control panels like item 7272?
- For each of the earlier control or switch panels, there is now an equivalent successor in the current range. Please note that today's devices use the current plug system with a 1.8 mm plug and no longer the former plug system with a 2.6 mm plug. This old plug system is no longer allowed to be offered in the toy sector. Therefore the change to the new system.
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What distinguishes the connection of today's plants from the connection of earlier plants?
- In principle, there is no difference. The traction current is still connected to the center conductor, while the return conductor (=ground) is connected to the rails. This is done independently of the operating system used. With today's C track, any track can be used for this. With the K and M track, special sidings or special terminals are used for this purpose.
Our specialist dealers are there for you.
Find a Märklin dealer near you now
- Support from the expert
- A large selection of all products from Märklin, Trix and LGB
- Service also on the phone
Stop by or give us a call, our dealers will be happy to help you.
