The year I was born my brother got a Marklin train set for Christmas. It comprised a CM800 tank engine with 3 X 4000 passenger wagons.
A year or two later it was expanded with more track plus another 3000 loco (numbering scheme had changed) and a couple of freight wagons. My brother was never very interested in trains, but I was, from a very early age, and they became mine by default. I still have both locos, two of the coaches, and one of the wagons from this original lot.

In my teens I was distracted from the hobby by the usual ingrediants of studies, cars and girls, but occasionally found time to run the trains. I had also at this time received as a gift a Triang "Princess Elizabeth" and two BR coaches. My attention became split between British and German trains.

Then came work, marriage and children, and it was at about the time my son was born that I came back to model trains. I experimented with British (LNER) OO gauge, and then with GWR in N gauge, but when, on holiday, I stumbled on the entire Marklin range held in stock at that time at Hamleys in London, I was hooked again on Marklin. I bought a 3085 Br003 and some green express coaches, and then a year or so later I bought a 3072 Br212 and some wagons. From then on my collection grew exponentially, and about 15 years ago I managed to build my first permanent layout in a corner of my son's bedroom. The current layout, now C track and digital, still occupies my son's room, and all the space under it is storage for my collection, which now includes 127 locomotives and numerous coaches and wagons.

Hi all

I have my father to blame for all my interest

He was stationed in Germany in the mid 1950's and purchased a few M* items including a 3011 and a load of track and catenary.

When I was around 6/7 he then handed it over to me and used to set it up in my bedroom at every opportunity as a carpetbahn.

It was only when I started earnining money did I then start expanding the collection and always wanted at some point to build a layout.

That time came in 2011 and I now have the layout I use for exhibitions.

Mike

My older brother's American Flyer 027 set. We had it for a few years, long before I could remember. It was a simple oval with a passing siding on one end. We needed to buy some parts or something and the next thing you know, the parts to repair it said Marklin and created a complete railroad all its own. I'm sure mom was not amused. My sister says I learned how to spend money from one of the best-my dad.

One year old
Christmas gift from parents
Märklin oval start set with M tracks

Hi all,

Bad luck I guess, if I hadn't been on the computer, if Juhan hadn't accepted me as a member, if I hadn't seen Stephen, Ray and John's collections, if I didn't get all that help from the forum members.....




If I didn't have that little CM800 sitting in a box from way back in 1959....

Ian.

Looks like we started with the same set, Peter!

Hi all,

When I was a young boy at an age of around 4-5 years old I got very interested in H0 Märklin trains. There were a nice looking winter layout in our towns bank's window. I still remember how I admired all the beautiful locomotives and rolling stock + the scenery . I could watch them for hours without getting bored in them. So I assured my parents that I am interested in Märklin H0 trains . Then soon after this I got then my first Märklin 2920 starter set back in the start of the 1980's. I had three locos back then (3077, 3087 and 3104).

Then I had my trains and some extension parts until the age of around 14-15. Then came other interests and I unfortunately sold my trains. In 2002 I restarted this great hobby. And again of course with Märklin! This time first with Delta and soon after with Digital. I had seven locos until year 2010.

Then something happened and now I have almost 200 H0 1:87 locos. I tried N-scale 1:160 for some hours and decided to sell the trains and tracks I bought. Those things are a way too small for my eyes, fingers and taste . I have recently bought Märklin 1 gauge 1:32 tracks and three locos. I still like most the good old H0 1:87, but this 1:32 is great variation as our living room temporary layout.

This is my story how I got interested in trains. I have three sons and really hope that some of them will be interested enough to continue this great hobby with me later and also when I don't exist anymore. It hopefully takes some years as I'm now 39 years old. My sons are soon 7, 4 and 1 years old and two oldest are at the moment very interested in trains. I hope the best!

Regards,
Janne

I was always into trains as my grandfather was a lok driver on the old Swedish steamers (Re SA 944) and later the electric Da (30301 etc) before retiring. Everytime I met him I wanted him to take me down to the lokshop they had in their town to look at the big "cho cho" (steamer) and whatever else would be there. What a great site it was too!

Anyway, fast forward to 1980 and Christmas when I received my first Märklin train set. Lok and 2 green wagons with M-track, namely the 3090 and 4040 wagons. Later came the BR 24 3003 and in 1984 a Rc1 3043 lok from dad when I learned to crawl (swimming that is!). I still have all the wagons and loks, everything still works and I am very proud to still have these items as they are very close to me.

Then a few years of school, ladies etc etc etc with almost no attention to Märklin, although the interest was always there and in 2004 I managed to convince my wife to allow me the "library/dining room" to be used for a small setup while we lived in the UK. In 2010 we left the UK for Germany and have since the beginning of 2013 a new house with a basement and the biggest room was always planned to be my train room. Well, some of it has just become a reality as my new cabinets are up displaying almost all of my collection and the wood for the new layout is on order :D

Here's a pic of my "Swedish Collection" showing off all of my first lok's etc.
1. To the left, on Row 1, 4 and 7 you can see the Da lok and the Re SA 944 on row 2 which is the loks my grandad would have driven.
2. Bottom of left side is my first 3090 tanklok and wagons.
3. Middle of the right hand side is my 1984 Rc1 lok with the 2 wagons that I also got.
4. Bottom of right side is the Br 24 and a few wagons.

Got my first train in 1953 or 54 for Christmas, a Lionel Scout set. I was 3 or 4 at the time and really have never not had something to play with since. Once when I had a summer job in Bordeaux I bought some Rapido N trains. Also had trains in my dorm room at college. Main focus now is my LGB RhB garden layout and Marklin carpetbahn until I can find space for a permanent layout.

Roger