What exactly is Trix Express? Is the recent (1990's) stuff the same principle as the old (50's) system? Does anyone know of a web-site (in English) that explains Trix Express?

I ask because my local shop has a very attractive Märklin-Trix "Wedding" train from 1997 -- the white Glaskasten, with ornamental wagons, but in Trix Express [:(]

Now, I know that this set was available from Märklin (#28970), so I assume the chassis was the same -- just different motors/decoders/pickups.
Is it practical to convert Trix Express to Märklin?

This is correct.

The rail cars usually are the easiest to convert, just have to change the wheel sets and all should be done in most cases.

The locomotive will require more work, changing the wheels, adding a pickup shoe and if digital is desired then a decoder. Lights will also have to be changed to handle the increased voltage on the track.

Costs could be rather high and some specialty tools may be required depending on what needs to be done and how the replacement parts arrive (preassembled or just the wheels which would have to be pressed on to the existing shaft if the hole diameter is the same).

I have done a few and there is definetly a lot of work involved and there is no guarantee that the unit will run smooth).

Maxi

What is TRIX Express?? It was the first HO scale Model Train set brought out in 1935 in Germany by Bing at the Leipzip Spring Fair(yes before Marklin brought their's out)!!

It was orginally 3-rail 14 Volt AC up to 1956 in Germany and Britain then they switched to 12 Volt DC operation. All <u>three rails are electrically isolated from each other</u>, the centre rail, being the negative or common rail. With catenary one can operate three trains indepedently from each other with absolutely no wiring tricks. The TRIX Express system track went from Bakelite in the 30's, 40's and early 1950's and then changed to folded tin track on paperboard ties in 1953. The change to nickel/silver "super track" occurred in 1964. The rail profile height for TRIX Express is 3.3 mm, TRIX International 2-rail is 2.7 mm and current TRIX C-track is 2.1 mm.

TRIX Express locomotives and rolling stock all had coarse wheel sets with 11 mm flanges. These would only run on TRIX Express track. However, one can operate any other manufacturers' locomotives and rolling stock on this track. One can use TRIX Express track to operate Marklin AC locomotives you have to connect the red wire to the centre rail connector on a TRIX Express feeder track and the brown wire to one of the outer rail connectors.

One could convert a TRIX Express DC locomotive to Marklin AC but it is not an easy task. The motors are different so you would need to buy an equivalent AC motor from Marklin for the Glaskasten and a Marklin slider to replace the TRIX Express centre rail "schleifer" (collector shoes). You will also have to replace the wheels.

You may want to contact Scott Houseman at Helmuts Hobby Specialties in Virginia: http://www.helmutshobbies.com He may be able to do this for you. He has successfully repaired some of my very old TRIX Express locomotives that were beyond my repair capabilities and I know he is an expert with Marklin. He understands both systems well. Let me know what you decide to do.

All the best from "the Frozen Tundra" - Wisconsin.