Hi friends
I notice that there are Trix HO & Trix Express, what are the difference?

Thank you

Eric

For the Dutch members, who want to know more —>

http://home.planet.nl/~gesku011/home.html

Which modern M* controller can be used to operate old Trix Express train?

Mike

Markus,
Thank you.
Mike

Eric,

The roots of the company TRIX can be traced back to 1838. In 1925 the merger between metal toy makers, Andreas Förtner and the late Johann Haffner, later taken over by his son, became the Vereinigte Spielwarenfabriken, A. Förtner und J Haffner’s Nachfolger KG. In 1928 Stephan Bing took over the company after business and financial disagreements at the Bing-Werke AG that was founded by his father Ignatz and uncle, Adolf. The actual name Trix was adopted in 1931 with the first metal model erector set construction toys being produced, Trix Metallbaukasten and the name was changed to Trix Vereinigte Spielwarenfabriken, A. Förtner und J. Haffner Nachf. GmbH. (TVSF). The holes in the metal parts had a Tri “X” configuration, hence the name Trix. The metal construction system actually played an important role in Great Britain. It was instrumental in the formation of Trix, Ltd., which was licensed to manufacture these sets (2). The first directors were W.J. Bassett-Lowke and Leo Gross.
The first electric HO scale model train was introduced in March 1935 at the Leipzig Spring Fair under the Trix Express label. Trix made its debut in the U.K. at Christmas that same year where it was sold and distributed by Bassett-Lowke Ltd. as The Bassett Lowke Twin-Train Table Railway. Many of the Trix Express molds and plans were sent to England and collaboration with Bassett-Lowke eventually led to the British equivalent of Trix Express, Trix Twin (3).

The uniqueness of both systems was that two trains could be operated on a single track. The track scale was 16.5 mm and was 3-rail, each being electrically isolated from the other. The center rail was the common. The locomotives and tenders had collector shoes configured to pick up electricity from the center rail and either of the two outer rails. Hence “Twin” running. Later, with the addition of catenary one could now operate three trains independently on a single track with no other electrical “trix!!” From 1935 until 1956 both Trix Express and Trix Twin operated on 14 Volt AC then both switched to 12 Volt DC in 1956. The TRIX Express rail profile height is 3.3 mm which calls for larger wheel flanges and is not NEM compatible. One can operate any manufacturer's trains on TRIX Express track but not vice versa unless you swap wheel sets.

TRIX HO or International, 2-rail DC, was not introduced until 1964. The rail profile height of the 2-rail track is 2.7 mm and is NEM compatible. With 2-rail DC in analogue you can only run one train per track unless you use catenary and can then run two independently. With the advent of digital one does not need fancy wiring to be able to run multiple trains on 2-rail DC track anymore.

For those of us who still operate TRIX Express, it is a unique system and gives us many hours of pleasure. It truly offered the model railroader a way to operate many trains before digital was conceived. TRIX also brought out its Elektronischen Mehrzugsteuerung (EMS) system in the mid-1970's which was its first introduction to a digital way of operation. One could operate 6 trains independently on one track with this system.

All my TRIX Express operates as new!! Cannot beat it for quality!!

Regards and Happy Holidays (a Scot in Wisconsin).

Eric,

Here are some links that describe TRIX Express more completely.

http://www.ig-trix-express.de/
http://www.tischeisenbahn.de/
http://www.ttrca.co.uk/

There are also many other interesting links within these sites.

If anyone has any further interest you can contact me via E-mail (mpheil@new.rr.com)