I am just getting into older Marklin HO scale and am a little confused with the three types of HO Track? Can someone explain to me what the difference is between them? I am rather confused?

I, also have been given a Marklin 4-6-2 Green Locomotive and Tender with the No. 3673 on the locomotive and on the Cabin are the following - S3/6 K. Bay. STS B.
I have tried this Loco on my Hornby Dublo 3 Rail and it will not run? Could anyone explain to me why it won't run?[:)

M-track is the best of course...

Welcome Louise
Like said above, K track is for purist
See: https://www.marklin-users.net/fo...ault.aspx?g=posts&t=8363or my website. I like the looks of K track, but C track is very good for temporary lay-outs. M track is no longer produced.

Hi Louise,

welcome to the forum.

Bye

Renato

Louise. My advice would be to buy a small amount of C track and run your train on that. C track is easy to lay and take apart and the running qualities are excellent. K is best for experienced modellers as it has to be ballasted and is more difficult to lay.
A small Marklin start set will give you everything you need for a reasonable price and again I would suggest you see a dealer.
Various opinions here I expect will only confuse you as it is much easier to have a practical demonstration.
One more thing, Marklin model rail is not a cheap hobby and once started can prove expensive. Having said that it is long lasting and provides many hours of interest and fun.

David

Oldtimer... [:I].

Is there any other......?? [:p][:p]

Welcome to the forum Louise. I would echo what others are saying, which is that C Track would be best for your needs.

Welcome, Louise.

I have built two permanent layouts, one with K and one with C. I have always preferred K but when C came out I decided to use it on another layout. C is very easy to work with and has great operating and electrical characteristics. There is an outstanding question as to the plastic growing brittle with age, but you have that on the ties or sleepers of the K track, too. I still prefer the look of K and will continue with it. I also have a fairly large collection of M track that I set up periodically on the carpet and run some of my old analog loks that I will never convert just for nostalgia. To a true Marklin lover, there is really nothing like the sound and smell of a heavy metal lok with a flat commutator motor rattling around an M-track layout.

Mike: This is true, but the solid center rail (3600 series?) M track was before my time. You really need it, though if you are running the old 800 series with the scoop pickups.

Hi Louise,

Welcome on board!

In terms of which track you should use, I think you need to decide what you want to do with your trains, and how much money you want to spend.

M track is readily available second hand, and at good prices.
C and K track are available new of course.

If you want to build a permanant layout and senic it well, I would suggest K track, as it looks best. And contrary to some opinions, is easy to use and extremely reliable if you exercise a little care.

C or M track I would only use for carpetbahn as they withstand the rigours of this quite well.

Cheers....

Mike.

NEVER I say! There are many layouts shown on this forum made from C Track that look very realistic. It is too much of a generalisation to say that M and C track are no good for permanent layouts. Many people start off with a starter set, add more track to it, then they want to build a permanent layout. C Track is fine for this. Yes I agree K is the very best for realistic track, but that does not mean the other types cannot be used without success.

See Cem's layout for a example of an M Track layout well done.

No surprises there...

It becomes a little bit silent over here...

AS Louise Resides in Brisbane I sent her a PM Email. We had a Phone conversation.
Explained the Track Differences, and differences with Hornby 00 3 rail.

Louise has a largish 3 rail Hornby layout and a large collection of same.

Has a Marklin Loco and possible powersupply and Controller to suit.

Intends to make an inner loop for the Marklin.

Nev

Quite frankly, any of the 3 track types would be suitable for Louise's purposes, but if she is buying new, then C Track is best, and if 2nd hand then maybe M Track (although I would still recommend C Track).

I used M Track for my permanent layout because it is what I had, and I didn't want to spend big $$$$$ changing to something else. Plus our club regularly has good quality M track coming through at good prices, so a ready available supply was there. If I ever do a layout extension, that will be in C track, as I am buying new.

or at your place [:p]

boss not up to gatherings due to her delicate condition [:p]

Hi to all of those who took the time to read and comment on my first post, I must extend a big thank you.
An update on the loco...visited my local Marklin dealer today with the Bavarian Railways loco and another much older one. To my surprise we find that it is not a "Marklin" loco but a "Hamo" by Marklin from Era I and it is actually 2 rail DC.
My assumption that it was Marklin was a little of center and so was the pick up Stub. Did not realise that it was different to a shoe. So what have I learnt today, Marklin ain't always Marklin especially when it is Hamo by Marklin. So how I have Marklin AC, Marklin 2 Rail DC, very old Horny Dublo 3 rail. All I need now is a very large layout or a new home with a basement or a very large back shed.
I have found each and every one of your posting helpful, informative and food for thought in the planning of my layout/s.
I hope that this is the start of many happy years of 'training'!!!
Again, many thanks[:I]

Hi Louise,

Welcome to the Forum. Here are some differences between M, K and C-track:

Track profile heights:

Maerklin C-track is 2.3 mm (0.090" or Code 90)
TRIX C-track is 2.1 mm (0.083" or Code 83)

Maerklin M-track is 2.5 mm (~0.010" or Code 100)
Maerklin K-track is 2.54 mm (0.010" or Code 100)

There are transition tracks available so that you can connect M to K, and K to C and M to C.

As others have stated, Maerklin is 3-rail AC. You cannot operate 2-rail DC on this track system unless you isolate the two outer rails from each other. This is very easy to do with regular straights and curves, I would not attempt it with turnouts. K-track is a little easier to convert for 2-rail use. If you really want to operate 2-rail DC, then simply purchase either TRIX C-track, Fleischmann, Peco, Roco or any other manufacturer's 2-rail system.

You can have 2-rail DC and 3-rail AC on the same layout as long as you have both systems electrically isolated from each other. If you are going to be modeling older Maerklin you can easily operate it on C-track even though the profile height is a little lower than M-track. If you want a more "prototypical" look go with K-track. Since it has the highest profile height of all Maerklin's track systems you can easily operate the older locomotives/rolling stock alongside the new ones.

The only track system that allows you to operate both AC and DC locomotives together is TRIX Express 3-rail track. TRIX no longer manufactures this but lots of it can be purchased on E-bay for reasonable prices. The profile height for this track is 3.3 mm. TRIX Express always had larger wheel flanges!

Happy railroading!!