I know I'm not the greatest topic-starter, but in the light of the decreasing activity noticed by some people, I take the opportunity to air a topic that really interrest me;

Obviously the pure analog running is on the decline (some members here even think it is totally extinct...), so I would like to see what the division currently is.
The "poll" is not the main interrest for this posting, it´s just an additional benefit. The posted comments (if any) are what really counts!

I am looking for opionions about why stick to analog. Why switch to digital, why not, why yes, etc...
Comments are alwso welcome about; Should analog backward-compatibility be totally abollished? Should M. get out of digital, and leave it for the end-user to decide?
Does it matter for collectors (who never actually RUN their trains) if the models are fully digital with all the bells and whistles (litterally speaking)?

Hi Henrik,

Great topic,but I run both digital and analog on my layout.

Maybe you could put that in as a third choice.

Thanks.

Ian.

I must admit Henrik that the points you raise about the reliability of digital electronics has concerned me, for the same reasons you give. Fortunately, I haven't had any of those problems, and I hope it stays that way. In that regard, buying analog locos and converting them yourself is a good way to go, as the locos still have one of the older commutor motors, for which parts are easily available, and can be user maintained. And decoders in these locos are easily replaced should something go wrong with them.

Henrik,
I have read about your way of thinking and your comments have some merit.
I can understand having followed some of the digital topics, not everything is so rosy at it seems.
My story about digital systems or mine, the original Märklin digital system, has'nt let me down for one day, except for doing something obvious wrong and stupid.
A also admit, it has cost me an arm and a leg to purchase it at around 1984.
I have also followed the thread of digital components from other manufacturers and the changes over the years have been quite dramatic and costly and like some computers, have become obsolete and adding to the overall cost.
When it comes to the running of locos, you may find, older locos have stood up better than some new designs.

Rapair costs, new or old would be pretty much the same and if you bought the locos new you've got a good chance of very rarely having to do any repairjobs.

Digital for me has it's good points and sofar have not had any bad experiences with decoders or sound decoders, except my own faults of destroying them and I must say it is not cheap to replace sound decoders.
We have come a long way with digital decoders and I have noticed the quality and reliability have improved considerable.

I'm still considering (after so many years) and since than, the new digital command stations came on the market, which one to choose from and sofar neither CS's have convinced me of going out to purchase one.
To buy all these other attachments to achieve the things one likes to achieve, is in my opinion, far too expensive and complicated.
Just by looking at the new Märklin system, it has become a digital menu, from appetizers, soups, maincourse and usually you get inticed with some sweets in the end and the endless instructions how to use all these components.

There are some, who have bought the CS 1 & CS 2 and have been happy with it and its functions.
I rather sit on the sideline and listen to all the different problems which have occured without getting myself into the same situation.

There are 2 distinctive differences between the choice of digital and analog.
one is, you prefer analog not because of digital is too expensive or reliability problems but the enjoyment of having an analog layout and operating it the way they were build in the first place: for analog.
Digital in my mind has its advantages if you go about the right way and consider and include all your options abvailable to you.
Regarding sound decoders, it is the sound coming from 2 locos and you can't realy hear one or the other.
It is the speaker that holds the secret of reproducing a sound that is noticable clear and strong in its tone and I hope in future this lack of having a speaker in it's airtight box will dramatically increase the reproduction of a sound.

John

All my locos are digital (except a 3029 -- just lazy, I will convert it eventually...)

I really can't see the attraction of analog. In my youth (early '70s), I used analog obviously, but got frustrated with only being able to control 1 loco.
Cost is an obvious problem, but this business of "preserving the analog" is rubbish IMNSHO...
I've kept all the (old, worn out) parts from my 4 or so analog->digital conversions, so if I ever need to go back to the stone age, I could convert them back.
My memory of analog control was that it was not very smooth (anything less than full speed was jerky), and smooth starts were difficult.

Plus, I like the sound effects, light control, shunting mode, accel/deccel control etc...

So, anyone I haven't offended yet?

I voted for digital but oval of track under the digital layout are analogue.

Hi all, I voted analog. Sure, I would really like to have a digital layout but
I've been a Maerklin collector/operator since age 11 and most of my 26 locs are,
of course, analog. The expense really would be considerable to convert, not to mention the cost of mobil station, etc. I am now spending a-lot building my new layout which
I am enjoying very much since I retired. Cheers! Peter

For me, the main reason to run locomotives digitally is to be able to have multiple locos running in the same track block. I find this vastly more enjoyable than analogue (single loco per bloc). A secondary but important factor is smoother low speed running. Sound effects, particularly steam loco sounds, are nice but not a big deal for me.

I do find the lack of wireless remote control capability with Marklin digital to be shortsighted (literally and figuratively). The new ESU Navigator looks promising for this but it appears that the US version may not have Marklin digital capability (sent an email to ESU support to verify the situation). The ESU ECoS central stations do have radio remote capability (new version, 50200, is not available in the US). However, since I don't intend to control switches digitally - for reasons similar to those Ray mentioned - the cost of it plus the radio unit seems too high.

If you buy any new AC locomotives from Marklin or others you are going to get a decoder. It would be nice if they were all plug ins. At any rate, converting the old ones at about $50 US seems reasonable to me. The new ones will be ready anyway.
Eric

I think i would love digital, but the cost (for a pensioned off teacher) is rather exorbitant, esp here in remote Africa!
But I do SO enjoy analog, and with my small layout (2 x 1,2m) its easy to run sectioned circuits, with dead "parking bays", with lots of the old blue transformers and control boxes. I suppose its also nostalgia - having had Marklin since 1959, the old system kinda stays with you...
Must admit all that wiring, lying on my back under the table does become a bit of a nightmare....but my wife keeps on reminding me...this is what makes model trains FUN!!
Joe M

I run my trains digitals. Signals, turn-outs and so on still controlled the traditionbal way.
I have a number of not converted locos. Most of those will not be converted in the future.

Most of the digital locs have sound now.

I control my lay-out with an old Intellibox (and 4 power 3 boosters). I already have an Ecos I, which will be the main controller in the near future.

I am 100% digital in all my operating layouts, Marklin, Lionel and LGB. Before the advent of Lionel's Trainmaster system I was analogue for those trains but there was no other choice. With Marklin I started out with the 6021 controlled and have only ever run them digitally.

Regards,
Roger

I have rationalized my collection into a digital and an analogue layout. The advantages of digital are self evident - multi locomotive control, accessories etc. My analogue layout has now become my vintage Marklin collection. It is all series 3600 track and switches - some pre-war. I have three analogue locomotive which I run on it - old favourites such as 3003 and 3029. I also recently purchased a 3015 and a 30159 which I will run on the vintage layour in their ceremonial, once yearly exercise. In this way I can enjoy the old and the new that Marklin has to offer. Both have their place.

Hi Henrik,

thanks for a great topic - poll, too
Well, what can I say. Do love analog (talk about our childhood memories) the very same as digital ...

I consider myself a newcomer to MRR.
And I like everything to be easy, so I opt for Digital. I didn't have a lot of history with analog models like many of members do, and by the time I bought my first H0 lok; it is already the MFX era. So it's almost natural for me.

I do understand where Hendrik is coming from... and looking at opinions posted in other forums, one of things that irks them about Marklin is that they don't sell analog things anymore - so while they used to own analog Marklin in the past; these days they made the switch to DC.



It is somewhat unfortunate that Marklin is probably also one of the biggest digital equipment supplier in the market - solely from the fact that they force you to buy their digital products with every new locomotive. So naturally the digital menu is their main focus.

The lack of choice irked some parts of the market. While I like MFX, it annoys me at times too when they choose to put frustrating, inflexible package.

The more I'm into the hobby, the more I seem to appreciate, at times, envy the freedom of choice that the DCC world would have allowed. And who knows, one day, I might opt to switch my Marklin models to DCC.



It's true... impressive at first, but get tiresome nowadays that given the choice, I would tend to choose models with no sound.

I agree with Tim. Although the sound is an interesting novelty, I quickly get tired of it. I usually run my sound locos with the operating sounds off, but I like to sound the horn or the whistle occasionally.

I would like the option of locos with a more basic sound module that only has horn sounds.

Hello Nev,

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, it appears I did not state my question correctly. I understand about using the K83 or Viesmann 5211 along with a soon to be acquired CS2 and/or MS2.

What I'm trying to figure out is a good method to keep my beloved blue boxes and analog feedback route controls, while also playing with digital. In my perferect world there would be a big swtich that transitioned my layout from tradtional analog route control to digital route control.

Theoretically, I belive I could do this with a huge number of 7244 universal relays. Obviously that would be rather expensive. So I'm now thinking about digitial relays that could be purchased in bulk.

Do you or another friend from the forum have any advise other than "Don't even bother to try such a silly thing"?

Thanks,