Hi Mike,

And perhaps add a few words like:
"and you can always add HO gauge rolling stock with compatible couplers, to expand your system".

Mind you, I have noted that the most compatible rolling stock and wheels on my layout, is the Marklin stuff. As hobbyists, many of us can change couplers, change wheels etc. which may be beyond the target buyer for the "My World" stuff.
So in that sense, the wording of their brochure is probably meant to be helpful, rather than misleading, to minimize disruptions and derailments.

regards
Kimball

The other way of looking at it is Marklin's obvious reclusive strategy, jealously guarding their 3-rail territory.

You have to realize that this is still Marklin's primary (increasingly dated) strategy.
This is what ticked many people off.

Right. I think that the acknowledgement of, that other brands exists, AND that you can actually get to USE them on your -then- 99,9% genuine Märklin layout... is a huge improvement over past times!
Some will say that it is still not enough, but I think it is a step in the right direction. We are already seeing a lot of them; DCC-compatible digital controllers must have been a huge "camel to swallow" (sorry, a danish saying translated litterally, hehe)

When will they start ???

I think about the 31 February 2012
Maybe at a later year but same date in February.

NN

Ray,

Your comment makes no sense. In 1983-1984, Roco, for example, had less than a dozen loks available as AC models. Today, almost every lok can be ordered in AC Digital or DC. That is not abandonning by any sense of the word. New companies like ACME and LSM also offer AC versions of many of their models.

Regards

Mike C

So Lionel are not doing a 3-rail system?

Or are you restricted to H0? Hornby was 00 if I remember correctly...

It was just a comment to the statement that M is the only manufacturer with a complete 3-rail system...

In H0, yes - since I think Electrotren does not make their M-compatible tracks any more...

Back to the original question:



Now, don't you think this would have been a better marketing effort:

Question:
"Are there any other manufacturers that make compatible products for Marklin System?"

Answer:
"Yes, many manufacturers provide a good selection of Marklin-compatible products, so you don't have to worry about not being able to run what you want on Marklin System. Compatible Non-Marklin locomotives, for example, will benefit from greater pulling power on Marklin tracks, due to our unique 3-rail system allowing for more traction tyres."

Like what Mike said, I think Marklin is selling themselves short here.
The answer above would be seen as more confident about the advantages of their system. Even other makers' items will work better with Marklin system than in their own natural environment (DC). Wow!

Remember also: My World is not targetted at us, but to new customers. The purpose of brochures is to attract and convince them that they're buying into the right products (marklin's), not to scare them off.

Once they bought into the system, naturally, they will be buying Marklin products. If they bought into DC, Marklin can expect very little considering the miniscule market that Trix has.

Marklin's NO answer can thus be interpreted by those new, naive, prospective customers as below:

"Yes, those scaremongering by the DC folks are true! If you choose Marklin System, you will be almost 99% reliant on Marklin for ALL your needs. Take a good look at our catalog now! Because chances are, if you don't find what you like, you won't be able to run it on Marklin Systems.. "

Edited by user 17 February 2011 06:05:48(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Well said!! and i wish that some peaple will understand that if you buy all Marklin products then you will have no issues with derailments ect and Marklin will keep going!! and not go under.

I'm afraid you're not kidding.

Some current cars and coaches (with 5-digit ref. numbers) had derailment issues on C track.
Most of these issues were due to Märklin's quality assurance (which is best described as not existent ) and I was able to resolve them.

You cannot run the TGV on the R2 curved bridges they are still selling.

Even if buy Märklin stuff only, be prepared to encounter some issues.

The problem here is discrepancy of development.
When one range move up one level in sophistication (eg: 1/87 TGV, Big Boy, BR45 - with all their known issues);
the infrastructure designs - tracks, curved bridges, catenary designed to fit R1, etc - began to lack behind.

The infrastructure were designed a few decades before the latest neubau products are made;
so their original designers wouldn't have envisaged the current problems or trends.

This is a modernism problem - not just constrained to Marklin.

The fact that Marklin is responsible for both, infrastructure and models, again had become a double edged sword.

When there is NO warning about compatibility issues that may arise for users, everything is a whole new learning curves, and great deal of bad publicity for Marklin.

Again, this is a good argument as to why more parts of the Marklin System should be opened up for competition,
or why Marklin should invite more open partnerships to share development cost of 3-rail programmes.

Unlikely with the current management, unless hell freezes over.

Short term, I think Marklin should learn to give users a choice:
Continue to produce 1:100 scale length coaches and move them to the "My World" or something like a "Classic" range.
Those who prefer running practicality and full compatibility with R1 can choose this.

Models with 1:93,5 or 1:87 scale can be moved to "Neubau" range.