I got some C-tracks on e-bay. I had them under my desk here at work for a while since I was not planning on using them.
I got 12 x 24172 and 12 x 24130
Upon detailed inspection, I can see that the two elements are different.
The 24172 appears original while the others are clearly knock-offs, probably made in China.
Some tell tale signs:
- ballast color and size slightly different
- rail size slightly different
- the metal connectors underneath are copper color and not "silver" color
- connection between the tracks does not work well as the little "tab" at the end under one rail is missing (the tab secures under the opposing rail and ensures perfect alignement

If you want, I will follow-up later with pictures.

I wonder if you have experienced chinese knock-offs for C track as mine.

I will most likely trash the knock-offs. If they were straight I could have used them for static displays but as they are curves I will not be able to use them there either.

Edited by user 28 October 2011 15:01:50(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I don't have a piece to look at, nor have I seen yours, but those may actually be real- just from the very early production. I know for sure the ballast was a different shade of grey and the tabs broke on the plastic.

Can you post an image?

I will take some pictures a bit later at home.

Underneath both say Marklin buth while the 24172 says 'Made in Germany' the 24130 says 'made in W Germany' which may indicate a very early model.

You don't get any of this nonsense with m-track..

Yes the Alpha-Track was a sort of predecessor to C-Track.

The 2031 is the "outer radius" curve and thus 456.4 mm radius. Inner radius would have been 2021, and 2001 is the straight (180 mm) piece (a few more types were available). The Alpha-Track also had a different rail-profile (I think it was slightly higer than C-Track).

The Alpha-Track was issued with the "futuristic" Alpha-line of trains could it have been in the early 90's? Not sure of exactly when, but they didn't last long. Then came C-Track with the same "style" yet different gemoetry, color and the mentioned rail-profile.

I would say "can" - but I wouldn't use it myself, nor recommend it...!

You will have to either live with the difference in height of the rail profile, or you will have to smoothen it out. And the (straight) lengths doesn't match the C-Track. And finally the 2031 do not match a C-track R2 yet will be an "exotic" radius curve.