Hi,
I am seriously thinking of going to the Marklin Days and IMA in Goppingen this September 2015.
I have never been to Goppingen so I am asking for some advice. Judging by photos of past events it is very hectic there. As anyone been there recently? I was thinking of looking for a hotel in Stuttgart and then catching the train. Are there better options? Would it be better to seek accommodation in Goppingen?
It is a long way from South Australia so I would like to have as much information as possible.
Is anyone else planning to go this year?
As an aside, I would like to go to toy (model train) fair/ flea market anywhere in Germany. I have searched the internet but could not find anything about in September or October.

Bob.

G'day PJ,
thanks for the tip, I will look up the Hotel you suggested. Maybe they still have a vacancy.

I am following Utkans latest trip to Germany and I hope to get in touch with him, maybe he can give me some advice on flea markets.

Bob..

Hi all

I am going this year for the first time

I looked at trivago and asked for hotels around Goppingen and there were still quite a few within easy driving range of the town.

I'm really looking forward to it and meeting a whole new load of M enthusiasts

Mike

Hi Bob

Others from the forum I know of are Glennm and kiwialan. Oh and Nigel Packer.

Not sure of any others.

Would be nice to meet up if you do get booked up

Mike

Is it worth being there for the full 3 days or will 1 of the days cover all the activities? I have not seen a programme so I am wondering if different activities are arranged over the 3 days?

And there is a video of some of the train action at the previous one two years ago.

Hi,

We are organizing a group of "Märklnists" from Costa Rica to go there. It will be fun :-)

There is plenty to do for three days.

On Friday night of the event Nigel Packer has historically organized a dinner at the Hotel Hohestaufen in Goppingen for the English speaking contingent in attendance. He is planning to do this again this year, and has warned the hotel! Last Treff dinner was very well attended.

The best hotel to stay for the event is the Hohenstaufen in Goppingen and it has the best restaurant in town as well. However, it is probably already booked up. A good alternative is Hotel International also in town. If one has a Railpass staying in either Esslingen or even Stuttgart is very viable.

I am going of course and look forward to seeing new friends!

Dave Pryor.

I will be there this year. We stay in a hotel in Bad Boll (just a few km out of Göppingen). I plan on being there Saturday and Sunday. :-)

Thanks for the videos and all the other comments. You have persuaded me that this year will be our treff year. I have started looking at hotels in Bad Boll. There are a few vacancies. Also need to look in Esslingen and Stuttgart so we can ride the trains every day! I will check for hotels close to the station.

Hope to see you all in Goppingen in September.

2013 was my first treff. I am keeping my fingers crossed I can make this year.

I found I easily filled the three days at the treff. There is lots to see and do. I did not manage a ride on the footplate of the 01, or any other locomotive, on this year's "to do" list. I did take the "donnerbuschen" pulled by a 75 class. I needed a shower after to wash the cinders away. One day I took the DB train to Ulm to see the famous "Geisslingen grade" (sp?). Apart that I stayed at the various sites, and loved it. If you are "over marklined", hard to imagine, it is an easy day trip to Ulm, or Stuttgart.

The Marklin museum has a sort of small warehouse which was open to the public. What I suppose was surplus was for sale. It was a chance to pick up newer items that had not sold off. One member bought a Senator set and was pleased with the price.

I was in a single room at the Hohenstaufen. It was good. I had a single bed, and the room was small by North American standards. That said I was very comfortable. The staff at the hotel were excellent, friendly and kind. It is an easy walk to the station, one of the venues.

I would say it was one of the best, if not the best train show I have been to. Of course, for me, it helped that it was Marklin.

Hope this helps the undecided.

Hi all
i just managed to book a room at the Hotel Stauferland. I could not get anything in Goeppingen, however Bad Boll looks good from the pictures.
We now have to work out how we can identify ourselves and when and where to meet. At the railway station would be a good place, does anyone have a programme for the train events yet? No good to make a time when most of us could be off on a train ride to somewhere.

Bob.

I know I'm not Bob, but the local bus service will take you there. You can buy a day ticket for around 12 euros. Travel time is about 15 - 20 minutes.

A bus trip sounds good , do they run to a different time table on weekends compared to a weekday timetable ? Looking at places to stay in a motor home with public transport or close to one of the Meese sites to enable full days of trains . At the moment we are thinking of parking at the EWS Arena on Lorcher Str. or maybe another one to the north at Lindarch . Looking at Google earth there does not seem to be a bus service from Boll to Goppingen ,no bus stop signs on any of the roads compared to other areas .

Looking at another site I found this .

Public bus from Göppingen to Bad Boll

Regular bus connection from Goeppingen to Bad Boll (see web site of Deutsche Bahn for the timetable):
Here is some official information, and some comments by our guinea pig (who arrived well and in time). There are regular buses from Goeppingen to Bad Boll; information is provided by the Deutsche Bahn web site when entering 'Ev.Akademie/Reha-Klinik, Boll' as destination. (Entering Bad Boll instead of Boll strangely leads to misunderstandings.)
Upon arrival in Goeppingen main station, you leave the station on the unique side where leaving is possible. Standing outside of the station you see a side 'ZOB' (central bus station) pointing to the left. And indeed on the left, just behind the station square, you see buses. Walk there to find a fairly large number of platforms. The bus number 20 to Bad Boll (final destination usually: Hattenhofen, occasionally: Weilheim an der Teck) is supposed to depart from platform K. (It may as well depart from a neighbouring platform, without causing a problem for travellers. Some, but not all locals, may be able to predict this platform.)
The bus takes about 20 minutes to reach the Akademie in Bad Boll. It does so after going through the village Boll and leaving that again. The station of the Akademie is within a little roundabout. (Inside the bus there may be screens showing the news and also announcing bus stops to come. These are the main stops coming soon, but not necessarily the next stop, so avoid being too quick.) Near the bus stop there is a group of nice buildings including the spa, and a park, and you feel you are close to an Akademie. Next to the bus stop, there is a sign showing you a foot path leading you in the direction of Ev.Akademie. Following this sign you quickly reach another group of buildings, which is the Ev.Akademie. There you continue following the sign and eventually reach the reception. Reception staff does speak English.



I haven't checked the DB timetable yet but this looks like a possible goer . We are still trying to work out what & where we want to go & see in between & after visiting the Messe & Eurospoor . I f Suggested just a hobby shop tour I don't think the holiday would be a very happy thing being with the FD & her saying not another one all the time .

Cheers Tom in Oz

Here is a link to the Goeppingen Bad Boll Bus
http://www.filsland.de/fahrplan/ortsfahrplaene

Just download the Goeppingen Bad Boll Timetable. Weekday bus times are different to weekends, but there are still plenty of buses.

Bob.

No reservations are necessary to buy tickets for entry to the Treff itself.

I brought mine [ 3 ] at the Museum on the Wednesday before the exhibition. This time The FD & myself will be arriving on Thursday & will purchase there again & also be able to rule out most of the inside exhibits before the crowds arrive for the weekend . We will also check out a few shops on Thursday & try to obtain a few bargains .

We set off from Oz in 3 weeks time & will be doing a cruise from Venice to Istanbul before flying over to Frankfurt & pick up a RV to do more touring in .

See you all in Goppingen .

Cheers Tom in Oz .

Thanks to everybody for your advice and suggestions.

I am arriving on the Thursday so I will try and get to the museum and get my tickets.

Are we going to get together for a dinner during the course of the Treff? I am keen to meet the other Marklin-Users who manage to get to the Treff.

Hi everyone,
It is getting closer to the big day. I will be flying out of Adelaide on the 11 August and will be staying with a few friends before making my way to Goeppingen and Bad Boll. I will arrive in Goeppingen on Wednesday 16 Sept.
It would be great if we could meet up some time. May I suggest that we could possibly meet on the railway station platform near the pedestrian overpass. If you look on google earth the overpass is clearly visible .
Would Saturday 19 Sept at 14.00 hours be suitable for everyone?
Maybe we can all wear a little red rose or any other red flower which should help identify us.
Any suggestions welcome.

Bob.

Hi Bob

We will be leaving SA on 1 September and travelling via family in USA before arriving in Goppingen on 17 September. Saturday 19 September at 14h00 is fine for us.

Hi all
I just had another look at post 15. It would be terrific if Nigel did organise a dinner. However I can't find a post where this is confirmed. Can any one confirm that and maybe provide more details.
Bob.

Hi all,
Meeting on the 19 Sept at 14:00 by the pedestrian overpass could be the best option. I will endevour to check the place before hand. I expect to be in Goeppingen on the Thursday.
If all goes to plan I will have red rose in a button hole and wear a Mambo cap.

Bob.......

Hi Raf,

Welcome to the forum.

As I will be in Göppingen on Saturday, I will visit your layout.

Cheers

Renato

Märklinfan Club Italia this year won't be present with any H0 layout, but with my Z layout, being hosted by ZFI.
I hope my layout will be a little surprise for you all and I invite you to come meet me and sign my guestbook.

Here are some useful information about the event!