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Offline wojo12  
#1 Posted : 04 January 2019 20:17:00(UTC)
wojo12

Australia   
Joined: 04/01/2019(UTC)
Posts: 5
Location: Queensland, Bundaberg
It is probably 40 years since I sold my childhood Marklin railway. It consisted mainly of the track with the three actual rails, together with some new-fangled stud centre rail track pieces!! I have just been offered a collection of rail pieces, points, controller (6177) and a couple of signals. This lot is all with the stud centre "rail"- I assume this is referred to as M track. There are no locos or rolling stock included.

From my research so far, I cannot see how three rail locos can run on some of the modern track types.

So - should I buy this, which is of an era that I understand, or am I better off starting from scratch with new technology? I have no intention of going digital.

Some gentle advice would be greatly appreciated

John

MrB32  
#2 Posted : 04 January 2019 21:06:07(UTC)
Guest


Joined: 06/01/2010(UTC)
Posts: 260
I think it all depends on what look you are looking for and how much money you want to spend.

If it is the nostalgia of your childhood or a budget question, then M-track (centre studs, metal trackbed) or 3600 (centre rail, metal trackbed) track might be just what you need. The track is inexpensive and readily available on the second hand market. The beauty with Marklin track types and that they are compatible with each other. So you can start with M-track and extend with C-track using adapter tracks. C track will give access to greater radii (R3, R4, R5), and your locos will run on any of them. You can also buy brand new c-track to run all your analogue gear. There is no difference in the analogue technology other than the way you attach you power feeds or accessories to the track (different connectors).

Whatever you are going for,:
I would not invest in any old transformer and buy a new one (ref. 6647 or 66471).
If you buy used track, you are likely to encounter rust/oxidisation issues, so a good track rubber and some isopropyl alcohol is a must. So is a good pair of small pliers.
Offline wojo12  
#3 Posted : 04 January 2019 21:58:47(UTC)
wojo12

Australia   
Joined: 04/01/2019(UTC)
Posts: 5
Location: Queensland, Bundaberg
Could someone please post a photo of the underside of a piece of C section track? From the illustrations I find online, it is also hard to see how the track sections connect physically and electrically.

John
Offline David Dewar  
#4 Posted : 04 January 2019 23:37:57(UTC)
David Dewar

Scotland   
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 7,332
Location: Scotland
Sorry cant post pics but I would go for C track. Decoders fit under the track to avoid a lot of wiring and are not seen. The track just slots together and a complete oval can but done and taken apart again in minutes. I would suggest buying a Marklin start set and spend as much as you can feel you wish to spend to get the most up to date equipment which will pay in the long term. Running qualities of C track are very good.
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.
Offline TEEWolf  
#5 Posted : 05 January 2019 00:35:46(UTC)
TEEWolf


Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC)
Posts: 2,465
Originally Posted by: wojo12 Go to Quoted Post
Could someone please post a photo of the underside of a piece of C section track? From the illustrations I find online, it is also hard to see how the track sections connect physically and electrically.

John


Have an intensive look into these brochures you may find you are looking for.

http://www.ccbrailroad.c...nuales/marklin_via_c.pdf

https://www.maerklin.de/...C3%A4nzungspackungen.pdf
Offline wojo12  
#6 Posted : 05 January 2019 03:35:45(UTC)
wojo12

Australia   
Joined: 04/01/2019(UTC)
Posts: 5
Location: Queensland, Bundaberg
Unfortunately, I can't read German, but thanks.

John
Offline PMPeter  
#7 Posted : 05 January 2019 04:16:25(UTC)
PMPeter

Canada   
Joined: 04/04/2013(UTC)
Posts: 1,273
Location: Port Moody, BC
John,

You were looking for an under track photo of the C track connection. What Teewolf sent you in the first link shows that photo on page 15, c/w how the red and brown cables connect to the track.

Cheers
Peter
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by PMPeter
Offline TEEWolf  
#8 Posted : 05 January 2019 04:21:28(UTC)
TEEWolf


Joined: 01/06/2016(UTC)
Posts: 2,465
Originally Posted by: wojo12 Go to Quoted Post
Unfortunately, I can't read German, but thanks.

John


Indeed the one brochure is only in German, but if you scroll down to the last page you see C-tracks pictures from the underside, as you requested.

The other brochure is in German and English. It gives an short overview of the C-track programm and the geometry in an English description.

Also here is quite a helpful software translation program

https://www.deepl.com/translator

which may help you too.

Indeed without knowing German, it is not easy to understand the written text, but the pictures explains quite often more than the text. For more underside pictures of C-tracks see here (even the text is in German too). It shows the flow of the current.

http://www.schnug-modell...n.de/Tipps/Kogleis-c.htm

http://www.modellbahnkel...chalten/Kontaktgleis.htm

If you use Google search by the words "Maerklin C-Gleis Verbindung" like this one:

https://www.google.de/se...amp;biw=1152&bih=536

or just this one

https://www.google.de/se...0i24.y8YaO-xT-9I#imgrc=_

This little red plastic sticks between the C-tracks connection shall interrupt the current flow at this pont of your layout.

https://www.maerklin.de/...s/details/article/74030/

https://static.maerklin....1eaaa744611537193894.pdf

It is not quick and easy finding you are looking for. In English you will not get a satisfying result, because most of the publications (even fromMärklin itself) is only in German. Märklin offers so called technical tipps you find in the section of the FAQs
https://www.maerklin.de/...quently-asked-questions/





Offline cookee_nz  
#9 Posted : 05 January 2019 04:53:22(UTC)
cookee_nz

New Zealand   
Joined: 31/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 3,948
Location: Paremata, Wellington
Originally Posted by: wojo12 Go to Quoted Post
Could someone please post a photo of the underside of a piece of C section track? From the illustrations I find online, it is also hard to see how the track sections connect physically and electrically.

John


Ask, and ye shall receive... hopefully this makes it clear how they connect BigGrin

P1050418.JPGP1050419.JPG
Cookee
Wellington
NZ image
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by cookee_nz
Offline wojo12  
#10 Posted : 05 January 2019 06:17:55(UTC)
wojo12

Australia   
Joined: 04/01/2019(UTC)
Posts: 5
Location: Queensland, Bundaberg
Thanks heaps, Cookee. It makes sense now.

John
Offline xxup  
#11 Posted : 05 January 2019 06:52:09(UTC)
xxup

Australia   
Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC)
Posts: 9,456
Location: Australia
Originally Posted by: wojo12 Go to Quoted Post
Unfortunately, I can't read German, but thanks.

John


Mate,

It's like Playboy or Penthouse magazine - you only need to look at the pictures.. The words are not worth reading anyway.. RollEyes
Adrian
UserPostedImage
Australia flag by abFlags.com
thanks 7 users liked this useful post by xxup
Offline Br502362  
#12 Posted : 05 January 2019 12:00:44(UTC)
Br502362

Finland   
Joined: 05/03/2014(UTC)
Posts: 680
Location: Finland
^
Spot on Adrian LOL LOL LOL

-Åke-
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