Great Lakes region here, but I think there is a southeast chapter of the ETE group. (european train enthusiasts) A 220-230 volt circuit isn't that costly to do if you get any from accross the pond. I knew a German tool and die man for GM and he had all 220 volt Marklin transformers. He told me the trains run better too on it than 120 volts, but he had the older 6021 controllers. I don't know if it matters with switching mode power supplies like the newer MS2, and CS3's use. Mine run fine on 120.

Analogue trains cannot be driven by transformers for digital controllers and by themselves!
The basic and important difference is that with analog driving the voltage on the track changes, while with digital it is
constant and high, the locomotives drive faster or slower thanks to the decoder inside that receives commands from
the steering wheel.
Study a little more various topics about it here on the forum and it will be clearer to you. As for transformers designed
for 220/230 volts on a current of 110 volts they will give half the lower voltage and will not be able to change the direction
of analog locomotives.
If you have more of them, it is worth getting a pre-transformer of the appropriate power that will raise the voltage from
110 to 220 volts.

Hi Klaussic
Märklin fan (digital, HO, PC control) from Paris area.
In Europe voltage is standardized to 230 VAC (240 VAC in the UK)
Märklin offers regulated power supplies for the US market in case you want to run digital:
- 60045 with a US plug, 60 W 19 VDC, input voltage from 110 to 240 VAC
- 60195 with a US plug, 100 W 19 VDC, input voltage from 100 to 120 VAC

All these can feed a CS3 for a US digital layout.

Note: Märklin advises to keep 100 W PSUs for the 1 Scale but I use one (60101) for more than 10 years without any issue.
The reason is legal. They don't want to take the risk of fire cause by a weak wiring. The PSUs have a fantastic current protection where no deterioration can occur.
The only limit is with signals (sized for 2A)

Regarding the insane prices
Yes Märklin prices have increased but compare with Lionel prices.
I just purchased a BR 06 (39662) €566 instead of €629In your case that would be further 20% reduction because VAT-free. This time the seller was Haertle https://www.haertle.de/

My suggestion: to use a renowned distributor like MSL https://www.modellbahnshop-lippe.com/ or Haertle (see above) or others.
To demand prices w/o European VAT (19% in Germany) and they may ask you to provide your VAT number (not sure here).
Agreed I live in France (so its different) but once, during warranty I had a problem with a loco, they sent me the sticker for shipment-free sending back.
Add to this their prices are frequently below the official Märklin price list.
I don't know about US customs and their rate.

In my case, shipment is received between 3 to 5 days after the order.
Don't even think about changing the order once it has been validated

Don't give up on Märklin, it is so much fun like here with my little layout

Cheers
Jean

Bonjour JohnJeanB!

Many thanks for your extensive note, very helpful! I lived in Germany for nearly 30 years before I moved to Italy, then Chile, and finally, to USA. Different Electric Power Supply has been my constant companion and I am used to these challenges. I have some tracks already for analog operation and some others for digital trains. So, I will have a little mix for now and will try to get first started with analog in order to get back into the hobby. If I like it and stick to it, I will most likely switch to digital and will purchase then trains and tracks accordingly.

Having said this, I may have to seek US capable transformers for my analog operation first, before I jump on that expensive digital stuff. It’s great to know some good and reliable suppliers from Europe. Many thanks for that information. I will spy them out when it comes to purchases of new equipment. Right now, I’d like to find those opportunities where people are getting out of the hobby and sell older things for Pennies to the Dollar, and I found already a couple of older trains and wagons on eBay for a reasonable price. But if everything turns out to be very exciting and rewarding for me, I know I will spend money to go the extra mile.

When dealing with imports, sometimes, US customs doesn’t bother much with individuals and I might get away with sales taxes (VAT). But I will see that later on when it comes to that.

Later today, I will watch your YouTube video, and thanks for sharing that link with me. Every video I have seen so far is very inspiring and it may help to keep me away from my other hobby (riding insanely fast motorcycles), lol.

Thanks again for that input, I already can see that it is far easier going through this learning curve when experienced fellas are supportive with recommendations and insight.

Enjoy a fine rest of your week,

Merci bien,
K

Hey Mark,

Many thanks for your info and for your great feedback.

I will try that eBay link. I also have gotten in touch with the ETE. Unfortunately, there is no chapter anywhere near New Orleans. But a nice guy (member coordinator) responded to my email and is looking for some contacts in my area. I might keep posting here and see how that all develops.

Many thanks again, you have a blessed week.

K

One of my first cars was an Opel Kadett, it still was “cheap” in the Seventies. Nonetheless, a Märklin locomotive nowadays costs roughly between €500 and €800. I remember that the Euro at the beginning was around twice the Deutschmark. That would make a loco around DM1,000 to DM1,600. And I have the impression that nowadays several of them may even be made in China.
Thanks for that input!

I have dealt with AJCKids for years and they are excellent for service and technical support.

Welcome and best regards,
Roger

That’s great to know, many thanks, Roger!

I hope I can find enthusiasts in this poorly developed area of the country. People around here are mostly enthusiastic about fishery and alligator hunting, lol.
K

Sadly, this was not my experience. Their technical support is good. Service, not so much. (This was pre-Covid days). On two occasions, I called them, after about 10 business days, to find out the status of orders only to find they hadn’t been shipped. After each follow up call, the items were received within 5 business days. I wasn’t a big spender but a consistent one as I bought all my Marklin items from them. I don’t like to speak poorly of people but it would be a disservice to the list if I kept quiet. I considered myself kind and respectful when I talked to them. I no longer purchase from them. They did have pretty good prices.
YMMV
Steve

It was my experience as well and I have bought many Marklin items from them over a good number of years. I guess we can all have a lapse in quality, as you had with Ajckids, and poor service after buying many items is a bad experience. But my business dealings with them have all been positive. Their tech support and warranty support are both top notch.

For many years I have consistently gotten great service, personal attention,and quick and reasonably priced shipping from Ajckids, and I have rewarded them with the majority of my Marklin trade. My Insider pike wagons were finally available from Marklin a week ago, after ordering them last February. But I was heading out of town for a week and would not be here to receive them. They held them back from shipment until earlier this week to coincide with my return. I got home yesterday. and they will be delivered tomorrow. That is good service.

I think everybody makes sometimes good and some other times bad experience with merchants around the globe. In a forum like this, it is quite interesting how many different opinions are posted for a specific topic or a specific business. It is important to read other members’ experience because often, it is all what we have to make an halfway informed decision of either building trust or staying away. I’m thankful for all the posts where members are sharing their experiences, which helps me making my own (experience). For over a decade, I’m a vivid Amazon.com shopper and I wish they had more Märklin stuff to offer, but I hardly find anything there. Maybe in their German operations, they carry more of Märklin. It is just so easy to deal with Amazon. As a Prime member, I feel to be treated very nicely, and returns are made just so easy and without being burdened with return shipping costs, like other merchants are practicing. Sorry I strayed away from the main topic, but it would make my life so much easier.

I will look for those Louisiana and Mississippi members, as mentioned in one of the above posts. And I will apply caution when purchasing from AJCKids, not giving them too much credit, but also not closing the door because of the negative experience some of you had made.

Again, many thanks to all of you for your invaluable input, I really enjoy reading all your comments and suggestions which are for me like the little balance wheels on a kid’s bicycle.

Enjoy a weekend filled with happiness and countless blessings,

K

Welcome to the group! I myself hail from north central Indiana. I have trains in several scales, but my Marklin HO is stuck in the 60s and 70s with classic M track and analog control. I have messed with digital a bit, both early style and a more modern mobile station starter set. I found the older analog stuff more affordable. I can get loads of M track dirt cheap compared to C track and digital stuff for the switches and locomotives. But if you go digital, there are kits to update older locomotives to digital control. I will stick with my M track and simple transformer control. Mike

Ebay is once source, you can put wanted posts here on the forum in the wanted to buy area. I have gotten many things there. I have been in and out of Marklin for many years. I am slowly getting back in as a shop in Indianapolis got in a large zip lock bag of Marklin, a 3081, a few freight wagons, couple passenger coaches. I bought that for next to nothing. Then I got a bunch of M track, along with several signals and a metal case transformer for USA voltage, I think from a member here. You can also watch facebook marketplace if your on that site. I do not know the shops down your way or the model train shows. But all can be a source. Many times I will find one or two items, or a whole bunch at the local shows. They are usually mixed in with all the other stuff, so a sharp eye looking at each table of second hand trains in pop can flats is necessary. I also have some catenary and a locomotive to run off that. I am on the hunt for a nice pair of Santa Fe F7's. I am torn between keeping or selling my prewar Lionel and Scale Craft OO scale trains. If I do, that $$ will go back into more Marklin. Mike

Like you, I am getting back into model railroading after many years absence. This time around, I decided to go with Marklin. After checking the cost of both new and used stuff, I decided on the M-track system which is very much cheaper than the C and K track systems. I bought all of my M-track, switches, locomotives, rolling stock and accessories used off of E-bay. I believe I paid about 1/4 the cost of new. You are limited to a 437.4 mm radius curve in M-track. There are adapter track sections that allow you to connect M-track with C or K-track so you can use a larger radius if needed. I live in South Mississippi, but still an hour away from your location. I have mobility issues, so I am a stay-at-home modeler. I may be able to help you with questions if you need help.