Looking at starting in the Marklin system

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Train train		#1 Posted : 23 August 2025 08:13:09(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 14/10/2020(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Cape town, South Africa		Hello Marklin users, I have been out of model railways for a while and having previously been a DCC 2 railer I am seriously looking at returning but using the Marklin system, but I want to know if it's actually worth it. Is there any advantage for me to use Marklin instead of just using the trix two rail instead, I have only a couple of DC locomotives and would probably convert to AC by fitting a 3 rail pickup shoe and a ESU lokpilot Multiprotocol decoder. I live in a country where you mostly have to import stuff on model railways so availability for both systems is about the same. Although in regards to Marklin brands Marklin is easier to source then trix. None of my DC track or Dcc controller have survived.

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rhfil		#2 Posted : 23 August 2025 13:25:58(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 05/09/2014(UTC) Posts: 707 Location: NEW HAMPSHIRE, Somersworth		The advantage of three rail is you can have reversing loops without electronics. Also contact reporting is simpler. As far as I am concerned Marklin is the best. I have a CS3 and love it. It is very intuitive. What you think would be the simplest way to do something turns out to be the way that works.

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JohnjeanB		#3 Posted : 23 August 2025 17:13:29(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,611 Location: Paris, France		Hi Besides the real advantage of 3 rails, Märklin offers a digital solution that is really great. It is called MFX. Not to be confused with MFX-compatible and M4 you may find. Märklin is best when used NOT mixed with other brands (Roco, Fleischmann, Piko, etc). This is a complete system that has been thoroughly tested. Having mostly Märklin keeps you future-compatible (Märklin does not tell anyone what are their developments) So, using non-Märklin decoders with a CS3 is a disaster Here is my purely Märklin layout Cheers Jean
		My layout videos latest vid marshalling yard My Layout

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David Dewar		#4 Posted : 23 August 2025 17:39:42(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,484 Location: Scotland		Marklin is excellent but like most systems is expensive. it is worth spending as much as you can on the controller and power pack. Go for the CS3 and you will have all you need. Locos and coaches etc can be added in time and start with a cheaper loco which allows you to experiment as you build the layout.
		Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.

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Train train		#5 Posted : 23 August 2025 19:48:21(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 14/10/2020(UTC) Posts: 4 Location: Cape town, South Africa		Originally Posted by: JohnjeanB Hi Besides the real advantage of 3 rails, Märklin offers a digital solution that is really great. It is called MFX. Not to be confused with MFX-compatible and M4 you may find. Märklin is best when used NOT mixed with other brands (Roco, Fleischmann, Piko, etc). This is a complete system that has been thoroughly tested. Having mostly Märklin keeps you future-compatible (Märklin does not tell anyone what are their developments) So, using non-Märklin decoders with a CS3 is a disaster Here is my purely Märklin layout Cheers Jean Could you elaborate on why mixing is a bad idea? I would like to know, even if they are MFX compatible decoders?


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