Experts way

Welcome Guest! To enable all features please Login or Register.

Notification

Error

Experts way - Building a "test track" for Marklin 3-rail

Options

View

Previous Topic Next Topic

roundsaturn31		#1 Posted : 08 March 2026 18:23:22(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 08/01/2024(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: California, Pomona		Good morning Gents, in the process of making a test track that is a simple large oval around my home office. The purpose is to be able to run HO scale 3-rail trains. I would like to be able to run anything that I purchase (from train swap meets/yard sales/etc.) and test them out (vintage to modern digital). If I use Marklin C track, what transformers/controllers would you use? I have read to stay away from the older metal blue Marklin transformers. How would you guys wire it up? I am wanting to run only one train at a time around the oval. My initial thought was to wire up a white marklin ac transformer to handle the analog locos and have a switch to switch over to either a mobile station 2 or a Marklin 6021 controller. I don't expect that I will have many modern 3-rail locomotives with all the digital bells and whistles. Thoughts and ideas are much appreciated. I have a mobile station 2 from a previous project, but no ac transformer yet. I also have a couple pieces of older Marklin digital, but I don't believe that they will help me here (2 of the Marklin 6040's) Thanks again for the help :) -Todd


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks


	Wish to join the discussion?! Login to your marklin-users.net community \| Forum account or Register a new forum account. Or Connect via Facebook

1borna		#2 Posted : 08 March 2026 18:51:25(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 21/12/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,588 Location: Hrvatska		Originally Posted by: roundsaturn31 My initial thought was to wire up a white marklin ac transformer to handle the analog locos and have a switch to switch over to either a mobile station 2 Your idea is good and you don't need anything else, the 6021 is much more complicated to use and doesn't support many of the functions of the new digital models. A single rocker switch with 4 inputs/outputs is enough to safely switch the power source.
		BLOG
2 users liked this useful post by 1borna		marklinist5999, kimballthurlow
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

JohnjeanB		#3 Posted : 08 March 2026 19:45:51(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,738 Location: Paris, France		Hi Todd You have and excellent idea My only restriction is NOT to use a 6021 (30 years old, cannot do DCC nor MFX, has only 4 fonctions, need a zillion other modules for control of switches). The 6021 is an excellent and reliable unit but very outdated. My suggestion is to replace it with an MS2 with a track box and a wall wart power supply. Cheers Jean
		My layout videos latest vid marshalling yard My Layout

3 users liked this useful post by JohnjeanB		marklinist5999, kimballthurlow, David Dewar
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

roundsaturn31		#4 Posted : 09 March 2026 02:01:04(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 08/01/2024(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: California, Pomona		Thank you guys for the quick answers. One more thing, maybe I have been overthinking it a little...If the Marklin C track is hooked up to a white Marklin transformer say a #6646, wouldn't that run everything made for 3 rail (Analog, Delta and up) with the only problem being the control of the digital functions like lights on/off and various sound functions? I'm assuming all marklin 3-rail locomotives will run on an analog oval, but analog locomotives won't run on a digital oval, correct? I ask because most stuff I have acquired is analog ac, with only two digital locomotives. Thanks for the continued advice, Todd


User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

H0		#5 Posted : 09 March 2026 07:49:28(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 15,587 Location: DE-NW		Originally Posted by: roundsaturn31 I'm assuming all marklin 3-rail locomotives will run on an analog oval, but analog locomotives won't run on a digital oval, correct? Correct. And to some extent you can configure digitally which functions are active in analogue operation. With decoders from ESU and Zimo that even includes sound. So far, I haven't seen a Märklin mfx decoder that supports sound with analogue operation. Acceleration delay and load regulation work in analogue. Braking delay works with some limitations. IMHO digital locos operate much better, even in analogue mode.
		Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS

1 user liked this useful post by H0		marklinist5999
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

EB421		#6 Posted : 09 March 2026 12:19:54(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 10/04/2025(UTC) Posts: 157 Location: UK		This is slightly tangential, but if you're using C-Track I'd also encourage you to cut all the cross-rail contacts so you have three separate rails. For why? Because then you can also use it for 2-rail stock by wiring up your MS2 to the two outside rails and leaving the Puko's disconnected. So if you pick up anything that's not Marklin, you can still test it (and even run it, if this ends up being your only 2-rail-friendly track. As soon as you add points, that all breaks. But it's a neat thing you can only do with simple loops, and doesn't really cost you anything except the time taken to cut the tabs.

1 user liked this useful post by EB421		marklinist5999
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

David Dewar		#7 Posted : 09 March 2026 12:39:36(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,603 Location: Scotland		For anybody starting I always say buy a new good quality control and power pack. For you probably a MS2. which you already have. Jeams post is good advice. Marklin have an excellent book on running their trains etc which is worth buying for the information in getting started.
		Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.

1 user liked this useful post by David Dewar		marklinist5999
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

BenP		#8 Posted : 09 March 2026 16:00:52(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 572 Location: USA		I build same test loop. Make sure a switch selects analog ac OR digital ac power, so that they never double connect by accident. Ben
		Ben van der Pluijm-- Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. YouTube: https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9

1 user liked this useful post by BenP		marklinist5999
User Profile View All Posts by User View Thanks

Users browsing this topic
Guest

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.