Marklin still offers Z scale. I discovered it in the 90s while based in Germany. It was the right size for aircrew quarters plus many of the homes in Germany are small and the scale fits right in. Marklin offered a digital set in the early 90s but they had problems with it.
Now there are several manufacturers that offer the circuit boards that fit into some of their engines. There is a memeber of the Zo Cal group here in So California that even put a small speaker into the tender and it really sounds great. There is a German source that offers the digital circuit boards and they even have one for the GG1. I have two of those models and they pull a set of MTL PRR passenger cars. The one problem I have with the GG1 is since it is not very heavy, it doesn't pull many cars. I read that if ou weight down the engine, it will pull more. I also have the "Long Henry" engine and the set of 20 hoppers and it has problems pulling all 20 cars.

Concerning the 1 scale, don't forget that Marklin purchased LGB and there may be competition between the two divisions.

Robert

We run an LGB garden layout (which has now been dismantled as we are moving) which also runs Marklin 1 (collectively we refer to it as G scale). At present we have one Marklin Loco and three LGB locos including a fine mallet (in HO a BR96) with assorted rolling stock, and I love it. It is big enough to see, the tank cars carry water, and the flat beds can carry either a glass or can of beer, or a sandwich. Everybody who visits gets interested and it is a welcome diversion from the damn TV.

The weather in UK only permits usage in the summer, and I used it to get my son interested in model railways, and I think it has worked. He had is first LGB at 2 yrs old, and the Mallet was a fifth B'day present.

My chief complain is why is it so expensive, I know a lot of work goes into the loco, but the rolling stock, it is £45 for a tank car made of moulded plastic, and £140+ for a plastic moulded coach. I guess no many people buy the items and so they put the price up, and so less people actually buy it.

If you can afford it they even make real working steam engines to suit this scale of track, but then the costs are really getting high.

For me I love the G scale railway and next summer hopefully we will look to rebuilding the layout in our garden, and I hope for the sake of other people who have yet to enjoy this scale, please do not let it die just yet.

Robert makes an excellent point about LGB. Marklin can make their 1 gauge money there, assuming it is profitable.

At their pricing on the Marklin-branded 1 gauge stuff there really isn't a reason to push their line anymore. LGB really is the marklin of 1 scale in terms of market position anyways.

Z gauge I can't comment on, but remember that part of Marklin's strategy these days is offering a smaller range of higher volume products in order to increase efficiency. If true, that actually is a sign of health for the line. (although a bit boring for any avid buyers looking for new stuff)

oh yes the other thing is also Z scale decoders are
coming on to the market, which could make it really
interesting
old toot