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Offline grafiksol  
#1 Posted : 27 May 2020 21:23:39(UTC)
grafiksol

United States   
Joined: 19/05/2020(UTC)
Posts: 2
Location: South Carolina, Mount Pleasant
After closer inspection of the track sections, it seems my request for more information was a bit premature and perhaps foolish. It is now apparent to me that the center rail power continuity is achieved via the metal "clip" at the end of each track section.
So being unable to delete my "new topic" post, I will simply "retract" my question. Apologies and sorry for any confusion...


[After my recent post asking for information on a newly-inherited Marklin TP800 steam engine, I received two marvelous responses, with very valuable information...for which I am most grateful!
Digging further into this new (very old) acquisition, I am at a total loss to understand the Marklin 3-rail track and how it works. While there are track joiners on both outside (return) rails that firmly connect the track sections, the center rails on each track section do not even touch and the track sections so no sign of there ever being a joiner to bridge this gap. I thus wonder how power on the center rail can be distributed through even a simple circular layout? There is one track section with red (center rail) and brown (common/return rails) wires for connecting to a transformer. Photos are attached...

Track Topside.jpg Track Underside.jpg

Track Closeup.jpg

Edited by moderator 29 May 2020 13:06:56(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

thanks 1 user liked this useful post by grafiksol
Offline Martti Mäntylä  
#2 Posted : 27 May 2020 22:31:39(UTC)
Martti Mäntylä

Finland   
Joined: 15/11/2018(UTC)
Posts: 397
Location: Uusimaa, Helsinki
The center rails are connected with the shiny metal tongues sticking out from the track ends underneath the track bed.
- Martti M.
Era III analog & digital (Rocrail, CAN Digital Bahn, Gleisbox/MS2, K83/K84), C & M tracks, some Spur 1
Offline grnwtrs  
#3 Posted : 28 May 2020 00:50:36(UTC)
grnwtrs

United States   
Joined: 18/06/2005(UTC)
Posts: 669
Location: El Sobrante, California
Originally Posted by: grafiksol Go to Quoted Post
After closer inspection of the track sections, it seems my request for more information was a bit premature and perhaps foolish. It is now apparent to me that the center rail power continuity is achieved via the metal "clip" at the end of each track section.
So being unable to delete my "new topic" post, I will simply "retract" my question. Apologies and sorry for any confusion...


[After my recent post asking for information on a newly-inherited Marklin TP800 steam engine, I received two marvelous responses, with very valuable information...for which I am most grateful!
Digging further into this new (very old) acquisition, I am at a total loss to understand the Marklin 3-rail track and how it works. While there are track joiners on both outside (return) rails that firmly connect the track sections, the center rails on each track section do not even touch and the track sections so no sign of there ever being a joiner to bridge this gap. I thus wonder how power on the center rail can be distributed through even a simple circular layout? There is one track section with red (center rail) and brown (common/return rails) wires for connecting to a transformer. Photos are attached...[attach]56780


I am sure glad you asked this question. I forgot myself. Not using M-TRK any more. I have a bunch for a future layout But that future
like a lot of other things is in the distant future.

Your track series is among the earliest,, it was later changed , I think , the long center rail was replaced, by track with individual studs.
Was that for grounding? Someone help-out here! For the pickup shoe.,

You can isolate the C-trk circuits with cardboard or Shrink wrap. You cover the silver color CENTER TANGS .

Sorry for making a mess about this.

Best Regardes, gene
Offline Jimmy Thompson  
#4 Posted : 28 May 2020 01:53:30(UTC)
Jimmy Thompson

United States   
Joined: 26/03/2019(UTC)
Posts: 587
Location: Florida Classic but Successful Swampland City
Hi guys,

No worries! BigGrin

M-track having a metal base and the outer rails solidly connected to that base means there is no way to isolate one of the outer rails from the other (like you can on C-Track with its plastic base).

The center rail/studs are technically what I call "positive" + and the outer rails being "negative" - . I guess that the Positive (center) might equate to 'power' and the negative (outer) to a "return". And yes the center rail/studs are for the power pick-up shoe/slider.

The center rail/studs connect to the end tabs through the slot that holds them away from the metal base, therefore the center rails need have no connector to each other as the tab does the job. The outer rails do have connectors and it is always best to have as good a connection there as possible (like any other 2-rail track would need good solid connections).

Clear as mud? Cool
Jimmy T
Analogue; M-track; BR 111; KLVM; Primex; Sarrasani Zirkuswelt
There is a Prototype For Everything
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