So, next stop Göppingen and the Märklin museum, and I was there. I can't really believe it. I have read a lot of mails about this place and I think that it is worth to visit. Really, they don't have all the things that they have produced, but they gave quite a good overview of what Märklin has been and still is.
 
We arrived to Göppingen and at the entrance to the city there was a sign indicating the Märklin Museum, this is a good key to understand the importance that Märklin has in this city.

At the main entry to the museum is a Maxi layout in a garden environment to demonstrate two things: 

• It can be used outdoors 
• And if somebody tries to catch some of the rolling stock an alarm sounds, it is electronically protected.

Inside the museum

In the museum's hall there are some display shells showing the last released models, as well as some brochures. In the first room, there are some layouts, this day there was a dog-bone H0 layout with 4 trains running automatically, breaking  and stopping gently in front of the signals, and accelerating softly when the signals became green, besides of this there was another big H0 layout in a building up status, where you can see some of the technical work to build a layout, besides of them some others where children play with a BR74, and they can connect and disconnect C track. 

The second room is the important one, there are all of these toys which we all dreamed in our childhood, for boys and girls, ships, planes, trucks, and trains, trains, trains. Gauge II, I, 0, H0, Z, Crocodiles, German, English, French, American locos, cars, wagons. Some times some trains don't look very prototypical but Märklin has the ability to give you, the " feeling" of this train, and you can compare with the Trix display shell, they are very nice models too, but they haven't that "I don't know what" that Märklin has. 

There are a lot of crocodiles in all scales, it is very clear what this loco represents to Märklin, it is a symbol.  I took a lot of photos. And very important thing, the other people, you could see them studying the H0 models, comparing with books and making very close ups with digital cameras. 

Later the Märklin shop, with post cards , books and so on, ok, I bought some books, the museum H0 wagon and some souvenirs for my family. I don't know how much time I spent there, but I think that I was there about 2 hours. 

Märklin is a customer of my friend, so he told me that some times that he had time, he were to the museum and relax, watching one and other time all of this models. 

I think that the weak point was the shop, I expected something more, the T-shirts were very simple and it looks poor quality, there was also some "surprise envelope", where you can find a wagon (maybe a 4415 or something like that) a Märklin magazine and maybe a stamp or a piece of C track. I have to work hard to get my money and I don't like to spend my money without knowing what I am purchasing. We left the Märklin museum after the last sight. Really I'd like to come back. A magic place.

Pictures from the museum

Here I am at the main entry, to the left side of the photo there's an axle from a real loco, and next to it - the Maxi layout.

At the main entry, by the Maxi layout (in the garden), this day was a bit rainy, however the locos were running. It is a good way to start. There's an electronic system that prevents that anybody catches a loco or wagon, if this happen an alarm starts to sound. 

Here we are in the main room, all the items are exposed in bigger display shells, that way that it is possible to watch them form every side. Here we have some very nice models of Gauge 1. These locos were (or are) steam powered, the street lamp is also beautiful.

Here we also find the steam machines, with all kind of accessories, electric generator to power lamps as well as electric motors, there were also some toys, to the left side there's something like a carrousel. there was also something a workshop with some machines that work with the power provided by the steam machine. 

Here is the start of Märklin, the making of a toy kitchen, and accessories. They are attractive even for males. 

The gauge 0 models, on the left side there's a Crocodile.

More gauge 0 models

The H0 display shells, from the early 50:s up to now. In the center display at the bottom left there's a strange  loco, it seems aerodynamic small steam loco, I have looked for it in Kolls but I can't find it, can you identify it?. 

This is the small loco, to the left side, can you identify it? Do you know anything about it? Then please mail to me or the webmaster about it...

Here is a lot of old H0 or 00 models, you can see 4 crocodiles (see next picture), the Schürzenwagen a lot of them, the red French electric loco Le Capitole, cranes and so on.

The 4 Crocos, in metal edition, only the mechanics, a full model and a cut model.

More H0 models, the exclusive series, you can see the Northlander, the SBB TEE, the Royal trains , the Ice Amtrak.... 

Here is the main layout inside the museum, it is not very impressive. I'd like to see something more sophisticated, but it is enough. There were 4 trains, (1 ICE, a IC or Interregio, a local train or S-bahn and a freight train. It was automatic operation with gentle stops and starts, all the lamps and signals were working.