SteamPower4ever

I second that! Hmm, frankly I don't know. Märklin H0 ran on AC with a third center rail. They still use the third rail today, but disguised as center stubs. I don't think they used a third rail in gauge 1 unless you go very far back, but they might have been running on AC to use the same transformers. These days they're all digital, but in true Märklin fashion, they have their own protocol (mfx). The latest command station does have DCC, though, but they're dragging their feet. Jens

This is why I'd love to see MTH enter the European 1:32 market: Currently there's a Märklin Santa Fe F7 AA set for sale on ebay for 999 Euro, which at today's rate is equivalent to 1335 USD. It's from the MAXI series, which is Märklin's entry level series, and while they're OK runners, the models are avoided by all serious modelers here because of the seriously low level of detail. The factory price for a similar MTH AA set is 750 USD. Throw in a couple of B units, and you're still below the mark for the Märklin AAs only. By offering reasonably priced models with good performance and a reasonable level of detail, MTH could really give the European brands a run for their money. Jens

It isn't the same company - I think it's improving. For years Märklin has been selling old models in new dress, while the rest of the gang moved on to re-tooled and scale correct models. This has given them sort of a toy-train image even though they have of course had a loyal customer base for ages. Now it seems Märklin has money, and they're catching up to the competition. In all scales we see great full-length passenger coaches and in 1:32 even a brand new re-tooled steamer (BR38) with all the features the market has come to expect. I think they may have their eyes set on the US ... also in 1:32. Jens

I think you're right. It was an editor's opinion. I also think you're right about future developments from MTH. Anyway, I'll keep you posted if or when I hear anything. I'm already imagining the possibility of Märklin producing a set of El Capitan hi-liners ... Jens

A German gauge 1 web site reports that Garden Railways magazine is reporting that Märklin is expanding their distribution network in North America as of January 2015. Walthers will remain a key distributor, but it looks like big M* is building their own distribution network. Historically Märklin has made some great US models in the smaller scales, and in the 2014 news flyer, in H0 they have a gorgeous limited production Super Chief set with an F7 ABB consist along with Soo Line F7s and various freight cars. In Z scale they have a couple of E8/9 units, which I think is a first in that scale. While this may not be terribly interesting for us here in 1 or G scale, it could be an indication that Märklin is probing the US market, so maybe in a couple of years ... What also caught my eye on the German site is that in the German text, they say that MTH is no longer doing any new developments. They don't elaborate, but the way I see MTH right now, looking at the 2013 catalog and the YouTube video of Mike talking about G scale ... yeah, they could be right, at least for 1:32. Any thoughts about these subjects? Jens

Where was my head that day - you just mentioned Preiser, didn't you? How about Britains, then - mostly farming stuff, but still ... Other than that, I can find a bunch of military figures in 1:32 and 1:35, but civilians are more scarce. Welcome to the forum, Ron Jens

Behind the camera, of course And in front of my camera when 4014 is steaming again. Whoa - that's a full length film. Have to watch it some rainy day when I have the time. The first part was great, though. Wonderful train scenes from before the standardization swept the world ... The old movie reminded me that old Danish railway movies are appearing on the tube. Some of you may find them interesting: Building an H class (2-8-0) steam locomotive, Danish State Railways 1941. You follow the building - literally from scratch - of a steam locomotive at the Frichs factory. Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: "Her er banerne" - a documentary from 1948, roughly translated to 'This is the railway'. Classic Danish film and ever popular among aficionados. Danish narration. And going back to present day: the mother of all train videos - full length cab recording of the Bergen railway in Norway. It was broadcast in full on Norwegian national TV. People loved it and are buying the DVD. It has sparked the Danish national broadcaster to make similar recordings of all Danish railway lines. They are broadcast at night in HD. Edit: The Bergen video with the slightly very extremely boring tunnel sequences removed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgEY-57IBoA

Brilliant - a lot of 0 stuff has been announced recently. Let's hope one gauge is hot on the trail

How about Preiser ?

No offense taken, Joe. In fact, over here, it's you guys who are "over there" Most of the US gauge 1/G layouts I see are actually outdoors, and then it makes perfect sense to use the more sturdy track with larger code. Keep in mind that most European layouts - at least the ones you see above - are indoor layouts, and you couldn't make that level of detail outdoors and expect it to last more than a year. Most European gauge 1 (~ 1:32) is thus indoors, and outside, people tend to use G (~ 1:22.5). There are exceptions, of course, and some people use G indoors and some use 1 outdoors. They are few and far between, though. Getting back on topic, here's the most awesome 2 x BR44 recording I've ever seen. The BR44 doubleheader is of course famous for the 'Langer Heinrich' or 'Long Henry' ore train, but here they're really showing off on what is most likely a photo special, hauling a trainload of wooden logs up the ramp out of the town of Oberrohn in Germany. Not my recording, but easily one of my favorites. Go to hi-res and full screen if you have the bandwidth for it - and turn up the volume. (Edit: or maybe it's from one of the "plandampf" events - where they run revenue trains with steamers) Jens

Yes, I picked that up, so I wanted to emphasize that it isn't This is my club ... and there are other videos from the club layout on my YouTube channel.

Unfortunately I can't take any credit for anything on the videos. It's the work of Germans clubs and individuals, but it is very very nice. From what I hear, though, the main problem at these events is traffic congestion on the tracks I haven't attended myself yet, but we're talking about a club excursion to one of these meets. It's not more than a day's drive away, and we can rent a people mover van fairly cheap south of the border in Germany.

For those of you who haven't seen it, I've been wanting to present some of the European gauge 1 scene for a while now. This thread seems to have a broad enough subject to show a few videos from German modular meets. Around here, we don't have as many scales as the US market is seeing. G scale is LGB or 1:22.5 and 1 scale is 1:32 - both on 45mm gauge track, but G is normally a larger code rail than 1, which is code 200. When MTH is trying out European models, this is the market they are tapping into. If they make reasonable and affordable models, they will succeed, although money is shorter than before 2008 ... Anyway, here are some videos from German 1 scale (or track 1 as we call it) modular meets. The layouts are big, and the events are open to the public. Borken 2013 Heilbronn 2013 Leipzig 2012 Jens

Well, the Heljan Nohab may be a source for his trucks, once the model is ready. The Danish MY class had A1A trucks, and a quick look at pictures on the web shows at least some similarity. The slightly different shape of the Nohabs was in fact an adaptation to the European (UIC) profile, and some sources even say that the Nohabs were derived from the clyde B class design. Jens

OK- I see what you mean. The Nohabs have slightly lower noses and larger windows. Also, the Nohab noses are more rounded on the top. The Heljan molds can't be used directly for a conversion, then. Is the australian version available in large scale? Jens

Umm ... what's a bulldog nose, then? All the Nohabs were all double-ended too.

Cool - Alfred Hitchcock in 1:32 He would look great, standing next to my TARDIS ... Jens

Ya know - we may be grumbling and wailing, but as long as we don't cancel our orders, it must all be because we care, right? So if anyone from MTH is reading: keep it up and give us some models that are so good that we want the next one Jens

It is a bit frustrating, but it's the same with European brands. What raised my expectation is that MTH in June revised the shipping dates and set them to July. The dates being so close, I'd expect they would be able to know for certain that the shipping date would hold. Perhaps it's the flip side to having the stuff made in China - that you just don't know or is being misled. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case. I have cash in hand for the F7s, but I also have a lot to do while I wait, so it's not a big deal. I just need to whine about it now and again Jens

Okay - now I believe the November schedule for my F7s, even though the dates look like a shotgun fired from a distance at a barn door. Why is the F7 AA set set for November, when the B and single A is set for July? Doesn't make sense. I was kinda setting my hopes for a typo and that they'd be right around the corner, seeing that we're almost running out of days in July, but more likely the typo is that they all appear (no earlier than) November Sigh! Oh well ... I'll just fuggedaboutit for a while and suddenly I'll get an email from Ray that will make my day Hmm ... perhaps KM-1 will be ready with my BR50 first?

Umm ... hold on a sec. You just received a PS2 version that shipped in 2010 and the PS3 version scheduled for july '14 - as in right about now - is still not there? Yikes - does patience come in pills? Jens

I think Heljan and Walthers are still doing business. Some of the present day Cornerstone buildings were in the Heljan catalogs ages ago, and I seem to recall that the H0 and N scale Cornerstone turntables are made by Heljan too. We have been talking to some of the guys from Heljan who are into gauge 1 themselves, and I've been trying to convince them to make a type PB freight car. This was the most common type in Denmark, and they can be used in practically all time periods. They're certainly not dismissing the idea, but I think they want to see how the MY is received before moving forward with new models. I need 4-5 of those PBs for my brown coal train , but other guys are calling out for passenger coaches for the MY. We'll see. For now, I applaud their entry into gauge 1 and hope for their success. Jens

Actually I don't think so. I'm sure at least half of the guys at the club will get one, so they're going to be around on the layout. Besides, with the F7s, I will have my own GMs, so I get both worlds.

Hi all. You may not know the Danish manufacturer Heljan, but they've been around as long as I can remember. Back when I was a kid, their plastic kits were the ones to get in H0 when you wanted buildings on the layout. For Danish prototypes anyway. Back then the Con-Cor logo was on the Heljan catalogue along with their own logo, and the logos are remarkably similar, so a lot of Con-Cor molds were - and I guess still are - made by Heljan. Some years ago they entered the H0 rolling stock market with Danish and later UK models of rolling stock. With great success, except for the steamers, which were a rickety bunch. Their passenger coaches, freight cars and diesels are just great, though. Later they moved into 0 Gauge, primarily in the UK market, but they have made a Danish class MY diesel, which has had somewhat mixed reviews. Recently they have presented the first prototype of the MY diesel in gauge 1. As first shots go, this is spot on as far as I can see. Some details are still missing, but they do know that, and it will be fixed before production. For many years the MY and it's smaller sister the MX was the backbone of the Danish State Railways, and they are still in service in Denmark, Sweden and Germany, so I'm sure Heljan will come up with a lot of different paint schemes eventually, even though only four schemes are announced for the first run. The type was originally also used in Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary - although with minor differences - so there's a chance for a larger market here too. Anyone from the US recognize the shape of the loco? Sure enough, it's a GM with a 567 prime mover, and the European locos where derived from the F7 and built in Sweden by Nydquist & Holm AB (Nohab). They have something of a cult following at least in northern Europe - affectionally known as 'Nohabs' or 'round noses'. The price indication is reasonable - 1600 Euro with DCC sound v4 by ESU. A lot of people are looking forward to this one Jens

Hmmmyeah ... I wasn't actually thinking about "new" products as such