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German HO Layout, Pilenium Video TMTV general discussion
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Frequent poster 522 posts Daboosailing Frequent poster 522 posts
Daboosailing

I was just watching a Pilenium Video of an HO Layout in Germany.  I noticed that every tie had a raised  ear in the center, between the rails. 

I spent two years in Germany and have to say that I never noticed a raised ear in the center of every tie on the real German Railway system.  When I was over there, we even rode the trains at various times and ended up spending a night in a railway station near Baumholder, Germany.  I was amazed that steam still ran in Germany in the very early 1970s. 

Anyway, I'm wondering if this raised ear isn't the same thing as a center rail, similar to Lionel's O27 three rail system.  Anyone know for sure what this is?     
Daboosailing

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dwilliam1963 Prolific poster 1,078 posts
dwilliam1963

Yes it is 3 rail....

Marklin still runs three rail, just camouflaged better than Lionel....

marklin.JPG 

Marklin makes 3 rail, their sister brand Trix is 2 rail....Cool stuff!

Peace Bill
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Prof_Klyzlr Moderator 7,954 posts
Prof_Klyzlr

Centre-rail confirmed

Dear Daboo,

Confirmed, the studs form a "low visual impact" conductor in place of the older, more visually-intrusive "full-size rail" conductor of Marklin track.

https://marklinstop.com/2018/01/marklins-00ho-track-system-1935-present/

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr
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wacampbell Active Member 44 posts
wacampbell

Marklin's 3 Rail Advantage

One advantage of 3 rail is it eliminates complications of reverse loops.   Any track arrangement is 'legal' and reverse loops do not need any special gaps or other treatment.  Its simpler for the novice user to set up a layout.

But I always wondered why Marklin used AC powering on their loco's.   It meant having a reversing relay in the loco that toggled the direction.   The power pack produced a special high voltage pulse to operate the relay.   The reversing relay took up space in the loco and was always a maintenance headache to keep adjusted.

 

 

 

 
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Daboosailing Frequent poster 522 posts
Daboosailing

Thanks for the information!

Thanks guys for the explanation.  I'm an On30 modeler; so, I won't be venturing into Marklin's stuff; but, I am now better informed on all of the different systems available.   
Daboosailing

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