Marklin 1 Gauge track?

Hey Sam, I’ve been fooling around with Marklin trains for years. I’m unaware of Marklin 1 gauge three rail anything. The only Marklin 1 gauge that I have ever seen is two rail.

Does the engine have two slider shoes that are in line with the drivers? Or just one long slider shoe in the center?

Do you have an engine number?

Bill

I don't specifically know about the availability of 3 rail 1-gauge Marklin track, but Ives and Bing also made 3 rail 1-gauge track.  That being said, I think the 2-rail track for windup 1-gauge engines is more commonly found than the 3 rail track for 1-gauge.

NWL

Marklin made 1 gauge track into radius smaller one is eight sections for Circle larger what is 16 sections for Circle go with the 16 your trains will be happier eBay has the stuff

Cheers Carey

@Bill Freeman 051317 posted:

Hey Sam, I’ve been fooling around with Marklin trains for years. I’m unaware of Marklin 1 gauge three rail anything. The only Marklin 1 gauge that I have ever seen is two rail.

Does the engine have two slider shoes that are in line with the drivers? Or just one long slider shoe in the center?

Do you have an engine number?

Bill

Hello Bill,

It's a model 921, I think. there's another set of numbers R 66/12921. It was made in the early 30's from what I can tell. No pickup shoes, if you turn it over it looks very much like a standard gauge train.

Thank you,

Sam

@Nation Wide Lines posted:

I don't specifically know about the availability of 3 rail 1-gauge Marklin track, but Ives and Bing also made 3 rail 1-gauge track.  That being said, I think the 2-rail track for windup 1-gauge engines is more commonly found than the 3 rail track for 1-gauge.

NWL

Thanks, I'm looking into Bing and Ives as well now, that does expand my search. What I find funny is I see several 1 Gauge electric locomotives, but hardly any track. I'm wondering if the track just didn't hold up that well.

@Carey Williams posted:

Marklin made 1 gauge track into radius smaller one is eight sections for Circle larger what is 16 sections for Circle go with the 16 your trains will be happier eBay has the stuff

Cheers Carey

I could have sworn I replied to your post Carey, guess I hit the wrong button.

I'm watching these now, any idea what the radius is between the smaller and larger circles? Also, ever seen anyone try and make a 5 rail Std/1 gauge track?

@samdjr74 posted:

Also, ever seen anyone try and make a 5 rail Std/1 gauge track?

I recently visited a gentleman in California who had a separate 1 gauge layout, below his main layout.  He indicated that the funny thing about 1 gauge and 5 rail track is that if you make standard 5 rail track using O and Standard gauge, that 1 gauge would run on it, as the distance between the outer rail of Standard and the far rail of O gauge was equal to 1 gauge track.  He indicated that as long as the power pickup on the motor was wide enough to reach the center rail, the 1 gauge engine would run on the track. 

@Nation Wide Lines posted:

I recently visited a gentleman in California who had a separate 1 gauge layout, below his main layout.  He indicated that the funny thing about 1 gauge and 5 rail track is that if you make standard 5 rail track using O and Standard gauge, that 1 gauge would run on it, as the distance between the outer rail of Standard and the far rail of O gauge was equal to 1 gauge track.  He indicated that as long as the power pickup on the motor was wide enough to reach the center rail, the 1 gauge engine would run on the track.

Funny that you mention that. I have Gargraves 5 rail on my shelving so I can display both my std and 0 gauge pieces. When I put the Marklin on it, the flanges sit outside of the O gauge section allowing the Marklin to "ride" on the std gauge rails. I was thinking this might be an option as well as I know I can get the gargraves track. Also I have enough O gauge track, I could probably even take my current std track and graft the O gauge to it.

Now the wheels are turning, that's not always a good thing

Hi Sam  Can you post a few photos of your new purchase ? I too was at Allentown this past Saturday and almost bought a 3 rail Marklin set . He had a few sets but no track , since then I too have been searching for track so I can have a simple loop .  Small world .

@JohnnieWalker posted:

Hi Sam  Can you post a few photos of your new purchase ? I too was at Allentown this past Saturday and almost bought a 3 rail Marklin set . He had a few sets but no track , since then I too have been searching for track so I can have a simple loop .  Small world .

Sure thing!

Awesome. I do believe that was the set I was eyeing up 👍.  Congratulations!!
not sure if it’s true or not , but someone said it’s the same gauge as LGB .  If that’s the case I wonder how hard it would be to add a center rail to that track  ? If I find a similar set as you I may give the LGB track a try .

@JohnnieWalker posted:

Awesome. I do believe that was the set I was eyeing up 👍.  Congratulations!!
not sure if it’s true or not , but someone said it’s the same gauge as LGB .  If that’s the case I wonder how hard it would be to add a center rail to that track  ? If I find a similar set as you I may give the LGB track a try .

I was actually thinking the same thing if I can't get my hands on some track. I might even have some LGB track in the house, just need to find it.

SORRY, but I believe adding a third rail to LGB track would be very difficult as their rail fasteners are molded into the ties, and there are none for a third rail.

@Tinplate Art posted:

SORRY, but I believe adding a third rail to LGB track would be very difficult as their rail fasteners are molded into the ties, and there are none for a third rail.

I'm sure if you used an epoxy and glued the third rail in, it should work. Technically, there should be very little pressure on that third rail as only the pickup would be riding on it. You would however need to purchase another set of tracks to sacrifice for that extra rail.

@samdjr74 posted:

I'm sure if you used an epoxy and glued the third rail in, it should work. Technically, there should be very little pressure on that third rail as only the pickup would be riding on it. You would however need to purchase another set of tracks to sacrifice for that extra rail.

I was thinking the same . One can do a lot with J-B Weld .  I’m sure the center rail can be made of sacrificial center rail from old used O or Standard gauge track or even thin flat stock steel .   This is now becoming a slippery slope for me , I want to try making it and I don’t even have the trains to run on it ,yet . Lol

FYI: LGB track is molded from a high grade BASF polymer called vestilene, which is impervious to acetone and most adhesives will not adhere to it. It is especially formulated to be UV resistant and has a very slick surface.