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"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.

Post your non-O scale stuff here!

Good Morning All:

Was wondering if anyone on the HONGZ forum had experience running stock from other manufacturers on their MARKLIN Gauge 1 track.

MARKLIN does not post the CODE of the rail online - at least where I can find it - but it's nice track with a more shallow rail profile vs. say LGB which is CODE 332 and is a bit visually oversized for what I hope to accomplish.

I am looking for INDOOR TRACK only so I'll not have the weather worries for this portion of the layout.

I bring this up because I recently picked up four (4) pieces of MTH 1:32 rolling stock. The HOPPERS roll flawlessly - the cabooses however 'click' as they roll down the track. The flanges appear to be striking the small plastic molded rail fasteners on the MARKLIN track. One dealer indicated that this is an issue with older MTH wheel sets and a replacement set might solve it. But this got me thinking about the MTH locos and their ability to run on the lower profile MARKLIN track. Then of course you start wondering about USA TRAINS, ARISTO, KM1 and others being able to run on the track. I do not use FINE SCALE wheel sets on anything so the flanges are all going to be NEM or 'standard'.

If anyone has any experience here - would love to hear from you. Many thanks and Happy Easter.

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I believe the MTH one gauge VO engines for example, have fine wheel sets that would work well. I'm only guessing here.

I don't have any Marklin track to test with. I did notice that some later MTH releases (most all?) had finer scale wheels.

There are people in Europe that know the answer to this I bet. Many of us "over here", bought USA style track. Many layouts over there, shown in videos on Utube, have super nice, scale, track work.

Last edited by Engineer-Joe

I believe the Marklin track is Code 250. Definitely a smaller rail profile than LGB, Aristo, USA Trains, etc. I have a fairly large assortment of Marklin #1 Gauge track and switches (very well made products) that I need to dispose of in the future since I sold the Marklin locomotives and rolling stock some years ago. I still have a decent amount of LGB engines and rolling stock, but also have a lot of LGB and Aristo track for those items.

Good Afternoon All:

Thanks for the responses - appreciate the time. It looks like the Marklin track is going to create some issues for anything other than the European market trains (excluding LGB which as I understand WILL have issues on the MARKLIN track due to deeper flanges) . Some of the MTH 1:32 will likely work - but the USA TRAINS for example will not (I realize they are 1:29 but was hoping). I suppose this means I'll need to run two (2) track systems. I REALLY like the Marklin track - looks great but...

Any thoughts or recommendations on a track system with a higher rail profile than the MARKLIN that offers a decent number of track lengths , curves and switch options and also looks decent? I'm not a fan of the brass rails on the LGB, PIKO and USA TRAINS track - but if those were the only options I'd figure out a way to maybe darken the side rails and leave the top of the rails exposed for conductivity.

Thank you for your input.

John

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