news from MERKUR

What is your experience with MERKUR locomotives running on tubular rails (old Lionel/K-Line tracks or Gargraves/Ross tracks)? I read somewhere that the wheel profile is not compatible and that there is a high derailment risk on curves and on switches. Is it true, that you have to buy also MERKUR tracks to run their trains?

MERKUR has tubular track for their trains. I have learned from my costumers in the UK that Merkur trains doesn't have trouble on old Hornby and Lionel track. By the way the MERKUR track is compatible with old Lionel, old Hornby and old M&auml;rklin. If you want to read wht an experienced toy train enthusiastic writes about it follw the link <a href="http://www.lionellines.blogspot.nl/">http://www.lionellines.blogspot.nl/</a>
MERKUR offers a wide range of tubular tinplate track. You may see it at <a href="http://www.blik-en-speelgoed.nl/c-1579021/merkur-tinplate-spoor-0-rails-tinplate-gauge-0-track-spur-0-blechgeleise-l-echelle-0-rail-en-fer-blanc/">http://www.blik-en-speelgoed.nl/c-1579021/merkur-tinplate-spoor-0-rails-tinplate-gauge-0-track-spur-0-blechgeleise-l-echelle-0-rail-en-fer-blanc/</a>
MERKUR has announced crossings. Some pictures of the track are attached. If you have any questions don't hestitate to ask
 

Yeah I know there is a difference. People who are working with say it doesn't cause troubles. If you like you may ask the man who has the internetblog about Lionel.

My experience is limited, but I have had no compatibility problems running my Merkur trains on Lionel-style tubular track. I only have one engine and a couple of dozen cars, so I'm not going to claim that is definitive, but I haven't seen anything that would cause a problem. I can't recall, though, if I've ever run my Merkur trains over switches. I usually run my European tinplate on a part of my layout that doesn't have switches. 

You will note on the loco pics, that all wheels are flanged, which is usual for European and English tin plate.At Darstaed, we recommend a min 048 curve, these locos might struggle on 031 and 027, which maybe where the rumour eminated.

Okay Any idea what metro system is represented by this model:

Might be of interest to the transit-minded folks here

---PCJ

Is English not European? Maybe England belongs to a different continent......I was sleeping during geography lessons!

I have looked into the geometries of MERKUR and LIONEL, compared also catalog data with the dimensions in track layout software. Probably it will be a challenging "trial and error" project to combine both geometries, straight tracks, curved tracks, switches, crossings, etc. Any way, wider radius is recommended for longer tinplate locomotives with multiple axles regardless of track manufacturer.

Hi guys, nice to read your replies. Yeah Dave I know the bigger locomotives of Darstaed needs the 048 curve. However the smaller locomotives like the Pannier take the 625 mm curve of MERKUR without any problem.

The locomotives of MERKUR even the BR 01 and BR 52 ( the BR 01 is a steamlocomotive of 52 cm) take the MERKUR 625 track. I know it is more realistic to use the 760 mm as a minimum.

Well England is part of Europe ( don't ask me more about the geo of the USA...) But there is a big difference in the tinplate tradition and train models. Perhaps it is worth to start a topic about this......

What yo8u have seen is a motor car of the Prague (Czech republic) underground. There is a motor car deliverable with one of two motors and suitable for two and three rail DC. It is possible to modify in AC. A trailer car is deliverable too. Their example is the serie Ecs.

Ah, found it now:

Pretty good representation for tinplate

---PCJ

Woow the original one. I have been in the Czech Republic, I passed Prague but I didn't found the time to visit Prague. They have beautifull trams too. In Prague another tinplate gauge 0 manufacturer, ETS, is founded.

I have visited Prague 5 times and I would recommend to visit the 3 passenger train stations with monumental historic buildings. Some of the station buildings remind of pre-war era while some other remind of iron courtine era. The model train shops in Prague offer some rare exotic models with good customer service even if the don't speak always English.

I suppose that the British tinplate market (with or without Scotland?) is dominated by Ace/Darstaed brand products. The Continental European market is more an antiquity market with restored pre-war originals and vintage replicas of old fashion toy trains. But MERKUR is something different because the Czech guys manufacture also quasi-prototypical metal train models of the modern era. 

We will see what happens in Scotland today  

Ace and Darstaed are very known brands in the UK. But there are others. ETS has produced a very beautifull Terrier. And with MERKUR we develop a J 94 saddle tank locomotive.

In the other countries a lot of people do use the vintage tinplate of Märklin, JEP, Hornby ( The French Hornby), Fleischmann, Trix, Paya and so on.

Nowadays you may find Lehnhardt ( tinplate gauge 0 tram models), MERKUR  mainly the models from Czech Republic, Germany, France), ETS ( models for the usa, czech republic, Germany) Elettren, Zanka and again BUCO. I may forget to mention some manufacturers. But there is still a market. ETS and MERKUR develop new models each year!

Here a p[icture of the first prototype of the J 94

I see that there are different shapes of couplers, sometimes with a hook and other (non-)exchangable coupling mechanisms. Is there any official tinplate standardisation with specification/dimensions/drawings of the coupler diversity and bumper distances? I am looking for specs like this...

http://www.morop.eu/de/normes/nem365_d.pdf

...or like this...

As far as I know there is no standard in gauge 0. In modeltrains the standard started with gauge HO and gauge N.

You can see that in the UK gauge 0 is mostly 1:43,5. In Europ 1:45 and in the US 1:47.

There are differnt kind of couplers. Mostly the manufaturers had/have their own couplers. I have in stock ETS, MERKUR, old Jep and old French Hornby all with differnt styles of couplers. ETS and MERKUR has Märklin typ couplers, ETS coupler, MERKUR couplers and what I call the Bing couplers.

But no drawings I am afraid.

I know old Märklin and the couplers of ETS and MERKUR are compatible.