Trix / Marklin Products...Safe to buy?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Thought I would make a post about this, because I am looking at the Trix Mikado for $250 and I would very much like that quality. I am concerned about Maerklin though after the take over and what is happening in the firm. I haven’t heard any new news and if I buy a Trix product I would want service and repair available. Any one have info on this?

Regards,

Tom M.

2

There was a short news release in the August 2006 issue of Model Railroader about Marklin being sold to a British investment group, but they provided no information about what that means as far as the continued availability of Trix or Marklin products, especially to or for the U.S. market.

3

They are nice running fairly accurate models of the USRA 2-8-2 and sound good overall. If you want to use the whistle for longs and shorts, it is not capable of doing that. I think they are worth the money at the lower blow out rate you talked about. They did not sell at the full price and since Trix is gone, they wanted to move them out.

The good thing is they are solid models and run well.

4

Unless this has changed recently, you could call Jeff at 262-784-8854 (jeff@marklin.com) and ask him about warranties and so forth.

Hal

5

So far, outwardly there have been no changes with Marklin and /or Trix. The summer 2006 catalog is on the Trix website http://www.trixtrains.com/new06/2006newitems.html

All the contact links on both sites are all active and both sites seem to be up to date as of July 2006.

I don’t think we’ll see many external changes to Marklin/Trix. From what I read on some german sites, the investment firm that purchased the company will make internal changes to improve efficiencies in production and management in order to provide its customers with continuing first class products.

6

Tom,

I picked up the Trix 2-8-2 Light Mike a couple of months ago and couldn’t be happier. [:)][tup] It absolutely crawls at speed step 001. True, the older LokSound 2.0 decoder does have the “fixed” whistle but I LOVE the “throaty” chuff over my BLI Mike.

I was able to find it on eBay for $220. Tony’s Train Xchange is selling them for $230. They are out of the Pennsy though. Even if their customer support were to fall off the face of the earth, it would still be a great buy.

Tom

7

According to an interview I read in the British press, the new owners say that Marklin, whoare probably the oldest and most famous name in the model railroad business, should be doing better than they have been. They claim they are not intending to break the company up, but to increase its profitability and sell it on in a few years’ time as a going concern.

Apparently the unions welcomed the takeover as the company was languishing under the existing (and largely family) ownership…

8

Thanks to everyone for the info! Its good to know trix is still up and working. It would be a shame if the marklin companys folded! they make some great stuff, not just trains!!!

I will email the marklin guy and see what the service is for these models.

Regards,

Tom M.