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CLUB
NEWS
2013
Exclusively for Club members
Class 45 with 7 freight cars: Germany’s
most powerful of all in H0
Minitrix: modules to grab your attention
Overview: special models for anniversary
celebrants
Insights: Trix production is running
Contents
Trix-Clubnews 04 / 2012
Issue 03 / 2013
Detail
News: Trends Intermodellbau / DVD Annual Chronicles 2013 – part 1 / Questionnaire on era preference for Annual Cars .................................. 4
Top models: The mighty class 45 in H0 exclusively for Club members .... 6
Delivery dates: Product manager Claus Ballsieper in conversation .... 10
Spotlight: Tiniest lettering on the class 18.6 ......................................... 12
Gigantic: the class 45 and freight car set as a further 2013 Club model.
18
Scene
Snapshot: High summer in Altenstein – a Trix Express layout
tells the realistic life story of a Franconian village ................................ 13
Exclusive: Anniversary models for loyal Club members ..................... 16
Scene setters: How tractors plow and haul wood in the fields
and forests: the great outdoors from the N-Club International ........... 18
Field work: on the other side of the embankment.
23
Service
Summary: A home from home for model railroaders – Trix round
tables stand for exchange of ideas, experience and joint activities .... 22
Cooperation partners: Enjoy a trip to the south Tyrolean railroad world
in Rabland near Merano and the museum railroad of Schönheide ...... 23
Editorial ...................................................................................................... 3
New Club partner: experience the Museum Railroad Schönheide.
Imprint
Editorial
3G Media GmbH: Peter Waldleitner (editor-in-chief),
Club News is an exclusive part of this publication for Trix Club members.
Lars Harnisch, Rochus Rademacher, Stefanie Hirrle
Subject to changes and delivery options for all the products mentioned
Layout
Publisher
2
Gerhard Baumann GmbH & Co. KG
here. All rights reserved. Reprinting in whole or in part only with prior
written permission. This also applies for recording in electronic databases
and duplication on CD-ROMs. The editor is not liable for any unsolicited
submission of manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.
Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH
Photographs
Stuttgarter Str. 55 – 57
Unless indicated otherwise: Trix Club
73033 Göppingen, Germany
Title: H. Seehuber
Märklin Customer Clubs
No liability accepted for any dates given.
brochure summer new releases 2013, order forms for Club model class
Silvia Römpp (responsible)
E 198516 – 03 2013 © by Gebr. Märklin
45 and freight car set, catalog 2013/2014.
The following enclosures are sent out with Club mailing 03/2013: Trix
Club News 03/2013, Märklin Magazin 03/2013, Annual DVD 2013 (part 1),
Trix-Clubnews 04 / 2012
Dear Club members,
The second half of this model railroad year starts with an imposing model highlight: as a further exclusive model for Club
members in 2013, Trix is producing the magnificent class 45 with
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new-design boiler in H0 – a top-grade icon of railroad history,
which was the most powerful steam locomotive ever built in
Germany. So that the giant can do justice to its reputation, there
is also a matching set of seven different freight cars. Apart from
this central subject, the current issue also reflects on the latest
special models for long-time Club members and the outstanding
13
lettering applied to Minitrix Club model 18 612. And finally,
we talk to Trix Product Manager Claus Ballsieper on the supply
situation for new models.
It gives us particular pleasure to illustrate the imaginative designs
of the worlds of N-gauge; we have discovered an astonishing
variety of tractor scenes alone on Stefan Wörner’s modules. And
the portrait of a very special Trix Express layout is intended to
encourage the telling of little stories with situations taken from life.
The service section informs you of the latest contact details of
the Trix round tables and about new cooperation partners. To
finish with, we want you to look forward to the top event of
the year: from 13 to 15 September, the entire model railroad
community will be making for Göppingen for the 30th IMA.
We hope you enjoy reading your Club News.
Your Trix Club team
Summer time: day-to-day on a Trix Express layout.
Your service numbers
Queries about technology, repairs
and spare parts / complaints
Customer Service
Club hotline
Telephone Monday – Friday
from 10 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.
Telephone: + 49 (0) 71 61 / 6 08 - 2 13
Fax: + 49 (0) 71 61 / 6 08 -3 08
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone Monday – Friday
from 10 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.
Telephone inland: 0 90 01 / 6 08-2 22 (49 cents a
minute from the German fixed phone network,
mobile tariffs may differ)
Telephone from abroad: + 49 (0) 71 61 / 6 08 - 2 22
Fax: +49 (0) 71 61 / 6 08-2 25
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet
www.trix.de
club.trix.de
Moving?
Please inform us in good time of your new
address so we will know where we can
reach you. A forwarding address at the
Post Office unfortunately will not suffice.
Thank you for your cooperation!
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Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Speechless: model railroaders admired the Trix
layout with wide eyes
and camera lenses. Club
members were welcomed
at the stand with a cap as a
memento of the exhibition
(see below).
Exhibition trends from Dortmund
Powerful models impress
Superb new models, fine layouts and almost
innumerable model railroaders: once again,
the Trix and Märklin stand at the Intermodellbau 2013 in Dortmund was number
one attraction again for a great
number of the 88,000 visitors That
is no great surprise: according
to visitor surveys, the model
railroad has proven to be the
very top favorite with the public
in Dortmund – and Trix is a
firm favorite in the model railroad
world. The Club team welcomed
Trix Club members personally, and as
an exhibition present, they received a
sporty cotton cap bearing the silver Trix
Club legend.
According to exhibition surveys, a high proportion of the visitors are active model railroaders, and that could be seen in the siege
of the Minitrix layout where the Minitrix
building kit of the mighty Dammtor station
was the focus of all eyes. Especially encouraging for all model railroad fans: many children
with their parents, school classes and young
people crowded around the layouts and
took home information on the current range
of models. The youngsters’ range is popular
too, as Eric-Michael Peschel, Event Marketing
Manager, confirms: “The play area at the
stand was well attended and many parents with
their children stayed for half an hour and
more. Children are becoming more interested
in model railroads again”.
Photos: C. Dick, Intermodellbau, Kötzle, PW
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Detail
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
News & Facts
Survey Trix Club Annual Cars
Which era would you like?
By tradition, the Minitrix, Trix H0 and Trix Express Annual Cars represent era I. And there is a good reason for this: railroad construction by
the private and provincial railroads up to about 1925 rejoiced in a
huge variety of vehicle types, color schemes and lettering. But this preference is by no means law – and that’s why the Trix product management wants to know the views of Trix Club members:
• Should the Annual Car in future continue to be drawn from era I
prototypes?
• Should there be alternation year by year in eras?
• If another era is wished for over a longer period of time, then which one?
Voting takes place online in the Club area under club.trix.de under the
heading “Model railroad” (Modellbahn). You can let us know your
preference at any time up to July 31, 2013 conveniently with no more
than a mouse click.
Era I: renowned for attractive Annual Car prototypes.
Trips canceled
Visible pleasure
The trips announced in the Club News 02/2013 to
Scandinavia to the ore railroad and to Bochum to
the musical “Starlight Express” have unfortunately
had to be canceled. The cancellations were due to
insufficient registrations, so that minimum participant numbers could not be reached. We wish to
thank all Club members for their interest and apologize for having to take this step. Nevertheless,
those who would like to enjoy “Starlight Express”
still have an advantage: Club members receive a
reduction of 10 percent on the net prices of admission tickets by quoting PIN 123953 when they
make a reservation. Tickets and info are available
under +49 (0)2 11/7 34 41 20.
Part 1 of the DVD of the year 2013 “A year with Trix” takes
the Club member on a visit to steam loco 18 612, prototype
loco for the N gauge Club model for 2013. One article features
the popular class 218 and a portrait of the company da Vinci
Defet Pinsel relates the story behind the Trix H0 museum car
for 2013. There is an explanatory article giving
you tips on how best to weather a model
V 100, richly illustrated with running
scenes, and to round everything off,
three friends present their N-gauge
modular layout. The DVD is sent out
with this mailing. A cover to match the
DVD is available for downloading in
the Club area under club.trix.de.
Photo: MIGA Augsburg
From Augsburg to the IMA in Göppingen 2013
Special train hauled by the V 200
A bit strong: the RTS V 200 powers the special train to the IMA Göppingen.
The proper way to arrive at the 30th International Model
Railway Exhibition (September 13 to 15, 2013) in Göppingen: on September 15th, a V 200-powered special train
will leave Augsburg main station for Göppingen between
7:00 and 7:30, arriving back in Augsburg at about 19:30.
The price is 29.50 euro. Tickets from MIGA Augsburg
(www.miga-augsburg.de), Augsburger Lokschuppen
(www.augsburger-lokschuppen.de) and Schweickhardt
Eisenbahn (www.modelleisenbahn.de).
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Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Star ensemble: as a further Club model in 2013, the gigantic class 45 will be a real hit with its extremely fine metal construction, while the set of seven
contemporary freight cars – also exclusive – underscore the impressive effect of Germany’s most powerful steam loco.
Exclusive for Club members: the class 45 freight locomotive
as a once-only series
Simply the strongest of all
With an output of 3,020 HP, the machines of class 45 put all the others in the shade:
they were the most powerful German steam locos. Exclusively for Club members,
Trix is now producing 45 010 with new design boiler as running in about 1965 as a
once-only series, and a set of seven freight cars typical of the times.
“As the most powerful of all German steam
locos, the class 45 is an outstanding landmark
in railroad history”, says Karl-Heinz Grässle,
H0 Product Manager, of the selection of 45 010
as a second Trix Club model in 2013. “In addition, the 45 is represented as the DB version
with new boiler in the Trix range for the first
time”. And another thing: homage is paid to a
unique item. “Of the entire class, only 45 010,
in the DB museum in Nuremberg, survived”.
And that was close: in October 2005, the pre-
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served loco was seriously damaged by fire, but
due to her historical significance, 45 010 underwent repairs, which were successfully completed in 2012.
The class with its three sets of valve gear was
developed in the Henschel works in Kassel. In
the 1930s, freight train loads were increasing
enormously and there was an urgent need for
fast, powerful steam locomotives for express
parcels and freight traffic. “So when the Locomotive Committee met in Wernigerode
Detail
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Models
Notes on ordering
The H0 class 45 freight train loco (item 22945) and the matching seven-piece freight car set (item 24245) will
be produced in 2013 in a once-only series exclusively for Club members. Each Trix Club member can order one
example of each of these exclusive models from his Märklin MHI dealer with the enclosed order form. We
expressly draw your attention to the fact that these order forms are not transferable. Closing date for orders is
July 31, 2013. Scheduled start of deliveries: cars in the 4th quarter, 2013; locomotive in the 1st quarter, 2014. At the
end of the year, a personalized certificate of authenticity will be sent directly to those ordering the model loco.
Last of the class: unlike the preserved locomotive, the model of 45 010 has triple headlights, as Trix has produced the heavy
freight train steam loco as it was operating in around 1965.
from May 23 to 25, 1934, there were discussions about a ten-coupled freight train locomotive with a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph),
and these were to culminate in the design of
the class 45”, recounts Dr. Andreas Räntzsch,
Documentarist at Märklin. Between 1936 and
1940, Henschel built 28 class 45 locomotives.
With a length of 25.64 m (84'1-1/2") over buffers, the locos didn’t merely look mighty: their
evaporation surface (310 m² - 3,336 ft²) was
far larger than that of the “Jumbo” class 44
(238 m²- 2,560 ft²) and the classic standard
class 50 (177 m²- 1,905 ft²).
The German Federal Railroad took over 27
locos of this class which were admittedly
suffering massive boiler problems caused by
metal fatigue. As a result, from 1950, ten
machines – including 45 010 – were modified
with fireboxes or new boilers with combustion chambers and mechanical stokers. Trials
demonstrated the new boilers fitted to the
class 45 could produce an almost incredible
22 tonnes of steam per hour, and that at a
speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) they produced an
output of over 3,000 HP.
As railroad historian Dr. Andreas Räntzsch
continues, the post-war history of the 45s was
anything but standard: “There was some demand for brake locomotives, and some for a
powerful freight train locomotive. Thus some
class 45s were put into service from Würzburg
depot – the rebuilt 45s were those regularly
used. Their time at Würzburg ended with the
winter schedules 1955/56. Then the Bundesbahn Zentralamt (central office) in Minden
moved in on the rebuilt locos”. The BZA needed braking locos for testing new machines,
“Since previously the testing station had only
had class 45 locos in their original condition”.
As last of the giants, 45 010 was retired in
November 1968, and she now appears as a
further 2013 Club model, and members can
put her in steam again – she has after all a
smoke generator kit already supplied. The
Karl-Heinz Grässle,
Product Manager H0: “The
class 45 is a milestone in
railroad history”.
7
r
Closing date fo
orders:
July 31, 2013
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
22945 Heavy freight train
steam locomotive with tender
e!d§!SW1
Prototype: German Federal Railroad (DB) class 45 heavy freight train steam
loco. Rebuilt version with new design high-performance boiler, Witte smoke
deflectors, DB reflex glass lamps and 5-axle tender 2’3’T38. Road
number 45 010. As running in around 1965.
Model: With DCC/mfx digital decoder and extensive sound functions. Highefficiency motor with flywheel in the boiler. Five driven axles. Traction tires.
Locomotive and tender constructed mostly of metal. Smoke generator set
7226 supplied as standard. Triple headlights which change over with direction
of travel and smoke generator operate conventionally and can be controlled
digitally. With engineer’s cab lighting and flickering in the firebox, digitally
controllable. Lamps are maintenance-free warm white LEDs. Close-coupling with guide mechanism between loco and tender. Tender has guide for
Telex coupling in NEM pocket, digitally controllable. Imitation of the middle
cylinder. Numerous pipes and hand-rails separately applied. Minimum
negotiable radius 360 mm (14-3/16"). Piston rod protectors and brake hoses
are included. Length over buffers 29.5 cm (11-5/8").
Digital functions
SX
DCC
Headlights
Smoke generator contact
Steam loco running sound
Loco whistle
Direct control
Brakes squealing off
Engineer’s cab lighting
Switcher whistle
Telex coupling at rear
Flickering firebox glow
Let off steam
Shoveling coal
Shake up the grate
Air pump
Injector
Model highlights
• Strongest German steam locomotive.
• First production with new design highperformance boiler.
• Specially filigree metal design.
• A wide range of operating and sound
functions digitally controllable.
• Red wheel tires.
• Smoke generator kit included.
model with the type 2’3 T38 tender is fundamentally different from earlier Trix models like
45 020 (item 22102). “The boiler, in die cast
metal, is a complete new tooling – that’s easy
to see from the altered dome arrangement,
pipework and the new smokebox door”, says
Product Manager Karl-Heinz Grässle enumerating the points. Instead of four domes like
the old boiler, 45 010 has only three: in front
of the steam dome are the two sand domes
each of which has two delicately worked fallpipes leading to the axles – just one example
of the finely-crafted detailing. “The decking
matches the boiler, the feed-pump and airpump are both new, the cylinders have been
reworked and authentic Witte smoke deflectors and DB reflex glass lamps are fitted”, says
the H0 Product Manager pointing out further
details worthy of note (see product profile on
the left).
The functions for operation are absolutely
modern. The loco can be uncoupled by remote
control thanks to the Telex coupling on the
rear of the tender. Lighting functions like the
flickering light in the firebox and the digitally-controlled engineer’s cab lighting and the
wide range of sound effects lend lots of
atmosphere.
For this steam loco bursting with power, Trix
has produced – also exclusively for the Club – a
seven-piece freight car set with a freight train
baggage car, a loaded stake car, a banana refrigerator car, a boxcar of the popular G 10
type, a pressurized gas tank car owned by VTG,
a silo car and a further boxcar. The assembly
is not accidental – something by which KarlHeinz Grässle sets great store: “We took our
inspiration for the selection from photographs
of typical freight trains taken in around 1965”.
And so the biggest German steam loco will soon
be taking to the rails once more, with a freight
train just like Carl Bellingrodt used to photograph.
Text: R. Rademacher/Photos: Trix, H. Seehuber, U. Slovig
24245 Freight car set
!d1
8
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Closing date fo
orders:
July 31, 2013
Prototype: Seven German Federal Railroad (DB) freight cars of various types.
1 Pwg Pr 14 freight train baggage car. 1 Rlmms 58 stake car without brakeman’s
platform. 1 Tnfhs 38 refrigerator car with horizontal boards. 1 G 10 boxcar “Association”
design without brakeman’s cab. 1 four-axle pressurized gas tank car with heat shield,
privately owned by VTG, Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH, Hamburg.
1 Kds-54 silo container car without brakeman’s platform. 1 Gms-44 boxcar. All cars
are as they were running in the mid-1960s.
Detail
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Models
Engineer’s cab lighting
Boiler a completely
new development
DB designation
Digital decoder (mfx, DCC)
Flickering firebox glow
Witte smoke deflectors
Red wheel-tires
Smoke generator
kit supplied
3-position
headlamps
Telex
coupling
45 010: a “steamer” in a class of its own with outstanding features, starting with the elaborately-designed new high-performance boiler.
A bit strong: the authentic pipe runs, delicate rows of rivets and the complex valve gear are all top class.
Model: Stake car with pipe load and the flanges showing traces of rust.
The stakes are packed in a separate bag. Refrigerator car with the authentic
lettering “Bananen” on the loading doors. With truss-rods and separatelyapplied footsteps. All cars bear different road numbers and are individually
packed and marked. Total length over buffers 87.7 cm (34-1/2"). DC wheelsets
for each boxcar 2 x 700150 or 4 x 700150 (pressurized gas tank car).
Model highlights
• All cars bear different road numbers.
• Stake car with an interesting load.
• Ideal cars for the class 45 freight train steam loco
(Trix Club model 2013).
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Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Hand-made: the Györ factory has more
capacity – new N-gauge products such
as the class 18.6 or the pressurized gas
tank car are on the launching ramp.
Production capacity in Györ factory is being expanded
Trix production is running
Trix is expanding its production capacities in order to have most of the new designs
for 2013 manufactured in Hungary. The list of delivery dates has been updated
accordingly. And Trix Product Manager Claus Ballsieper sees stability assured for the
future: “New products announced for 2014 will then be delivered in 2014.”
Claus Ballsieper, Product
Manager Minitrix/Trix:
production relocation to
Hungary in 2013 will cause
some delay to delivery
dates.
10
A wide range of innovative models on its own
is not enough; the quality has to be right and
delivery punctual”. Claus Ballsieper’s credo is
one with which every model railroader would
certainly agree. But the Product Manager Trix
and Minitrix doesn’t just leave it at words:
“We are now supplementing our production
capacities in the Györ factory, and the building work is in the schedule”. This is where
most of the new Minitrix designs will also
be made, in close cooperation between factories, as the capacity is now available. “The
model railroad stands for collecting enjoyment
and playing pleasure, but the manufacture
of these high-tech products stands no nonsense, as even a partial product relocation
causes all sorts of problems and expenditure
connected with quality assurance. “Our
development processes continue to make
progress, and product quality and value correspond with our definition, without our
having to extend delivery times for modifications”. However, due to the production relocation to Hungary, now proceeding at full
speed, some slippage in delivery dates has
been unavoidable, but the new delivery
dates are already fixed (see the box at the
foot of this article).
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Machine park: the Györ and Göppingen factories
have the same machines; in the picture, we see
the mouse train being printed in Hungary.
With its 2013 range, Minitrix is sending out the
signal that the brand is once more a major
player in world of your dreams. “We are even
closer to the prototype, impart the joy of playing in a restricted space and we are technically
innovative”, claims Claus Ballsieper – and
backs up his statement: the Fine Art range
stands for models finished by hand to the
highest standards – the imposing Dammtor
station building kit is likely to be sold out very
shortly – and the class 18.6 as N-gauge Club
model with speed-dependent smoke generator
and flickering light in the firebox sets the
N-gauge bar even higher. Rolling stock selection
too takes account of play enjoyment, often
driven by the prototype – the Kambly train with
the motif of tasty biscuit specialties manufactured by the Swiss company may well turn out
to be as popular as the mouse show train.
Fascinating authenticity using digital technology
will be part of the entire range – the class 50
in H0 starter set item 21522 with station announcements portrays a real railroad section.
And newly-designed semaphore signals with
underfloor fitting kit will control trains directly
– stop-and-go like the real thing.
Text: RR/photos: Kötzle, PW
Delivery dates 2013: when each model will be delivered
Concentration: Minitrix models demand precision – quicker
production is only possible with greater production capacity.
Trix has now updated the lists which give details of the latest scheduled
delivery dates for the models announced for release in 2013. Publishing
these dates will give the Minitrix and Trix model enthusiasts a better insight.
The list of delivery dates will be found on the Trix homepage www.trix.de
under the menu point “Products”.
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Trix-Clubnews 04 / 2012
Comprehensive planning: in the development of a
locomotive like 18 612, it’s not just the assemblies
which are in the limelight; the surfaces on which the
lettering is applied have to be precisely specified.
Lettering on the Club model 18 612
Flawless loco
The naked eye isn’t anywhere near good enough; it needs powerful magnification, otherwise the lettering
on the Minitrix class 18.6 steam loco just isn’t legible. And there is plenty on the exclusive Club model to
be read. To do this, the printing and pre-printing stages went to the very limits of today’s technology.
Gew. Lok. u. Tender 151 t
P 155 t
Br. Gew.
ew.
G 124 t
Wasser 31,7 m3
9t
Kohle
Knorr-Bremse
emse K-GP AmZ
selbstt. Lastabbr.
stabbr
Letzte Br4 Ing 21.3.61
Gestängebauart: Te 1935
Sensational: to make it comfortably legible, the lettering on the class 18.6
(item 16186) has to be magnified 1000 times. The arrow points to the smallest
type size: 0.104 millimeters with a thickness of 0.015 millimeters.
The standard line thickness for letters on Trix models
is 0.03 mm and letters with a capital height of 0.25 mm
are applied in tampon printing. For comparison: the diameter of the average human hair is about 0.07 millimeters. “On the tender of 18 612 in N-gauge, the smallest
print size is 0.104 millimeters, with a line thickness of
0.015 millimeters”, Klaus Schwichtenberg, the expert on
printing and pre-printing processes at Märklin tells us,
and he tells us that the smallest print on euro notes is
0.2 millimeters high. The miniature lettering is found
on 18 612 where the tender water capacity is given: it is
the superscript 3 of the unit sign. For Michael Ludwig,
in charge of the electroplating and surface finishing, that
type of printing performance is something which should
be expected of a quality brand: “What we print should be
legible, and to this end we also cooperate with the manufacturers of our printing centers”. As Klaus Schwichtenberg explains, tampon printing is used: “In the printing
plates, the motif is recognizable as the finest relief. This
is then filled with ink containing solvent and then transferred to the model with a silicone pad”.
ärke von 0,015 mm
12
Text: RR/Fotos: Trix
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Layout construction: the birth of a Trix Express layout
The storyteller
It’s all happening – all over Andreas Jakob’s layout, people are working, chatting,
eating. That’s exactly what it’s all about for the members of the Trix-Express Round
Table NErFü (Nuremberg, Erlangen, Fürth): the Franconian decorates everyday
scenes with details, and thereby hangs a tale – or two.
Club News: So you reactivated your Trix-Express layout in 2008. How did that come about?
Jakob: That summer holiday, my dear wife
had the idea of redecorating the stairwell. In
the holiday! I said, piqued: “Okay, then I’ll
build another model railroad”. The answer
was quite clear: “Go ahead!”
Farming idyll (top): A bench
for the old farmer couple
in front of the farmhouse; the
children charge into the yard
with a soapbox.
Major call-out (bottom left):
The fire department practices
with the new equipment truck.
Summer time (bottom right):
The ice vendor on the platform
has a lively trade.
Club News: What you created is a “playout”
with cameo studies. Was that intentional?
Jakob: Well, I built the layout for myself, and
for me, running operations and these lovely
little details are equally important. After 15 years’
secret planning, the track plan for the analog
layout was already in the drawer: a branch line
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Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Expansion 1: Because of an airplane bought, the layout of course
had to have an airfield with control tower and hangar.
layout with terminus and feeder tracks for a
little freight depot, a lumber mill, a factory, and
after the extension, a brewery. The two staging yards are on the second level. Despite using analog technology, lots of the tracks can
be switched out to allow plenty of running.
General view 1: Top left the station – then behind it the village, with all its stories. Next
to the limber mill (feeder track in the middle of the picture), the attraction is a bathing
lake and watermill.
General view 2: At the edge we find the loco depot, the airfield and the brewery (on the left).
Club News: In which era have you located
your fictitious town of Altenstein?
Jakob: It is actually set in a summer’s day in
the 1970s. At the gas station, there is a poster
showing the “new” Golf convertible; the
eager salesman is just showing two young ladies around it in the showrooms. But not all
the trains are strictly authentic, nor are all the
cars true to era – that’s something which isn’t
important for me. I just wanted to bring my old
treasures back to life. And I also wanted to
copy attractive scenes from real life, scenes
telling stories, capturing the everyday atmosphere, right from the apple harvest to the
neighborhood chit-chat.
Club News: Some examples, please?
Jakob: When I leave the house collared, tied
and suited in the morning, the old lady next
door asks me if I’m “going off to work?” Have
a look at the layout – you’ll find Marie there.
Wood is being cut at one of the farms, the
farmer “Schrotti” has a smithy, and he collects
anything he can lay his hands on. There are
the old farming couple too, sitting on a bench
outside their farmhouse; children feeding
their rabbits or shrieking with delight as they
play with their soapbox. The most important
feature is the lumber mill; there you can make
up some really marvelous lumber trains.
All in all, it represents the typical unspoiled
world of a provincial town 40 years ago.
14
Scene
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Layout portrait
Club News: Are there any authentic buildings?
Jakob: One Faller house looked very like my
old farmstead. Then from the reduced original
plans I added the barn and the stable.
Club News: What marks the summer’s day?
Jakob: The leaves on the trees, the ripe apples,
the horses in the paddock, the beer-garden
open, the bathers at the lakeside, the ice-cream
vendor or the village lads with their colored
scooters. That’s what summer was all about –
and it still is.
Club News: Has the layout been extended?
Jakob: Well, I couldn’t do anything about –
it’s all the new accessories which were to
blame. To start with, it measured 130 x 240 cm
(4'3" x 7'10-1/2"); the three-road station was
the center of it all – a terminus with a loco depot and a freight shed. Then I got a plane
with a motor at a flea market, so out came the
fret-saw to make space for an airfield, for the
little station of Bergheim and the airfield with
control tower, hall, control container, pilots
and gliders. And then because I bought some
brewery trucks, I had to extend the layout to
130 x 320 cm (4'3" x 10'6").
Club News: So you’re really a victim of
circumstance?
Jakob: Up to a point, yes. The trucks had to
have a brewery – and I took the opportunity to
build a six-track roundhouse loco shed with
turntable at the same time for loco fleet which
had also grown. So the depot doesn’t get
too big, but so I can still find space for the larger locos, the stabling tracks under the brewery have been extended. So that’s how come
the terminus of Altenstein turned into a
through station.
Expansion 2: Because of the brewery trucks, the layout naturally needed a brewery (top), and to
make it all worth while, a six-track roundhouse loco shed was added at the same time (see page
14, bottom left). So suddenly, the layout was 80 cm (2’7-1/2") longer.
The Trix Round Table NErFü
The Trix-Express-Fans from the round table NErFü – named from the
car registration letters of Nuremberg, Erlangen und Fürth – meet
eight times a year. “We run our models on our own modular layout”,
round table chairman Günther Heinisch tells us about the purpose
of the meets, which attract up to 45 model railroad enthusiasts from
Upper Franconia, Upper Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate. The
bandwidth of vehicles ranges from ancient to modern, from analog
to digital – “and naturally, we talk shop and eat too”. Contact:
Günther Heinisch, Hohenholz 6, D-91474 Langenfeld, Germany;
Mail: [email protected], Internet: www.nerfue.de
Text: R. Rademacher / Photos: A. Jakob
Typical village: Tractor and chickens, feeding rabbits,
looking after farm gardens.
Harvest time: We can’t put off picking the rosy apples
– the whole family piles in to help.
Sensation: In the car showrooms, the
first Golf convertible to admire.
15
Scene
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Club models
The Trix-Club honors its long-time members with exclusive cars
Exclusive special models
for loyal Club members
Loyalty to the Trix Club pays off: attractive special cars are waiting for all
who have been loyal Club members for the past five or ten years.
The Trix Club unites followers of Minitrix, Trix H0 and Trix Express, and exclusive
anniversary models are produced for everyone who has completed five or ten years
Club membership. The cars include such different models as a grade measurement
car, a tank car and a track cleaning car. From this year, we are delighted to announce
the production for our Trix Express enthusiasts of a special anniversary model, for
which both AC and DC wheelsets are available.
10 years | joined 2003
15220 Track cleaning car (N)
!4T
Prototype: Track cleaning car 925. As running in about 1980.
Model: Era IV. Underneath the car there is a holder with a Jörger
System track cleaning felt pad mounted. The cleaning pads are
washable at 30 °C. Two spare felt blocks are supplied. Length
over buffers 88 mm (3-1/2"). This preservative cleaning process
is suitable for brass or nickel silver rails.
24220 Track cleaning car (H0)
!3T
Prototype: Permanently-coupled pair of KK 15 cars with hinged
roof-hatches, in service as railroad maintenance cars. Designed
for era III.
Model: Both cars with built-in track-cleaning unit, consisting of a
metal block which can move vertically with parallel polishing felt
Only for those who have completed ten years’ Trix Club membership.
16
cleaning pads. The cleaning pads can be replaced and are
washable. Hatches can be opened. Close couplings with guide
mechanism.
Both cars connected with plug-in couplers. Length over buffers
153 mm (6"). AC wheelset 700150. The preservative cleaning
process is suitable for brass or nickel silver rails.
Scene
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Club models
5 years | joined 2008
15344 Grade measurement car (N)
24080 Grade measurement car (H0)
!5T
!5T
Prototype: Flat car Rms 31
Prototype: Flat car KIs
Model: Era V. The integral spirit-level has a scale
which enables you to read off the slope of up- and
down-grades directly in percent. Close coupling
mechanism. Length over buffers 77 mm (3-1/32").
Model: Era V. The integral spirit-level has a scale which enables you to read
off the slope of up- and down-grades directly in percent. Close coupling
mechanism. Length over buffers 157 mm (6-3/16").
33965 Tank car
!3T
Prototype: Two-axle tank car “Dammann & Lewens”,
registered with the German Federal Railroad.
Model: Separately-applied platform, catwalk and ladder. Detailed chassis
with pierced frames. Length over buffers 100 mm (3-15/16").
323 760 04 wheelsets DC.
366 679 00 wheelsets AC.
Only for those who have completed five years’ Trix Club membership.
How to obtain the special models:
Those who have completed five and ten
years’ Trix Club membership are automatically sent an order form for special models
reserved for those celebrating these anniversaries The current mailing includes the form
which is sent out to all members who joined
the Club in 2003 and 2008 respectively. The
special models are offered for the gauges
Minitrix, Trix H0 and Trix Express. All models
for the relevant anniversary are listed on
the order form; one example of each may be
obtained.
Please hand in the order form to the dealer
who will supply your special model. Prices for
the anniversary models are shown on the
order form.
Should you have missed ordering a special
model in your anniversary year – no problem:
you can do this subsequently. All you do is
present your Club card to your specialist retailer, who processes the order on line even
without an order form.
17
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
MEC Herrenberg model railroad exhibition:
tractors on N-gauge modules
Tractors everywhere
Modest running gags add spice to modular layouts. For
instance at the N-Club International, tractors dominate – anyone
browsing along the N-gauge scenery soon looks for the
running gag automatically.
Pointing the way ahead: at the MEC Herrenberg exhibition, the N-Club International
with its leading light Peter Csavajda (left) shows what N-gauge can do.
18
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Attractive trivia: N-gauge enthusiasts love extended running and playing operations, but alongside locos and freight and passenger cars, it’s all got to fit.
See all the things you can do with tractors on when you go round the NCI modules. The spectrum extends from working parties in the courtyard, forest and
fields through to climbing frames on the children’s playground, so even when the train has gone past there’s still plenty to look at and admire.
When a module is completed, then running
operations are the inspiration as trains pass
by towns, countryside and rivers. Later, superdetailing often follows – after all, impressive
scenes fascinate every spectator. Tractors
make an ideal interface between human activities and the designs of nature: tractors are
used in agriculture, work in laying out gardens
and in forestry, help in municipal operations,
and are used as tugs on airports and earthmovers in road and landscape construction.
And the tractors can do all that in N-gauge too,
as shown by the N-Club International at the
MEC Herrenberg’s model railroad exhibition.
A tractor stands uncomplaining on the farmstead, others in the machine shed or by a barn
in the great outdoors, or they are slaving away
at the mundane day-to-day work: the manure
heap has to be dug out, bales of straw loaded,
plowing is on the agenda, combine harvesters
bring in the grain, on the track across the field
a machine pushes boulders out of the way.
The versatility of these machines is a trump
card for achieving realism in these scenes:
apart from the basic function of towing, a
tractor can use its auxiliary drive to operate
diverse machines either by hydraulics or
electricity – a range extending from stackers
and balers, rotary mowers and fertilizer
spreaders to seed spreaders and stone collectors. So on the N enthusiasts’ modules
there are forestry workers too, hauling tree
trunks out of the forest with wide-tired tractors or on trailers to take them to the sawmill.
And in the mountains there are implementcarriers with wide track and low center of
gravity for steep slopes to stop them sliding
downhill.
19
Scene
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Portrait
Forming a pack: a tractor doesn’t always have to be towing something; a little display can also satisfy a weakness for tractors.
Tractors mark eras too: the legendary Lanz
Bulldog has written history since 1921,
Ferdinand Porsche worked from 1937 on the
prototype “Volkstractor”, while other longestablished names such as Hanomag, McCormick, Fortschritt, Schlüter or Steyr ring in
the ears. On modern modules, Mercedes-Benz,
Fendt, John Deere and Claas are all seen at
work and – thanks to the longevity of tractors
– the popular oldies can always take their
place alongside them. N railroaders who are
Decor: the blue tractor doesn’t really belong in the car park, but it still looks good.
20
tractor fans know all the characteristic brand
colors – red and blue for Lanz, John Deere in
green with yellow wheel centers, the K-Junior
of Porsche in brilliant red and light green
Deutz tractors. The fleet is made up from various manufacturers like Busch, Dickie-Schuco,
Faller, Gabor, Herpa, Kibri, Viessmann and
small-run producers. N-gauge farmers also
Lumber work: for a change, a Unimog can show off like a tractor.
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
The Rmrs 31 is 80 years old: the stake car was first delivered in 1933, and prototypically Minitrix loads the “LanzTransport” stake car set with tractor bodies.
make use of construction machinery – they
occasionally need a power shovel too. The
really hard-bitten create whole exhibitions of
second-hand machinery sales on their modules – and there is even a worn-out agricultural tractor on one children’s playground as
a climbing frame.
Naturally the tractors can be carried on rail
freight cars too. Minitrix take up this theme
at the year end with a stake car set “Lanz
Transport” (item 15283), in which stake cars
of type Rmrs 31 are running as in era III with
Lanz tractor bodies, and one car carries a Lanz
hand car. And the “Sugar Beet Harvest in
Switzerland” freight car set, also new with
five Eanos type high-side gondolas of the
SBB, includes a tractor, its trailer loaded with
sugar beet.
Text: RR / photos: Kötzle, Minitrix, RR
Hello: by the model airstrip, a tractor driver greets his mate.
Side effect: the limited track side space is enough to put the boulders to one side
(far top); this bird’s eye view shows the aesthetics of the grass mowing.
Sugar beet harvest: the tractor with its trailer loaded with beet is included in
the Minitrix freight car set “Sugar Beet Harvest in Switzerland”.
Civil engineering: construction machinery too can offer highlights in the design.
21
Photos: C. Dick
Trix-Clubnews 04 / 2012
The model railroad is exciting: typical subjects at Trix round tables are models and prototypes, tips for layout construction and communal running.
Trix Round Tables
The greatest hobby in the world is even more enjoyable
in the company of friends: People with the same interests
meet at Trix round tables to swap stories about layouts,
models and the real railroad.
Contact details for Trix round tables:
4
4388 Dortmund, Germany, Bövinghauser Str. 23,
Markus Dyba, [email protected]
4
8076 Münster, Germany, Postfach 470243, Christian
Schmidt, [email protected]
5
5129 Mainz, Germany, Ringstr. 11, Stefan Claus,
Tel.: +49 (0) 61 31/6 17 65 90, [email protected] und
Stephan Türk, [email protected],
Minitrix and Trix H0 railroaders love to discuss layout construction, news from the Trix world or experience with models.
that’s why on this page we offer a platform for all those who
want to enjoy their hobby together with others: we publish the
addresses of “Trix Club round tables”. We only publish the details of private meetings attended by members of the Trix Club;
commercial meets and details of independent model railroad
clubs are not included. We cannot accept any responsibility for
the accuracy of the details published, nor can we guarantee
that the round tables are established or that meetings take place
as published. The round tables are of an informal nature. The
addresses published are either those of existing round tables
or of people interested in setting one up – we do not differentiate here. We therefore ask you to make any arrangements with
the given contact directly. Please understand that no address
can be given by phone, fax or e-mail.
Internet: www.mist55.de
5
6651 Niederzissen, Am Sauerbrunnen 35, Germany,
Helmut Wasserscheid, Tel.: +49 (0) 26 36/
80 04 60 (ab 19 Uhr), [email protected],
Internet: www.trixexpressclub.de
7
8647 Trossingen, Germany, Schulstr. 24,
Gerhard Kresser, Tel.: +49 (0) 74 25/32 66 66 and
+49 (0)175/1 61 52 93, [email protected]
8
6706 Weichering, Germany, Krautgarten 16,
Peter Tümmel, Tel.: +49 (0) 84 50/90 12 04, trixexpress@
tuemmel.eu, Internet: http://www.nerfue.de
E
-29640 Fuengirola/Malaga – Spain, Postfach 370, Bjørn
Beining, Tel.: +34 (0) 661 09 39 72, [email protected]
Lower Austria / Vienna, Austria, Michael Mrazek,
Tel.: +43 (0) 676/3 60 23 37, [email protected]
Internet: www.n-spur.at
Trix will help you set up a round table
1) You should write by e-mail or letter to Trix if you
have founded, or would like to found, a round
table and are looking for members. Please send
us your full contact details and don’t forget your
postal address.
2) We will then publish your full contact details in
the next Trix Club News, so that other members
who would like to take part in your round table
can get in touch with you. Trix acts here purely
as an intermediary and offers a platform to
round tables.
22
Service
Trix-Clubnews 03 / 2013
Club info
New cooperation partners
Insider Club members receive very special concessions from our cooperation partners.
Here we introduce to you our new partners.
Eisenbahnwelt Rabland
Eisenbahnwelt Rabland
Geroldplatz 3, 39020 Partschins/Rabland, Italy
Tel.: +39 (0)4 73/52 14 60
E-Mail: [email protected]
Homepage: www.eisenbahnwelt.it
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10 percent on
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of their Club
presentation
Times of opening:
March 23 to November 10, 2013: Tue. to Sun. 10:00-17:00. November 10 to
December 22, 2013: Sun. 10:00-17:00. December 26, 2013 to January 6, 2014:
Mon. to Sun. 10:00-17:00.
It is an absolute must for anyone touring the South Tyrol to make a detour to
Train World in Rabland – a place full of superlatives for all model railroad
fans. This is the biggest digital model railroad layout in Italy and at the same
time it is one of the biggest private collections of model trains in Europe.
The visitor can experience a tour in miniature from Brennerbad to Mals in the
world’s biggest panoramic staging of South Tyrol. The atmosphere there is
unique, and this is partly due to the day and night effects, complemented by
many lovingly-crafted details such as the nostalgic Rittnerbahn, the “turning
star” at Mals and various aerial cableways. The Laas marble railroad and
the popular Vinschgau train are also realistically and caringly replicated
in 1:87 scale. The fantasy “central highlands” landscape with rail traffic from
several historic eras has young and old staring in amazement. A special
feature in 2013 will be the Anniversary exhibition “All aboard” (Einsteigen,
bitte!, which recounts exciting episodes in the past hundred years from the
Lana-Burgstall Bahn.
Museumsbahn Schönheide
Museumsbahn Schönheide e. V.
Am Fuchsstein – Lokschuppen, 08304 Schönheide, Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)3 77 55/43 03
E-mail: [email protected]
Homepage: www.museumsbahn-schoenheide.de
Visitors to the Schönheide museum railroad experience history at close
quarters. Whether it’s a trip behind a historic steam loco or a diesel, or a guided
tour of the loco shed and the well-laid-out museum, railroad enthusiasts in
Schönheide will be looking everywhere for signs. For on what was the first,
and the longest, Saxony narrow gauge railroad, closed in 1977, the Saxon
IV K now chuffs along the line between Schönheide and Stützengrün in the
picturesque Erz Mountains. Lots of volunteer commitment has succeeded in
rebuilding a 4.5 km (2-3/4-mile) section of the former 42 km (26 mile) railroad.
Since its formation in 1991, the Museumsbahn Schönheide e. V. association
takes care of all aspects of building, operating and preservation of this narrowgauge railroad in Saxony. Working parties are active almost every Saturday,
and those interested can take a close look at everything and visit the loco shed.
The locos are in steam with historic passenger cars on average twelve
weekends a year to take you on a run through the beautiful Central Highlands
at the foot of the Kuhberg. In summer cold drinks are available during the
journey, served from an open observation car with a counter.
Photos: Mario Poller/ Archive collection Museumsbahn Schönheide
Times of opening:
Please enquire directly from the operator for dates of running and guided tours
and opening times for the museum or look in the Internet.
Your Club benefit: Club
members receive a reduction
of 1 euro on a day ticket, and
3 euro on a weekend ticket.
23
30th International Model Railway Exhibition in Göppingen 2013
IMA Göppingen
September 13 to 15, 2013
The year’s greatest railroad festival: highlights for Club members
Three whole days of fun and games with the small railroad
and the real thing: from September 13 to 15, 2013 the IMA
Göppingen will attract thousands with a full head of steam,
model trends and Club chat. The combination of the 30th
International Model Railway Exhibition and the 9th Märklin
Open Days again guarantees technology to experience, a
show of innovations and enjoyment with model railroad
E 198516
and people with similar interests. The double event of
course offers something special for Club members: once
again there will be Club VIP entrance booths, in the Club
lounge the Club team will welcome members with a little
present and naturally there are plenty of special activities
planned for the Club members. We’re not yet telling you
exactly what, to keep the suspense alive.