Model Railway Makers

Hornby	www.hornby.com
Bachmann Trains	www.bachmanntrains.com
Graham Farish	www.grafar.co.uk
PECO	www.peco-uk.com
Fleischmann	www.fleischmann.de
Maerklin	www.maerklin.com
MTH Trains	www.mthtrains.com
PIKO	www.piko.de
Roco	www.roco.cc
Tomix	www.tomytec.co.jp
HAG	www.hag.ch
Atlas	www.atlasrr.com

Maerklin Reviving U.S. Railroad Legends

Every railroad fan in the USA knows them: the 1940s U.S. freight train locomotive "BigBoy" or the steam engine "Mikado", (14,000 built since 1917). To preserve such monuments of railroad history for posterity, the world's largest model railway manufacturer, Maerklin Holding GmbH from Goeppingen near Stuttgart, has recreated American legends as HO-gauge model railways.

Maerklin models are a must for every collection. When founding the company in 1859, Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Maerklin and his wife Caroline were not thinking railroads: they sold dolls' houses, sheet metal and metal casting accessories, and later carousels and sheet metal ships. Following the success of the legendary "Storchenbein" (with a track width of 1) in 1891 and the world's first locomotive, powered by steam and electricity in 1895, Maerklin concentrated on model railways. A unique and enduring success story began.

Today, the world market leader for model railways employs more than 2100 employees. With a turnover of 170 million Euro, 30 % is achieved by exporting to all European countries and to the United States. Several new items expand the model range. This year, it is the "Christmas Starterset", developed for the American market. In Europe too, the red-and-gold painted tender locomotives and wagons, decorated with bells and Santa Claus, are a hit. Exceptional is the sound-module playing "Jingle Bells".

Railroad nostalgia notwithstanding, thinking and production at Maerklin are modern. CAD design or prototyping in 3D demonstrate progress in thinking and on the shop floor. The unique Maerklin-Museum in Goeppingen exhibits more than 1000 products, including old steam engines and sheet metal toys. Glass showcases hold 600 historic exhibits of inestimable value including a "Crocodile Electric Locomotive" made of pure platinum.