Prototypical
Model Trains
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Trix is a German company that in 1935 began producing the electrically powered
model trains that it became famous for, under the Trix Express label. Prior to
the outbreak of World War II the Trix company produced a small range of fairly
unrealistic AC powered three rail models running at 14 volts. Unlike other
manufacturers of the period, Trix allowed two trains to run on the same track
simultaneously under independent control, one collecting current from the left
rail and center, the other from the right and center. This system was know as
'Trix Twin'. Production resumed in 1948 but began to lag behind the technology
used by rivals. Trix switched from AC to DC (with its simple reversing
function) later than rivals like Tri-ang, particularly the British Trix
company. In 1956 Trix switched to DC and in 1967 to two-rail as used by most
competitors. The failing Trix brand was taken over several times becoming Trix
Twin Railways, Trix Trains, British Trix and then merging with Liliput.
Production of British Trix trains ceased in the mid 1970s. Märklin purchased
the Trix assets in January of 1997. In part, this purchase was a reflection of
Märklin's need for added production capacity; Trix had been manufacturing
certain items for Märklin in previous years. But the purchase was also in
response to the earlier purchase of the Karl Arnold company by the Italian
company Rivarossi. In 2003, Märklin introduced its first N gauge models under
the Minitrix brand. Several Märklin HO scale three-rail AC locomotives have
also been introduced in two-rail DC versions under the Trix logo. Outside of
Europe, the Minitrix brand is very popular in the United States of America.
Besides the AC Trix Express and Minitrix brands, the Trix company is also well
known for its 1:87 scale DC brands, Trix International and Trix HO, dating
back at least to the early 1970's and still being produced today. A particular
Trix speciality is the reproduction of Bavarian prototype models from Epoch I
and their equivalent Epoch II, DRG versions. Examples such as the B VI (BR
34), D XI (BR 984-5), D XII (BR 73), G 3/4 H (BR 54), Gt 2x4/4 (BR 96), P 3/5
H (BR 384), PtL 2/2 (BR 983) and S 3/6 (BR 184) have been produced in the
steam locomotive line, along with numerous passenger and goods wagons. Trix
also produced highly-detailed brass models of steam locomotives in limited
quantities under the "Fine Art" label, predominantly in the late-1990s.
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