Märklin is a German manufacturer of high-quality (and expensive) model railroads.
The company was started in 1859 by Theodor Friedrich Wilhelm Märklin, who made doll's house accessories of tin plate. Over the years, the company grew bigger and bigger, producing a wide range of toys. Today (2001) they primarily make model railroad locomotives, cars, tracks and accessories.
One thing that contributes to the high quality is that the locomotive frames are made of die cast metal. The gears and wheels are also metal. This makes the trains very robust, and the second-hand value is high.
Märklin produces trains in these scales:
A thing that makes Märklin
HO trains unique is the fact that they use a
3-rail system for supplying power to the trains.