Update 06.04.22: I am pleased to announce the release of Märklin/Trix Timesaver Setup and Play manuals in 5 languages DE/EN/ES/IT/NL.

Update 16.02.22: The launch has been delayed due to some ongoing clarifications. A new date will be announced.

I did not expect that I will publish a Märklin/Trix Timesaver manuals in such a short period. The name “Timesaver” is not foreign to me as I have John Allen’s Nov. 1972 Model Railroader article of the same name for more than 10 years now. Back and even earlier, I was a US N-scale modeler, focusing on BNSF Galvestone Subdivision which I called “Rosenberg Meet in N-scale“. Therefore, among US (and probably Canadian modelers) the name John Allen and Timesaver are intertwined.

In the new year 2022, I tested out the Timesaver layout using Märklin C-tracks, a tender loco and 3 freight cars from my Digital Starter Set 29074. I was happy that I could eventually test my switching skills.

I posted a few photos on various Märklin Facebook groups and apparently Timesaver was unknown to many but they were interested to know how to setup and play one. That gave me the inspiration to write a Märklin Timesaver manual. I wanted people to know the original creator of “Timesaver” – John Whitby Allen – and his original Timesaver concept and adapte his plan and rules to suit Märklin track system.

But Märklin has 3 track systems – M-track (metal) which has been discontinued in the 90s but still popular and can still be found at flea markets and Ebay, K-track (plastic sleepers) and C-track (click snap-on with robust roadbed). Then, there is the DC/DCC version from Märklin called Trix using C-track but without the middle stub contacts. So, one manual to cover all 3 track systems and examples how to play Timesaver.

Märklin is popular and commands a large following among H0 modelers in Mainland Europe, stretching from Sweden all the way to Italy, from Portugal to Eastern Europe. I decided that my Timesaver manual needs to reach non-English speaking audience. Hence, it will be translated to 5 other languages – German (DE), Spanish (ES), French (FR), Italian (IT) and Dutch (NL) – in the first release. This should capture a wider audience to make Timesaver popular, on its 50th anniversary since John made it official to the world.

I am grateful to my friends in the hobby, who volunteered to do the translation during the evenings and weekends. It is heart-warming to see the interest in Timesaver from other Märklin modelers and we (my translators and I) hope that this will really pick up when I launch end of January.

1 more week to launch – still some proofreading and minor checking and corrections to be made such as checking the product articles against the latest catalog, testing alternative decoupling devices and the game plan for 5-, 8- and 9-car challenges.

In the meantime, there are other ideas that I written down that I want to carry out to promote Timesaver among Märklin modelers worldwide. I hope that the success of the translated manuals will encourage others to volunteer to translate to their languages.

Well, Timesaver is ready for the Märklin/Trix H0 world. And, I am always ready to bring my standard “Timesaver for One” kit anywhere, anytime.