To replace the discontinued Primex programe, Märklin startet a new "Hobby" line in 1992. The "Hobby" items were exclusively retailed via model train and toy stores. The "Hobby" line wasn't really an asortment of its own, it was part of Märklin standart programe, those items were marked with a "Hobby" symbol in the main catalogue. Unluckily, the prices were on normal Märklin standart, i.e. much higher then those of Primex items. Moreover, Märklin didn't extend the Hobby line, like would have been necessary for such products designed for newcomers. In fact, later on many robust models of the Hobby line were even taken out of programe. The classic 24 cm coaches vanished from the catalogues in 2003 without any new items to replace them.

The big surprise came in early 2004: Märklin announced a DB BR 185 and a SBB Re 482 - as Hobby line products. More sursprisingly were, however, the prices of these engines, lying below 100 €. Both models came with a digital decoder, allowing operation as well on analog as on digital layouts. During the next years, a number of other Hobby engines followed: a Krauss-Maffei "Hercules" diesel, a DB V 80 diesel, a DB BR 232 - railfans call these engines "Ludmilla", because the prototype engines were delivered from Russia - an a new BR 24 steamer (yes, completely new, and not any other version of the old 1950ies model).

Märklin even started to retail starter sets via supermarkets again. The engines in these sets are quite simplified, but it's important to continue this way, in order to bring the model train hobby to buyers who would otherwise never find the way into a model train store!

However, the high prices for additional track - especially C-track - are still a problem. A simple track oval from a starter set won't satisfy anyone for long, soon he wants to extend his layout. But the the shock comes at the local model train store, because these store often take the recommended retail prices - which are, in fact, much too high. A solution could be offering low-price track sets which contain a certein number of tracks, designed for the extension of a starter kit oval.