Built for Wacken, made to collect: Catawiki auctions a custom-made Märklin “Devil Train” for a good cause

  • First-ever direct from Märklin auction on Catawik, after the brand has consistently ranked among the most searched toy brands on the platform

  • Model train created for Wacken Open Air 2025, the world’s largest metal festival in the world 

  • Charity auction runs from February 4 to 22, with proceeds going to the German Bone Marrow Donor Registry

    Berlin, 4 February 2026 –  Märklin continues to prove its enduring appeal among collectors across Europe. In 2025, the brand ranked among the top ten most searched toy brands on Catawiki, the leading online marketplace for special objects, with interest peaking at tens of thousands of searches in a single day. And if you are wondering where that enthusiasm turns into action, the strongest buyer markets are the Netherlands and Germany.  

    Nothing could be more fitting than the custom built model now being auctioned on the platform for the very first time, directly from Märklin. The piece up for bidding is the original “Devil Train”, created by the brand for Wacken Open Air 2025, the largest heavy metal music festival in the world, and displayed at the festival for four consecutive days. The auction will take place exclusively on Catawiki from February 4 to 22, with all proceeds donated to DKMS, the German Bone Marrow Donor Registry. 



    A festival original    


    Measuring approximately three metres in length, the “Devil Train” is a one-off model consisting of four units. Produced specifically for Märklin’s debut appearance at Wacken Open Air in 2025, the “Devil Train” sets a new benchmark for model train collecting on Catawiki, with an unmatched, tailor-made edition. At the core of what makes this customized train appealing to collectors is the nostalgia of model trains coupled with the exclusivity feel of this particular item. These – nostalgia, sense of exclusivity – are major drivers across the toy collecting market. 

    The train features striking red devil horns – a nod to heavy metal iconography – and a bespoke Wacken design including the festival logo. After the event, the model was fully serviced by Märklin and is now in perfect working condition. An official certificate confirms its authenticity, uniqueness and use at Wacken Open Air. “This model is much more than just a model train,” comments Christophe Hendriks Franssen, model railway expert at Catawiki. “It is a unique combination of pop culture tribute and over 160 years of Märklin tradition.”



    These are some of the most expensive Marklin model trains ever sold on Catawiki:


    All proceeds from the auction will go to DKMS (German Bone Marrow Donor Registry). This nonprofit organization works worldwide to register potential stem cell donors in order to give blood cancer patients a second chance at life.