Marx 423 track activation devices

Robert Grossman Company sells them. I use them for semaphores and a gateman as well as for the crossing signal you have,

http://www.trainpartsformarx.com/

I have made my own out of brass tubing split with a Dremel.  That way you can make them as long as you like...

 

Marty

Marty, what did you use as an insulator between the tubing and the rail?

Grossman makes the short ones for flashing signals etc, and also long ones to use with crossing gates. So simple to use even I can do it

 

Steve

I just used a strip of black electrical tape as the insulator...

 

Marty

Do you have a catalog, or know what the Grossmans company calls these?  I don't need to buy a Catalog if I'm only buying a few pieces.

Cool idea, I was wondering if that spray rubber they advertise on TV would do the same job.  Or even rubber cement.

Go to the web site under accessories, near the bottom.

part number 367 7" long accessory rail clip, $3.50

part number 368 1 1/2" long accessory rail clip, $2.50

 

Steve

I would stick with the tape rather than using a glue.  That would seem to hit or miss to me.  Just put the tape on the rail and then put on the brass tube and your done...

 

Marty

I ended up putting a small dab of silicone under mine because they slid.

As with most things Marx - with which I have had any experience - this works well and
is elegantly simple. Lionel and AF could have learned. I had this flasher on my childhood
layout and it worked flawlessly. I still have it, actually. Hmmm - adapted to GG track...
I'd have to explain the Godzilla scale of it.

Another of the great things I have learned from this forum! Thank you for posting this. I have a crossing signal like that and just ordered the parts. 

 

B&OBill

I'm assuming that you also need to get a
174 hotside accessory terminal if using track power.
You could also use a spade lug and jam it under the split on the third rail.

 

Thanks again electroliner and Steve "Papa" Eastman

The 173 & 174 accessory terminals are really the screw, washers and knurled thumb nuts to replace missing ones from the accessory itself. A spade lug does the job, but in the Marx world, they made a HS-618 Track Clip. This would attach to the center rail. 

 

Steve