Marx and Lionel Motors Story

I'll have to ask my dad about that.  He knew a couple people who worked on the layout, and sometimes they'd even let him back with them to help work on stuff for the layout.

I remember the HO layout fondly from my youth, and was heartbroken when it was torn down.  

If they were using Lionel Scouts, I can definitely see the equivalent Marx motors outlasting 'em...   

Mitch 

 The technology used to build the universal A/C motors that powered Lionel Corp. trains was very different than what is available today. Those three pole motors used high quality copper windings and low carbon steel laminations. IMO, the weak spot was the bronze bushings on the motor shafts. If you lubed them regularly they would last forever but if you ran for hours on end without frequent lubrication, they would wear out quickly. Today's synthetic lubricants along with sintered bronze bushings that use better oil impregnation, will make bronze bushings last far longer. I see no difference between what Lionel and Marx used.  IMO, where the early pullmore motors fell short was in their three pole design that didn't allow scale speeds but if you think about it, Lionels market at that time was for toys and trains typically were run very fast by their young users.  On a separate note I don't see why all large museums don't have large train layouts. Model trains are an important part of our history and were the high tech items of their era before computers, smart phones and video games.

I'm with Dennis here.  Modern motors and drivetrains are much better for continuous running.  

True story:  I used to run an MTH trolley around the company Christmas tree for ten hours a day, five days a week, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I calculated that, over the course of one shift, the intrepid little beggar covered thirteen actual miles of travel.   With regular maintenance (and one replaced pickup assembly), the car lasted three holiday seasons and something like 800 actual miles of travel before the motor finally packed it in...and with a fresh chassis, that car is still operating today!   

Mitch 

IMO, the weak spot was the bronze bushings on the motor shafts. If you lubed them regularly they would last forever but if you ran for hours on end without frequent lubrication, they would wear out quickly.

Depends on the mechanism. Postwar Lionel used sintered bronze bushings on many motors, including Berkshires, Turbines and most diesels.  The side winders, such as 2046 and 2037 didn't have them.

Same goes for axle bushings.