Marx Train pictures

Here is the Allstate diesel set running last week at my buddies.

Steve

@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

and a nice Hudson freight.

Hi "Papa'!

Nice videos, all.

The above vid I quoted: That little black steam engine train, so that train is all Marx? (Remember: I'm not very edumacated about things Marx.)

First I've seen of a Marx bay window caboose! What's the number on the Hudson?

Andre

@laming posted:

Hi "Papa'!

Nice videos, all.

The above vid I quoted: That little black steam engine train, so that train is all Marx? (Remember: I'm not very edumacated about things Marx.)

First I've seen of a Marx bay window caboose! What's the number on the Hudson?

Andre

The Hudson is a 1829. That is a nice boxed set I got from a buddy a few weeks ago.

Steve

Just a few cabooses and a lonely B unit.

Still have my 1666 Marx Big Rail Work Train Set, Still runs great and smokes good. Late 60s

Wish I kept the box.

@Sitka posted:

Still have my 1666 Marx Big Rail Work Train Set, Still runs great and smokes good. Late 60s

Wish I kept the box.

I’ve always thought the Big Rail sets had amazing play value for the $$$. With the signals, people, passenger shed, switch and siding etc. I have the “other” Big Rail set with the Santa Fe 1666 and sound tender.

Steve

Steve, forgot to say have all that came with it along with paper work.

Mark

WOW Marx Fans...great to see folks back on the forum and posting.  I sort of lost track of this thread and am really glad that Steve posted those videos again.  Here are some of my Marx trains.

First - my version of an "Allstate" train (no never a Marx official set).  The Allstate Tender and type 400 locomotive leads the pack

The entire consist showing the 3 Allstate tank cars and caboose

The tank cars, 2 deluxe and the blue middle weight 8 wheel car.

The Allstate bay window caboose.

Next is a steam train, the Marx 994 "Meteor" sheet metal locomotive and consist of 7" freights.

Here she is, exiting the "mountains" on my layout

Here is the 7" type, long NKP tender, unusual enough to warrant an article in "Toy Trains" magazine

Here is the consist.  This was an offical Marx set, although I don't have the set number at hand as I am away from my collection visiting relatives.

Glad that Marx pictures are back.  Thanks to all for posting

Regards, Don

Some of my favorite Marx items are the Marx 1590 switches.  I like them so much my layout has 29 of them in service.  The layout is now 44 years old.

Picture of Main train board with oval and figure 8 in center and a outside loop surrounding it.  I have seen, on this topic that, PW53inVa and rslaser have the same configuration on their layouts.  Oval and figure 8 was my childhood layout with a Marx 999 freight outfit.

The Red and Green buttons work Marx 1590 switches on Main Board control panel below

Picture of planing the latest two Mark 1590 switches, added in 5-2020, to make a Wye.  It was a tight fit to get them to line up correctly.

The next challenge was when the switches were added the two ends of the track on the switches would not line up to be joined with a small section of new track.  I needed more distance between the two new Wye switches to allow them to line up as there were other switches that could not be relocated to give more room.  I gave up for a while but then figured if I cut about ¾ inch from one end of one switch and ¼ inch off the track rail ends of both switches near the new addition outside loop, they almost lined up.  I decided to go for it and cut off the two switches.  I unscrewed the track in the area and bent and pulled enough to get the two switches in place.

Picture of sawed off piece of switch, sawed with Dremel Moto Tool with fiber cutoff wheel

Playing with the straight track between the two switches I found a 1/2 section of straight track would almost fit and be only a little crooked.  I then cut the ½ section in half and added it to a ¼ section of curved track and it all fitted fine.  I tested my largest loco with the most over hang on curves, a Williams BL2, and thankfully it negotiated the new Wye very well.  I added an uncoupling and operating car track section in the Wye, on the main board outside track also.

Picture of finished Wye.  You can see I painted the switches to better blend in and do not use 1590 switches with lighted solenoid covers.  I like the low 1590 profile.  You can see a train can now navigate from the Main train board inside loop, thru the outside loop to the outside loop of the New train board loop via five Marx 1590 switches in a row.

Picture showing finished Wye and most of the New train board addition.

I probably would not have a layout with 29 switches if I had to purchase new switches especially Lionel.  All mine were bought at train shows, often for $5 a pair.  The Marx 1590 switches are under appreciated by most model rail road fans.

Marx 1590 switches do not have indicator lights and I power mine from a 14 volt, 40 transformer.  Many switches are wired as pairs and they always operate paired and two are thrown at one time.  Try operating 29 Lionel lighted switches with a 40 watt transformer or operating them from track voltage.  Good luck.

Charlie

I agree with Charlie, I replaced my lionel 027 on my two small layouts with the marx 027 switches.

Big advantage is they are all metal so there is much better electrical contact thru the switch, less

stalling and accidental reversing.

I am not a Marx collector but, as a New York Central nut, for $65.00 I couldn't pass this set up when I saw it on a table at a York Meet back in the 80's. A 999 locomotive and tender, 5 Pacemaker boxcars, a Pacemaker caboose, track and transformer.

An additional comment on the marx switches, Hafner windup locos with the bell clapper hanging down tohit the ties will not work with these, or any other switch for that matter.

A few weeks back I saw a youtube video from a guy who had made a 3d printed piece to fit inside the moving points to keep pickups, etc from getting caught. I think he was giving away the software,  if thats what 3d printers use

NYC Fan:

'Ya done good. It all appears to be in really nice shape. That box is amazingly good. My little boxed Marx 999 set isn't nearly that nice.

Andre

This C.P. engine belongs to a train buddy.

Relatively new addition to the Marx Fleet.

Steve

Looks like a beautiful example, Steve!  I have looked at a couple, but I am stymied by folks with deeper pockets.

@palallin posted:

Looks like a beautiful example, Steve!  I have looked at a couple, but I am stymied by folks with deeper pockets.

Here’s another one in my collection.

Steve

@boomer0622 posted:

This C.P. engine belongs to a train buddy.

Nice! I have never seen a Marx CP with black hand rails.

@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Here’s another one in my collection.

Steve

Another beauty!  No doubt, once upon a time, someone considered $9.49 to be a steep price

@palallin posted:

Another beauty!  No doubt, once upon a time, someone considered $9.49 to be a steep price

I’m sure many parents balked at that price back in the day.

Steve

Picked up these 2 Wm Crooks locos at yesterday’s TTOS meet. Both run, smoke and light. Only one tender though.

Steve

Hi everyone,

ive been working on rebuilding a Marx 999 locomotive I bought from an antique shop some time ago. The motor would freeze and had a hard time running. It sparked more than it should have. This being said I took off the wheels and dismantled the motor. The wheels gave me a hard time as the side rods would sort of block the wheel puller from getting to the axle. But the real pain was getting the bearings out from the axle. What a pain! Finally I freed the bearings and then unscrewed the nuts that hold the motor’s side frame and removed them. The motor was pretty dirty, so a cleaning was definitely needed. I like to clean off my motors with q tips and a paper towel. This takes off the old oil and what ever other crud that shows up. I sometimes like to wipe off my motor with 3-IN-ONE to clean off the surface rust if it’s needed. This is how the motor turned out:

pretty good turn around. next I cleaned off the commutator using q tips.

That’s all for now. Tomorrow I’ll post more pictures of the motor and my progress.

                                                        Trainfam

Hello fellow Marxers

I bought this old beater Marx Canadian Pacific 391 steamer a few years ago. Always wanted a Marx CP in red so I took it apart and re did it. Waiting for a Robert Grossman order now to complete with decals for side boards.

First time I could not get a Marx motor to work by just cleaning with contact cleaner. Found that one of the 3 armature commutators would not read ohms with the other two. Un soldered the 3 wires from armature coils to the commutator and removed the commutator. I found that on back side of armature where the 3 coils are tied together the connection was not good.  Wire connection looked to be just twisted together so added a little solder and now she works.

Also bent some sheet aluminum to make a coupler adapter for the CP Tender auto coupler to work with tab and slot on freight cars. I have a crusty NYC wedge tender that is going to get a matching red paint job soon.

Here are 2 short videos of them running. The red one has a funny little noise I have not figured out yet. Maybe something rubbing?

Dean

I'm about ready to divest myself of all my Marx trains.  While this post is not an offer for sale, I will get them out and post my pictures before they are gone.  I have somehow accumulated my share of Marx and while I love it, I am not a Marx collector!  The lithography is wonderful and the cars and locomotives are just fun.  I really like the Pacific they did late in their production and have half a dozen of them of which three are serviceable and see use when I'm running on 027 style layouts. 

PW53in Va. loved the red CP engine. Noted that the “Bogota” coaches and obs are red frames as well…neat. GG14877 sorry to hear you are getting out of Narx…hate to lose a fellow collector but will be interested in what you are selling!

Don

From the 1959 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalog:

Wouldn't you like to get a shot at THIS set at that price!

Andre

Laming:  What a set : train, track, transformer, buildings, people, and animals. A layout in a box!! Marx packaged some incredible offerings for sure. Heck today you couldn’t buy one train car for that price. Thanks for posting.

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Laming:  What a set : train, track, transformer, buildings, people, and animals. A layout in a box!! Marx packaged some incredible offerings for sure. Heck today you couldn’t buy one train car for that price. Thanks for posting.

Don

You're welcome!

Like you, I was blown away with the "play value" of that set. In 1959 I was 7 years old. IF I had received that set, given its contents, my over-active imagination, AND the fact that I was into Roy Rogers then, I could have entertained myself with that set for hours on end! Incredible play value at a very reasonable price point!

Marx did that often.

Andre

I have owed a Lionel 238, Loewy’s 1936 designed, torpedo streamlined body and old style metal coal tender for several years, origin unknown.  It needed a motor and I found an old Marx four wheel one from a Marx 999 that seemed to work and fit.  The Marx motor did not have the mount and two front wheels like the 999 does.

This is my Marx tinplate train being pulled with the new to me Lionel 0-4-0 Torpedo stream lined steam locomotive, powered with a Marx 999 motor.

This was a fun project to paint up the Lionel body and install a Marx 999 motor and is my first Torpedo Locomotive.  I now have a late 1930s streamlined torpedo loco and tender.

Charlie

Thought it was time for some Marx Trains.

Canadian Pacific freight is moving tonight.

Got my red tender and caboose to match the red CP engine back together. Still waiting on my Grossman order with sideboard and tender decals.  Should get order in next few days.

Looking for decals for caboose for Canadian Pacific. Anyone know where I can get some for caboose? Also tried making some windows for cupola on caboose out of white sticky back paper but didn't like how they looked. Would appreciate ideas on what others have done.

Dean

I guess it's Marx week around here.  Took out my second Marx set from 1955 I believe, my first was the 999 set but always loved the 1095 plastic diesel set with the steel passenger cars.  Cleaned the cobwebs out of the motor and a little bit of oil and this old train ran flawlessly around the track.  Brings back a ton of memories running it around the Christmas tree and then into the basement on a ping pong table.  Here is a pic of it on my 40+ year old layout.

Lary

Nice looking layout and those Santa Fes are real lookers. Marx motors are bulletproof. A little cleaning and oil and away they go. Thanks for sharing.

Dean

LOVE the vibes you've got going on with your layout, Lary!

Your layout is another great example of showing just how good toy trains can look in a "sincere" scenic setting!

Andre

My first O gauge train was a Marx set that was given to me by a friend.  I added some cars over the years.

Here it is a string of 3/16 Marx on my first "O" gauge layout engine some 20 years ago.

PW53inVa...Great layout and that red CP is going to look really cool.  Larry...another cool layout and those 1095's look super on the track.  Hey, how about a few more pictures of your layout, it really looks neat.  GG1 487 the cars and locos look good as well.  Thanks for posting everyone.

Here is one of my Marx favorites, the Marx 333 and her consist of NYC steel cars.

Best wishes

Don

Jonathan

Those 3/16 Marx freight cars are some of my favorite Marx cars. Modern Marx also made some colorful freight cars that go well with the ones you have. I think the modern marx chicago and nortwestern stock car in green/yellow is one the nicest ones they made. James Flynn, who produced Modern Marx, has a great Youtube channel where he has videos showing his great layout with modern and old Marx running.

Don

Thanks for the kind words.  Your New York Central with the 333 engine is a fun train. The cast tender that came with the 333 is a real beast. I think I see a few Menards boxcars sitting behind the 333 on a back track. I am also a fan of the AMT/KMT boxcars and Menards seems to be using the same molds so they are a good fit with the AMT/KMT cars. Always like seeing pictures of your fine layout and would enjoy seeing more.

Take Care

Dean

LOVE the 3/16th stuff fella's! Thanks everybody for posting!

Andre

Dean, actually there's two versions of the C&NW stock car - punched and embossed.

Punched

Embossed

Robert

Thanks for sharing the pics. I was aware of the slotted one but not the embossed one. I think the colors on these really pop. The modern marx CNW boxcars show up every now and then on the bay. Have to keep an eye out for one. Of the two you showed I think I would prefer the punched one but they are both nice.

For now I will be happy with the old marx green/yellow GAEX-DF boxcars.

Dean

Rainy day today from remnants of Ida so I worked on my Canadian Pacific train. My first try at repainting rusty crusty Marx and it's not perfect but it was a fun little project.

Dean