Here are a couple more custom locos inspired by CP and Southern I did before "retiring". Lest anyone wonder if I took perfectly good pieces out of circulation, below witness what I typically chose to work with. It's very satisfying to turn a basket case into something different and presentable.
TrainsRme: beautiful work and besides giving yourself some neat variations you are saving them from the dust bin! Bravo!!
Don
Don, thank you for your kind words. I had a lot of fun doing the conversions/restorations. In fact, it was my favorite part of the train hobby. Here's my favorite effort - a New York Central baggage car that Marx never made. I used a scratched, rusty ATSF coach, the kind with the blank solid windows, as a basis. Also an ATSF baggage using the photo wrap method, but I could not get the computer to interpret the silver color, no matter how hard I tried. This sort of tan color is the best it could do.
TrainsRme: OK I am impressed! The baggage car is great and what an addition it would make to the NYC passenger consist.
Here is my NYC consist (pulled by a Marx 333 just out of picture) and it could sure use a baggage. I may just have to try and do what you did, although I am somewhat mystified by the "computer wrap" idea. Could you post a few ideas on how that works? That #333 would have no trouble at all pulling another car - its a great engine.
Thanks for posting
Don
Those NYC cars are some beautiful cars, aren't they? I think the whole 3/16 scale line was great, though. I agree, the 333 is a great engine, along with the somewhat similar 1829, and perfect for the passenger cars.
Glad to share my thoughts about that baggage car. The basic idea is to print side views of a baggage car and affix them to the sides of your car. Unfortunately, I have no photos to show. For the ATSF I photographed a larger ATSF baggage car. Keep the camera back far enough and centered so the distortion at the corners is minimized. Import the shot into the computer and use the photo program to fiddle with the color to match it to your cars the best you can. Then, hopefully you have a photo program on your computer that can enlarge and shrink in gradations. (I don't anymore, and I can't remember the name of the one that I did have). You want to size the print so it fits neatly on the car side. The standard size 8.5 X 11 photo paper is large enough to print an image of the proper size to fit the side of these Marx cars.
The sizing will require trial and error, so I'd use ordinary paper to make some test prints and save the more expensive photo paper to use once you get it right. You can get a good idea how large the print will be by the image showing when you preview before printing: If the length of the image almost fills the sheet sideways (even though the size of the display may be small, the ratio will apply) , Bingo - you're close.
Make two prints - one for each car side - and cut them out with a hobby knife. Apply Scotch Double Sided tape, the permanent kind, to the backsides around the border. The ATSF wording and the number were photographed from Marx cars. Note that the color of those is much closer to correct.
I had to use this method for the ATSF because I couldn't think of a way to duplicate those delicate stripes in paint. It would have been a mess. The NYC, of course has nothing similar, so I used paint.
If I haven't explained this well enough, I think you can send me an email by clicking on my profile. Oh, and since this is a photo thread, I'd better include a photo of another idea. Lionel's #221 Dreyfus Hudson is just the right size for these cars, too. Here I put Marx 3/16 trucks under an extra tender so it could pull the Marx cars. 
How about these cars for play value? Searchlight car, dumping car, and crane cars. The handcar's figures, which are actually closer to Standard Gauge size, bob from the jointed hips when the car runs. Their faces were modeled after President Dwight Eisenhower, who was a friend of Louis Marx. 
This is my Marx 10005 pulling into the Noma station.
TrainsRme: THANK YOU for the data on how to do the computer photo print work to create a baggage car. Not sure I am skilled enough but I have some "extra" cars and I might just try since they are sitting in a dark cupboard now anyway. Thanks also for the picture of the Lionel 221. I also have a 221 and an extra 1689 sheet metal tender or I have some extra Marx tenders. You can be sure that the combination is going to have a go around the L&S pretty soon.
Don
Don, Glad to help out. I think you should go for it. If you're interested in doing a NYC car, the hard part may be finding a car you can photograph. With ATSF it was easy - they're everywhere. The computer work was the trickiest part for me, but I'm not much good on computers anyway. The rest of the project is simply being careful, taking your time, etc.
Here are some Marx that are customized with commercial wraps that used to be available - don't ask - the guy went out of business owing me money. Of the tank cars, the Mobilgas and Cities Service are wraps. The KCS and MONON in the last shot are wraps. 
@TrainsRMe posted:Boomer0622, you have a real clean-looking M10005 there. What a fun set that is. I love the way it rattles along the track.
More rattlers in the same vein:
I can't for the life of me figure out why, but I ALWAYS perk up EVERY TIME I see a little 4 wheel stamped/litho FM that Marx made. I really think they are the berries!
Is KCS and Monon the only road names those were made in?
FWIW: According to eBay, they're not cheap.
Andre
@laming posted:I can't for the life of me figure out why, but I ALWAYS perk up EVERY TIME I see a little 4 wheel stamped/litho FM that Marx made. I really think they are the berries!
Is KCS and Monon the only road names those were made in?
FWIW: According to eBay, they're not cheap.
Andre
Also came in Seaboard.
Steve
The KCS is my favorite roadname for them. I'd like to get a set but they never seem to go cheap. Something in my price range will turn up.
This is a little video I put together of some Marx trains rattling along.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eofM0LLSvRA
Boomer0622 - Omigosh, what an entertaining video you've made! Your inventive setups are so colorful and fun-looking for running those beautiful pieces. More rattlers there than in the wild west!
Thanks for that.
TrainsRMe, Thanks for the compliment, I do have fun in my train room.
Here's a clip of my one Wind-up rattling along, It makes 1-1/2 times around the track on a full wind.
RamblerDon - well, in the meantime, here's something to help tide you over. 
Steve:
Seaboard, eh? Thanks for that info. My favorites would be the KCS (regional) and the Monon (past history with such a set).
I really don't need to be doing this, but I'm going to go ahead and ask some questions.
The little 4-wheel FM's:
I assume the dummy A has a "hook n' slot" (don't know what they're called) coupler on the rear? Will a "hook n' slot coupler" mate with a "scissors" coupler? (i.e. Did Marx have a slot in the "scissors" coupler to allow that?)
RamblerDon said:
"The KCS is my favorite roadname for them. I'd like to get a set but they never seem to go cheap."
Via some casual eBay perusing, I've noticed that, too. Sort of a shocker really. One can almost indulge in good Lionel PW for the prices being asked for the cheaper quality Marx trains. ???
"Something in my price range will turn up."
I wish you well in your quest.
Either a KCS or Monon set of 4w FM's would have to drop into my lap at a ridiculous price before I would be ready to commit. 
Marx made some nifty stuff, though. Lionel escaped me as a child (didn't had a Lionel three rail set as a kid) , but I was given a Marx litho set. I "think" it may have had a "999" engine. I distinctly recall it being steam, and I recall the red/gray NYC Pacemaker boxcar, Pacemaker caboose, I think a black gon, and maybe another car. All the equipment had stamped silver trucks and scissors couplers. The parents of the son (that had outgrown it) gave it to me. I think I was 7 or 8 at the time ('59 or '60)? It was a very robust little set. I couldn't play it to death like I had my Marx HO set from a few Christmas' before. (My Marx HO didn't make it to summer!) For Christmas of '62 I received a Lindberg Lines HO set... and that was that.
SO, though I had some exposure to Lionel 3-rail via a couple/three of my friends, my 3-rail roots go back to a hand-me-down Marx litho set. My HO roots are directly traced to that Lindberg Lines set.
There was no more interest in 3-rail after my Lindberg HO set (I've essentially been in HO ever since) until the nostalgia bug bit me many decades later (early '90s). By '98 I sold out of 3-rail, and aside for a couple of lesser 3-rail "experiments" I'm "sort of" over 3-rail. However, every now and then it tugs at me. (These little Marx 4w FM's, Marx litho rolling stock, Lionel "premium" PW steam engines and Lionel's FA's are the primary culprits.)
We shall see!
Andre
@Robert S. Butler posted:RamblerDon - well, in the meantime, here's something to help tide you over.
LOVE the ABA set of KCS FM's!
Andre
Laming: Marx fork-tilt (or scissors) couplers varied. I don't recall the prewar metal ones having a slot for tab-and-slot coupling. The later plastic ones did, and would accept the tab-and-slot. A note about the 3/16 scale line with fork-tilt: the early examples had the prewar style; later ones had plastic, meaning the older ones had no slot but the later ones did. (There were also examples riding on the higher trucks that had tab-and-slot).
"New Marx" fork-tilt were metal, but had the slot also. However, the FMs I had had a different coupler yet at the rear of the A-unit, more of a drawbar really. It was narrow, and had no slot, and was very close to the body - too close for coupling fork-tilts to them, as they would bind when negotiating curves.
Robert S. Butler: Beautiful set you have there.
I am very shocked at times the money a Marx item will bring. Considering the not-Lionel stigma they have. As far as I'm concerned a train is a train. I have items from any manufacturer I can afford. High end, Low end - as long as they have that tinplate charm.
Here is a William Crooks set with fork-tilt couplers. I have read that the loco is a pretty accurate model of a real one. After buying the set I searched for the caboose and flatcar, which I found but had the plastic knuckle couplers. To enable all the cars to run together, I made up a transition car having fork-tilt at one end and knuckle at the other from a cheap Lionel flatcar. Loads from Robert Grossman topped it off.
Hey everyone, just wanted to say I am really enjoying this thread. Even though most of my MARX stuff are the plastic versions that K-Line reintroduced in their early years. Although I was drooling over the photo posted by @franktrain on the second page of this thread. That car is gorgeous and in great condition.
And I like some of the "restorations" you're doing @TrainsRMe. The E diesels look great considering where you started. And I was never aware someone was making "wraps" for the older tin cars. Those tank cars look great too.
Bear with me now on this next thought. On the MTH closing thread, there's some banter about Neil Young maybe taking over MTH. Of course, Neil will forever be associated with Lionel for TMCC and Railsounds. And yet Neil himself, when he reminisces about his childhood layout, he had MARX trains, which he remembers very fondly.
With all the chatter other places about what digital advances trains will take next, or when the next "scale" new product will be made, there really is something magical about the simplicity, durability and practicality of MARX trains. Even the tin litho stuff has an impressive amount of detail on it.
Not everyone in the hobby has room for a stadium sized train layout. And with some of the videos seen on this thread, they really illustrate just how good the smaller MARX trains look on a smaller layout.
I really like the plastic plug door box car made by MARX. Unlike the Lionel version with double doors, the MARX one offers more paint scheme possibilities. I found a junker one at a train show, missing the sheet metal frame and trucks... just the beat up, scratched body. So of course, I bought it. Made a new frame, repainted it and here it is...
@TrainsRMe posted:Here is a William Crooks set with fork-tilt couplers. I have read that the loco is a pretty accurate model of a real one. After buying the set I searched for the caboose and flatcar, which I found but had the plastic knuckle couplers. To enable all the cars to run together, I made up a transition car having fork-tilt at one end and knuckle at the other from a cheap Lionel flatcar. Loads from Robert Grossman topped it off.
It always bothered me they went with plastic knuckle couplers on the freight cars. New Marx/ Flynn Marx made some nice freight cars also. But they used slot and tab couplers on them for some reason. :/
brianel k-line guy: Thanks for the kind comments. Beautiful looking job on your CP boxcar. With those trucks and couplers, it must be a Marx-based K-Line like you mentioned, no? Let's see more pics if you've got 'em. This is an enjoyable thread.
RamblerDon: Although Marx did use the droopy knuckle couplers on their cheapest cars, and they can't be automatically coupled, it seems to me that they do have four advantages: They're more realistic-looking than any other Marx coupler, they're smaller, i.e., to scale than Lionel-compatible ones, they never, ever, come uncoupled, and they're more durable than plastic fork-tilt couplers. (This last is just based on the number of wrecks I've bought with broken couplers).
Below are some Marx plastic freights with knucks, along with a cheap Lionel tank modified to use as a transition car - Marx on one end, Lionel plus Marx on the other, so I could run a lo-o-ong string of tankers. Keep those pics and comments coming.
Here is a video I made of Marx passenger sets. Towards the end is a Wm. Crooks set.
@RamblerDon posted:Here is a video I made of Marx passenger sets. <snip>...
Really like the "Premier" set. Very nicely proportioned for a train aimed at the toy market.
Andre
These just sold on eBay for $45.10 plus tax and $12 shipping.
Andre
@laming posted:Really like the "Premier" set. Very nicely proportioned for a train aimed at the toy market.
Andre
I've always loved that passenger set. Marx really knocked it out of the park with the whole consist.
Sorry - just got back to this thread - so Andre, KCS and Monon are your favorites ...well, here's one for you.
Gee fellas, These are some great photos! I’m loving the costume paint jobs TrainsRMe, keep up the great work. Robert S. Butler, What fantastic sets you have. I paid around $60.00 for a Marx Monon but it was well worth it. You gotta love the little guy. Its a beautiful loco with stunning lithography. RamblerDon, love the videos, keep posting. I will try to post pictures here soon. Been busy. Keep up the good work everyone.
Trainfam
Nice Monon set, Robert!
Yes, my first choice would be an ABA set of KCS FM's (no need for cars), for I can hear the KCS blowing for the crossings right here in my house. I've been within earshot to the KCS for decades (and have spent many pleasurable hours chasing their trains decades ago), so they have a special place in my train hobby.
The Monon is also a great little set. I was never around the actual Monon, but my reasons for liking the Marx Monon FM's is because back in '59 a younger next door neighbor ("Joey Pate") had one and we played with it over at my house... building bridges for its loop of track that we set among buildings and highways made from my Kenner Girder n' Panel set. Some fun times were had by Joey and I with that tough little warrior!
I think it was near Christmas of '59 that I got my own Marx set: The aforementioned hand-me-down set given by to me by the Fisher family. Oddly, I don't have a significant urge to try to piece together a replica of my Marx set, for I simply cannot remember what kind of steam engine came with the 8-wheel litho cars. I remember some features of some of the cars in detail... but memories of the engine are simply non-descript images of a black steam engine with zero specifics recalled. I "think" the steam engine did have a leading truck, but can't remember if it had a trailing truck, or how many drivers. I do think I recall it was metal (as opposed to plastic), but can't recall if it was die-cast or tinplate. I remember no specifics of the tender at all. (It was black!) Given that it was a hand-me-down set from the son of the Fisher family that was nearing the end (or was out?) of high school in '59, I think it's safe to say the set dated back to the late 40s or early 50s. It was in excellent shape, by the way.
All fer now!
Andre
Hi laming, I am 95% percent sure that I know about what set you are referring to in your posts.
This might be it, the set shown above is a 25225 freight set. You posted in your previous posts that you recall pacemaker boxcar and a pacemaker caboose, this set features both of those cars. You also stated that you believe the engine was a Marx 999, well guess what, the engine for this set is a number 999. The engine also features a leading truck, which is another trait that your locomotive had. The body of the engine was made of die cast construction, not plastic. The only thing that keeps me from saying that I am 100% sure that this was your childhood set is you mentioning a black gondola, however this could just be chalked up to confusion. If you want more answers I suggest asking around here on the ogr form, lots of knowledgeable people around this part of town. 
Trainfam
I am happy to see Marx Trains getting so much loving on OGR forum. Keep them coming, I am learning lots about trains I never knew Marxs made.
Charlie
@TrainFam posted:Hi laming, I am 95% percent sure that I know about what set you are referring to in your posts.
This might be it, the set shown above is a 25225 freight set.
<snip: more good info>
The only thing that keeps me from saying that I am 100% sure that this was your childhood set is you mentioning a black gondola, however this could just be chalked up to confusion.
<snip>
Well, you may be right! Do you know what years that set was on the market?
As for the black gondola: Could be that my mind replaced the gray B&O gon with photos of black Nickel Plate or PRR gons I've seen many times since? I also don't recall a tank car (which may not have survived, thus not a part of the set by the time it was given to me), but my lands... that was so long ago and those details/features just weren't important to me then.
SO... yup... "confusion" reigns supreme in my pea-sized brain! 
That's very likely the set. Interesting!
I shall resist the urge to find/procure such specimens to build a replica "set".
Andre
LOOKY HERE!!!
Billed as a 25225 set... with a BLACK gondola!
Maybe I'm not dazed and confused after all???
I'm resisting the urge to pull the trigger.
Andre
EDIT: Fortunately, I KNOW I can depend on my friends here in this thread to talk me out of doing such a foolish thing as purchasing a Marx set. 
@laming posted:LOOKY HERE!!!
Billed as a 25225 set... with a BLACK gondola!
Maybe I'm not dazed and confused after all???
I'm resisting the urge to pull the trigger.
Andre
EDIT: Fortunately, I KNOW I can depend on my friends here in this thread to talk me out of doing such a foolish thing as purchasing a Marx set.
Looks like you found it. I had a feeling that there was a black gondola! Might wanna get someone else to talk you out of that set, I’m not the best at talking someone out of a deal. I’m more proficient at talking someone into a deal. Hehehe.
Trainfam
Don't look at me - I've never been known to talk someone out of buying a train! 
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