@colorado hirailer posted:I had Marx, before succumbing to HO, so the only all year hobby shop with trains in Louisville, Ky , Lionel, was Fischer's, written up in one of the 3 rail mags. Woolworth's toy dept. had occasional Marx outside the holiday season. Sutcliffe's, a sporting goods store, had all brands, Marx, AF, and L then, but packed all away right after Christmas, when l showed up with gift money to add Marx 3/16 cars, so never got any additional cars. Sears in Louisville had the best, basement, holiday train display, but the two major dept. stores had displays, one Lionel, and the other, AF, and are remembered. (( I still remember wishing the AF U.P. 4-8-4 was three rail, and liked AF (MoPac?) PA's, too))
Your Flyer 4-8-4 for 3 rail operation wish can come true - Gilbert made 3 rail O gauge trains prior to WW2 which were built to 3/16ths scale proportions, and the UP 4-8-4 was one of their nicest pieces. They look especially nice pulling a string of Marx 3/16ths O gauge tin litho cars. Here's a 572 3 rail UP 4-8-4 in action:
