Do you mean the 400 or the 401? Marx windup 400's are most commonly found as "puffers" which have a variation of the ratchet motor in Ted's 933. However, windup 400's can sometimes be found with reversing motors (another ratchet motor variation) and also with riser gear motors. The 401 Marx - the plastic body locomotive without any number on the cab which is a bit homely - is almost always powered by a riser gear motor, although there is a hard-to-find puffer variation with the same basic ratchet motor as a 400 puffer. Regardless, most of the ratchet motor variations are very reliable, as are the riser gear motors. The main shortcoming with a ratchet motor is the stamped steel wheels, which tend to come loose on the axle. The die-cast wheels are very robust, and the later stamped steel wheels with hubs are fine, too. If I had to pick one, I would give a small advantage to the riser gear motor over any ratchet motor, due to the simplicity and slightly more robust construction of the riser gear motor. However, the riser gear motor is taller than the ratchet motor, and might be harder to fit in the 1588.
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