Marx Train pictures

Guys...been under the weather for the past few days confined to bed but will try to post some pictures this weekend.  Loved the video's...OBTW if someone has a "technique" for posting video that they could share I would appreciate it, I can't seem to get my smart phone video's to transfer to the site.

D500 - super modeling and great way to take advantage of some cool Marx cars, I collect tanks (why I don't know) and I agree the Marx tanks were just about scale size for the day.

PALALLIN - neat accessories...I also have the manual lift bridge, have not found a way to integrate it into a layout yet. Big Rail boxed set is really cool, I have the box and the trains/transformer but little else, now I can see what is missing.

PapaEastman :  Well it sure looks like the Marx Mopac Eagle express wins the race!! The first train I bought for my son in the 70's was a Marx So. Pacific 4 wheel switcher and 4 wheel cars and he loved to run the wheels off it!   Still works though - those guys were made to withstand a child's playing with them.

PW53INVA - loved the layout.  figure 8 inside a loop gives plenty of action and "cookie box" houses fit in with the theme perfectly.  I am thinking a building a 2nd layout for a place the family spends the summer, since many of my nieces and nephews  who come and go all summer have little children, I think a layout like yours would really be a hit...so with your permission I may just copy it!! Tin diesels go perfectly with the theme.

Best wishes to all and thanks for the pictures

Don

Don McErlean posted:

PALALLIN - neat accessories...I also have the manual lift bridge, have not found a way to integrate it into a layout yet. Big Rail boxed set is really cool, I have the box and the trains/transformer but little else, now I can see what is missing.

 

If you have any questions, let me know.  I can make up a list and provide pics of specific pieces.

PALALLIN:  Wow thank you, even a list would be great.  You know Marx, you never could be entirely sure what went into the box sometimes it was just what happened to be handy

In the long compartment on the upper right is the station platform with its 4 upright posts.  In the small one at the top between the platform and the tender is the track trip to dump the logs.  Below it, next to the log car, is a non-illuminated bumper.  To the left of the caboose is the newsstand with 6 x 35mm station set figures and 2 x "Uncouple Here" signs under it.  There are 6 x 061 telephone poles, the lump bin, and the spool of thread below the boxcar.  A 2-connector lock-on and two connecting wires are in the compartment with the transformer cord.  To the left of the transformer are the two pieces of the all-plastic banjo crossing signal; to its left is the plastic crossing gate, both activated by the weight of the train.  Under the base of the crossing gate is the bottle of smoke fluid.  Under the switch in its cardboard tray are 6 x (3-tie) straight track, 2 x straight track with uncoupler ramps, and 9 x 027 curves.  In addition to the instruction sheet (Form IS - 634), there is a sheet on the automatic uncoupling ramps (Form IS - 118), another on the smoke unit in the loco (Form IS - 264), and, as I noted, the inspection tag/packing slip (Form IS - 71).

That's quite a bit packed into a single set that went for a very reasonable price!

Let me know if you need pics of anything.

Don

Thank you for the kind words on my little Marx Layout. I got the idea for the inside figure eight with the loop outside from fellow forum member HandyAndy. When I saw his nice Marx Layout a few years ago I thought that it would be fun to have something like that in my spare bedroom. I had a spare fold up table to use so I painted a 4 ft by 6ft 6 inch by 1 inch thick piece of foam board green and went to work.  

So Don, no permission needed, copy away, and I have HandyAndy to thank for the original idea. Wish HandyAndy would post more pictures of his layout and trains running as it is always fun to see what he has done in a small space and he has some nice looking print out buildings that look great with Marx Trains.

Happy Training

Dean

Saturday morning train running. Couple red Marx passenger sets. 

Dean

Wow guys. Still struggling with the flu here but your Marx pictures make my day!

Palallin. Thank you for the list, man Marx really packed that set, When  I am up and about I will compare with mine but I think mostly mine is just the trains  

PW53INVA  thanks for the data and your permission to copy on the layout.  The video is so cool.  Looks like I need to start assembling material for the summer project.  I have 4 nieces / nephews who I really think will love playing with it on those rainy “no beach” days 

Best wishes guys and thanks for the responses  

Don

Dean

An oval and figure 8 was the track plan of my childhood 5ft x 9ft Holiday layout.  I had to have it for the basis of my layout I build starting in 1977 and added a loop outside the oval and figure 8 to allow two train operation.

Below is the diagram control panel showing the track plan and the $10 Homemade turntable.  Layout building details are at OGR forum https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...ra-027-layout?page=1

Here a little Marx 467110 box car, a rare train garage sale find today for me around here.  It was real cheap and is missing the plastic spade part of one coupling.  I may have one I can J B weld on.

Charlie

Guys it been awhile since anyone posted in this thread but I don't want to lose it - so send in some pictures.  This was a "find" right within my own home.  A Marx 333 die cast 4-6-2 and die cast tender (man is this thing heavy) pulling the NYC streamlined passenger cars...a coach, a vista dome, and an obs. I was conducting a search for some other items in my storage area and I encountered this set...Its from the Allied Toy Distributor Catalog of 1950.  I bought it at a train show in Sydney Ohio in 1978!!  (Yes, I leave little notes in boxes to track when I got things, OBTW I paid $40 for the set). We lived in Dayton at the time.  It got put into a box, stored, and mostly forgotten for the next 40+ years!! Moved around but never run, so today when I "found" it, i put her on the tracks to see if my view of Marx motors remained true...AND IT DID.  After all that time, the headlight came on and off she went around my layout with her consist.  Unbelievable!  Smooth as well and fun to see.  The 333 might be one of Marx's top steamers, it is die cast, has a lot of detail, 2 position reverse, complex valve gear, and headlight.  The tender is a wedge type, all die cast, and heavy enough to be a paperweight.  All run on "scale" trucks.

Well I hope we can keep this going

Don McErlean

Picked this up at a train show $20.00 runs great.

Pulled out all my Marx Plastic rolling stock for some running time.

Nice Great Northern

Some more run time with the Rocket!

Frank train:  great pictures and video. Those engines are pulling quite a consist !  Great Northern box car is unusual as well. Thanks for contributing to this thread. 

Don McErlean

It was mentioned that any Marx could be posted, so here is my Marx set from my first Christmas at age 10 months (1947).  I added an extra gondola recently just to have it.  I need an (idler) gear between the drivers as a few teeth are stripped & it will sometimes jam & stop  Does anyone sell these?
(Too much instant reversing at high speed when I was young.  Hey! It was fun).
Dennis

The Robert Grossman Co should be able to supply the gear. http://www.trainpartsformarx.com/shoppingcart.htm

Hartman. Great set amazing you still have it that is super!!  Thanks for contributing to this thread we need more folks to show off their Marx

Don McErlean 

Here's my 999's pilot variations.

 Frank train. I never knew there were so many 99 configurations. I have 2  and considered myself lucky. Great picture 

its spring break for Tx schools so I am away from home and more or less limited to my phone. I have some sets I will post when we get home. Have a great week all and thanks for keeping our Marx thread alive.

Don McErlean 

Back in the 80s I had a large Marx collection, I sold it off in the 90s, but I just can't seem to get it out of my system. About 2 years ago I started buying again, this time I am buying the later plastic trains. Last year I stumbled on a bunch of the roadbed track at a hobby shop  and decided to build a small layout to showcase the joy of Marx trains. The layout is all Marx or Marx derived K-line items. 

Don McErlean posted:

 Frank train. I never knew there were so many 99 configurations. I have 2  and considered myself lucky. Great picture 

its spring break for Tx schools so I am away from home and more or less limited to my phone. I have some sets I will post when we get home. Have a great week all and thanks for keeping our Marx thread alive.

Don McErlean 

And there is the clockwork version as well as a number of Mexican production variations.

Steve

MILNYC. Great layout. You have some unusual pieces (hard to say rare with Marx). The white 3 dome tanker and the green PC E-7 certainly fit that description. 

Super layout.  OBTW we have a Marx Train Pictures thread under. “Misc Forums ... Photo Albums “. With your new interest you should take a look.  

Steve  I have a battery set Rock Island” 70 toner diesel powered with 4 wheel freights  It was made in Mexico and the engine clearly has a circular indentation right where Marx put it on their similar diesels but the center where the Marx symbol would be is blank. I am surmising this is Mexican Marx would you agree? 

Don McErlean 

From the modern Marx Trains era. Thor power unit and gun caboose.

Steve

A few shots of a Marx set of mine.....I took these in 2016 when we were getting ready for "classic train day" on the modular layout....

Peter

Steve Eastman:  What a super military train, I did not know that "modern Marx" had put such a thing out..  Now all you need are some 6" , 4 wheel flats, painted olive drab with a tank and a cannon on them !  Tootsitoy made a great armored car with a turret and a gun, one rides on one of my flat cars.

Peter:  The 7" cars look great and the AA Monon units are really a nice mate to the set.  The layout is really cool as well.  You know, we have some fabulous modelers in this forum and their art is so realistic that its hard to discern it from actual life.  However, the "toy train" world is also really neat and it has an "art" all its own. Its this kind of diversity that makes our hobby so cool.  Thanks for posting.

Thanks everyone for posting and keeping our Marx thread viable.

Don McErlean

Guys:  Finally got to where I can get my computer back up...we are in the Colorado Rockies vice the "pool table" of Central Tx.  Here is my Marx " Work Train" set.  The diesel and cars in the set were (I believe) unique to this set and the most hard to find is the searchlight car with the yellow generator and the yellow fences for the flat.  The crane seems to be the most common as I have seen them at a number of train shows.  The flat itself is fairly common but the yellow fences were tough to find.  The wonderful box has been mostly ruined by the plastic shipping tape, likely added by the fool now using the keyboard to secure the box in one of our many moves around the country. I tried to remove it but no joy!

Regards everyone!

Don McErlean

Don McErlean posted:

Guys:  Finally got to where I can get my computer back up...we are in the Colorado Rockies vice the "pool table" of Central Tx.  Here is my Marx " Work Train" set.  The diesel and cars in the set were (I believe) unique to this set and the most hard to find is the searchlight car with the yellow generator and the yellow fences for the flat.  The crane seems to be the most common as I have seen them at a number of train shows.  The flat itself is fairly common but the yellow fences were tough to find.  The wonderful box has been mostly ruined by the plastic shipping tape, likely added by the fool now using the keyboard to secure the box in one of our many moves around the country. I tried to remove it but no joy!

 

Regards everyone!

Don McErlean

This is one of my favorite Marx sets. I have the loco and cars but no box. Have you tried to heat the tape with a hair dryer, that may loosen it enough to get it off.

Don McErlean posted:

Steve Eastman:  What a super military train, I did not know that "modern Marx" had put such a thing out..  Now all you need are some 6" , 4 wheel flats, painted olive drab with a tank and a cannon on them !  Tootsitoy made a great armored car with a turret and a gun, one rides on one of my flat cars.

Peter:  The 7" cars look great and the AA Monon units are really a nice mate to the set.  The layout is really cool as well.  You know, we have some fabulous modelers in this forum and their art is so realistic that its hard to discern it from actual life.  However, the "toy train" world is also really neat and it has an "art" all its own. Its this kind of diversity that makes our hobby so cool.  Thanks for posting.

Thanks everyone for posting and keeping our Marx thread viable.

Don McErlean

I am selling a number of Military cars. Cutting way back on my Modern Marx.

Steve

milnyc posted:

Don McErlean posted:

Guys:  Finally got to where I can get my computer back up...we are in the Colorado Rockies vice the "pool table" of Central Tx.  Here is my Marx " Work Train" set.  The diesel and cars in the set were (I believe) unique to this set and the most hard to find is the searchlight car with the yellow generator and the yellow fences for the flat.  The crane seems to be the most common as I have seen them at a number of train shows.  The flat itself is fairly common but the yellow fences were tough to find.  The wonderful box has been mostly ruined by the plastic shipping tape, likely added by the fool now using the keyboard to secure the box in one of our many moves around the country. I tried to remove it but no joy!

 

Regards everyone!

Don McErlean

This is one of my favorite Marx sets. I have the loco and cars but no box. Have you tried to heat the tape with a hair dryer, that may loosen it enough to get it off.

The Work Train was the later version. The year before it was the Yard Master. The two were identical. 

Steve

Milnyc. Good idea about hair dryer. Might work. Will try. Sure would like to get it off but pulling it did not work for sure. Will let you know if it works. 

Steve thanks for the data on a prior name. You know when I learn stuff like that you have to wonder why Marx changed the name?  Likely never know but Mr Marx was a superb businessman so I bet he had a reason. 

Regards everyone. Don McErlean 

Don McErlean posted:

Milnyc. Good idea about hair dryer. Might work. Will try. Sure would like to get it off but pulling it did not work for sure. Will let you know if it works. 

Steve thanks for the data on a prior name. You know when I learn stuff like that you have to wonder why Marx changed the name?  Likely never know but Mr Marx was a superb businessman so I bet he had a reason. 

Regards everyone. Don McErlean 

I wonder if it was to avoid confusion. Other makers had used the name Yard Master.

Steve

Well everyone how are you doing in this world of semi-quarantine!  Me, I have been doing some layout construction (posted to "what did you do on your layout today?") and today I think I will just run some trains.  milnyc your little lay out really interests me, as best I can tell it is almost "pure" Marx, not just the trains but the buildings and accessories as well.  COOL!

Well here is a picture for what is likely a slow Sunday morning.  It is a Marx set# 4316 likely from the 1960's due to the plastic knuckle couplers.

Here are the contents, including track and a 25 watt transformer.  The # 490 has a mechanical "chugger" for sound, pretty unsophisticated compared with today's sound. 

Here are a couple of Marx plastic sets...

I believe I received this as a gift in 1974.  It uses a 6 volt battery in a controller, connected to conventional 3-rail O27 track.  Yes, the box is a little worse for wear:

This is a #530 mechanical set.  This set would typically come with a yellow gondola, but they can occasionally be found with the green Erie flatcar, and some of the sets with the flatcar have the orange/yellow Penn Central caboose and Penn Central tender.  Marx certainly provides a lot of variations to collect:

I know that very few people pay attention to Marx plastic body mechanical steamers, but there are some hard to find variations in this niche of Marx collecting.

For instance, the 400 version of the mechanical "puffer" is pretty common... it utilizes a rubber bulb that is pumped by a flap on the motor to puff a white powder out of the stack.  However, the 490 version of the puffer was reportedly only made one year, and was made out of a brittle plastic that tends to crack and break easy:

Although Marx 401 mechanicals are probably one of the easiest locomotives to find, the puffer version - like the 490 puffer - was also reportedly only made for one year, and it is also hard to find:

I received a marx trolley and trailer for my 80th birthday. I have a trolley but had never seen one with a trailer. Here it is running on the trolley line on my layout.

I hope you had a great 80th birthday, David! Thank you for posting, I really enjoyed watching the action on your trolley line, they look great!

Rusty

Dave :  Happy 80th Birthday ... I am getting close (76 next Oct) and I will admit I have never seen a Marx trolley - with or without a trailer.  I have a Marx RDC which I think is sort of common but that is as close to Marx Rapid Transit that I get.  It really looks like a neat toy.  Thanks for posting

Don McErlean

Most of my Marx was packed away so I finally found some wall space to put up some shelves from Glenn Snyder Display Systems. Excellent product and service, and very fast shipping!

Loving the photos! Well I’ve got a lot of Marx in my own, too many to photograph. But here are a few:

Love the pictures, keep them up!

p.s., happy birthday David!

                                              Trainfam 

Hi Guys...milnyc that is a super display.  I agree about the Glenn Snyder display systems shelving.  I just put up a segment of shelving in my train room and concur about a great product and great service from the company.  I loved the Marx display.  We share many of those trains except I have a "hole" in my collection for the "Wild West" trains, I just have never encountered an opportunity to secure those.  Trainfam...same there, thanks for posting.  We also share some of the same trains except the grey NYC 70 Tonner.  I have the NYC version in Maroon with Yellow lettering and Black with white lettering but do not have the grey color variant.  I personally really like the small diesels, there were many variants and they are normally modest in cost for us collectors.  In addition, they usually work well as well.  As an additional sentimental fact, the green and gold WP set was my younger son's first train and we ran it a lot on his bed room floor nearly 40 years ago.

Here is a "medium" plastic box car for the B&O in red withscale type trucks and plastic pickle fork couplers.  It is not all that rare or unusual, but I purchased this one at a local hobby shop due to its condition.  It appears that it has never been on the track, it is nearly perfect as though it was right from the factory.  So...of course I took it home and ran it around the track!!

Sincerely Don McErlean

milnyc posted:

The Robert Grossman Co should be able to supply the gear. http://www.trainpartsformarx.com/shoppingcart.htm

Thanks milnyc for this info.  I ordered the gear, & replaced it today.  I set it up on a section of track with no switches and it ran great!  (Its loop for Christmas is put away.)
D.

Hartman posted:

milnyc posted:

The Robert Grossman Co should be able to supply the gear. http://www.trainpartsformarx.com/shoppingcart.htm

Thanks milnyc for this info.  I ordered the gear, & replaced it today.  I set it up on a section of track with no switches and it ran great!  (Its loop for Christmas is put away.)
D.

 

That's great! I'm glad you got it going!

PW53inVa posted:

Enjoy seeing all the Marx. Here are a few of mine

I used to have one of those hoppers that I put on Lionel MPC trucks. I’ll have to see if I can find a photo somewhere