Re: Customized/Modified Windup Locos

WindupGuyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Although windup trains are a small niche within the toy train collecting hobby, there are a few of us that like trains powered by springs and even customize or modify them. I'm not as active in the shop as I used to be (thanks to middle age and earning a living) but I thought I would share a few customs that I have done over the years. I would encourage others to share their customized/modified/restored windup locomotives as well.

Let's start with the loco that led to this thread - I posted a picture of it in another thread, and wanted to continue the discussion elsewhere so as not to further derail the original post. This is what I call my #1203 Triplex - it is powered by three Marx windup motors, and is built from two Marx 401 bodies plus a Marx tender body. Yes, the boiler is articulated as inspired by the Santa Fe steamers with the flexible boiler - this allows the loco to go around O27 curves. It's not a scale model, nor is it pretty, it just is what it is:

You can see it in action at 4:23 in the video below:

So, what interesting windup locos do you have? I'll post more from time to time...

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10/3/229:03 PM

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Les RandlerOGR Forum Member

I love clockwork Marx too! I have several myself but. A couple of questions. What is a duel riser motor? Explain please but keep it simple. I am 75 years old. And what Marx loco had six drive wheels? A 963? Thanks in advance, Les Randler

10/3/229:36 PM

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WindupGuyOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Les, Marx windup motors can be grouped into two main types - ratchet motors and riser gear motors. The names refer to the different designs of the ratchets. A ratchet mechanism is needed to disengage the mainspring from the rest of the motor so it can be wound up. The ratchet motor is the early design, and as the name implies uses a pawl-type ratchet. The riser gear motor is the later design, and utilizes a gearset that is free to move upwards when winding the mainspring, disengaging a set of gears to disconnect the mainspring from the rest of the motor.

This is the ratchet parts out of a ratchet motor:

This is a riser gear motor. If you look above the drive wheel to the right, you will see a shaft sticking out of a slot in the motor. Winding the spring causes the gears and shaft to move upward in the slot, disengaging the mainspring from the drive wheels. Hence "riser gear" because those gear rise up when winding.

Some of my locos have two or three motors in them, so when you saw the mention of "dual riser gear motors" that just meant the locomotive had two motors in it.

As to your other question - what Marx loco had six wheels - there were two electric locos that had six drive wheels, the 333 and 1829 (I think that's it - electrics aren't my area of expertise). Now, what Marx Windup loco had six wheels? None. All Marx windups used motors with four drive wheels, and only drove through the front two wheels. I've modified a couple of Marx windup motors that have six drive wheels for my own projects. The "963" loco is one of those projects...

Hope that explains everything!