Came across this on Youtube just now. Shows just how much fun a small layout can be, whether it's Lionel, Marx or American Flyer.
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Dan Padova posted:Came across this on Youtube just now. Shows just how much fun a small layout can be, whether it's Lionel, Marx or American Flyer.
I totally agree. Something I noticed is the mirror in the back of the layout, which creates the illusion that the layout is bigger than it really is.
I wish there were more Marx layouts around. I love watching them. Maybe someone will send a story of one to OGR. Don
I've really been getting into prewar and early postwar trains since last year. I'll blame it on Greg J. Turinetti ! lol
Rusty
I really like Marx accessories, just can't resist the colors. I have a few of those on my layout. Not sure if they really fit in, but I don't care, I like seeing them.
What fun, thanks for sharing that. My 1st train set was a Marx set, all I can remember is the mountain tunnel.
Diverging Clear posted:I've really been getting into prewar and early postwar trains since last year. I'll blame it on Greg J. Turinetti ! lol
Rusty
Good Grief!
Actually that is my goal. I want to introduce the joy of prewar trains to as many folks as I can.
Marx is hard to resist.
Northwoods Flyer
Greg
My Marx factory demo layout sees good use at the J. Reilly McCarren Museum at the A&M depot in Springdale, both with trains:
And a trolley:
Mitch
Attachments
Marx trains are certainly a part of model railroad history. Their accessories were always affordably priced. As as a young kid with little money, if I got a couple of bucks for Christmas from a relative, I would buy a crossing signal, gate, lighting tower or even a bell signal. Due to the overwhelming popularity of Lionel , Marx always took a back seat and I've seen few Marx layouts. Marx trains are still not very popular today and you only occasionally come across them at the shows. Several years ago there was a company who was making Marx trains again but they seem to have disappeared. RMT is still running some of the old Marx accessories.
They were, and are, the joys of our youth. For a 7 or 8-year-old boy they were the world at his fingertips. They were dreams of adventure back then and they are the memories we cherish today. Thanks for posting Dan!
Have some Marx trains and enjoy them along with our others.
Thanks for posting the video it was fun to watch.
As a kid in the fifties, I would frequent Kresge's on Cotton Ave in Northeast Philly. They always had a fair amount of Marx and less of Lionel. It goes with the five & dime store mindset. Even though I could not afford hardly anything Lionel made, I looked down upon the Marx offerings, then. Now I look at Marx stuff with a new mindset. You have to give their designers some credit for emulating the higher end trains but making them affordable.
Part of the Marx mystique is the robustness of their construction. So many times an old Marx loco is brought out of storage in a garage or barn or basement and covered in crud and/or rust, that with a little cleaning and oiling will run like new. Even today, well played with trains usually have all their pieces and parts still attached. At least the metal ones anyway. They were inexpensive, but not cheap junk. They may not have been perfect O scale, but they brought joy to a lot of kids over the years.
wow marx and kresge's that is two childhood memories.
I never had the marx electrics but I had a marx windup train's I think for 4 Christmases in a row as I always managed to over wind the spring!
we didn't know how good we had it until adulthood hit ahhh the childhood days many memories
thanks for posting this topic
Dan Padova posted:Came across this on Youtube just now. Shows just how much fun a small layout can be, whether it's Lionel, Marx or American Flyer.
The builder of this layout is a forum member.
Steve
Dan Padova posted:Came across this on Youtube just now. Shows just how much fun a small layout can be, whether it's Lionel, Marx or American Flyer.
What a wonderful layout, the kid in each of us would love to own one
Just plain cool!!! Great layout and video! Some days I feel that's the layout I need!
Dan,
Thank you for posting the link to the video; very enjoyable. I had three of those trains when I was a kid - memories galore.
Alex
Dan Padova posted:As a kid in the fifties, I would frequent Kresge's on Cotton Ave in Northeast Philly. They always had a fair amount of Marx and less of Lionel. It goes with the five & dime store mindset. Even though I could not afford hardly anything Lionel made, I looked down upon the Marx offerings, then. Now I look at Marx stuff with a new mindset. You have to give their designers some credit for emulating the higher end trains but making them affordable.
That's very true. I was a Lionel snob for the longest time, and sneered at anything made by Marx. But last year I finally became interested, and, like you, began to appreciate the ingenuity of the Marx product designers. Now, in addition to my small 3rs layout, I have an even smaller Marx layout. But it's fun all the same.
The 5&10s in the small Pennsylvania town where I grew up were also where Marx was sold. In addition to Marx rolling stock, they also sold Marx track and accessories, of which many of both went into our Lionel Christmas layout. Wish I could get mint Marx trains for those prices today!
Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:Dan Padova posted:Came across this on Youtube just now. Shows just how much fun a small layout can be, whether it's Lionel, Marx or American Flyer.
The builder of this layout is a forum member.
Steve
The thought crossed my mind, figuring that most of us like to show off our trains. Will the real Marx layout owner please stand up.....LOL
it's not me...that's one down...
I believe his name is Dave Smith. He also made the fold down Hafner clockwork layout and others. He has also written articles for CTT/OGR
Thanks Steve. Let's see if he's paying attention.
Try this guy...