I saw this comment in the 4-4-0 thread and it made me question my TALES OF WELLS FARGO TRAIN SET. Posted by: Firelock76“I also have the Marx 4-4-0 I got when I was around seven or six, it came out of a "Tales of Wells Fargo" set. Still runs and smokes too!” I have this set but my WILLIAMS CROOKS 4-4-0 - STEAM LOCO does not have smoke. Did Marx make two versions of this loco??
Tks,
Kev.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Hold on while I run and get my train collector book.....
Thumpity-thumpity-thumpity-thumpity.....
OK, I'm back. I checked my copy of David Doyle's "Collectors Guide To Classic O Gauge Trains" and apparantly so, the William Crooks 4-4-0 pictured doesn't look like mine. Mine has a tall stack, the pictured one has a short one.
Also according to the book, and Mr. Doyle doesn't claim infallibility on this, the locomotive was in production twice, 1959-1960 as a 4-4-0 with smoke, 1973 as an 0-4-0 without smoke. If yours came out of a "Tales of Wells Fargo" set I'd think it would be a smoker. By 1973 "TOWF" was long off the air. Maybe your smoke units's given up the ghost?
Who knows? The Marxists among us will have to weigh in on this one.
Firelock76 Hold on while I run and get my train collector book..... Thumpity-thumpity-thumpity-thumpity..... OK, I'm back. I checked my copy of David Doyle's "Collectors Guide To Classic O Gauge Trains" and apparantly so, the William Crooks 4-4-0 pictured doesn't look like mine. Mine has a tall stack, the pictured one has a short one. Also according to the book, and Mr. Doyle doesn't claim infallibility on this, the locomotive was in production twice, 1959-1960 as a 4-4-0 with smoke, 1973 as an 0-4-0 without smoke. If yours came out of a "Tales of Wells Fargo" set I'd think it would be a smoker. By 1973 "TOWF" was long off the air. Maybe your smoke units's given up the ghost? Who knows? The Marxists among us will have to weigh in on this one.
You got me on this one,,,,,,,,,,, I got it when I was about 8 and i was born in 52 so it should smoke, I will need to look into that.
Say, I've got a question for YOU. Does your's reverse? Mine runs forward only, and it was such a long period of time from when it was put away and then resurrected (darn near 40 years) I don't remember if it ever could run in reverse.
I guess it could be worse. If it's going to be stuck in any direction it may as well be forward!
By the way, I was born in '53 and remember "Tales of Wells Fargo" very well. I really liked Dale Robertson who played agent Jim Hardie. He reminded me of one of my uncles and seemed to be just as much fun to be around.
Firelock,
I think it has reverse. It is on a shelf in the living room, I will pull it down later today and look it over and let you know.
Firelock, I got it down and yes it has a 2 position e-unit that works fine. Looking it does have a smoke chamber and pump but it does not smoke.
AFRay once had a link to a place for parts for them, Wish I still had it.
KRM Firelock, I got it down and yes it has a 2 position e-unit that works fine. Looking it does have a smoke chamber and pump but it does not smoke. AFRay once had a link to a place for parts for them, Wish I still had it.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
I think this is the link I was talking about.
http://www.trainpartsformarx.com/shoppingcart.htm
They have the decals to.
Thanks for checking that KRM and Wallyworld! I guess I should count myself lucky the smoke unit still works. I can live without the reverse but I may check the e-unit at some point to see what can be done with it.
Thanks again!
Mine is the 4-4-0 version. It has a two position reversing unit that still works as does the headlight. I've looked down the smokestack but there doesn't seem to be a place to put smoke fluid. Is that where it goes? And how do I tell if it does have a smoke unit?
Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
Northwoods Flyer Mine is the 4-4-0 version. It has a two position reversing unit that still works as does the headlight. I've looked down the smokestack but there doesn't seem to be a place to put smoke fluid. Is that where it goes? And how do I tell if it does have a smoke unit? Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby Northwoods Flyer
Northwoods,
Just turn it over and look. There will be linkage to run the piston and you will see a wire connected to the rivet to ground the smoke element.Mine is not perfect but not bad looking back to how I treated it when I was eight years old.
Here is mine.
Right, the smoke fluid goes down the smokestack. I remember the Marx fluid came in an eye-dropper bottle, four or five drops was all you were supposed to put in, but come on, what kid including myself didn't over do it trying for that "Burning of Rome" effect?
The bottle stuck in my mind because my Lionel steamer took the smoke pills.
Does anyone know what you need to do to change the smoke element in one of these and where you can get one?
Kev,
Call Jeff at the train tender I would guess
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
I haven't tried to replace an element in a 4-4-0, but I took apart an 1829 4-6-4 with the intention of replacing the smoke element. On that model, the smoke unit is crimped together very tightly. I saw no way to replace the heater without destroying the smoke chamber that it is mounted in. Hopefully the 4-4-0 has a different, more repairable design.
J White
jwse30,
Did it look like this one?
This is an e-bay add for one for the WM Crooks # 1, 4-4-0. Kind looks to be built like you said the 1829 is built.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Marx-O-Scale-Train-WM-Crooks-Smoke-Unit-St-Paul-and-Pacific-Wells-Fargo-/121584177860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4efb52c4
RT, No luck with Jeff having one.
See below for update on the repairs to my Marx Williams Crooks.
KRM Northwoods Flyer Mine is the 4-4-0 version. It has a two position reversing unit that still works as does the headlight. I've looked down the smokestack but there doesn't seem to be a place to put smoke fluid. Is that where it goes? And how do I tell if it does have a smoke unit? Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby Northwoods Flyer Northwoods, Just turn it over and look. There will be linkage to run the piston and you will see a wire connected to the rivet to ground the smoke element.Mine is not perfect but not bad looking back to how I treated it when I was eight years old. Here is mine.
Well I got around to doing the smoke element replacement today and new decals for the old dog.
I think it looks better and it runs and smokes great.
BTW these are a PITA to work on.
Nicely done, Kev.
Thanks Fife, If anyone wants to know how to do it PM me, There is more than meets the eye.
Nice job indeed KRM! I don't Photo-Bucket but if you'd like send me your e-mail through "Messages" and I'll try to send you a photo of what mine looks like now.
If you'd like to forward it along to the Forum that'd be OK.
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