My custom Marx overhead crane with electromagnet & Marx/American Flyer auto unloader

[dsmith]

I have a Marx overhead crane and although it manually operates back and forth or up/down, it ends up being a static decoration for the layout, so I customized the crane with an electromagnet and added horizontal movement so that loads could be moved in or out of a waiting gondola.  It works very well and adds a lot of play value as an accessory.

Also I took part of an American Flyer #715 auto unloader and added it to a 7" Marx 4 wheel frame so that it would work on my Marx layout.  Lots of play value at the push of a button.

Here is a video of both in operation:

[rtraincollector]

nice David

 

[wrmcclellan]

David,

Very nice! What did you use for wheels on the crane?

Like the slotted guide so it works on a curve. Gives me ideas for a Lionel crane on a curved loading/unloading track!

[dsmith]

There are no wheels.  The crane just slides back and forth.  There is a slot on the inside of the curve, the two crane legs on that side have small bolts that protrude down into the slot.  The two legs on the outside of the curve have small blocks of wood on the bottom to raise the crane to the proper height and to slide along easily.