Trains.com

Mar Switches

2881 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Mar Switches
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 10:43 PM
Hey, nother question! I was wondering if anyone know how to operate the old Mar switches. they look just like lionel track, exept the mechanical switching stuff is under a little red metal box. i was curious if anyone else knew about this kind of switch, cuz when i tried a lionel switch controller, it didn't seem to work. Maybe it needs power from the transformer...
Well if anyone else knows what I'm talking about, please feel free to help.
Thanx again
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Mar Switches
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 10:43 PM
Hey, nother question! I was wondering if anyone know how to operate the old Mar switches. they look just like lionel track, exept the mechanical switching stuff is under a little red metal box. i was curious if anyone else knew about this kind of switch, cuz when i tried a lionel switch controller, it didn't seem to work. Maybe it needs power from the transformer...
Well if anyone else knows what I'm talking about, please feel free to help.
Thanx again
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:30 AM
Marx switches did not have the non-derailing feature that Lionel did. The three terminals are one to each switch coil and a common, which you can energize however you like. For example, connect the common to one side of a voltage supply (transformer accessory winding) and the other two to the other side through pushbuttons.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:30 AM
Marx switches did not have the non-derailing feature that Lionel did. The three terminals are one to each switch coil and a common, which you can energize however you like. For example, connect the common to one side of a voltage supply (transformer accessory winding) and the other two to the other side through pushbuttons.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 21, 2003 2:11 PM
thanks for the help, and i kinda understand what your saying, but do you know where i could find an illistration or something? i'm kinda new to model railroading, and alittle slow with the terms you use. I'm also not that great of an electrition... [:I]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 21, 2003 2:11 PM
thanks for the help, and i kinda understand what your saying, but do you know where i could find an illistration or something? i'm kinda new to model railroading, and alittle slow with the terms you use. I'm also not that great of an electrition... [:I]
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Thursday, August 21, 2003 4:16 PM
The common terminal may be marked "black" or with a black color. Connect it to the A terminal of a Lionel transformer, like a 1033 (or to the B terminal, if the switch will operate reliably on the lower voltage). Connect each of the terminals that may be marked "red" or "green" or have that color near them to a normally-open single-pole-single-throw (SPST) pushbutton. Connect the other terminal of each pushbutton to the C terminal of a Lionel transformer.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Thursday, August 21, 2003 4:16 PM
The common terminal may be marked "black" or with a black color. Connect it to the A terminal of a Lionel transformer, like a 1033 (or to the B terminal, if the switch will operate reliably on the lower voltage). Connect each of the terminals that may be marked "red" or "green" or have that color near them to a normally-open single-pole-single-throw (SPST) pushbutton. Connect the other terminal of each pushbutton to the C terminal of a Lionel transformer.

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 9:37 AM
Ok, I see now, I'll try that. Thanks for all the help! [:D][:D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 22, 2003 9:37 AM
Ok, I see now, I'll try that. Thanks for all the help! [:D][:D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:09 PM
For a diagram, go to www.thortrains.net. There is more information on Marx here than any site I've found.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:09 PM
For a diagram, go to www.thortrains.net. There is more information on Marx here than any site I've found.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month