marx trains

[Anonymous]

. 

I own a ton of Marx trains but my favorite marx stuff is the accessories they have. 

I have an automated switch tower a hand car, a train station with a whistle,

and every train set they have ever made in complete sets.  

 

OK !!  It's time for   "Stump the MarxTrainMan"

From the photograph pictured below:

1. From which 1950 Marx windup train set did these cars come from?

2. Name and/or provide the Marx "number" for each of the items pictured.

3. Are any cars missing from this set?   If so, what "type" and their Marx "number".

4. Was the tunnel a seperate purchase item, or was it included with the set.

Good Luck !!!

(Double-click to ENLARGE the photo)

 

[marx3railer]

. 

I own a ton of Marx trains but my favorite marx stuff is the accessories they have. 

I have an automated switch tower a hand car, a train station with a whistle,

and every train set they have ever made in complete sets.  

 

OK !!  It's time for   "Stump the MarxTrainMan"

From the photograph pictured below:

1. From which 1950 Marx windup train set did these cars come from?

2. Name and/or provide the Marx "number" for each of the items pictured.

3. Are any cars missing from this set?   If so, what "type" and their Marx "number".

4. Was the tunnel a seperate purchase item, or was it included with the set.

Good Luck !!!

(Double-click to ENLARGE the photo)

 

WoW  This is a tough picture to decipher..

Is that a brown 738701 Pennsy Highside Gondola? I am just throughing a guess out there.

 

[Anonymous]

. 

WoW  This is a tough picture to decipher..

Is that a brown 738701 Pennsy Highside Gondola?

I am just throughing a guess out there.

Marx3Railer,

I believe you are.....   correct!

.

[cpsteamer]

I love Marx trains!  There is really something special about them.  I collect prewar and postwar trains from a wide variety of manufacturers, but Marx is probably the company whose products I own the most of.  My very first O gauge train was a Marx 4-wheel plastic set with a 490 steam engine.  I haven't stopped acquiring Marx since.  I now have 6-inch four-wheel, 6-inch eight-wheel, 7-inch, 3/16" scale, four-wheel plastic, eight-wheel plastic, Joy Line, Marx HO, Plastimarx (Mexican) and British Marx.  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to post.

marx3railer, Welcome to the forum!  It's always great to have another tinplate guy!  I must say that your collection is simply fabulous!  You have a lot of really great pieces there.  The one item that really stood out for me, though, was the very rare Canadian signal tower on your layout.

Hello SaskTinplater. I am glad to share my collection with others. I have a few more rare items of interest. I was very glad to find the Rare Canadian issue of the Switch tower. Here are a few more of my rare and Hard to find pieces. I just wish I could do them more justice and maybe have a small Museum someday.

Enjoy

 

hey Gerald, some nice stuff there. The Nickle Plate wedge is hard to find but the blue rivet tender is really sweet!!!!! Marx was famous for recycling litho'd sides. I haven't any in my collection but it's nice to see the ones you have!

 Ken

[c50truck]

While I collect primary Lionel postwar, I have a soft spot for Marx. Here's a few of mine (some custom painted):

 

Dr John,

Love your work! Have you ever thought of putting out a CD or Book on your techniques?

And if you ever do wish to sell, can I have second dibs?

Rod L. 

[Anonymous]

Gerald and Ken, it's nice to see not only that there are some other tinplate guys here, but also some Canadians!  As you can guess from my username, I live in Saskatchewan.  Where exactly in Northern Alberta do you live, Gerald?  I have some family living near Edmonton and so might possibly find myself in your area sometime.  Thanks for the new pictures!  I looks like you have the best of the best!

[Anonymous]

stevend, That Pennsylvania car could also be a hopper car.  Marx used the same lithography to make both a hopper car and a high-sided gondola car.  The hopper was brown and the gondola was red.  (There is a brown version of the gondola, but it's nearly impossible to find.)  The boxcar would have to be a 90171 Bessemer & Lake Erie.  This car is usually brown or red (of which there are different shades), but other colours also exist, including blue, orange, yellow and green.  In addition, it was also available with the doors just lithographed on the sides or else with actual sliding doors.  Welcome to the world of Marx variations!  The rest of the train is easy.  The engine is an 898, the tender a silver-striped New York Central 551, and the caboose an NYC 556.  I wonder what car is hidden in the tunnel.  I'd guess that the tunnel was bought seperately, but with Marx you just never know.

Where does this photograph come from?  Did this train belong to someone in your family?

[cpsteamer]

Gerald and Ken, it's nice to see not only that there are some other tinplate guys here, but also some Canadians!  As you can guess from my username, I live in Saskatchewan.  Where exactly in Northern Alberta do you live, Gerald?  I have some family living near Edmonton and so might possibly find myself in your area sometime.  Thanks for the new pictures!  I looks like you have the best of the best!

Must have hit the wrong key or something, second attempt to post this! You guys cannot hog the best part of this country to yourselves. My roots are Scotsburg and Spring Valley, Sask. Although I've been stuck in the wrong part of Khanadah for 64 years I consider it just temporary.

 

Ken

[marx3railer]

Gerald and Ken, it's nice to see not only that there are some other tinplate guys here, but also some Canadians!  As you can guess from my username, I live in Saskatchewan.  Where exactly in Northern Alberta do you live, Gerald?  I have some family living near Edmonton and so might possibly find myself in your area sometime.  Thanks for the new pictures!  I looks like you have the best of the best!

Hi there Sask Tinplater, Gerald here, I live in a small Hamlet of Smith,, about 2 hours north of Edmonton. Can I ask if you go to the annual train show held in Edmonton each year? I have met a fellow from Saskatchewan who has a booth there every year, I usually buy all of his Marx items, well the ones I need at the time. From my very first Marx train I was hooked. Unlike most who are into trains I never had a set as a child and was actually terrified of trains. I always received racecar setsat Christmas but wanted a train set instead, Now I am older I can have anything I want, as long as its ok with the Boss... I chose Marx because I liked the simplicity, reliablity,cost for the most part and wide array of colours. I have a few more rare and HTF Marx items I will show on a later date, maybe I will put them on the layout and see if anyone can spot the HTF. Right now I am trying to complete my 6 inch 4 wheel collection and really enjoying the hunt. I know there are a few pieces that I will never be able to find but  I did find the blue dot Tender.

Chow for now

[Dr. John]

While I collect primary Lionel postwar, I have a soft spot for Marx. Here's a few of mine (some custom painted):

 

Dr John,

Love your work! Have you ever thought of putting out a CD or Book on your techniques?

And if you ever do wish to sell, can I have second dibs?

Rod L. 

Rod, I wish I could take credit for the paint jobs. William Law painted the blue 666 and added the brass trim. He often sells his work on Ebay. Do a search under Marx - his ebay handle is walaw. He usually has three or more engines that he has repainted. Some are fanciful (a Spiderman version) others are just well done repaints. He always lubes the motors and tests them. I have three or four of his engines and they are all good runners. I can't remember if he painted the Commodore Vanderbilt or not - it's one of my favorites! 

[Anonymous]

Gerald and Ken, it's nice to see not only that there are some other tinplate guys here, but also some Canadians!  As you can guess from my username, I live in Saskatchewan.  Where exactly in Northern Alberta do you live, Gerald?  I have some family living near Edmonton and so might possibly find myself in your area sometime.  Thanks for the new pictures!  I looks like you have the best of the best!

Hi there Sask Tinplater, Gerald here, I live in a small Hamlet of Smith,, about 2 hours north of Edmonton. Can I ask if you go to the annual train show held in Edmonton each year? I have met a fellow from Saskatchewan who has a booth there every year, I usually buy all of his Marx items, well the ones I need at the time. From my very first Marx train I was hooked. Unlike most who are into trains I never had a set as a child and was actually terrified of trains. I always received racecar setsat Christmas but wanted a train set instead, Now I am older I can have anything I want, as long as its ok with the Boss... I chose Marx because I liked the simplicity, reliablity,cost for the most part and wide array of colours. I have a few more rare and HTF Marx items I will show on a later date, maybe I will put them on the layout and see if anyone can spot the HTF. Right now I am trying to complete my 6 inch 4 wheel collection and really enjoying the hunt. I know there are a few pieces that I will never be able to find but  I did find the blue dot Tender.

Chow for now

I'm afraid I've never been to the Edmonton train show.  I've been to the Calgary show before, but not Edmonton.  I'm in Regina and it's quite a distance to travel and also being in September, isn't at all a convienient time for me as I'm a university student.  I know the fellow you are talking about.  He's a very good friend of mine and I've purchased quite a few pieces from him myself.

I know what you mean about the hunt!  That's one of the things I love about collecting.  Every train I own has a story behind it.

[dennyblock]

I like to get a rusty $5.00 piece of junk and refinish it. Note Lionel trucks on some tenders, they look great towing MPC era boxcars. The blue vandy has a 999 motor and smoke unit, only vandy that smokes!

[marx3railer]

I like to get a rusty $5.00 piece of junk and refinish it. Note Lionel trucks on some tenders, they look great towing MPC era boxcars. The blue vandy has a 999 motor and smoke unit, only vandy that smokes!

 

Nice lot Denny, I like your CP units. I have tried a few restos myself but never quit finished them. I would like to see a Smoking 2-4-2 Vandy if youve got one?? That would make a nice Custom to add to your collection.

Keep up the great work I am sure you won't have trouble finding Reliable old Marx units to work with.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

What can you tell me about these?

[marx3railer]

What can you tell me about these?

HI Sturgeon Phish

Looks like you have a Marx 591  0-4-0 Engine, Tender is a Litho top, 551 NYC.  PRR Merchindise Service Boxcar.  and a empty frame. I believe there should be at least a gondola and a 20102 NYC Caboose.

This would be a very common or lower priced set back in the late 50's to late 60's . Nedless to say they would add to any train set. and make the flat car any thing you want, like a candy server..

 

[otftch]

I started picking up the later plastic eight wheel Marx cars and converting them by adding Lionel and K-line cast metal trucks.Then I found a brown AT&SF switcher (The one K-line based thier S-2 on)that had a tilt coupler on one end and a Lionel type on the other.It is not the small coupler marx used but looks to be origional to the engine.It does not open but couples easily to Lionel couplers.After that I left the Marx trucks alone and can run a complete Marx train when I want to.Now I also have the UP version of the same switcher with the tilt couplers on both ends.I like the shorter Lionel and K-line cars so the Marx are right at home on my layout.I wouldn't trade them now for anything.

                                                           Ed

[Greg T.]

I had NO interest in MARX up until last year.  Now I find MARX to be a fantastic diversion from my MTH stuff. 

 This is not the best pic... but here's my Marx Tin running at Christmas. 

[Greg T.]

 That's more like it!

Greg

[Dr. John]

A little Marx (and Lionel) action from my recent Christmas layout.

 

 

[dennyblock]

   marx3railer, it's not hard to do, I dissamble them, sandblast the shell, spray can prime, scuff sand, spray paint, letter and clear. YOU CAN DO IT!!!   Dr John, your paint kicks my butt! I have to get more junks and try harder

[Anonymous]

Sask_Tinplater,

Thank  you for taking the time to research and offer what appears to be an
accurate description of the 1950 Marx mechanical (wind-up) train set, as shown
in the photograph.

(Click the image to ENLARGE it... it will be easier to view) 

Apparently, this was "My first train.", which I found in an old photo album belonging
to my parents.

I was under the assumption that "My first train" was a Lionel (from Santa Claus), but the photo album has proven otherwise.

My apologies to the earlier CTT poster ( MarxTrainMan), who  posted:

I own a ton of Marx trains but my favorite marx stuff is the accessories they have.

I have an automated switch tower a hand car, a train station with a whistle,

...and every train set they have ever made in complete sets.

I simply assumed that as he was an extremely knowledgable Marx Train collector, and had every complete set that Marx had made, that it would be fairly easy for him to find from his sets the one that was pictured in my post.

Unfortunately, I  don't believe I have seen a more recent post from him.  

This was certainly not meant as a "trick" question, simply one to obtain additional information about a Marx Train set from one's past.

Also, I don't believe the Marx tunnel (in the photo) was part of the train set.  No doubt it was an additional purchase item.

It's really a thrill  to access the knowledgebase on a forum such as CTT, to tap the resources of the particular Sherlock Holmes who knows the answers to one's questions!

Thanks again, everyone!

 

P.S.

If MarxTrainMan can offer additional information about this set, either from his own personal collection, or a Marx Train Catalog from this period (1949-1951), it would be greatly appreciated.

 

.

[Anonymous]

.

Ok, MARX fans, here's another item to test your Marx-acuity.

Question:  What in the heck is this?

It appears to be a wind-up train manual switch.   There are no markings on it.

The 2 rail (wind-up) track are seperate, and simply plug-into the switch, the same
way as any regular model train switch.

Has anyone ever encountered such an item?  If so, what information can you offer about it?

Don't ask me!  I'm just as bewildered as to who made it, when or why!

.

[LL675]

those are some beautiful repaints. i've been a junk box scrounger for a while now. I've got more than enough ready to run trains, so I really enjoy bringing back trains from the grave.

[northernpike]

Marx is bulletproof.  I have my dads old 30's Vandy.  The only part that has been replaced is the gear between the drivers.  The old one was so worn, the wheels slipped.  A small bit of oil and it runs great.  Cars are the 6" tin.

My layout is two levels.  O guage tubular on bottom with independant loops.  One loop has double reversing.  Bottom level is for Lionel only, due to the 022 switches.

Top has 1 independant Marx loop w/no switches and 1 siding for #50 lionel maintenance car.  Top is still under construction.  Durabond and scrap wood make great mountains-indestructable, like Marx. 

 

[MadMarx]

Mmmmmmm. Smell that ozone!

[Anonymous]

.

Ok, MARX fans, here's another item to test your Marx-acuity.

Question:  What in the heck is this?

It appears to be a wind-up train manual switch.   There are no markings on it.

The 2 rail (wind-up) track are seperate, and simply plug-into the switch, the same
way as any regular model train switch.

Has anyone ever encountered such an item?  If so, what information can you offer about it?

Don't ask me!  I'm just as bewildered as to who made it, when or why!

.

I have the answer to this one.  This switch was part of a battery operated train set made by the Japanese toy company Alps in the 50's or 60's.  Alps, founded in 1948, was one of many postwar Japanese toymakers.  This set had a tinplate lithographed train consisting of a red and silver diesel switcher (with a Santa Fe logo on its cab) and a silver Mobilgas tank car.  That was the whole train.  The two were permanently coupled together as the batteries went inside the tank car, which had wires running to the engine.  The set contained a total of four switches and a crossover, making a figure-eight-within-an-oval track layout.  One really neat feature are some clear plastic "windows" on the hood of the engine.  When the train is running, a light is visible in these "windows".  The light moves back and forth in a way that suggests a piston chugging.  It's really neat to watch.  As you may have guessed, I have one of these sets in my collection.  Japanese tinplate trains are of great interest to me.

[Anonymous]

.

Sask_Tinplater,

Have you tried running a Marx wind-up train on the Japanese switch?

Does it work?  ..Or, are the tracks a different width?

Thanks.

[longbow57ca]

Hello My friends, I have been collecting Marx trains over 60 years and still collecting them too from train shows, train stores, and Ebay too. I just love running my Marx trains on my small 4x8 layout they look so cool too and fun to play with too. I am on old age pensioner now I cannot afford to buy new Lionel and MTH trains to expensive for me but I can afford to buy second hand from Ebay and other places like train auctions houses I also like to work on them get them in good working order. I just love how the Marx train run too. and great fun. Marx trains are my life time hobby to me Thanks. Edward King ( longbow57ca).

[KRM]

longbow57ca

 Don't know how much will get out of a reply to a tread that is 9 years old, but nice stuff anyway. Seems to happen all the time. I love my Marx!!!