Marx did make a windup trolley but it is rare and expensive. My trolley isn't Marx (the rest of the layout is). I searched Ebay under "tin trolley" and came up with this inexpensive one. It is 5 1/2" long and I think it's the perfect size for old Marx tinplate. I added a motor from a modern Lionel handcar. Here is a photo.
Here is another trolley that I plan on converting for use on a tinplate layout. It also came from Ebay and is a little larger at 7" long, but should still look good on a Marx (or Lionel 027) layout.
I have an old Marx handcar motor that I plan on installing.
I like that. I was wondering about that trolley. I have seen it on evilbay also
Have fun with your trains
Beautiful job - can't wait to see the second one.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
Another traction fan.! ."New "(former French) , now Americanized steeplecab fresh out of paint shop on third rail territory at the junction. .I think we Marxists have a penchant for modifying..I bought some prewar Lionel boxcars to be turned into traction express trailers ( next project) The paint scheme is based on the old Ft Dodge line. Do you have a video of the trolley you modified out on the line? The Paya wind up trolley conversion is also on my agenda..Fun stuff,,beats out of the box for me personally, haven't done this stuff until I found Marxism.
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
wallyworld Another traction fan.! ."New "(former French) , now Americanized steeplecab fresh out of paint shop on third rail territory at the junction. .I think we Marxists have a penchant for modifying..I bought some prewar Lionel boxcars to be turned into traction express trailers ( next project) The paint scheme is based on the old Ft Dodge line. Do you have a video of the trolley you modified out on the line? The Paya wind up trolley conversion is also on my agenda..Fun stuff,,beats out of the box for me personally, haven't done this stuff until I found Marxism.
Wallyworld, I'll shoot a video of my trolley running on the layout and post it here soon.
Your steeplecab and Marx layout look great! I noticed in the photo you posted that you have one of the 3 light signals. I also have one and am wondering how to wire it. Do you have a wiring diagram or could you explain how it's connected?
Do you want to use it as a controlling signal (manual stop function) or simply have it light up? There's a difference in the wiring depending on how you want to use it. I can do a schematic for either one. I have them for most accessories.Robert Grossman carries the repair manual for Marx, which is the source of 99% of the repairs on motors Ive done.
wallyworld Do you want to use it as a controlling signal (manual stop function) or simply have it light up? There's a difference in the wiring depending on how you want to use it. I can do a schematic for either one. I have them for most accessories.Robert Grossman carries the repair manual for Marx, which is the source of 99% of the repairs on motors Ive done.
Yes, I would like to use the manual stop function, which I believe is just like in the 2 light signal. I am using a 2 light signal right now and I understand how it is used, the switch lever on the signal is used to control a block of track, up for red and no track voltage and down for green and track voltage applied to the block. What I don't understand is how the middle yellow light is to be used.
dsmith wallyworld: Do you want to use it as a controlling signal (manual stop function) or simply have it light up? There's a difference in the wiring depending on how you want to use it. I can do a schematic for either one. I have them for most accessories.Robert Grossman carries the repair manual for Marx, which is the source of 99% of the repairs on motors Ive done. \ Yes, I would like to use the manual stop function, which I believe is just like in the 2 light signal. I am using a 2 light signal right now and I understand how it is used, the switch lever on the signal is used to control a block of track, up for red and no track voltage and down for green and track voltage applied to the block. What I don't understand is how the middle yellow light is to be used.
wallyworld: Do you want to use it as a controlling signal (manual stop function) or simply have it light up? There's a difference in the wiring depending on how you want to use it. I can do a schematic for either one. I have them for most accessories.Robert Grossman carries the repair manual for Marx, which is the source of 99% of the repairs on motors Ive done.
\
The yellow light is the same as stop in terms of function. The exception to this is the #405 signal, which slows a train in a yellow indication, or stops it on red. These can be identified by the lever to the rheostat which is on the side of the signal base.rather than simply having the lever placed at the back of the signal head. I have yet to find one.. I use mine to control the throat of a three siding yard and a bypass route, as they serve in the place of panel two position switches as block controllers..they are more fun to use than a simple switch. I found that the main advantage is seeing the status of the block right on the layout as in the prototype..I dont have to refer to a control panel.
Wally is that Paya steeplecab stock? I have just bought a Paya replica freight train set that has the same windup motor as the stock steeplecab.
No, its a shell from a JEP steeplecab that I got for a song because the motor needed serious work. I had a spare motor from one of the Marx stream liners that fit perfectly and is the best puller I have. The Paya I have will also be powered by a Marx motor, a spare from a one those forty ton cabs that only run in forward, it also looks like a really good fit. I always try to buy spare motors and frames, they make for great projects. I need to find a small tin snips, the one I have is too bulky for tight spaces. Know of any?. I would like to reuse the Paya frame.
OK I have the Paya repro and this weekend got a busted up (but working) $7 Marx handcar, I got the windup motor out, the Marx handcar body off, black taped some exposed connections, and test fitted the motor to the trolley. Luckily what little exposed wiring will fit recessed into the opening for the windup motor, I have pushed the inner frames of the trolley aside to make room for to marx wheels. I had to cut out the mounting bracket from the Marx, drilled holes so I can pop-rivet the bracket onto the Paya, but now I've lost track of where the pop-rivet tool is, I still need to figure out how to attach the other side as it was ment to me attached from above. Likely I will add an extension so I can use a small nut and bolt to attach it. So far the only down side is that the Marx wheels raise the body and are a bit more exposed "Joyline style", I dont mind the look since this will run on the Tinplate layout anyways. Sorry no pics will post some once I find the rivet tool.
vsmith OK I have the Paya repro and this weekend got a busted up (but working) $7 Marx handcar, I got the windup motor out, the Marx handcar body off, black taped some exposed connections, and test fitted the motor to the trolley. Luckily what little exposed wiring will fit recessed into the opening for the windup motor, I have pushed the inner frames of the trolley aside to make room for to marx wheels. I had to cut out the mounting bracket from the Marx, drilled holes so I can pop-rivet the bracket onto the Paya, but now I've lost track of where the pop-rivet tool is, I still need to figure out how to attach the other side as it was ment to me attached from above. Likely I will add an extension so I can use a small nut and bolt to attach it. So far the only down side is that the Marx wheels raise the body and are a bit more exposed "Joyline style", I dont mind the look since this will run on the Tinplate layout anyways. Sorry no pics will post some once I find the rivet tool.
Mine is coming along too, after taking quite a detour. I changed the passenger contour into a freight motor, the bifold passenger doors were replaced, a roof mat installed, bell and trolley pole as well as a stack, grab rails, cowcatcher .I could live with the high body as well but I found that the original floor of the body was very thin..it tended to rack under load..so..I am fabricating a new floor, to rest the motor wheel set and body on. It will be fun to compare projects. .
Just to see if I could, I figured out a way to add Marx tin car wheels to the Paya wind up motor involving wrapping the axle with chocolate wrapping foil to thicken the axle and using CA adhesive to set the wheels in place, not sure what I'm going to do with it, look forward to seeing the various incarnations we create out of these .
I know what you mean. I enjoy finding rust buckets with only the tiniest scraps of original paint and remaking them into something unique. Here are a few pics of a clockwork set I refurbished for my cousin's young son. His father is a big fan of Formula 1 driver Jenson Button, so I designed a paint scheme based on Button's team colors. I also made my own set box using Ives, Lionel and Flyer catalog pictures and styled everything to look very official.
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Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
vsmith Just to see if I could, I figured out a way to add Marx tin car wheels to the Paya wind up motor involving wrapping the axle with chocolate wrapping foil to thicken the axle and using CA adhesive to set the wheels in place, not sure what I'm going to do with it, look forward to seeing the various incarnations we create out of these .
Me too! I have 2 variations of the repro Paya trolley. I'm like the Russians, just sitting back and watching to see how this Manhattan Project turns out befor I comit my own resources!
Found the rivet tool so...Photos!
Heres the finished tram, as you can see its got a bit of a "Joyline" profile going on.
This is the rear bracket off the Marx handcar, cut off the plastic body and pop-riveted in place
Here is the front mount, I bent an extension to the Marx tab so I could use a sheet metal screw to hold it in place.
The front tab was ment to be screwed in place from the top but the trams body is in the way so this was my solution, the extension addition also helps evens the level between the front and rear of the black on the level tram body.
There is a small amount of wiring that sticks out of the top of the Marx block that I wrapped the exposed wires w/ black tape, these wires fit right into the wind up motor slot on the Paya so theres no problems
The blocks placement is a little too far to the rear, actually the bracket rivet mounts are just behing the tabs holding the body down I tried to mount as close to the tabs as I could, oh well looks OK to me.
This was actually a very quick conversion, definetly worth the effort
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