How do I determine the model number?

[Anonymous]

I am not a model railroader, but I am setting up an O-guage layout for my kids for Christmas (My Dad had American Flyers under the Christmas tree as a kid). Some years ago my grandmother gave me a box of old Lionels that ran under her Christmas tree. There is a 4-6-2 New York Central steam locomotive that my Dad thinks is from the 40s, but I can not find a model number on it. It needs some work (it probably has not been run since the late 60s), but since I can not find a model number I do not know what parts I should be asking for. Can anyone help?

[spankybird]

With Lionel engines, the item number is normally the cab number that is on the engine.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I checked the engine, but there are no numbers on the cab. Hovever, on the front of the engine there is a lighted plate at the top which contains the number "333". The only other markings are the letters MAR with a circle around it on the front sides of the engine. Any ideas? Could it be that it is not a Lionel engine, but some other O-guage, 3 rail engine?

[Anonymous]

Marx.

[Anonymous]

Is Marx an manufacturer?

[lionelsoni]

They were. They made low-priced trains that ran on track virtually identical to Lionel's O27. The steam locomotives tend to be incompatible with Lionel switches because they made the spur gear on the drivers the same diameter as the flanges, which keeps them from going through the Lionel frogs. However, Marx made some excellent switches of their own, which have spring frogs to accommodate their "fat flanges".

They also made a unique O34 line of track and switches which is compatible with O27 and nicely fills a gap between the O27 and O42 being manufactured today. It is not difficult to find.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the help! Looks like I will not be running the #333 on my layout as I have installed new Lionel 022 switches.

[wrmcclellan]

Marx tinplate stuff is fun to run. If you can easily spin the drivers with your hand, then you are probably in good shape. Make sure you oil the motor and bearings. The Marx engines are pretty reliable and easy to fix. If you are missing parts such as side rods, it is probably just as economical to buy another 333 for parts as it is to find parts.

Some possible sources for parts:

Toy Train Parts
Mount Washington, KY
502-538-7311

Restoration Train Parts (Post war Marx)
Gloversville, NY
518-725-4446

Robert Grossman Co.
Richmond Heights, OH
216-738-0602
www.trainpartsformarx.com

Many thanks to CTT Magazine for publishing the detailed list of parts suppliers each year. The vendors above came from the Dec 04 issue.

Good luck!

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

Marx was Loius Marx Toy Company. They made a lot of toys besides trains. Gave Lionel a run for the money on the stater/beginer sets. Some of their tooling eventually wpind up in K-Lines hands. Logo lloked like a slighly squashed circle with an X through it. On some toys hs was augmented with a stick figure character wearing a "robin hood" type cap.

http://www.marxtoymuseum.com/main.htm

[Jim Duda]

Here's a MarX 333...still my favorite...
(click on it to enlarge it...)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the great information! The engine is in great shape. I have all of the side rails and the drive wheels turn quite easily. Is there any way to get this engine to run on my layout considering it has new Lionel O22 switches? Or am I stuck puting the engine on a shelf as a nice piece to look at?

[lionelsoni]

Does it in fact have fat flanges? Jim, you should be able to tell us, since you've got one.

[Jim Duda]

Bob - what do you think? I should put it on my K-Line shadow rail track and see what happens over those four O22 switches... Maybe this weekend...

[Dave Farquhar]

A Marx 333 has a decent chance of being able to negotiate modern switches because of its double-reduction motor and, thus, smaller gears. The 333 was the nicest locomotive Marx made. K-Line still uses a locomotive derived from the 333 in a lot of its starter sets.

Marxes were very simple and very reliable. Chances are pretty good that if you clean it and lube it a little, it'll run just fine. It's pretty unusual to find a Marx in good physical condition and have it not run. The sequencer may get stuck, but a few thumps on the top of the locomotive body usually corrects that. Try cleaning the wheels with rubbing alcohol, and apply a very small amount of sewing machine oil or another light oil to all exposed axles. If you have a light grease, put a small amount of that on the gears. That's usually all it takes.

As for your switches, tkraus, why not clean and lube the locomotive and try it? Run it at low speed on a circle of track on the floor to get it used to running again, then try it through the switches. Just stay close by to catch it if it derails, though if you keep the speed low, if it derails it shouldn't go flying.

[lionelsoni]

Jim, your picture is very clear and settles it for me. I see no reason why it should not get through Lionel switches. The picture illustrates that having a blind driver prevented Marx from using their usual gear size, since it would have protruded beyond the tread of the blind driver. I should have realized that as soon as he said that it was a Pacific.

[railfanespee4449]

Marx steam engines in the postwar era were reliable. They did what lionel couldnt do at that time- Have a decent 4-6-2 pacific!!!

[Jim Duda]

Smoooth as silk! I just ran the MarX 333 vintage 1948 for a solid hour on K-Line Shadow Rail (completely compatible with Lionel O Gauge track) and FOUR Lionel O22 switches. No bumps, grinds, or derailments. Other than the fact it is a slightly smaller scale than the postwar Lionel stuff, it looked great in front of a Lionel 6466W tender, and 4 Williams 60' Madisons. Still has the original headlamp bulb in her and still emits that wonderful, redolent Ozone scent I remember from 56 years ago!

So don't be afraid to run it over your O22 switches...

[Anonymous]

This is great news! Thanks again for all your help! I plan to clean it up this week and give it a try.