Who Doesn't Own a Piece of Marx?

[jonadel]

I have to agree with Jim about their toy-like appeal. My first set was a Marx in 1954 and I just beat that thing to death and it still runs. Nothing like building big Lincoln Log barriers and ramming that train at full speed into them. It was definietly a "participatory experience" between my brother and myself.

I wonder if today's entry level sets would endure that punishment.

I'm going to go find that set and see if there any Lincoln Logs still around :)

Jon

[Dr. John]

The Wheaton commuter station also has a plastic roof. I bought a Wheaton a while back and a friend bought me a present, which he found at a toy show. It was the roof! Marx, always fun to collect.

Very best, Mike Spanier

"Super O" + Marx Guides Which are GREAT!!
( http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/lionelsuperotrack_W0QQuqtZg )

Mike, thanks for the great job on the Marx guides!- they are informative and helpful. Thanks for providing the link.

[phillyreading]

The only Marx piece of equipment that I have is an old transformer that went to a model race car set from the 60's. I am using it to power lights on my layout, the miniture lights that I have are incandescent bulbs so either A.C. or D.C. will work fine.

Lee F.

[RR Redneck]

I usually dont buy Marxs (and keep them for a long period of time), unless I have the money to blow or unless I haven't bought any trains in a good while.

[lionelsuperotrack]

The Wheaton commuter station also has a plastic roof. I bought a Wheaton a while back and a friend bought me a present, which he found at a toy show. It was the roof! Marx, always fun to collect.

Very best, Mike Spanier

"Super O" + Marx Guides Which are GREAT!!
( http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/lionelsuperotrack_W0QQuqtZg )

[Dr. John]

My very first train set was a Marx wind-up tinplate set with two-rail track, circa 1961. In 1965 I received a Marx Allstate set (from Sears by way of Santa Claus ). By the beginning of the 70's I was heavily into HO and the old Marx stuff was sold in yard sales.

Recently, I have begun collecting Marx, primarily pre and postwar tin and diecast. I am in the planning stages of a small (4x8 or smaller) layout to run my Marx trains and use my Marx tin stations (Girard, Oak Park, Wheaton and Glendale) and accesories. I still love my Lionel postwar and modern stuff, but once the Marx bug bites, there is no cure!

Here's a few items from my Marx collection:

A custom painted 1666 with brass trim:

A Girard station:

An Oak Park station (somewhat harder to find):

and a Wheaton commuter station (pretty hard to find!):

[Anonymous]

I am more into Lionel-Kline-Williams but I do have a lot of Marx stuff, both trains and buildings.  For those of you thinking about Marx,... get an engine, clean the wheels and center pickup, and run the little bugger!  They are fun, and in this hi-tech age, can be a reminder of why we got into trains in the first place.  I especially like the whimsical (and very beautiful) lithographed tin trains

[Anonymous]

[:D] Hey Guys and Girls (Yes they are here too!(Thank the Gods!)). This is Roy again, and I wi***o thank everyone who replied to the worth of my MARX trains.
I know the offers were don sight-un-seen, however these trains have become unobtainable!
Let me explain!!!!Please!!!!!!!!!!!
One of my younger relatives,(6 yrs old.) expressed an intrrest in modle railroading!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel in my heart this might be her(!!!!!!!!!)First "toy"train!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again for the interest and offers!!!!!!!
Perhaps she might want to offer them again(in maybe 15 yrs?) However for now they are locked up waiting!!!!!!!
Many thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roy.

[tintrax]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lionelsuperotrack

QUOTE: Originally posted by tintrax
Did you know that Marx motors were used in other brands? Well, one other brand at least.

A little education please. What other brand used Marx motors?

Thanks, Mike

Brimtoy in England produced one model type that used a Marx reversing clockwork motor. Some Marx sets were supplied with Brimtoy stations, so there evidenlty was some co-operation between the two companies. Refer Walt Hitsehew`s Marxtin site.
Colin

[dwiemer]

Thanks for the information Mike. I joined the group and posted a question. I am sure I will get more Marx as time goes on.
dennis

[lionelsuperotrack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tintrax

There are Marx trains running in New Zealand too! Both prewar & postwar. I will be running some at a public exhibition here in three months`s time. Did you know that Marx motors were used in other brands? Well, one other brand at least.

A little education please. What other brand used Marx motors?

Thanks, Mike

[tintrax]

There are Marx trains running in New Zealand too! Both prewar & postwar. I will be running some at a public exhibition here in three months`s time. Did you know that Marx motors were used in other brands? Well, one other brand at least.

[Anonymous]

The marx trian that I own is a 0-4-0 steamer with no line markings. The tender is marked PENN CENTRAL. I have 1 New York Central gondola,(new build date 3-51). The last car I have is a PACEMAKER caboose. I also have the original transformer and curved power track.
Lots of fun!!![:D]
Thanks again Dale! [e-mail]

[lionelsuperotrack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw1995

Marx accessories sure are neat too - wonderfully tinplated and simple - I have their crane that sits over the tracks and the Girard station - did you see the issue of CTT with the article by Roger Carp about the all-Marx layout. It sure was impressive.

The gentleman who did the layout is a regular attendee at the Marx Show & Tell at York. If you get to York you should come. Marx, Marx and more Marx...............

Very best, Mike

[lionelsuperotrack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dwiemer

Mike,
Do you happen to have a diagram of the Marx 2002 handcar? mine is in pieces and I want to restore it. I can probably figure it out, but don't want to hurt anything.
Thanks,
Dennis

Dennis - Sorry to say I do not, but, if you post this on the Marx Yahoo group I would be surprised if you do not get what you want. It is linked below:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarxTrain/?yguid=24679421

Very best, Mike

[flyingyankee616]

I have two of each,666 and 1666, both are fun engines. Very easy to run and keep repaired.Thanks

[Jumijo]

To me, the allure of the older Lionels and Max trains are their toy-like appearance. It's just fun to see them running. Who cares if the wheel arrangements aren't correct or if the windows are painted on? They are great old toys and I enjoy them.

What will be running 40, 80 -100 years from now? I will be long dead and gone, so I couldn't care less.

Jim

[wallyworld]

I seem to be one of those who interests in model trains is going in a reverse timeline as well-lately I am actually becoming more interested in the Hafner trains I have and in Marx as well rather than the MTH, etc I own..some of this is due to the appeal of the lithography which seems to be a lost art, as well as the colorful schemes they utilize.
I also appreciate their engineering simplicity. I have to wonder is any of the high tech trains being purchased now will be around in 80-100 years?

[traindaddy1]

I have two hand-operated semaphore signals and a metal tunnel. They fit in just right on the layout.

[Jumijo]

I was going to reply that I don't own any Marx, but after reading several posts about accessories, remembered that I do. I have a rotating beacon, still in it's box, that someone gave us last year. I'd like to get a Marx smoking steamer loco. Affordable and reliable from what I've heard. An antique store near me had a set of tinplate Mark Santa Fe AA deisels. He's asking a ton of money for them, which look banged up. They do have a certain crude charm to them, but I'm no Marx expert, and don't know anyone locally who would be able to tune them up.

Jim

[thatboy37]

i dont have any as of now but im sure that later on down the road i will accquire a few pieces myself so dont count me out yet

[pbjwilson]

Gotta love Marx

[macdannyk1]

I have some Marx switches and track, but no Marx trains.

[cnw1995]

Marx accessories sure are neat too - wonderfully tinplated and simple - I have their crane that sits over the tracks and the Girard station - did you see the issue of CTT with the article by Roger Carp about the all-Marx layout. It sure was impressive.

[Anonymous]

What is this spam for an ebay account?

[dwiemer]

Mike,
Do you happen to have a diagram of the Marx 2002 handcar? mine is in pieces and I want to restore it. I can probably figure it out, but don't want to hurt anything.
Thanks,
Dennis

[lionelsuperotrack]

The 666 you have must have the rubber traction tire to climb up and over the figure 8. Marx is fun, not to serious. Several issues ago CTT had a marvelous article about a "scale" Marx layout. The race track was all too clever.

If you haven't seen this article you gotta dig it out. Magnifico! Marx at its finest in a scale setting.

Very best, Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by qqqman

My 1st set was a freight set with the SP 666 loco,Erie flat, Santa Fe stock car, Cities Service tank and an SP caboose. It was an over under figure 8 with cool trestles. I added on an Allstate tank, white PFE reefer and a NYC crane. It all came fron Sears & Roebuck. All I have left is the 666 and tender, stock car, crane and trestles.
I had a gate and crossing light and what I liked best was the copper strip that went over the rail to activate the accessory. A recent article in CTT describes how to do this which I'm goin to do when it's time for accessories.(After Scenery) I guess it's my little tribute to Marx.

[Anonymous]

My 1st set was a freight set with the SP 666 loco,Erie flat, Santa Fe stock car, Cities Service tank and an SP caboose. It was an over under figure 8 with cool trestles. I added on an Allstate tank, white PFE reefer and a NYC crane. It all came fron Sears & Roebuck. All I have left is the 666 and tender, stock car, crane and trestles.
I had a gate and crossing light and what I liked best was the copper strip that went over the rail to activate the accessory. A recent article in CTT describes how to do this which I'm goin to do when it's time for accessories.(After Scenery) I guess it's my little tribute to Marx.

[Anonymous]

To answer your question, no, I do not own "a" piece of Marx-I own many, many pieces of Marx! Before I ever got a Lionel, the very first O guage trains I had were Marx. I haven't stopped collecting Marx since those early days. I have 6-inch, 7-inch, 3/16" scale, 4-wheel plastic, 8-wheel plastic, Joy Line, Plastimarx (Mexican) and British Marx. Marx is everywhere and as a result, it is probably the brand that I have the most trains of in my collection.