Strange find at a train show

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In !!!! I came across a strange find at the train show that is held every year in Hayward, CA. in January. I had bought a #1615 switcher w/tender at the Dec.TCA meet. I noticed that there was a power pick up on the tender. When I got it home, I found that someone had put a light in the tender shell, but had not drilled out the light on the shell. So far, no big deal, I figured I might luck on the proper shell or find one to drill out( I found an extra in the basement later) I was looking in a junk box one seller had and did find a pre-war tender that had a light, but did not want to deface an old tender. I then found a #1615 slope back tender that had been drilled out. Great I thought, Then I turned it over. The frame was stapmed "MARX" and some one had put Lionel trucks on it, but had left the marx tab/slot coupler in front. My question is: did marx ever make a slope back tender like Lionel, and if not, how did it come to pass that it was a marx frame with a lionel tender shell & trucks????? The frame is the same as the Lionel one. The mystery of the month for me. Any body have an answer for this "Kit-Bash" ?  Any answers will be most welcome.

Till Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor!!!!

[otftch]

Strange.I purchased a 1615 years ago without a tender.I found an old Marx slope back tender and put Lionel trucks on it with pick-ups and wired it so the engine would stop stalling over switches.The engine was a total basket case when I purchased it and I just wanted to make it run.I kept if for about ten yaers until I replaced all my steam with diesels.I don't remember what the Marx tender number was but I remember it,because was my first contact with Marx.I was going to drill out the light and put a bulb in it but never did.The guy who purchased it said he was going to.Is there a round hole drilled in the center of the slot coupling ?

                                                                                            Ed

[Anonymous]

Yes, Marx did make a slope back tender that was definitely inspired by Lionel's.  It was available in NYC, ATSF, SP, UP, Allstate (a made-up roadname for Sears) and PC (yes, Marx made Penn Central steam sets!).  They were paired with 666, 1666 and 490 steam engines.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor Is In!!!! I just answered my question, I was checking Ebay and I found a slope back tender made by marx that looks just the Lionel one. It seems that marx copied the Lionel tender. I guess no one ever caught this one. And to answer the other person that replied, there was no drilled hole in the front slot/tab coupler. I still find it weird that the frames are the same. Who knew? Thanks for the repiles gang, It's nice to know what a wise bunch we have on this board.

Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor!!!

[underworld]

I was hoping it was one of the rare Dr Frankenstein tenders!!!

underworld

[Dave Farquhar]

I have several of the Marx tenders but I don't have a Lionel to compare. It's interesting that their parts are interchangeable. The postwar Lionel knuckle assembly fits on the trucks that Marx used too, once you remove the handshake coupler.