Really cool and out of the ordinary ( switching with clockwork and auto stop ) so I thought I’d share what I found…what a collection.
I’ve got one word to describe your contribution to this site!
Awesome!
Ray
Ray,
I had no idea that there were so many operating clockwork accessories, that to my surprise are running on clockwork themselves. The reversible clockwork engines…I have heard that Marx made a reversible clockwork engine ( perhaps just a rumor)…if so, I have yet to find it. All of this is contrary to ordinary.
Bruce
That is awesome! Isn’t 1 gauge close to standard gauge?
Marx reversible clockworks do exist… but they are somewhat hard to come by. I have a reversible Commodore Vanderbilt that can be seen at the end of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKbxjH-kFmY
Marx also made reversible clockwork M10005’s and Mercury’s. The first year I see Marx reversible windups advertised is 1937, and I don’t see them advertised when production resumed post-war.
But… as much as I like my Marx clockworks, they aren’t up to the level of sophistication of this equipment. I’ve seen this video before, but I always like watching it again!
- James
I like that vid, have watched it before actually. It is very cool.
The same guy has another very cool layout in his garage that is O gauge electric of European trains from probably 1900-1930 or so. Both are very nice layouts with good track plans and some very nice old stations!
Extremely great set up. I agree with others I was not aware that there were so many clockwork accessories
Bruce,
I have many American Flyer clockwork steamers and I don’t believe they ever made any that went in reverse. I’ve also scanned the through the catalogs and don’t recall ever reading about any. But that set, along with their accessories and boxes is amazing.
Ps… I just read through Greenberg’s Guide to American Flyer Prewar O Gauge. The chapter dealing with clockwork’s do not mention anything about reverse Loco’s. Bing made some fantastic trains.
Ray
Good evening all,
Way too cool! That is the best post of the year so far! Totally neat!
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
Ray
I guess Marx made the only U.S reversible clockwork engine, but I did see a long ago article in the original Garden Railroad magazine ( prior to Kalmbach’s ownership) concerning some later U.K clockwork engines having a speed governor which always sounded intriguing…they (GR) had also an amazing feature on large outdoor wind up roads, built up like live steam layouts on large, elevated tracks and platforms. Some really amazing stuff…If there are any folks who know about these large layouts or the speed governor equipped locos Id love to hear more about them.
Bruce
Bruce, were those clockwork governors adjustable? The Marx clockworks have a governor in them, but it isn’t adjustable. Most of my clockworks run so fast that they won’t stay on an O27 curve, at least not without a long train coupled behind them. I have disassembled motors that had actual problems with the governor, but it isn’t something I do except as a last resort. I think it would be neat to have an adjustable governor that could be used as a throttle to vary the speed of the locomotive.
I would like to see that issue of GR… I’ve discussed the possibility of building an outdoor railroad for the clockworks with one of my friends. We were thinking about a dual gauge line for G & O gauges. I have a small clockwork layout in the house, but I’m limited to 4x8 with O42 curves. An outdoor railroad would really let the windups stretch their springs!
- James
WOW, very nice video, really fun to watch. Thanks for sharing.
I remember that issue - I think the railroad was called the “Crewchester” or something like that. What I thought was cool was how the stations were set in a slight depression so as they coasted in they would come to stop in a bit of a bowl and it would be a smooth stop. When rewound and set off again the loco would have to pull the consist up a slight grade making the departure smooth also. And yes they were governed. That article was from back in the mid 90’s I think. I’ll see if I can find it.
-Geoff
James
The article was published long ago but Marc H who was ( is?) the editor of the magazine is into this as well on his own outdoor layout in the U.S . The only reference I could find was this:
“The legendary Walker-Fenn “controlled clockwork” loco (England 1920s). This firm bought 6-coupled O gauge mechanisms from Märklin and fitted them with the speed governor from a clockwork gramophone, resulting in a locomotive that can crawl along very slowly.” I’ll just have to keep looking…
Here is a video of one of them…and the low speed combined with some very impressive pulling power is a revelation to me as much as the mount of accessories for wind ups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3QjRFmYSGk&feature=youtu.be
Also Marc’s annual clockworks in t
I love clockwork or wind-up trains - and an outside version too - wow! Thanks for posting these videos.
Bruce,
Thanks for the information and the additional videos. Those clockworks do seem to run slower - and more dignified if you will - than the Marx versions. The appeal of an outside clockwork layout (for me) is the space, and the sweeping curves will allow the trains to run longer on a windup, too.
The Marx locomotives may be a bit speedy, but I don’t have any complaints about their pulling power. This video shows a double-header with two clockwork Commodore Vanderbilts pulling a freight around my outside O42 loop, with an older CV pulling two passenger cars around the O27 loop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsKg5mv0-nc
I get a kick out of the clockworks, no matter who makes them!
- James
After watching the “Garden Event” video, the first thing I thought was “Imagine, grown men playing with toys! When will they grow up?” [(-D]
I wonder how many wives really think that?
Ray
James
That is an awesome video inasmuch as it never occurred to me to double-head CV’s…I know that compared to the Hafner windups I do have, I agree that the Marx CV has the most pulling power but I think Marx made a plastic bodied loco late into their production and I have been looking for one thinking that the lighter body might provide a longer run. Maybe. I saw that windup’s are not quite dead yet as Hornby jis selling a windup version of Thomas The Tank. I would love to get a Hornby but the rate of exchange stinks. Your layout is great, I assume the track has additional tiesadded (?)
I go the U.K version of Ebay now and then and have yet to find a Walker Fenn…
Ray,
In one conversation, my wife made the comment that without knowing the history of whatever, there’s no way to appreciate collecting and operating and what drives us to play with toys…Sort of like the hunter gatherer thing of rarities…she knows it is a acquired taste.
The only thing I enjoy as much is taking out the fat tired, white walled Schwinn out for a spin. In retirement, we get to indulge in non practical matters and when you get to be my age, you know enough not to give a @@@ about what others may think…a 360 degree turn from being a working stiff since the age of 16…
If anything, it’s good to set aside the cares of the world. I call it healthy and I am fortunate enough ( don’t deserve it ) to have a wife who “gets it” I think most wives know that our predilections as males could be a whole lot worse…lol.
Wally I may not be your age yet as have not retired or ready to yet but reading your comment above made me think that I’m lucky enough to have a wife that has my attitude about what others think. "This is my house and if you don’t like it don’t let the door hit you in the @$$ on the way out. " and thats goes for the thread that I didn’t comment in about what others were teasing a guy about modeling trains ( notice I said modeling not playing with) as to me thats what it is.