Upon initial examination it appears that the Marx system of 3rd rail power pick-ups doesn’t mesh well with Lionel 027 switches.
Question: What’s the solution if any short of somehow converting to pick-up rollers or playing with the switch assembly.
Help, thanks,kidcurey
Welcome to the forum!
Have you tried buying either the old Marx switches at a train show or buying K-Line 027 switches? I think the K-Line switch may be more avaible.
You can read what Spankybird does for his trains on one of his postings, as he uses mainly 027 track.
Also you can try GarGraves or Ross Custom switches but you will need adapter pins to go from 027 to GarGraves or Ross.
Lee Fritz
Which Lionel O-27 switches are you using? The modern versions do not work well with Marx or prewar Lionel. If you try the older 1121 switches you will probably have better luck.
I’ve been considering adding a low cost Marx 490 engine to my Thomas set with fastrack. If we add on Fastrack, will the 490 engines work OK? Thanks for any info.
– Someday will upgrade to an RMT Beep engine!!
Lee,
You have been very helpfull and will research Spankybirds info. Did find out K-Line turnouts are their own design .
Again,thanks for all the great info. kidcurey
Ampguy, I would expect a 490 to have problems with Fastrack switches. Not sure about crossings. Regular loops of track with no switches or crossings are no problem.
I think I’m the one who recommended a 490 in the first place; if you’re planning a Fastrack layout with lots of crossings and switches, there are better choices for cheap locomotives that will work on the modern track. One of the cost-cutting measures Marx made on the design of the 490 keeps it from working with modern switches.
Hi Dave,
Yes, I think it was you. Thanks so much for your help. What I’m trying to do, is to inexpensively, but accurately keep this O-gauge setup going for my son (and me!).
We’re working with lionel tech on some cw-80 things and they’re being helpful, but are out until 5-24 
So in the meantime, these little glitches are killing us, the intermittent stops and hiccups. So what I want to do is have a spare engine, which I believe the lowest priced would be a working marx 490, and also a spare transformer like the tech II MRC 027 so that whatever breaks or doesn’t work, my son will have something running.
I’m hoping we get the CW80 and Thomas engine sorted out, we did get reversing working, but this intermittent start stop stall is really frustrating.
Thanks Dave.
Somewhere (here or in another thread) Jabaat gave some advice on what he had to do to get his Thomas set working. He really knows his stuff, so I’d suggest doing whatever he suggested. I know it involved Labelle grease and oil, but that’s all I remember. 
I would suggest picking up a tube of Labelle grease and a Labelle oiler rather than the “official” Lionel kit. The Labelle stuff is a little bit better, and I think it’s cheaper. $15 is overpriced for what you get in the Lionel kit. Any well-stocked hobby shop will carry the Labelle line, because HO and N scalers use it, and I think even the R/C crowd may use it.
Oddly Enough, I’ve has problems with the trailing truck on the engine, and caboose on Marx Switches…good thing i picked up 7 lionel switches…assorted in direction…on ebay for $7/ea…nice condition too, seeing as i got em in today.
Thanks Dave,
Yes, Jabaat has been giving me great tips here, and has mentioned the Labelle oil. I will go out of my way this weekend to find some and use it. I’ll also search all threads for Thomas again and authored by Jabaat. Thanks!