Hey guys, I was just wondering how common(or rare) is a Marx 999?
There’s always several listed on ebay, so they aren’t rare. The 999 with the open pilot spokes is less common than the 999 with the solid pilot. I have a 999 and enjoy running it- they are tough little engines.
Hello,
The Marx 999 is far from (rare). It can be acquired for a modest price, repairs are very easy to make, and parts are readily available. Over time, you will find they start to accumulate around the layout.
As mentioned above the open spoke pilot is harder to find, but again not rare. I actually had a harder time finding an embossed spoke pilot on a 999 than the open spoke variation. And I’ve yet to find a 999 with the Marx logo on the cab.
There are four pilot variations on the Marx 999 I know of:
Open Spoke
Embossed Spoke
Flush w/Rivets
Ribbed w/Rivets
You can also find many motor variations in your 999 as well.
Not sure how many Marx made of the 999, but they must have made thousands when our Dad’s and us were kids.Bottom line, run them hard, let the young and old have fun with them. That is what the 999 was made to do, and has for several generations.
Rod L
Marx (New and Old) Lionel Postwar.
And the closed spoke pilot/cowcatcher is supposedly even less common than the open spoke version. The solid version is the most common.
As baberuth73 stated “they are tough little engines”. I’d say the motors are almost indestructible and aboy all you need to maintain them is new brushes once in a while. Guaranteed electronics free[swg]