With this in mind I have written 2 Marx eBay guides strictly for the fun of it. I do not sell Marx. Just enjoy it. I have been collecting and developing an interest in Marx for quite a while.
Have you noticed what is unique in the Classic Toy Trains photo in the July 2006 issue page 16. It is a majestic sight!
My interests have lead me to some expertise in Marx. With this in mind I have written 2 new guides. Do take a look at the 2 below links and if you feel they add value your YES vote is appreciated:
Mike,
Interesting and good to read. I learned a few things about the handcar my dad gave me. That was the only Marx I had until this year when I purchased a few Marx accessories and a passenger set with the “Bogota” cars. They are neet to have added to my collection and will have a track of their own on my layout.
Dennis
It is funny how Marx seems to grow on us. I did not get interested until long after I was into trains. One could not get away from Marx! It was always around. Hard to find a layout without something Marx whether it be a bridge, light tower, signal or…I enjoyed seeing the Marx 666 pulling the Lionel cars on the layout in CTT.
Marx light towers are classics and my favorites as well as the double main street lamposts. I still do not think there are better light towers modern or past. I have installed LEDs in some of mine.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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?
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.