TRAIN TIME: Running Custom Marx Army Trains on Memorial Day

For some people - like me - it seems that holidays just sort of sneak up on us and we're caught totally unprepared, which is strange because it's not like they're kept a secret from anyone! This year's Memorial Day was no exception. It's the day we honor those who have fallen in the service of our country and it always comes on the last Monday of May. So why then do I always end up rushing at the last moment to prepare a little something for remembrance???

Each year I generally run an Army train on Memorial Day because my brother -who was killed during WWII - had served in the Army, so it seems fitting. For days like Armed Force Day, or Veteran's Day or July 4th, I tend to pull out other trains like Cape Canaveral, Air Force, or a patriotic themed train. This year's train is one which I haven't run yet because a couple of the cars were relatively recent purchases. Details about each car are covered below..

Ed

Memorial Day Custom Marx Army Train Run

Here's the link to the YouTube video I just posted of this year's Memorial Day run

The Train

The Engine

The engine used for this years run was a repainted Marx diecast #666 2-4-2. This engine was purchased as part of a custom Marx Army train with plastic Army train cars but is pulling a load of tin cars this year. I didn't keep records of who actually did the work on this engine, but I do like it.

The Cars

All the cars were handmade by Peter Wassmiller (eBay seller 'handmade toys') and were purchased over the course of several years. He doesn't make many cars - apparently preferring to make tin buildings instead - and so it's a treat to be able to acquire them when offered for sale. All the panel lines, rivets, and lettering is done by hand, giving each piece a folk art feel. His metal-working skills are far beyond anything I could do so I'm glad to buy from him.

Army No. 7 AA Missile Battery Car

The basis for this custom is a Marx 6" 4-wheel tin car which has had a custom made missile launch rack installed. The metal launcher raises and lowers, however, the launch tube is too tight be able to actually fire off a missile, so it just sits there looking pretty.

Flatcar With Army Truck and Trailer Load

The basis for this mod, was a Marx 7" 4-wheel flatcar on which sits two handmade faux Marx loads. Both the truck and the trailer are totally handmade but made to look like Marx Prewar stamped metal pieces.

Crane Car

The basis for this was a Marx 6" 4-wheel flatcar. The crane is scratch-built and operates by hand. The crane swivels, and the boom raises and lowers. I haven't yet gotten around to doing a complete photo essay on this one.

Missile Control Car

The basis for this car was a Marx 6" 4-wheel caboose with the addition of a radar on top and a new paint scheme.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Gonna start making dinner in another hour or so. Killed some spare time this morning coming up with these. each one meant for a different fb train group: Enjoy! Opa Fritz

K-Line

Lionel

Marx

TRAIN TIME: Running Trains on Memorial Day

Today being Memorial Day here in The States, I took out my two Modern Marx military trains as a small reminder of the sacrifices made by the men and woman of our military for whom this day is in honor. Have a great Memorial Day folks and - Enjoy!

TRAIN TIME: Yesterday Was National Train Day - Pulled Out One Of My Marxawatha's and Played With Trains

With yesterday having been National Train Day it was appropriate I spend some time out in The Cave and play. While there, I took a butt-load of train photos as well, mostly of my Marxawatha sets. What is a 'Marxawatha' you ask? I'll tell you :-) It's when you modify a Marx train to resemble the Milwaukee Road's 'Hiawatha' streamliner's. Of course, whatever you end up with it'll be a caricature, but that's the fun of it after all. 

The engine being posted today was actually purchased about 13 years ago along with another engine and a set of cars with gray roofs. However, just this past week or so I latched on to a set of Marxawatha cars with blue roofs that were a better match for the engine. All of the pieces were converted to the Marxawatha theme using Faux Toys wraps. Faux Toys was in business from 2003-2007 and sold a series of 'wraps' printed out on inkjet photo paper with a variety of designs and road names that were meant to be applied to some Marx engines and 6in cars. They had a nice selection available of railroads Marx never produced and the bonus was they could be used to cover car bodies that were in less than pristine shape. Enjoy! Opa Fritz

Here's the train on the layout

I posted this 'short' to Y'allTube

The consist that I'll be playing with for a week or so.

Commodore Vanderbilt (CV) Engine with a Marx #3551 Notch Front tender

Marxawatha Notch Front Tender - Blue Top

You can tell by the photos the cars had probably been taken apart and their components painted, after which the wraps were applied. Some of the roofs weren't in great shape, but this was a way to save and re-use them

Marxawatha RPO Car #1563 - Blue Top

Marxawatha Coach #1561 - Blue Top

Marxawatha Parlor Car 'MANCHESTER' #562 - Blue Top

Marxawatha Beaver Tail Observation Car 'MERRILL' - Blue Top

When the real Hiawatha's were first designed for the Milwaukee Road back in 1935, the observation cars had a distinctive slope to them and well as a very Art Deco fin protruding from the rear. These were nicknamed 'Beaver Tail' observations.

Courtesy Wikipedia