boxcars Archives - The Silicon Underground

Make display shelves out of rusty track

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 19 Apr 2016 11:00:58 +0000

Some people try to fix rusty track, while others argue it isn’t worth the bother. But if you’re in the latter camp, you still have options besides trashing it: Make display shelves out of it. My local train shop offers

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Marx vs. Lionel

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 03 Mar 2016 12:00:42 +0000

In the 1950s, Marx and Lionel took turns being the biggest toy company in the world, largely riding on the popularity of O gauge trains. Neither company particularly liked the other, but both owed some degree of their success to

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Scratchbuilding, Marx-style: Finishing the roof

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:00:55 +0000

This is a continuation of something I wrote well over a year ago detailing how I build Marx-style boxcars out of simple materials. Train season is starting up again soon, so it’s about time I finished this story. Once the box

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Scratchbuilding, Marx-style

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:00:41 +0000

I saw a modern-production Lionel box car in a hobby shop one weekend. I wanted it, but I really wanted it in Marx 3/16 style, so it would look right with my Marx #54 KCS diesels pulling it. But I

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I don’t think this basement layout abandoned since 1967 is necessarily a tragedy

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:48:15 +0000

A query appeared on one of the train forums and has slowly spread through several discussion groups I’m aware of, regarding a 2-rail O scale train layout, built by a hobbyist in the 1950s and 1960s, who died in 1967.

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Cars for trains

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:15:51 +0000

Vehicles are a frequent topic of discussion on the various O and S gauge train forms. At times these discussions can get rather heated.

Since use on train layouts is rarely the objective of the companies making various diecast vehicles, there's no true right answer to what one should or shouldn't use. This is my personal philosophy. Take it for what it's worth.

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Setting up the tree and the train

Dave Farquhar — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 01:35:42 +0000

Although some of the people in our neighborhood had their Christmas stuff up well in advance of Thanksgiving, my wife and I did the traditional thing, setting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving.

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Aliens on my train layout

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 02:52:00 +0000

I bought a couple of aliens for my train consist today. At the annual TCA Ozark Division train show at Lutheran South that happens every December, I spotted some lonely American Flyer bodies sitting neglected on a table. There were two steam locomotives, a gondola, a boxcar, and a caboose. I looked at the locomotives but there wasn't any way I could remotor them with parts I had available. I did buy the boxcar, and then came back for the gondola.

I spent a total of $3 for these artifacts from 1958. Not bad.

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American Model Toys and Kusan trains

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 02:59:40 +0000

While almost everyone knows American Flyer and Lionel, and a lot of people have heard of Marx, there was a fourth maker of toy trains in the late 1940s and early 1950s that was much smaller, although very innovative, and today is nearly forgotten: Auburn, Indiana-based American Model Toys.

Its legacy, however, ties into virtually every major producer of O gauge trains in business today.

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A Bing in Marx clothing

Dave Farquhar — Mon, 24 May 2004 03:28:18 +0000

The sign said "50% off all items $25 and under. Other items, make offer." I spied a table full of beat-up Marx trains. I picked through them. There were two 3/16 scale tinplate boxcars and cabooses, paired with a Marx Commodore Vanderbilt locomotive, marked as a "set." Price: $79. At least two of the cars were missing wheels and the loco had bad paint. Heaven only knew if it ran. The bundle wasn't worth $20. Likewise for a six-inch bundle. Two common six-inch cars, rusty and one missing a coupler, paired with a locomotive with no wheels or engine or paint--about 90% naked, except for rust--for $65. I'd have been willing to pay $7.

I almost overlooked the three six-inch passenger cars that were almost completely devoid of paint. It's a good thing I didn't.

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