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In 1891, Märklin, a toy company in Leipzig, Germany, became eternally connected to toy trains when they developed the standards for toy trains. Over a hundred and ten years have passed and toy train manufactures are still using Märklin’s standards to measure toy trains.

When it developed the standards for toy trains, Märklin was a company that mainly designed and built accessories for doll houses. In 1891 they expanded the business and started making toy trains. Märklin had always designed its doll house accessories to a gauge (a certain gauge dollhouse corresponded with a certain gauge of furniture). They realized that if they used a similar gauge when building toy trains and railroad tracks consumer’s could continue purchasing bits of tracks for years to come. As soon as they realized this Märklin sold rolling and stock tracks that could be used to expand the boxed sets they sold.

Trains that run on a G gauge track have little in common but the track they operate on. It is a gauge that has been popular with European toy train makers for years. The G gauge has a width of 1 3/4 inches and a size of 1:32 through 1:30.

Measuring at 1 3/8 inches wide, with a size of 1:48 or 1:43 or 1:45 or 1:64, the zero gauge is the most popular toy train gauge.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Toy Trains? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

The S gauge became popular in post World War II, when it was used heavily by the American Flyer company. Designing train tracks and trains that ran on the S gauge tracks is one of the things that most consumers think about when they think of the American Flyer toy company. Its measurements were in between an O gauge track and an HO gauge track. It is important not to confuse the S gauge with the wide gauge standard that was introduced by the Lionel Company. The wide gauge was less of a scale model standard that some believe to have been a result of the company misreading the Märklin specifications. Another theory is that the Lionel Company was trying to create a new gauge of track that would lock out competitors. At least four toy train manufactures in the United States used the wide gauge.

Sixty years ago, England devised a toy railroad track called the HO gauge. It was suppose to be half the size of an O gauge track. The actual measurements are 1:87. There are .65 inches between the rails. For some reason the trains that were designed to run on the HO tracks did not enjoy a great deal of popularity. Some people believe that they were unable to with hold the wear and tear their young owners put them through.

Germany came out with trains that ran on a Z gauge track. The tracks that support these trains measure 1:22. Perhaps because of their small size these trains have not been particularly successful.

The OO gauge measured 1:76. It appeared on the market in the 1930′s. In the 1950′s a train that runs on a track that measures 1:120 came out. It vanished shortly after its inception.

Now that wasn’t hard at all, was it? And you’ve earned a wealth of knowledge, just from taking some time to study an expert’s word on Toy Trains.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Are you looking for some inside information on Toy Trains? Here’s an up-to-date report from Toy Trains experts who should know.

There’s just something special about little wooden toy trains. They’ve long been a favorite among children and have become an icon for the Christmas season in many countries. They are still a popular gift choice for children and often a collectible among adults. It’s nearly impossible to own just one wooden toy train; many people choose to build upon their cherished toy to create their own toy train system. While the wooden toy train is a popular display at Christmas, some people have whole rooms or sections of their house dedicated to displaying their wooden toy trains.

Often, it can be tricky to find wooden toy trains in today’s society. Most toy trains of today are constructed out of metal and plastic, with decals displayed in order to make the toy look as realistic as possible. Some people turn to the internet to find wooden toy trains, while others scout out live auctions and antique stores in hopes of finding the wooden locomotive they knew and loved as a child. However, it is possible to find new wooden toy trains thanks to a company called Community Playthings.

Community Playthings began as a small organization of young fathers in rural Georgia. These men had one thing in mind – to create safe, durable toys for their children out of wood. The concept soon spread to local schools and teachers began requesting the wooden toys for their classrooms. When childcare became a popular idea among working parents, daycares ordered wooden furniture from Community Playthings. It wasn’t long before the company expanded into a well-known name in the toy industry, and thus the creation of wooden toy cars, trucks, and trains.

You may not consider everything you just read to be crucial information about Toy Trains. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself recalling and using this very information in the next few days.

The toy trains you’ll find made by Community Playthings are simple and certainly nothing fancy. You won’t find exclusive hand-painted detail, battery-operated engines, lights, sounds, or any other bells and whistles. Those are best left for companies who focus on creating state-of-the-art, realistic replicas. The toy trains from Community Playthings are designed for the inquiring child, plain and simple. Without all of the added extras, children are able to use their own imagine and develop motor skills as they push along and play with their wooden toy trains.

Along with toy trains, Community Playthings also makes wooden furniture, children’s lockers and cubby holes, art and sand tables, classic wooden blocks, and a wide variety of furniture for babies and toddlers. It is very easy to purchase anything wooden from Community Playthings. Their website provides a complete listing of all of their available products, prices, and pictures of every item. Several children’s marketing websites also carry items from Community Playthings for reasonable prices.

For a trip down memory lane back to your childhood, or to purchase wooden toy trains for your little one, consider getting your next toy train from Community Playthings. In a society where everything has gotten so modern, it’s nice to know there’s one company out there who can take you back to the “good old days”.

Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Toy Trains into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Toy Trains, and that’s time well spent.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

When most people think of Toy Trains, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to Toy Trains than just the basics.

Toy trains are one thing that still remains constant in a changing world. They have the ability to make both children and adults smile, as they are a part of nearly everyone’s childhood. Today, toy trains are mostly made of metal and plastic, whereas generations ago, wood was the standard for building toy trains. Whatever happened to the old-fashioned wooden toy train? While they are not as easy to come by as they were years ago, there’s a company who is dedicated to producing the best quality wooden toy trains available. Brio makes wooden toy trains in a variety of styles, shapes, and sizes. You can find modern toy trains, complete with all the bells and whistles of other toy trains, but still made of wood. You can also find wooden toy trains that are simple and take you back to your days as a child.

An example of the modern wooden toy train made by Brio is the Shinkansen Passenger Train. It is known as the world’s first express toy train system and is 390 mm in length. The system is carefully constructed using hardwood materials and is hand-painted to include minor details. For a more classic look, Brio makes the Light and Sound Timber Train. This train closely resembles the classic toy trains several adults enjoyed as a child. The train is a push-along engine complete with sounds only heard from the actual trains from back in the day. The windows glow as if to represent activity inside the passenger cars. This Brio toy train is sure to take you back to your childhood, or set the curiosity for a child wondering what toy trains were like generations ago.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

You can also purchase engines and all the accessories to add power to your wooden toy trains. The 4-wheel rechargeable engine red is a popular choice from Brio to “soup up” your train system. With this engine, it is easy to refuel as you will no longer need to purchase batteries! It looks strikingly realistic, as it boasts front headlights and buttons you can push to manually stop and start your toy train. If you choose, you can purchase an additional backup battery pack to ensure playtime is never interrupted. (And admit it, who wouldn’t want to play with a Brio wooden toy train complete with an engine?)

No Brio toy train is complete without a railroad track. You have a variety of tracks to choose from to best accommodate your train and engine. The Expansion Pack Intermediate is a track set available for around $25. This set includes 16 track pieces and 5 different layout suggestions. It’s easy to change the direction of your train system to include twists and turns, or whatever your imagination creates. You can even choose to purchase bridges, buildings, and tunnels to add a more realistic touch to your Brio system. Kids will have a blast by adding fire and police stations, engine sheds, and adventure tunnels to their set.

You can find Brio toy trains along with hundreds of accessories by visiting the Brio website directly, or shopping around on online auctions to grab deals on their items.

Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Before there was an Internet, there were only a few ways people could get rid of things like toy trains that they no longer wanted. They could sell them at a yard sale for a couple of dollars. They could take them to . They could place a for sale ad in the classified section of the newspaper. They could auction them at one of two types of live auctions; a high end auction which are held by internationally known firms, or a local auction where both the clientele and merchandise are mostly local. In some cases if an auctioneer has enough trains they will hold a train only auction that is more likely to attract the attention of serious collectors. High end auctions are typically where collectors can find exceptionally rare toy trains, toy trucks, and other collectible automobiles.

Shopping at an eBay store carries a degree of protection. Many of the EBay stores are run by reputable dealers who specialize in toy trucks, trains, and automobiles. These dealers are often willing to guarantee the items they are selling on EBay. If you are looking for a collector toy train look for EBay stores that have a TCA (Train Collectors Association) membership. These EBay stores take a special pride in their toy trains.

If you are considering purchasing a toy train set from an EBay store make sure that they say the transformer is actually working. With the exception of the “ZW” transformers made from Lionel, transformers are typically unrepairable. Before agreeing to the sale ask the EBay store if the transformers knobs turn smoothly and if the transformer is working corrA huge advantage to purchasing a train through an EBay store is the ability to check the feedback the store has received from past customers. Reading through this feedback should give you a good indication about how honest they are about the product they are selling.

I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

If you are simply looking for any type, style and make of toy truck, toy train, or any other miniaturized automobile on EBay all you have to do is go to EBay’s handy drop down menu and click on the item you want. You will presented with tons of toy automobile that you can bid on.

If you are looking for a ver specific item, go to the search section and type in exactly what you are looking for. The more specific you are the more likely you will be to find the item you are looking for without wasting allot of your time.

Once you have selected an item you like contact the merchant, ask lots of questions about the toy train they are selling, does it work, is there any damage, etc.. Ask if they would be willing to send several photos of the item, displaying it at several different angles. Ask the merchant if they would be willing to guarantee the condition of the item.

Purchasing trucks, trains, and toy autos at an eBay store allows you to shop whenever it’s convenient, night or day.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Toy Trains.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Are you looking for some inside information on Toy Trains? Here’s an up-to-date report from Toy Trains experts who should know.

The Ultimate Guide in Toy Train Collections

For some people, collecting toy trains isn’t just another hobby or interest; it’s a way of life. The concept of collecting toy trains has been around for centuries. Nearly everyone has some type of connection to toy trains, whether it is an annual display around the Christmas tree or a daily passion to find and collect unique individual pieces to add to their toy train system. People who collect toy trains are indeed special types of people who have a true connection to these miniature locomotives. Luckily, there’s a magazine to suit their needs – Classic Toy Trains.

Classic Toy Trains magazine is a monthly publication that focuses on the latest news and events in toy train collecting. In it, you will find helpful guides to toy train auctions, events, shows and conventions, as well as articles regarding various antique toy trains. For the true toy train enthusiast, you’ll also find several “how-to” articles, including how to build your on toy trains, how to put together tracks, how to rebuild toy train engines, or how to tune-up your old antique toy trains.

Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:

One interesting article from January 2007 discussed the death of two prominent collectors of the toy train industry. Bruce Walthers and Bobbye Hall, both popular in the model railroad industry, passed away and left the toy train community stunned over their loss. Walthers once served as president of William K. Walthers, Inc, a model railroad manufacturing firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The firm became the largest producer of model railroad products in entire world. Hall was known primarily as the first woman to work with Japanese model railroad manufacturers and was the founding person behind Hallmark Models. The recipient of several awards and recognitions within the railroad model industry, her death was a surprise to many avid collectors around the world.

Classic Toy Trains magazine also produced a series of articles entitled “Basics of Toy Trains.” This series covered everything a beginner to the industry would want to know, from the history of popular manufacturers such as Lionel and Marx to the current toy trains sold in today’s market. The series even covered “tricky train terms” that green collectors are not likely to know and understand. You can also explore the questions and answer section, where questions covering a wide variety of topics in toy train collecting are answered. For example, it covers proper toy train storage and display techniques, how to apply decals to your toy train, and how to spot fake “antique” toy trains for sale.

A subscription to Classic Toy Trains magazine varies depending on the length of time you wish to keep your subscription. 9 issues are available for $39.95, 18 issues for $74.95, and 27 issues for $106.95. If you are an enthusiastic toy train collector, or would like to give a gift to someone interested in the hobby, this is the perfect all-inclusive magazine!

It never hurts to be well-informed with the latest on Toy Trains. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of Toy Trains.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his top ranked GVO affiliate site: GVO

Ask any avid collector of toy trains about American Flyer, and chances are they’ll be able to talk about these classic toy trains for hours. That’s because American Flyer is a tradition in the production of toy trains and has been for years. Since the beginning of the 1900′s, American Flyer has been producing top-quality toy trains and brought smiles to the faces of millions of people who received them as gifts or heirlooms. A truly unique find in toy train systems, American Flyer continues to be a popular name in toy trains and continues to bring happiness to today’s children and collectors.

American Flyer toy trains began as an idea to develop a clockwork motor for toy cars in 1901 by a man named William Fredrick Hafner. In 1905, he developed a train that could be operated by a clockwork motor on O gauge track. After receiving several requests and funds for orders, Hafner enlisted the help of his friend, William Coleman, to begin producing these new models of toy trains. At the time, Coleman had taken over control of Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, who had experienced financial hardship in 1906. The two friends immediately started to produce toy trains by using the surplus manufacturing potential of Edmonds-Metzel. The production was a success, and by 1910 Edmonds-Metzel left the hardware industry and changed its name to American Flyer. Originally American Flyer toy trains were thought to be generic in comparison to its competitor manufacturer, Ives.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Toy Trains, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

During the First World War, American Flyer’s business expanded and eventually knocked out the German manufactures that produced the majority of toy trains sold in the United States. American Flyer introduced the first electric train in 1918. A windup device replaced the clockwork motor developed by Hafner and quickly became a popular toy among American children. Even with the growing popularity of American Flyer, the company still took second place to the Lionel Corporation – a rivalry that continues among toy train collectors today.

American Flyer toy trains are a popular display item at modern toy train conventions and shows, and are usually at the center of heated auction bidding. Although finding pieces from American Flyer toy train systems are not difficult, you can expect to pay top dollar for these classic toys. Even American Flyer catalogs are hot items up for sale and bidding at auctions and on the internet.

A simple search of the internet will provide you with a complete listing of where to find American Flyer toy trains and accessories. You’ll find several options for attending shows and conventions that carry American Flyer trains, and you’ll find several items up for bid on eBay. The prices range from $20 for accessories to $500+ for toy trains, box cars, cabooses, and tank cars. Once you find a collectible from American Flyer, it can be a quite addicting hobby to add more pieces and accessories to your collection!

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Toy Trains. When people start looking for more information about Toy Trains, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Collecting toy trains is referred to as the world’s greatest hobby; and for some, it isn’t just a hobby. It’s a passion and a way of life, perhaps beginning in childhood. Several toy train collectors started their hobby as children, when they were given a toy train as a gift. Toy trains, at one time, were a very popular and much desired toy among children. Over time, that concept faded and was replaced by razor scooters, iPods, and webkinz. Most children of today aren’t familiar with the classic toy trains from back in the day, so the legacy is left to be carried on by adults who choose to start a collection of their own. One such popular toy train that is desired by many collectors is the HO toy train, developed by Marklin in 1935. So what makes these miniature locomotives so much different than the others?

The construction of the HO toy trains is one aspect that makes them stand apart from other toy trains. HO toy trains are jagged and are scaled at 1:87, making them the perfect starter electric train. Appearance is also a major factor in collecting HO toy trains. The flawless detailing gives them a realistic appeal, making them an attractive addition to any toy train system. The Marklin HO toy trains resemble the Z gauge in that they are built from diecast metal. Most of the frames and wheels are constructed from 100% metal. The engineering of HO toy trains is also quite brilliant. The wheels of the freight and passenger cars have a low center of gravity to avoid derailment, making them a reliable addition to electric systems.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Toy Trains story from informed sources.

The third-rail track systems of HO toy trains make them a hassle-free operation. The electrical current is carried by miniature stud contacts found in the middle of the ties. If you don’t look closely, chances are you’ll miss these clever additions. This helps prevent wiring problems and electrical pickup issues. Given the careful engineering and construction of HO toy trains, most collectors consider HO toy trains part of a scale hobby. At the debut of HO toy trains, they were sold as a toy train rather than a scale model as they are often sold today.

Scale model railroading didn’t become a popular hobby among collectors until after the 1950′s. Until that time, HO toy trains were thought of as just another size of train. Therefore, the Lionel Corporation began to make HO toy trains as smaller versions of the classic freight and passenger cars. It wasn’t long before the Louis Marx Company began constructing their own version of HO toy trains, and they even started to sell them with complete scenery and in slot car sets.

Although finding HO toy trains on the shelf at your local toy store may be a challenge, they aren’t all that difficult to come by. A simple search of the internet will provide you with a detailed listing of available HO toy trains for sale as well as places to locate these classic toy trains.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Toy Trains. Share your new understanding about Toy Trains with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

In 1936,When he was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, the doctors instructed Marshall H. Larrabee to start taking things easy. Marshall Larrabee’s response was to create Skaneateles Handicrafters. Skaneateles Handicrafters was a company that later became famous for creating wooden toy trains. Skaneateles Handicrafters was based out of Skaneateles New York.

A system of small trains that run on a wooden track are called wooden toy trains. Toy trains and their wooden tracks are over seventy years old. Collectors of old wooden trains know that the trains, cars use to hook together with the aid of small metal hooks, that has since changed. Now manufactures prefer to link the toy trains, cars with magnets, the magnets make them safer for young children who have a tendency to pop the wooden cars into their mouths. Another change toy train manufacturers have made to their wooden train sets is to make some of the parts, like wheels, out of plastic. The large non-mobile pieces, including the layout scenery, are generally crafted from wood.

The design of toy trains made from wood is very simple. Once you are past the basic structure the design can be simple or complex. The locomotive and toy trains, wooden cars are made out of carved pieces of wood. The wheels are attached. A few extra pieces of wood are attached to the carving of the locomotive in order to distinguish it from the other cars.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about Toy Trains. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

The ends of each piece of the track look like the edges of jigsaw puzzle pieces. Most toy train companies who make wooden train tracks conform to the Vario-System. By sticking to this system wooden train tracks made by one company will easily connect to a piece of track made by another company. Most people refer to the Vario-system as the Brio-compatible, after the Biro company who was the most famous wooden train manufacture in the world. Interestingly enough, T.C. Timber, a company that use to be called Skaneateles Handicrafters is one of the few companies who didn’t conform to the Vario-system,

A rolling stock track is a toy train track that has wooden grooves that guide the trains wheels. Most companies make the their train tracks so each individual piece is reversible, this allows the toy train’s owner to reverse the tracks curves.

The landscaping that compliments the toy train wooden sets are typically made out plaster, plastic, and plastic resin. Landscapes featuring, deserts, the Pacific Coast, mountain ranges, and many more are available.

The worlds most famous wooden train is Thomas. Thomas the Tank Engine was a character in a series of children’s books called The Railway Series that first appeared in the United Kingdom in 1945. In 1984 Thomas made his acting debut on a TV program called Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. The show first aired in the United States in 1989. The popularity of Thomas the Tank was large enough that manufactures started selling patterned sets, for toy train’s wooden layouts.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Collecting antique toy trains is a hobby and passion for many people. Perhaps they started the hobby on their own, or it all began back in their childhood. Toy trains have long been a popular gift and source of entertainment for many children, going back generations. Toy trains are still a well-liked item among children and adults, whether they’re for playtime or collecting. But when you’re looking for a specific antique toy train, you can’t easily run to Wal-Mart or Toys R Us to find what you need. You have to scout out your options and know where to look to find antique toy trains.

The first and most useful place to look for antique toy trains for sale is the internet. While you can’t be completely sure what your item will look like until it arrives, there are steps you can take to ensure you are getting the best quality for your money. Start by searching eBay for antique toy trains. eBay is notorious for having unique items for sale and you can typically find just about anything by utilizing this online auction. Simply type in “antique toy trains” and you’ll be provided with a complete listing of toy trains up for bidding along with pictures and a description of the item. However, before you place a bid on your desired piece, take a look at the description and pictures in detail. Does the seller guarantee the item? (Meaning will you get your money back if the item arrives damaged or doesn’t arrive at all?) Next, examine the pictures to determine if there is visible damage to the toy train.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Toy Trains is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Toy Trains.

Most reputable sellers on eBay will specifically add damage to the item in their description and provide a photograph of the damage. If there are only one or two pictures, ask the seller to email you personally more pictures. Let them know you are not interested in purchasing a damaged or scratched item if that’s the case. Also, be sure to look at their seller history and ratings. This will tell you what other buyers had to say about their business transactions with them.

Another great place to find antique toy trains for sale is none other than antique stores. The problem with looking here is that you may have difficulty sorting through all of the antiques to find the toy train you are looking for. Consider asking the owner of the store of they have your desired item, and if you have a picture, show it to them. Most owners or workers of antique stores will have a database of the items for sale and can easily tell you if they have it or not. If not, keep in mind antique stores get unique items in on a daily basis. Ask them to let you know if your toy train comes in.

Finally, you can do a search on the internet to find antique auctions across the country. More specifically, you’ll be able to find auctions held just for antique toy trains. You may have to travel, but if you are able to attend one of these auctions the chances of finding your toy train are very good.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Toy Trains is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Toy Trains.

At the end of World War I, in 1919, Luis Marx started a toy company. The company was called Marx and Company and was co-founded by Louis brother, David Marx. The company’s motto was to, “give the customer more toy for less money.” The company enjoyed a long run of success, surviving the both the Great Depression and the second World War, before it closed its doors in 1978, six years after Louis Marx sold the company to Quaker Oats. During the Great Depression the Marx Company had over $500,000 in debt, a debt that was more then covered by its $3.2 million in assets.

In addition to several international plants, Marx had three plants in the United States, two in Pennsylvania, and one in West Virginia. One of the places that they sold their toys was in the Sears Roebucks magazine.

Some people feel that during its heyday, Marx and Company actually sold more toy trains then any of the other toy companies. The first train they sold was the Joy Line, which they sold on commission for the Girard Company. Shortly after his company started selling the Joy Line, Louis Marx arranged for the Girard Company to design a toy train specifically for Marx and Company. Eventually the Girard Company was purchased by Marx.

In the marketplace, Marx trains were noticeable because they were normally smaller and cheaper then the ones made by the Lionel Company and American Flyer. The Marx Company designed electric toy trains that featured an open frame motor, this motor features a gear that is fixed to one end of the axle of the armature. The company seldom varied from this design. Post World War II, Marx and Company started to make trains out of plastic. More expensive versions of Marx toy trains included a smoker that heated smoke fluid to produce smoke.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Toy Trains, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Marx trains typically have a copper shoe pickup. On a Marx motor, the center rail pickup, is typically made out of copper strip.

Until the late 1950′s Marx made their toy trains with a fat wheel. This fat wheel makes it virtually impossible for Marx toy trains to negotiate the switches and crossovers of Lionel tracks.

Older models of Marx trains feature open switches. Marx and Company designed their switches so that the wiring was similar to the wiring in two rail switches. Three wires, red, green, and black, go directly to the the switch.

Most of Marx scale freighters featured a a low truck with small wheels. Marx used a dovetail design for their tilt couplers. Marx tilt couplers are incompatible with Lionel couplers. The tilt couplers were one single molded piece. In later years, Marx made one piece knuckle couplers that have to be coupled by hand.

Most of the original Marx and Company motors have a metal frame and metal gears. A few of their later designs have frames and gears that are made out of plastic. Some of the cheaper toy trains that Marx designed can’t reverse, they can only go forward.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his new GVO affiliate site: GVO