First Run Around A Christmas Tree in 50 Years!

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

I give my two boys money for Christmas also, lol.

[@classicmodeltrains]

You are Very Kind Jersey B!! THANK YOU very much!!

[@thomasmoroney4993]

It truly is Christmas..watching Christmas Eve morning..great way to start the day..hope your Christmas goes well for you and your family…video as usual..was enjoying to watch…

[@michaelandria4855]

It’s an absolute joy to hear you talk during the videos. Has helped me get back into the hobby…

[@classicmodeltrains]

Very kind of you to say Michael, Glad your back into modeling :-)

[@junelipinski2025]

Hey Ron, Marx wheels were not quartered because they had to rotate together so that they would drive a smoke unit with both main rods working together to push the bellows. It didn't matter on non-smoking models. Just to pass on some knowledge to you. Very nice train set. You did a wonderful job giving that Marx set a Christmas.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you for the info there June :-)

[@peterhiggins3329]

Don't be in such a rush with the brush paint. Let the first coat dry: might be thin and show through but building up lots of thin layers will produce a better outcome and thin coats will dry a lot quicker.

[@NormanAllen-ps9ju]

Ron, you are like Cadillac : The Perfect Blend of Art and Science ! You did a wonderful job of fully restoring this Marx loco and cars !

[@classicmodeltrains]

Very kind of you Norman :-)

[@NewTestamentDoc]

I've been laid up due to surgery. Can hardly walk. Found your videos... have been binge watching and thoroughly enjoying. Thanks for helping me celebrate Christmas .... somehow!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you!!! Sorry to hear about your condition, I am hoping you are healing up well. Glad you have found something to occupy your mind. I have been laid up several times in the past 3 years, gets pretty boring just laying there. Thank you for your kind words on my video's. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@StationaryDingleberry]

This reminded me of when my Mom made me sell all my Marx/Lionel trains to fund a new HO layout... I got $8 for two whole sets and all the fixings. Your restorations are driving up the price of these relics which is a good thing! Great to see her running! I believe I had the same or very similar steam engine... great job!

[@classicmodeltrains]

I would like to think I'm influencing the market but I dont think I have that kind of influence.......yet ;-)

[@johnknippenberg-LandmarkYards]

I think the reason why O Gauge trains run so well is because the oiled wheels don't ride on the powered rail. Awesome 999 salvage, looks amazing including the slo-mo wheel slip. 😎👍

[@markwakeley3835]

All things considered, everything turned out Okay. Good job Ron. Happy Birthday to your better half and Happy Holidays to your family. See ya next week or so.

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

Great video on the Marx 999 I have a Marx 333 with smoke 🚂

[@classicmodeltrains]

cool! Is it a side smoker as well?

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

@@classicmodeltrains yes it is!

[@andyfrank6078]

MERRY CHRISTMAS RON. Your videos have greatly helped me repairing locomotives this past year. Now I buy $5 and $10 locomotives at shows and root around in em to get them up and running again. Wife loved last weeks transformation beautiful job. Keep em coming in the next year.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well Andy!

[@bobiler-r3l]

I used a small strip of black vinyl tape on one of rear wheel, solved the slipping problem.

[@classicmodeltrains]

I will have to try that thanks

[@lotsatrains]

Great little engine love my Marx trains they were my very first when I was 5 years old 👍

[@jamesfitch6431]

Great video. Hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family. Enjoy.

[@flyinwithbrian9753]

Another great video Ron! I knew when I first started watching your stuff that you had to be a VGG fan! You and Derek are two of my favorite youtubers. Fun humor combined with great know-how and problem solving makes for quality entertainment! ... and Heather Locklear was the bomb:)

[@donhopf5877]

It's running great!! Good job!!

[@bigwoz78]

Merry Christmas Ron and family. I used to have such a huge crush on Heather Locklear

[@classicmodeltrains]

I know what you mean, she was a looker! lol Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@glf001]

I discovered your channel a few weeks ago and love it. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas!

[@TomzTrainzandAccessories]

You did a really great job on this Marx 999 Ron!! I really enjoyed the painting you did on it as well. The engine really pops now. The rolling stock came out great as well. Super job my friend. Merry Christmas to you and your wife!! Tom

[@davidorr8645]

I love the way you wiggle your fingers like you are conjuring magic😂

[@classicmodeltrains]

he he he he........ LOVE IT!!!!! :-D

[@SantaFeBob]

Awesome work bringing this one back to life. Great choice on the classic Model of the week. That was a very nice picture of Heather Locklear. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks SF Bob, H.L. sure broke some hearts back in the 80's for sure. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@davidmorris7696]

I have a Marx 999 NYC tinplate from my father, great runners.

[@coverdalemineoscalemodelrr7074]

Sweet Heather Loclier . I love those old Marx engines

[@classicmodeltrains]

Yup!

[@bdlii]

You watch Polar Express and I'm watching Classic Model Trains while I wrap gifts. Fun video.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks :-)

[@deanmeyer7887]

Great video and Happy birthday to the little Lady. Marry Christmas to y’all from Texas.

[@markirwin7677]

That is a neat little bogger. Went from no go, to doing burn outs, love it.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Lubrication is a good thing :-)

[@rgiordano8224]

Hey Ron, you're a good painter!!!!

[@johncherny8097]

Merry Christmas Ron to you and your family. Thanks for making your videos! Looking forward to cleaning scub and restoring more trains next year!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you John, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@tmscheum]

Merry Christmas! Headed towards 20k subscribers! Nice!

[@BobR-gy5gx]

Nice job on the marx trains Ron! Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year!! Keep the videos coming!!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you Bob! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@rickmoustier1723]

Merry Christmas To you and your family Ron.

[@Gary-hi5xr]

She looks great Ron. Thanks for the great videos.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you, I appreciate you watching!

[@keepamericayisraelgreat5708]

It's great seeing you back after your craft, mobile classic trains and we get a sneak peek on how to do it....Thanks

[@classicmodeltrains]

I'm glad you liked it! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@johnbanicki7232]

Tough week for spilling things. Good thing is now your work space is nice and clean. Great to see the old train running again. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks John, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@randystrunk9774]

Another great job Ron! I enjoy watching, & am loving the restoration skills! Thank you for the entertainment! Keep up the good work!

[@classicmodeltrains]

I appreciate that, thanks for watching!

[@HudsenA28]

merry christmas and a happy new year 2025

[@classicmodeltrains]

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@williamboisjoli3780]

As always Great show, that Marx never ran better. and Merry Christmas Ron

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks William Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@randydobson1863]

Hi Ron & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Ron & Friends Randy

[@classicmodeltrains]

Hi Randy, Merry Christmas to you

[@michaelmejia3822]

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Michael, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@jimorlando5700]

Very cool train set. Merry Christmas!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Jim, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@williamsantangelo]

Thank you Ron luv them MARX 3/16ths the 999 never was a good puller! Merry Christmas and the Happy Birthday too

[@zendoargos4988]

Those little Marx 999's are a lot of fun. I have several of them and I have painted a few of them very similar to the one you did in this video. I think that it makes the tiny little 2-4-2 look bigger to paint the front of the boiler. I've also customized a lot of the metal rolling stock (cheap hobby paint hand painted not a pro job at all). Those metal cars are considered 3/16 rolling stock so S scale decals fit a lot better than O scale...just in case you decide to do any. The vast majority of those Marx 999's came with a New York Central tender. They never did make a Reading tender which is odd because Reading and New York Central were the two metal cabooses that they made. There is a very rare 4 wheel (instead of 8 wheel) tender like that for Nickel Plate Road, but it went with different cars and there is no metal Nickel Plate caboose. The entire 3/16 rolling stock offerings were less than 20 different pieces between flat cars, boxcars, a hopper, gondolas, cattle cars, and cabooses. If ever there was an entire line that would be possible to collect (except for rare variations of course) it would be the Marx 3/16 line. Merry Christmas to you and the wife and I love the videos.

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

I have a Marx 333 with smoke 🚂 great engine pulls and smokes like crazy. Love the video on the 999 💞

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks

[@robertwagner734]

Another great video. A very Merry Christmas🎅🏼 and A Happy New Year 🎉 to you and your lady .

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

Nice Holiday Video great job

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Norman

[@MygrandpasTrain]

Neat little engines. I came across a couple and they are bulletproof. Set on track and took off and run. The paint does improve the looks a bit. Merry Christmas

[@classicmodeltrains]

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@martyh299]

Those old Marx trains is what I grew up with. Had a blast as a young’in playing with them! Great job Ron and Merry Christmas to you and your wife!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Marty, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

My Marx 333 has double gear ⚙️ reduction!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Helps them pull more

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

@@classicmodeltrains yes and smoke more!

[@BrianHolzheimer-mg4qt]

Merry Christmas 🎀🎄🎁

[@swimjimsvideos5244]

Your "nippers" are also know as End Cutters. After over thirty years in hardwood flooring I know them well. Painting the smoke box/firebox was a great idea and really added to the look of the engine. I recognized Heather Locklear right away. She got my attention more than a few squares back. Lol. Another great video! Happy Birthday to your better half and Merry Christmas!

[@classicmodeltrains]

End Cutters and side cutters...... Makes since now. I always called my side cutters a pair of dikes. Yes that H.L. could sure break up a happy home back in the day for sure. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@almarr4942]

The paint adds a great touch...great job

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you!

[@FrankOConnor-x1j]

Thanks Ron! Another awesome restoration. Merry Christmas!!

[@classicmodeltrains]

I appreciate it, Merry Christmas to you as well Frank

[@Trains-and-Railroads]

Wow! Really intersting. You did a nice job with the painting and everything. My first new train set was Marx, mid-sixties. All of the cars were plastic bodies, 027 scale. Santa Fe A&B F unit locomotives, oddball couplers that were not compatible with Lionel. - Johnny from Texas.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks J From T! Yes all Marx had different couplers than Lionel, just seemed silly to me

[@MrZlooze]

Sharpies touch those cars up nice.

[@stevenjameswalker9991]

My family and I are glad that your videos exist Merry Christmas from the Walkers.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you Steven, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@blablametalhead]

Great vid and thank you......I have a armload of 666 and 1666 engines that need new bushings,when wore it can let the gears skip teeth.

[@silvertrain7945]

I busted out laughing when you said that you would piss on a sparkelator if that would help. I too watch VGG. I usually have it playing when I’m working on some trains. Thanks for another great video. Merry Christmas Ron!

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Good morning from Miami, waiting to board the cruise ship🎉

[@classicmodeltrains]

Well that sounds like a GREAT way to celebrate the season. Good for you and the Missus!!

[@azmike1]

Lionel is fun! Loud. Metal. Fast!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Yup, Yup, and YUP!! :-)

[@MessyMason5904]

33%ter here!! That train is built for speed😂

[@classicmodeltrains]

Yes it is!

[@jamescotter5376]

Another good one thanks Ron you have a merry Christmas you and your wife and your dog

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks James, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@dalefraschetti1874]

Another great video Ron !!!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you Dale :-)

[@caboosech]

Great video ron merry Christmas 🎄

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

My opinion on marx sets is they are very good For running around a Christmas tree and for starting out Most of my engines are marx (5) with 3 lionels and 1 American flyer O scale

[@classicmodeltrains]

Back in the day Marx trains were bought by "Working Men" for there boys and the Lionels which were much more expensive were bought by "White Collar" Fellers for there kids. Marx has a strong following among Model Train Enthusiasts to this day.

[@hakannilsson9490]

Nice! Will be great to watch tonight

[@classicmodeltrains]

:-)

[@MattKonsol]

Nice job working on this Marx 999 set right here!! She looks awesome! I hope you have a merry christmas! 33%er

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Matt, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@WWIIREBEL]

A friend of mine restored a similar set 5 years ago. The track was black as well. Being he was missing a few sections, he got some new made replacements and blackened the rails to match the rest , then polished the rail tops. Nowadays he sets it up in the front of his office every year,lol.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Cool that he's still running it!

[@anthonycollins4747]

Hi Ron, Another great video. 🎄 Merry Christmas 🎄 to and your family. 🎄🎅🎄

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you Anthony, Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@pyrielrising4338]

Happy Holidays Ron to you and "The Little Lady".😊

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@josephschuster1494]

I LOVE when you repair Marx equipment. I just purchased a Marx 999 loco/tender which currently runs, in need of some TLC. Perfect timing! 🚂

[@classicmodeltrains]

Right on!

[@VarneyTrainMan]

Merry Christmas Ron, good show I see a lot of old Marx equipment for sale in my area on facebook market place really cheap, how ever I am not into it, I did score an old Hornby 4-6-4 steam engine in HO scale thought, oiled it up and runs like a charm, will send you a picture of it in a day or two, need the tender for it, but runs with out it, all power pick up is on the engine

[@jeffsikes5312]

MERRY CHRISTMAS BUDDY FROM MICHIGAN.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Jeff Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@BrockRuby]

Holly Molly!!! Is that a pre famous Cheryl Tiegs??? Late 1970s!!!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Close, Heather Locklear

[@electrician-bn7gr]

As always Ron I enjoyed the great work you do to these trains 🚂. Wishing you and the family a merry Christmas 🎄.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@JPaul60]

Great job on the set. That transformer looked a little iffy from the beginning. As far as wheel slip goes the unit needs some sanders. Well, maybe roughing up the drivers with some 100 -150 grit sandpaper. Not too shabby for a 77 year old trainset. The Spirit of Christmas Train. Merry Christmas Ron.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@johnblanton-fd3jf]

The 999 was the work horse for the Marx sets. , it wasn’t uncommon to find different road names on the coal tender and caboose, that happened in the factory to get sets shipped out.

[@classicmodeltrains]

I agree

[@jebbohanan2626]

YES!! Great job!! Those pieces of track being slicker than the others…that’s got me puzzled… It could possibly be that the track is made of an extremely hardened metal that just doesn’t allow for tractive effort…Idunno It’s got me scratching my head Anyway Tell your woman Happy Birthday And the both of you have a excellent Christmas!!

[@charliestrainset-wx6zz]

Hi Ron the New York Central tender come with pretty much every set and the reading caboose came with them for some reason I have an original set from 1938 and it has a reading caboose and it has a NYC tender that's marx for you good video by the way and have a Merry Christmas👍

[@stephencossman6966]

I really enjoy the vid's along w/the narrative!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours. illin' in south philly I model N scale stoney creek branch of the Reading Railroad.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. Thanks for watching.

[@inserthandlehere648]

My family has this old red Lionel diesel and I'm planning on fixing it soon

[@classicmodeltrains]

Cool!

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. 🎄🚂🚃🚃🚃🎄 Merry Christmas Ron and Happy Birthday to the wife🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺👍

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@ecidaho]

Heather Locklear I believe. Very cool restoration. My first O27 set was the Marx Big Rail Work Train from about 1971 or 2. It was in the ever popular Penn Central Livery! For Tamiya paint find some Paint Retarder and mix that in Tamiya bottle paint and it won’t do the paint over pull off anymore. Chisel tip white paint pens are great for runningboard white edges. She looks great!!! Maybe a thin rubber band on both of the forward drivers as they looked geared.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Another Win for Erick! Thanks for the paint tips. I thought about rubber band but didn't have any small enough. Me and my 12th hour production runs ;-)

[@ecidaho]

@ Maybe try some of the clear hair tie bands. Pretty thin and would be close to inivisible.

[@MachGo66]

Hi Ron. Great video. I’ve been buyin’ up old Marx trains lately too. They just don’t quit. Sorry you didn’t like those Dremel abrasive wheels so much. I find the red ones do the best with the least mess. I had an issue with slipping wheels on my Marx 1666 as well. It worked much better once I degreased the track and wheels with some CRC electronics cleaner. Take care and Happy Holiday!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thank you. I do like them abrasive pads, I just made the mess all over my desk, not there fault ;-) Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@tmscheum]

Sooper loob 33%er. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@majortomtogc]

"Maybe it's a wheel puller..." LOLOL

[@classicmodeltrains]

A Feller can wish :-)

[@willamcombs1106]

That Niagara Falls tank car. NIAGARA FALLS! Slowly I turned . . Step by Step . . Inch by Inch. 😂😂😂

[@classicmodeltrains]

Dang Corporate 'Merica anyway

[@jas5267]

Hi @Classic Model Trains, What attachment did you attach to your dremel to polish the wheels?

[@jamesdenny4734]

I have some black track, I bought in a lot, just four 9 or 10" straights n two 5" straights. I use them for my test track!

[@classicmodeltrains]

Right on!

[@OgdenTunkRR]

Merry Christmas Ron thanks for a great year of videos always a 33%er 🎄🚂

[@classicmodeltrains]

Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! Thanks for watching all year!

[@dannyjones3840]

Another great video Ron! I was wondering how much weight did the loco have in it? Any time I get a new engine in I try to load a much lead or steel into it that I can. For steam engines I find #7 shot works great because you can glue it in the shell with some Elmer's white glue and fill tons of small voids you can't get the .25 or. 5 oz wheel weights in.

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks Danny, I normally dont change the weight in these big old 3 rail loco's. A cast shell seems to be enough. It has lots of room in there for more weight but I still think my biggest problem is the slick wheels

[@NJEsperantist]

The finish on the tender may have gotten milky if a previous owner put polyurethane on it. Water will make poly milky. If that is the case, you can clarify it by going over it gently with a hair dryer or heat gun. Be careful.

[@johnpainter7343]

Hey Ron I was wondering, do you know where or how I could replace the metal pickup for the center rail?

[@classicmodeltrains]

There might be some Marx parts places out there. I would google them.

[@johnpainter7343]

@classicmodeltrains ok thank you. Also thanks to your videos I'm not afraid to go inside my trains now. Please keep up the good work and Marry Christmas 🚂

[@williamkaczmarek3996]

Would a traction tires work to solve your grippyness problem?

[@brentpodoll5848]

I started my train love with my older brothers marx set. But it had the plastic bodys. The uncupler work very well. It had the plastic cuplers and with just a simple oval it was lil boring i also had bad wheel slipage when l would load the gondola . Asmall rubber band on the front outside driver would do the trick

[@jaystuckey4920]

Early Lionel O 27 track had black ties then theirlater O27 track had brown ties. If you get abox of O27 track with old Lionel black tie track mixed in with Marx O27 black tie track its a bugger to separate, But count the holes and you can separate it out. They will work together of course. I have been hearing that alcohol is bad for cleaning track as the reisdue attracks stuff you don't want. They say Mineral spirits cleans better and does not leave a residue. The 999 is a classic reliable engine. There were 3 or 4 versions involving the different designs of the cow catcher.

[@jamesdenny4734]

Also, with just 2 wheels with rods, I dont see the need to quarter them. Nothing will get jammed up?

[@classicmodeltrains]

Yup, you're right on.

[@DGHodgson-o8z]

Hi Ron, thank you for another excellent year of entertaining video's, Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2025. Ps if you're going to pee on spark plugs, make sure the engine is switched off 😂

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks for the good advice ;-) Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@Gregtrainmaster]

perma-tex makes good traction also thin strips of gorilla tape

[@classicmodeltrains]

Thanks for the tips Greg!

[@colinsrcrepairshopandmodel2578]

I have the same marx locomotive and for some reason it will go forward and reverse by itself sometimes is it normal for my marx train to do that or why is it doing that

[@classicmodeltrains]

It's loosing the power pickup from the track. The reversing solenoid looses power and drops. when power is restored it pulls the plunger up which switches the direction. clean your wheels and track should eliminate problem. dont forget to lube the motor and stuff while your at it.

[@colinsrcrepairshopandmodel2578]

@classicmodeltrains what kind of grease do you recommend I use for the marx gears?

[@gregorytalber2068]

It’s Heather locklear