Marx freight set 4205

Marx freight set 4205

Circa 1958, Marx introduced a steam freight train set, catalog number 4205, that went on to become one of its best sellers. The set remained in production into the 1960s, but with some changes. It provided an introduction to electric trains at an unbeatable price.

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Refurbishing a Lionel 6014 boxcar

Refurbishing a Lionel 6014 boxcar

One morning in December, I got a text message from my wife. She’d found some trains in a secondhand store, cheap. They were damaged, but I like fixing up old trains. The highlight of the find was a Lionel 6014 boxcar. It had a busted truck, but was otherwise in reasonable condition. I didn’t have to feel bad about modifying it, and I had just the thing in mind. Restoration is a strong word for what I ended up doing, but some might call it a restoration or a customization.

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Marx train set 4318 for W.T. Grant

Marx train set 4318 for W.T. Grant

The Marx 4318 was a low end train set that was the result of a long time collaboration between two large companies while times were still good for both of them. It was an inexpensive electric train set exclusive to W.T. Grant, which was one of the fastest growing retailers in the United States at the time.

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Marx Happi-Time 9640 train set

Marx Happi-Time 9640 train set

Marx train set 9640 was an electric train set Marx that Sears sold in 1952. You may also hear collectors refer to it as Happi-Time train set 9640, because that’s what Marx printed on the box. It featured Marx’s best locomotive pulling 3/16 scale metal cars. This set marked the farewell for that locomotive, as Marx bundled the set to use up remaining discontinued inventory, to clear the way for its 1953 product refresh.

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Marx train set 4338 for W.T. Grant

Marx train set 4338 for W.T. Grant

The Marx 4338 was a low end train set that was the result of a long time collaboration between two companies who were nearing the end of the line. It was an inexpensive electric train set exclusive to W.T. Grant, which was still the third fastest growing retailer in the United States at the time.

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Marx Happi-Time 9605 train set

Marx Happi-Time 9605 train set

Marx train set 9605 was an electric train set Marx that Sears sold in 1955. But you may also hear collectors refer to it as Happi-Time train set 9605, because that’s what Marx printed on the box.

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Marx Rambler train set number 4336

Marx Rambler train set number 4336

Marx thrived for years selling low budget electric trains with an inexpensive locomotive pulling 4-wheel cars made of plastic. The Rambler train set, part of its Great American Railroads series, carried catalog number 4336 and was the last of that breed.

The Marx Rambler train, set number 4336, was part of the Great American Railroads series. It had two variants sold by discount retailers, but only in 1974.

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Marx train set 4351

Marx train set 4351

The Marx 4351 was a 4-wheel plastic set fronted by a 490 locomotive that came with a figure 8 of track and a set of paper buildings. Marx billed it as a complete train set with nothing more to buy. Depending on how you used it, they may have been right.

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Marx diesel freight train set 8612

Marx diesel freight train set 8612

The Marx diesel freight train set number 8612 was a late 1950s electric train set featuring twin diesel locomotives pulling 6-inch freight cars. It’s an attractive set and a very good example of post-war tin lithography, which was becoming something of a lost art at the time.

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A simple restoration of a Marx 591 windup

A simple restoration of a Marx 591 windup

I recently gave a Marx 591 clockwork locomotive a low key restoration. I thought I would document the process I followed in case it might be helpful to anyone.

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