Last Updated on May 1, 2024 by Dave Farquhar
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.
Happi-Time train set 9605
Set #9605 was a lower-end Marx train electric set in Sears’ 1955 Christmas catalog featuring the short-lived 7-inch train cars. Sears priced it at $9.95. That’s about $170 in 2023 dollars. This set predates Sears’ use of the Allstate brand on its train sets. Sears optionally bundled it with a tin lithographed freight terminal playset for $4.95 extra, a discount of 75 cents. The station was more appropriately sized for Standard Gauge trains, so it really dominated the layout if you bought the two together.
Marx lettered this set for the New York Central railroad, teaming up a low-end 590-series pressed tin locomotive and tender with 7-inch freight cars.
The consist
Marx train set 9605 consisted of the following:
- 590 loco w/ headlight and reverse
- New York Central 4-wheel tender
- Pennsylvania Merchandise Service box car (number varied, 37950-37959)
- 80982 Wabash gondola
- New York Central (NYC) Pacemaker caboose (number varied, 20110-20124)
- 10 pieces of O27 track (advertised as 129 inches of track)
- 1209 transformer
A 50-watt transformer and an oval of 10 pieces of O27 track rounded out the set. Specifically, it included eight O27 curved sections and two O27 straight sections. Sears called it 129 inches of track in its catalog description. It makes it sound bigger than calling it a 27-inch x 35-inch oval. Sears also sold extra track at 18 cents apiece for O27, and 22 cents apiece for wide-diameter O34 curves.
If you have one of these sets and you’d like to see it running again, I don’t blame you. Here’s some advice on setting up a Marx train set. I also have some tips on servicing the model 1209 transformer.
Marx sold a lot of train sets lettered for the New York Central. Other Marx sets lettered for the New York Central include 4205, 4218, 9611, 9624, and 52875.
Positioning
Sears positioned this set as a lower-end electric set. Customers who bought windup sets in previous years could use this set to upgrade their kids to electric. 6-inch cars from windup sets worked just fine alongside the 7-inch cars in this set.
Value
I frequently get questions about the value of old Marx train sets. As for the value of set 9605 today, I would estimate it at $50-$75. Although the line was pretty short-lived, nothing in the set is especially rare or unusual.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.