Last Updated on March 25, 2024 by Dave Farquhar
Marx train set 9635 was an electric train set Marx that Sears sold in 1952. You may also hear collectors refer to it as Happi-Time train set 9635, because that’s what Marx printed on the box. It featured Marx’s best locomotive pulling 3/16 scale metal cars.
Happi-Time train set 9635
Set #9635 was a higher-end Marx train electric set in Sears’ 1952 Christmas catalog. Sears priced it at $24.45. That’s about $281 in 2023 dollars. This set predates Sears’ use of the Allstate brand on its train sets.
Marx lettered this set for the New York Central railroad, teaming up its best diecast 333 locomotive and a diecast tender with 3/16-scale freight cars. Sears bragged the entire train was 4 feet long.
It consisted of the following:
- 333 locomotive w/ headlight and reverse
- New York Central diecast tender
- 3200 New Haven box car, brown
- 652 Shell tank car
- 44572 Chesapeake & Ohio high-side gondola
- Reading caboose
- 16 pieces of O27 track (advertised as 175 inches of track)
- 50-watt transformer
A 50-watt transformer and an oval of 16 pieces of O27 track rounded out the set. Specifically, it included eight O27 curved sections and eight O27 straight sections. Sears called it 175 inches of track in its catalog description. It makes it sound bigger than calling it a 27-inch x 56-inch oval. Sears also sold extra track at 18 cents apiece for O27, and 22 cents apiece for wide-diameter O34 curves.
Positioning
Sears positioned this set as a value-oriented but high-end electric set. Without naming names, it stated a set with a comparable engine normally sold for much more than $25. This set was aimed at people who wanted a nicer Lionel set but could only afford the entry-level Lionel Scout set.
Value
I frequently get questions about the value of old Marx train sets. As for the value of set 9635 today, I would estimate it at over $200. The freight cars themselves aren’t especially difficult to find, but the 333 locomotive and diecast tender are very sought after. They aren’t rare, but demand has pushed their value up in recent years.
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.