Battery powered Marx train

[route_rock]

  Hi all this is my first time posting here so bear with me if this is redundant ( I didnt find anything on this topic though)

  A friend of mine wants to know what kind of price tag would go with a  battery powered ( mechanical is a description given)Marx train set?She wants to buy it for her store ( antiques and stuff) but isnt sure what a good price on it is.

  The set is a Steam loco,UP tnder, SAL gon and UP caboose.Very neat looking but no one knows its age and I am no expert in this so I figured someone here might know and be able to tell  me.

   Thanks in advance!

[CSXect]

Marx made electric, windup(mechanical) and Battery operated trains they also made plastic and tinplate trains. Marx was the low end alternitive to lionel or American flyer but has a strong following of collecters. Not an expert but if you have a pic or even numbers off of each piece that would help in identifing the trainand its value.

[Dave Farquhar]

I'm guessing late 1950s, early 1960s for the timeframe. I see them every so often in train stores, usually priced at about $35.

Here's the breakdown of the individual components, in case it's incomplete. The loco/tender is worth about $10; the SAL gon is probably worth about $10 (assuming it's the red-bodied version), and the UP caboose (assuming it's the black frame version) is worth about $5. The track is worth about 50 cents per section, so assuming 10 sections, add another $5. And then add about $5 for the box and instructions.

If the SAL gon is a different color or if the UP caboose has the brown frame, the value rises.

That's what it would be worth to a train collector. Marx sold a lot of these but they were very inexpensive (these sold at Woolworth's, while Lionel and American Flyer sold at Macy's) and not exactly treasured. Almost every one of these I see is in excellent condition or better, which would suggest they didn't get played with a lot either. If this particular train has dents, rust, or other defects, the value drops.

Interest in Marx's trains is growing today, but collectors primarily are interested in the higher-end Marx stuff that used 3-rail track and transformers. That said, even stuff that's valuable by Marx standards is still comparable in value to mid-range Lionel stuff.

I hope this helps.

[route_rock]

  Thanks alot guys!! I dont have the pieces in my hands but there was one on ebay that matched the set my friend Jen is looking at. It started at 50 dollars and never sold. I think honestly Jens Hubby wants it for himself so it will go to a good home.

  It is the red SAL gon and the UP caboose has a black underframe.So I will pass on this information. Thanks once a gain for your guys help.

[Dave Farquhar]

It would make a nice display piece, and would even work well as a Christmas tree train if they don't mind replacing batteries. The 6-inch Marx cars are extremely charming, so I can see why they might want it to keep for themselves. For part of last year's Christmas season I ran a group of 6-inch Marx cars under my tree (primarily red SAL and green Rock Island gondolas), pulled by a Lionel locomotive. The shiny tin litho looks good with Christmas lights and porcelain village buildings.

[Anonymous]

Does it have TMCC?