collectable trains?

[JamesP]

Hello and welcome to the forum!  There are a quite a few Marx fans on here.

As you stated in your first post, Marx trains were intended to be an affordable toy train set.  As such, there really aren't serial numbers on the trains, they are just identified by their appearance and any numbers on the engine or cars.  For instance, the set that you referenced on EBay shows a plastic 400 locomotive, which has the "400" on the side of the cab.  The set also has 6" tin cars.  These can all be identified and a value assigned to them... although values fluctuate according to the condition and the market.  The value of the set in it's entirety is a bit harder, since boxed sets aren't as common.  The number for the entire set should be on box itself.  Watching items on EBay is one way to find a market value for your items... of course, the market value is going to be the selling price, not the asking price.  If the item has been for sale for a while at a certain "Buy It Now" price and hasn't sold, it is probably overpriced to some degree... :>)

Kalmbach recently released the Ninth Edition of the Greenberg's Marx Trains Pocket Price Guide that would help you with values for the individual items, and it is reasonably priced.  But, it does not cover the sets in detail.  There are older, out of print Greenberg's Guides that go into much more detail about Marx, but they are expensive, assuming you can find them for sale. 

One very good resource is Walt Hiteshaw's excellent website:  http://www.toyandtrainguides.com/marxtin.htm

It will give you a good start to identifying the individual items, especially 6" tin cars.  Marx made a variety of different types of cars over the years, such as 6" tin w/ 4 wheels, 7" tin, 6" tin w/ 8 wheels, 3/16 scale tin 8 wheel cars and various plastic cars.  Walt specializes in 6" tin, and as such has a CD available that is (in my opinion) the most extensive, thorough resource on Marx 6" tin cars available.  Of course, that is assuming your set has 6" tin like the example set you referred to on EBay.

Anyway, I hope that some of this information helps you, or at least gets you pointed in the right direction.  If you can post some pictures of your sets, it might help someone here give you more information about them.

 - James

[libbie1]

Thanks for the info I guess I dont know where to find the numbers to identify the trains. I did find one on ebay that looks(box and train) like one we have. the number for that train was #4022 Stream Line Steam type. Can you tell me where to look for identifying numbers,serial #'s and such?

[handyandy]

A lot of Marx sets were called Stream Line Steam Type electric trains, so it's hard to say.

Here's some sites to check out for more Marx info....

http://www.toyandtrainguides.com/marxtin.htm

http://reviews.ebay.com/MARX-TIN-TRAIN-LOCOMOTIVE-IDENTIFICATION-GUIDE_W0QQugidZ10000000009480012

http://reviews.ebay.com/MarX-Trains-and-Toys-Info-The-Toy-King-Louis-Marx?ugid=10000000004057543

http://reviews.ebay.com/Marx-quot-Postwar-quot-Tinplate-Guide-Lithographed-Diesels?ugid=10000000001644935

[cwburfle]

It would be difficult to answer such a general question.  Some Marx trains are collectable, their value would depend on exactly what you have, and their condtion.
Please note that people often tend to over estimate the condition of their old items.

[libbie1]

 All the parts are thereHi I need some information on some trains we have had in our closet for some years. they belong to my husband and resently we were cleaning out the closet and re- found them. we were talking about them and I am curious of the value of them. I have read thet the company they were made for  Louis Marx & Co. made nice trains but were less expensive that Lional trains because ther were ment to be affordable for that era ( aprox 1930s-1940s) they are the Stream line Steam Type Electric  and the Diesel type remote control. All the parts are Clean and they both run. Can anyone give me any info on the beautiful trains. Thanks