I need help with this train set

[NSlover92]

I dont normally post here cause I am not into the O gauge stuff but I went to my friends house yesterday and spent the night and he said he dad had a really old train set so we got it out i was expecting a Lionel, but there was a 2-4-2 steamer with the road number 666 (yes the number of satan), I have some pics, I have never heard of the company, the only marked car is the tender and it has a railroad cross and it say MAR Toys. Does anyone know what this is worth or anything about it? Thanks Mike

[Anonymous]

I do not know very much about it but the MAR and the X is the logo for Marx toy trains, which I imagine is who made that set.

[Jumijo]

You have a Marx Allstate freight set originally sold at Sears. Marx trains are great running and reliable. They are easy to work on and inexpensive to purchase. You friend's set isn't worth a whole lot. But the sentimental value, it being her dad's, is worth holding on to it.

Jim 

[1688torpedo]

 Jim A-   Looks like your #666 knows how to multiply like Rabbits. Its kinfolk is in Sandusky,Ohio.  I think Dr.John needs to start a blessing service for these type of Marx Engines. Take Care all.

[Anonymous]

As has been said, this is a Marx train set.  Louis Marx and Company made a variety of O gauge trains and was at one time the world's largest toy manufacturer.  The 666 was Marx's first engine to have a smoke unit and legend has it that it was given that number because it "smoked like the devil".  In reality, however, the truth is that it was because the two other types of diecast steamers Marx made also had numbers that were multiples of three.  There was the larger 333 and the smaller 999, so, when this in-between sized engine was made, the number 666 was a logical fit into the pattern.  This set would date from the early 1960's and, as pointed out, came from Sears.  Allstate was a made-up roadname done especially for Sears.

Marx trains are extremely reliable and if this set doesn't already work, it should be able to run again very well with a minimal amount of cleaning of the motor.

Marx made an enormous number of trains and so many are quite common and not all that valuable.  Condition plays a very important part in train collecting and, sadly, this train does have some condition problems.  The following are the approximate values for the items in this set:

666 steam engine: $25-$30

Allstate tender: $15

Flatcars: The CB&Q car is NOT supposed to be an auto-loader.  The grey auto-rack actually belongs on the SOUTHERN flatcar and is incorrectly fitted on the CB&Q.  Having original loads is quite important to value and if they're missing (which is usually the case), the value drops drastically.  With this in mind, the Southern auto-loader would be worth around $10 and the empty Erie and CB&Q flatcars maybe $5 each.  Some Marx flatcars with the rarest of loads can bring in upwards of $150.

Allstate tank car: $40 (This is a somewhat harder-to-find piece and also seems to be in excellent condition.)

NYC crane: $30 (With the rigging still present, it obviously would be worth more.)

ATSF work caboose: $10 (The cab is on backwards, by the way, but being a train guy, I'm sure you realize that.)

B&M boxcar: $10 (Too bad the door is gone.)

So, altogether, the set would be worth around $150.

I hope your friend's family enjoys this set!