marx #4222

[Anonymous]

just purchased a marx steam train set on ebay for grandson. curious about its age. info as follows:#4222 with smoker engine,4 straight & 8 curved track,steam engine #400 needs light,tender is marlines tin utlx553 union tank car,tin reefer w. sliding doors marked colorado southern r.r. and s555,tin van/caboose marked nyc 20102. has working transformer and original box.paid $40.00. questions- age? can i find replacement light ? live in small town, would have to get book on interlibrary loan and already visited thor's site. any info appreciated.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

First, you got a good deal! Try looking for a train dealer (check in CTT MAG) for a
price guide for marx trains. Then read all you can find on Marx Trains and find the
nearest Great American Train Show and find some people that know something
about Marx Trains. Good luck by the way, Hope this gives you a place to start. I deal
with Lionel (post war) and dont know much about Marx Trains. But I am learning to
deal with other O gauge lines. Dr.Fu-Manchu

[Anonymous]

Well, Dr. Fu-Manchu is certainly right that you got a deal. Are you just starting to get into toy trains, yourself? Your set dates from the early 1950's when Marx first started making trains out of plastic (the 400 was their first plastic engine). The tin cars are of the Marx 6-inch type. As far as value goes, this is what the Marx guide says:
400 engine-$10 good, $15 excellent
Marlines 4-wheel plastic tender-$20 good, $30 excellent (the 400 was offered with other tenders later on and the Marlines is early and hard to find, that's why it's worth more than the engine).
Santa Fe 553 6-inch tank car-$10 good, $20 excellent
C&S 555 6-inch reefer-$15 good, $30 excellent
NYC 20102 6-inch caboose-$5 good, $10 excellent
The box of course adds value. I'm not sure abot finding a light, I don't think that it would be too hard. I think that there are other lights that same size. I don't think that these lights were specific to just Marx trains. Have fun with your train! I'm sure that your grandson will love it! The train may be old, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have the life in it to be enjoyed again for many, many years to come. Also, are Canadian? The fact that this same set was recently on ebay.ca and that you referred to the caboose as a "van" lead me to think so.

[rlplionel]

If you have a Radio Shack in your town, take the bulb there and match it up. I've replaced a few Marx locomotive bulbs and they have all been standard. Get one from 14 to 18 volts.

[Anonymous]

i have rescued a Marx Pioneer Express ride on, is metal with rubber wheels, bell near back wheel to ding when rolling, black paint with red/gold logo on both sides stating name of train. can anyone give me an approx value? i think its from the '50s, i know the previous model was in the '40s with metal wheels and no bell and says 3000 on the side. I rescued this one from the trash excellent condition!! HELP PLS.