MODERN MARX TRAINS NEW OLD TIN

                   told as remembered by Dan Schievelbein

Reviving the Marx Spirit of Tin Lithograph Styled Trains and Accessories :

 Beginning preproduction as early as 1990 Marx branded tin lithographed trains brought back that nostalgic feeling of early tinplate. They revived the spirit of Marx Toy Train Railroading with construction based on old Louis Marx designs. No exact reproduction trains were made.

Using one of the most popular Marx Canadian Pacific F2a designs, they created scores of new tin engines in the Marx tradition. By altering colors, lithography and exterior trim and using fresh roadnames, new cars and sets were up and running. They had brought the classic tin Marx train into the new century.

     CP Set

The intro unit was the Canadian Pacific passenger set of 1992. Produced in a similar color scheme as the original Marx Canadian passenger train sets, but in a scale version.

 The complementing CP Engine and tender was released in 1995. The CP caboose that Marx never made appeared in New Marx production, as well as the Pennsylvania caboose!

The New Marx 1896 Birthday Special Train

Tin cars and equipment expanded the Marx train line and were also produced in the same familiar manner of Marx tin lithography that we have been accustomed to. Specialty trains like Christmas trains, Halloween units, Military trains, Millennium Y2K cars and the Louis Marx Birthday train were some of the highlights of the Modern Marx run.

     Milwaukee Road Set

Scale freights began in 1994. New freights had new colors and many new roads were displayed on their lithography.

Many shiny new lithographed Marx cars and trains have been bought and sold right here on eBay ! Your best chance to find one is here on eBay!

     NYC Set

The Six inch car line started in 1996. Another memorable modern Marx train set was the Marx Disney style train, this one was in a Six Inch Tin/Scale combo version as opposed to the original 7" Marx scale version. Only 300 sets were reportedly produced!

Many new trains have been built and they were all different in some fashion than original Marx but were still a logical continuation of what could have been and were available direct from factory purchase only a few years ago!

     Norfolk and Western

The idea to mount a motor in a caboose or car, led to the Elevated rail sets and Thor style engines and of course, The Park street Trolley! Other memorable items are the tin bay window caboose and twin tank car, a couple of items Louis never made!  Just as exploring old Marx files and archives has helped to produce new trackside buildings and accessories.

     Elevated Set

New ideas and Road Names have brought about many beautiful newly lithographed toy trains, that continued the Marx tradition. Such was the Marlines work train!

     Marlines Work Train

The Marx brand symbolized that this quality adult toy train line was still made and hand assembled in the United States of America !!!!

     Pennsylvania Set

However, those days are ended now. The Marx brand (1990-2003) was dropped and Ameritrains Brand (2004-2007) took over the tin train line for a short sprint.

The Marx brand has become locked up in litigation and is probably lost forever.

Currently production has ended, no more trains are being produced, only archive and old stock are being liquidated, many right here on eBay.  New trains have become scarcer and prices have been skyrocketing !

It was a good run though, fun for a season, and we are thankful for the reviving of the Marx tin lithograph line!

     MODERN MARX BRANDED TRAINS

                B 1990 - D 2003