Hi, I am new to the hobby through sheer luck. I inherited a train set. HO. scale. Not sure of the age but the newspaper they were wrapped in was dated 1965. My problem lies in identifying the manufacturer. In particicular 2 steam engines. Sorry no photos but I will try if requested. I am not selling but the person I took them to was not really wanting to give me an estimate…did he want them cheap? I dont know. Anyway this is what I was able to dig up so far.
Engine 1: B-6? switcher 0-6-0 w/tender Pennsylvania Markings 31004. 1 number found on bottom behind front coupler P10024. no light but has a smoker.
Engine 2: J-1? Hudson 4-6-4 w/tender New York Central markings 6096 1 marking found on bottom a cirlcle with made in the United States of America around the outside and what looks like M A R? inside the circle. any help would be appreciated as I am enjoying this mild obsession. Thank You Most likely MARX. nothing on e-bay.
Any True historical data on these particular engines would be appreciated also. I think I pretty much exauhsted the web. I could find no reference with these numbers.
Welcome to the forum and to the world of electric trains!
You may want to post this in the Model Railroader forum http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/88.aspx with a few photos. The people there do more with HO scale, and will be better equipped to answer your questions.
Most of the people in the Classic Toy Trains forum work with Lionel, and MTH, (O-gauge) and American Flyer (S-gauge) trains.
Good Luck!
Kurt
PS: I just noticed you said one was marx…Perhaps photos in both places will help your odds.
Actually that 31004 is most likely an American Flyer engine from the early days of HO. I think that at that point some of the HO gauge line was produced by Rivarossi. The Marx engine would certainly qualify for this forum.
Edit: I knew I recognized the number. I only have two American Flyer HO engines in my collection and the B6 switcher happens to be one of them. I think this is the engine you have:
I am not as well versed in the HO line and know even less about Marx, but I am sure there will be someone in the forum that can at least direct you to the information you are looking for.
Edit #2 I did a little more internet research and found the 31004 adorning the cover of the 1958 American Flyer Catalog. I think this link will take you there.
American Flyer O gauge and Wide gauge is also represented in this forum. I would suspect that there might also be some Lionel collectors and operators on this forum.
I know that MARKS (MAR) also did HO so I still think going over to Model railroader website and asking there is your best bet. and the number looks like that of an ho number by marks not O gauge. marks also did some wind up which would be bigger than ho but still 2 rail. Either way wish you the best in finding out what you need to know and as others have said you need to get pics and get them posted with your request it will help anybody trying to help you.
