Marx trains were always the low end item in the toy train world. Derided because they weren’t as detailed or as fancy as their Lionel counterparts, there’s one thing that can be said about 'em: They’re darned near unkillable! As can be seen from this (admittedly a tad scruffy) specimen from the 1950s I rescued a month or two back, not only is the light working but it still cheerfully blows smoke some 60 years later (as can be seen by the wisps blowing about)! 
Not having a Marx tender for it, I’ve paired the 666 with another orphan, a Lionel Southern RR tender from the 1970s MPC era. While I’m the first to give Lionel equipment of that timeframe the razz (because, let’s face it, the design and build quality was not the best), I do confess to being charmed by the mechanical “choo choo” sound wheel in the tender [similar to this]. Future plans include freshening up the paint on the loco and tender, with big ol’ 666 numbers on the tender sides…
Mitch
Mitch,
Do you know the story behind why they numbered it 666? I have always been curious why the management at Marx choose that for a road number.
George
Well, Aleister Crowley WAS in NYC just before Marx & Co, was founded… [}:)]
Mitch
Because it smokes like the devil! [}:)]
I always asumed it was because of Louis’ frugality and sensibility that there are only a few Marx loco numbers. The 666 and 999 were easy to create by simply flipping the number board over. I assume though that since no railroads were using letters for loco I.D. that the EEE flipping of the 333 number board got rejected! [(-D]
Becky
Most people don’t realize that there were two completely different Marx 666 locomotives. The first 666 was a prewar creation, a windup version of the early 999 with the open spoke pilot (cowcatcher). They are very rare, and almost always have the pilot broken! The second (postwar) 666 was much more popular, and is a typical Marx bulletproof locomotive. Gotta love those Marx trains… [:D]
Hello, I love the Marx 666 it was the best engine that Marx made it was all most bullet proof and I also love how it smokes when goes aound the layout. It was my first train set I got for Christmas when was 5 years old and still have the set and I am 58 years old today and I still run it too still works well. I have been collecting Marx trains for the last ten years and enjoying running and them fixing them. Marx trains are my choice of toy trains to me they are the best in the world. They very easy to repair and last for a long time.Thanks Ed.
Hello, I cannot afford new Lionel and MTH trains on a pension to expensive for me thats why I run my old Marx trains and I still enjoy them as a hobby. I can buy a lots Marx trains off Ebay for price of one Lionel or MTH engines or sets. I use the older 027 track and Marx switches for my layouts not the new track it is to expensive for me. I buy old track off Ebay and clean it a lot better deal for me I and also buy old Marx transformers from Ebay too. I run my Marx layout on a buget. That why I love my old Marx trains. Thanks Ed.
Hello, I just love Marx trains. I am in the process of building a new layout for my Marx trains. I am using old o27 tubular track I have cleaned and checked with voltmeter its in good shape and using old manual switches for my new layout it will be a 4 feet by 8 feet on piece of 3/4 inch thick plywood for the base with 2 inches by 2 inches legs 30 inches from the floor. I will be using 2 Marx transformers # 1669 100 watt transformers for my layout that is all the room I have for layout in a small apartment but I will enjoy it and a place to run my trains at least and have some fun building it.Thanks Ed.
Pretty much all of the older makes from the postwar era are bulletproof. I have a few engines that provide testimony to that (although not my 495. That mech might be bulletproof, but not improperly stored proof)
Hello Some of my Marx engines are over 80 years old and still run very well with little oil and grease to make them last longer . Like the Commodore Vanderbilts engines made in 1930, one my favorite engines. I also like 666,333 and 999 engines and also the tin plate engines like #21, #6000,#62. Thanks Ed.
Hello, When we were kids the only train sets we received for Christmas was Marx and I am glad my parents bought us Marx train sets, because they were very tuff and last a long time were also fun to play with and now I am older something to collect and do as a hobby and make layouts for our Marx trains.Thanks Ed.
Mine were all vintage Lionel, with a pair of Marx 490’s I passed on to younger friends as I acquired more and more Lionel pieces. Miss how bulletproof those mechanisms were. One of mine fell from over 7’ up, still ran like new, only engine I have that would compete is a Lionel 1666. Beautiful. Wish peeps still manufactured engines to the same standards they used to.
Hello, I also have a few Lionel engines and I have one standard gauge engine #390E and tender which belonged to my father. Most of my stuff is Marx engines and rolling stock and track and a few tin Marx buildings and other things too. I also have some American Flyer train engines and rolling stock and track. Marx trains were my toys growing up. Thanks Ed.