Well as Daniel (French Trains) expressed, I am also hoping that we keep this topic going. I was really happy as my "new" tinplate train appeared in the mail today, finally. It was due 12/29 and arrived 1/4 but without any damage or concern. This one, I mentioned in the "Buy anything cool..." was a very shortly before Christmas purchase that I picked up as the sole bidder for 99 cents! I am really pleased with it, its a fun to see little train, but as you might expect it is a long way from a Lionel Std Gauge State Set !
I did not know the maker and neither did the seller but "Steve from PA" identified it as Heinrich Wimmer of Nuremberg (HWN) as he had an identical locomotive. The only markings on the set are an embossed "Made in Germany" on the bottom of the passenger car floor and "Made in U.S. zone Germany" somewhere on each piece, sometimes like on the loco, in letters so small it takes a magnifying glass to find them. Now, if that marking is real, it would date the pieces from 1952 or earlier (end of U.S. zone) but I have been told by other experts (Arne I believe) that many manufacturers especially of the inexpensive trains, never changed their litho or stamping masks so they could be marked U. S. zone forever. Who knows. The set, both loco and cars, have plastic wheels, so I would estimate its unlikely earlier than the 1950's. Marx for example went to plastic in 1953-54 and Hornby in March of 1951. Well, at any rate, here is my 99 cent HWN passenger set 
Well best wishes to all and a Happy New Year !!
Don
