Michael: According to the book by Whitacre titled "Marx Trains, Vol III , Sets" , set number 5948 was made in two variations, but only 1 of those is listed as also being a Sears "Happi-Time" set and that carries Sears set number 35220 which may also appear on the box. As always with Marx, dating the set is troublesome. However the contents of the one labeled as a "Happi Time" set is as follows...Locomotive 333, 4-6-2 black steamer / Tender, (3991) NYC black, die-cast/ Boxcar 174580 NYC, red & grey / Gondola , 44572, C&O,black / Tank Car 652, Shell, yellow & black / and Caboose 20102, NYC, red and grey. Came with Track 034 and Transformer either 1239 or 1249. Cars should have scale trucks and metal tilt automatic couplers. Box could be standard Marx set box or (more valuable) a blue/white Sears "Happi Time" box.
Now for the confusing part, the year. Because it was a Happi-time set I looked into the compendium of Sears Electric Train Catalog pages I have by Holland. The set is clearly shown in the Sears catalog in the years 1950-1951-1952 . You will love this...Price in 1950 $19.89 then rising to $23.98 in 1951 and 1952.
However there is one more confusing factor. The catalog illustrations match the consist listed in the Whitacre book precisely EXCEPT for the Boxcar. The catalog in all three years clearly shows a New York, New Haven and Hartford boxcar as opposed to the NYC "Pacemaker" red & grey boxcar in Whitacare's list. The New Haven boxcar has a very obvious script on the sides which shows the full railroad name and is very obvious in the Sears catalog illustration and the car itself is not red and grey but more or less brown. Note - catalog errors are not unknown as the catalogs are typically prepared months before the Christmas rush and final delivery by the manufacturers to the stores and could be wrong for many reasons. However it is a little unusual for the same error to appear in 3 successive years.
So, if you could tell us what boxcar is in your set and do you have a standard Marx box or a "Happi-time" box I would love to know... THANKS!
