My latest purchase, a Marx 1953 ATSF set

Looks good! Another hobby of mine is collecting stereo(3-D) slides that people shot in the 1950s. I have some of a boy playing with the set you have, which looks to be a year-round carpet layout.

Martin -

 

Those are in nice shape. I have this same set.

 

Those F units have always been one of my fav's from Marx.

very nice set, Martin! I love those warbonnet FTs.

I live those big diesels. It took me years to figure out why Marx made them so large, then I saw one beside a Lionel F-3 and I understood. Marx was competing with the Lionel F-3, so they made them teh same size. Interesting artistic license, with FT portholes, F-3 side grilles, F-7/late F-3 roof fans, and E-trucks.

 

I repowerd one with williams China drives so it can run and pull with the big guys on the high iron.

 

Thanks for the pix.

I have a Marx i got new in 1977 your Marx looks better

Those tin Santa Fes are my favorite of all Marx locos. At some point, I'd like to find a complete set as nice as yours.

With the big FT's, Marx was also responding to a large Rock Island cab unit set made by an upstart competitor called - I think - Unique Lines.  To me, the metal FT's will always stand for the very best of the lithographed Marx equipment.  Only problem with them is that they tower over all the smaller Marx stuff.  I think they were the only full-scale pieces to come from the Girard, PA, factory.

This set was my dads only and thus my first set when I inheireted it in the 70s. It still runs great with lots or ozone generated. A great set for sure.