Where these Marx train items a set? E7 locos, 147815 boxcar, 21429 hopper, 4427 caboose

They could very well be from the same set. The cars are deluxe and so is the loco. Also, the cars seem to have the same trucks.

I think it dates from the latter half of the sixties. The trucks have plastic side frames on them. That would imply the late sixties i.e. '65, '66, etc. Marx trucks had stamped metal side frames in  the early sixties. The couplers were the same during the whole time.  

Here is a closer look at the battered E7 shell, if that's any help in dating. I believe this was one of the most common versions, and not an early version. And I found some links for Marx info, still perusing these.

http://tcaetrain.org/2d-articl..._diesels/index.shtml

http://www.marxtinplatetrains....arx_guide_trucks.htm

The plastic side frames on the cars dated back long before the mid to late 60's. They had those even in the 50's. as for the e-7 these seemed to be the same from 50's tru the early 70's

Some of the Marx diesel sets only came with 3 cars, but most had 4-5. These were many sets that are not in the Greenberg book. E7's did not have a chassis like Lionel etc. The truck assemblies mounted in the shell. If you have the truck assemblies, they would be the same for a A-A or A-B set up.

Steve

This might be your set check the 1952 Sears catalog.

http://www.wishbookweb.com

franktrain

Hello MY friends, I have some the old Marx train boxes from Montgomery Wards with those prices on them from 1952. A #999 Marx train set for less than $10.00 dollars and a #333 set for $25.00 dollars. Lionel were always more expensive than Marx. I guess why my mother and father bought Marx train sets a lot cheaper than Lionel for Christmas. I am sure glad they did that very smart of them too. In 1952 that would be a week wage for working man, Lionel train set over $50.00 dollars would be weeks wage for a train set for Christmas. It sure makes you think prices on model trains sure went up since 1952. Thanks longbow57ca.