Greetings all - My mother-in-law found a box full of train items that once belonged to her late husband and was wanted to get some more information about them and to understand what they may be worth, if anything. They're trains from West Germany made by a company called "Marklin". She, and I would appreciate any information you may have. Also, there are 20 straight tracks and 27 curved tracks. Thank you in advance! Btw, I was having trouble uploading photos to this site so I've added them a Photobucket account HERE
This is a model by Marklin of Germany of a Krauss-Maffei V-200 class diesel-hydraulic passenger locomotive built in 1957 or 1958 (the prototype; your model is probably much newer), a few European freight cars and some typically (for Europe) tight-curve track. Hard to tell from the photos without a ruler or a penny or something in the shot, but it's probably HO. The couplers are not compatible with U.S. models, but the train should run on an American layout of the same scale. That should help you research value. They may be worth more in Europe than in the U.S...
Thanks for the info. I'll do a little more digging. If I were to tell her approximating what this entire set was worth, would $100-$200 be accurate? Or less?
Is it? Well, I take back what I said about it being compatible with U.S. layouts. 3 rail has the advantage of simplified operation on reversing loops, and the disadvantage of not being realistic--not even third-rail electric trains have the third rail between the wheels in the real world. That's why it has metal bits in the ties instead of a continuous third rail. It looks like the track makes a figure-8 layout. It's almost certainly an old German starter set. I like the way the box art apes old Lionel advertising art. I wouldn't be too surprised if that box is the most valuable single item in the photos... I have no clue what it might be worth. There are a few Europeans who post here from time to time, and may weigh in. In any case, you now have enough information to do some research. The more German words you use, the better your computer search engine will do at helping you find relevant websites.
I just looked up the locomotive on eBay, and there are a lot in the $40-50 range. Most ship from Germany, so there is much more of a market there. The track is about the same price as an EZ TRACK or Unitrack product here. If you are looking to sell it, I'd sell on eBay, since you can ship anywhere. At a train show or swap meet around here, buyers may be less likely to know what it is. Marklin is one of the largest, probably the largest, German model train company, so it is definitely not an unknown name to European collectors. I would also estimate the set to be between $100-200 dollars.
No one mentioned that Marklin trains will not run on American HO track. Why ? Because the Marklin track T-Dave has is same as Lionel O gauge 3 rail track, AC current .. American HO, track is 2 rail and control is DC current. DCC control does put AC into the 2 rails but it still is just that, 2 rail. Marklin locos have a shoe in center of wheels/trucks which rides atop middle spikes in Marklin track which do the same as the center rail in Lionel AC...
