Marklin Train Sets - True Classics

Marklin Toy Trains - A Classic There are individuals who collect toy trains or model trains as some might call them.

As you can imagine most of them are men and lots of people would say that they are in still in touch with their childhood.

This is not to say that they are juvenile, it is not a criticism. Some collectors display their collection at fayres, while others are content with showing them off to friends at home.

However one attribute that they all share is enthusiasm. Collectors of train sets tend to be very enthusiastic about their hobby, frequently dedicating a whole room or more to their trains. One of the classic trains that no collector would not like in his collection is a Marklin, which were first manufactured in 1891. Marklin trains are right up there on a collectors wish list.

Marklin was the first maker of toy trains that produced regular gauges, but a number of different models of trains and corresponding accessories. This actually started the hobby of collecting toy trains, because you could buy a train and some track and later buy more track and a carriage of a different train and run it on the same track. This strategy also had the impact of permitting less well healed families to buy a train set for little Arthur.

Marklin train sets are truly a part of history, but they are beautiful as well. And rare. It is standard to pay thousands of dollars for a single piece. A complete Marklin station including a rare Marklin 2609 was sold at auction in America for $110,000. The station was exquisite and the train and its carriages had been hand painted, but it is still a great deal of money for a train set.

The original estimation for this train set and station was about $30,000, which was considered right because it was virtually unique. A European and an American collector fought at the auction to the finish with the American winning in the end. The station and the carriages had tables with people sitting at them reading the paper and drinking tea or coffee.

However, that was by no means the only Marklin that went for more than was expected. There was a gauge III Marklin 2609 in the auction as well and that went for $82,500. It was a beautiful, hand-painted steam engine in exquisite detail. The original price set for this piece was $25,000. A number of other Marklin pieces were sold at the auction and none of them sold for less than $25,000.

So a Marklin train set is definitely something to look out for next time you go to a garage sale or a church bazaar. However at a 120 years old, you are probably not going to find a Marklin train set or even a solitary locomotive, but jolly good luck luck in your hunt.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently concerned with auto interior detailing. If you want aome tips on detailing cars come over to our website now at Detailing Car Interiors.