This beautiful set uses the English Marx 3978 engine, 1314 tender (unnumbered in this set) with the long coaches in "blood and custard" livery. This handsome train set is not especially rare but, of course, no English Marx is common. In typical English Marx fashion the box is very strudy with separate compartments for the individual pieces, and beautiful box art.

It's sad that Marx was not particularly successful in the English market. I think of the many beautiful train sets that might have been produced, especially some of the Edwardian period trains. I have always been disappointed in the lack of creativity demonstrated by so many toy train manufacturers, especially in the modern era, who produce the same items over and over again ad nauseum. Can you imagine the La Fayette, John Bull, Iron Duke, Hardwicke, Evening Star, Blue Bell... I could go on and on! If you think you noted a preference toward British trains you did. I have a particular fondness for many of the English engines which in my opinion are some of the most beautiful machines ever made.

Here is the beautiful box for the passenger set.