This beautiful little set is a scarce prewar clockwork Red Mercury Streamliner. I have heard these referred to as "Crack" trains. The NYC actually ran some non-stop trains which were referreed to as "Crack Trains".
I have noted that clockwork sets do not command the prices the electric sets do even though they often tend to be rarer. I guess this is because so many
collectors like to operate their trains and electrics lend themselves to operation. I believe this is somewhat shortsighted since electric trains are still
being made in large quantities while the clockworks are pretty much out of production.
This shot, shows the box opened with its inserts. The box top shows the front of an M10000, a Commodore Vanderbilt, and the rear of a freight train.
This set is unusual in that it is battery operated. I have never actually had my hands on
this set but I presume it took six or eight "D" cell batteries to operate. Marx made a number
of battery op sets in the early days and certainly more in late production. My friend Trip
Riley recently stumbled upon a battery op Commodore Vanderbilt engine.
This picture shows the controller and battery box.