Here is a piece that took many long years to acquire. The first time I saw one of these trollies was about 1988. I was about one year in to collecting Marx trains and had not yet acquired any books or deveolped relationships with other Marx collectors. Truthfully, collecting Marx was still openly pooh poohed by most train collectors. Marx junk was a common phrase at train shows!
I was in the Valencia Ballroom when a dealer took one out of a box and offered it to me for $185.00. I was floored. I was still looking for cars in the $1.00 - $5.00 range. I declined his offer and was practically knocked over by another collector trying to get to it after I put it on the table. Fifteen seconds later it had changed hands at the $185.00 asking price.
I remember wondering whether I would come to regret turning it down!
You can guess that it wasn't long before I realized the missed opportunity. This is the next one I found for sale. It's not nearly as nice as the first one and cost me more.


According to Al Miller (Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum) the trolley might be representative of a trolley system that operated in Wheeling, West Virginia. Whether correct or not it is apparent that the trolley was popular. It appears that only five seats are not occupied. In typical marx fashion the trolley is peopled with all sorts of riders including dogs!



This end depicts a driver with another man (brakeman?) while the other end shows a conducter collecting fares.


Marx was very good at adding play value to their toys. This simple wheel arrangement allowed the trolley to be set for straight running or circular operation, either clockwise or counter clockwise!
Another version sports a people catcher and battery operated headlamp.
These trollies are not common nor are they cheap. If you want one, and you find one, bite the bullet and buy it. It could be a very long time before you get another opportunity to add it to your collection.