This is one of the most rare Joy Line Sets - The Double Header Sparkling Electric Hill Climbing Train.
It was released by Marx, rather than Girard, in 1934 probably to use up existing Joy Line inventory. Nothing particularly rare here except the dummy engine with the coupler on the front. The lead engine has a rubber traction wheel and the observation has a lighted drumhead.



This is the Dummy engine in the set. It uses a different frame than the clockwork engine and it does not have a correct key hole. The lead coupler is the same as on the Bunny engine.



When viewed from underneath the dummy engine can be seen to have a large bell and no clockwork mechanism. This example is missing some of the works required to ring the bell. It is not unusual to find Joy Line and Marx engines with the bells disabled. That constant dinging must have annoyed quite a few dads beyond their limits of tolerance!



Here are the rear ends of two Joy Line 458 Observations. On the left is the lighted version. Note the drumhead cover is one piece with Joy Line punched through the tinplate shroud and a transparent red insert. I have seen these cars sporting transparent red inserts with Joy Line lettered on (in place of the cut tin shroud) but I have never had one in my hands to examine. I suspect they are fabricated by collectors rather than factory correct.



This view shows the drumhead and collector. Early examples of the lighted 458 Observation utilize a thin brass (or copper) strip as the collector. These are almost always broken, they were very inferior to the spring loaded collector.




These little items that you might have in your junk box are actually the trestles for this set.




Here is the box showing it was a Marx release.
I can't recall any other steam set released by Marx that was headed up by doubled engines.
(American Flyer offered one circa 1938-39)

(Courtesy of Tasker Brush)