This special and rarely available Marklin U.S.A. set consists of an AT&SF Mikado 2-8-2 locomotive, tender, and caboose. The model was released in 1998, frequently with a "white box" bonus to help Marklin clear their shelves of excess inventories of the trade show handouts. The item in this auction does not bear the label about the bonus nor does it include the white box add-on. I bought the set new — just as you see it — many years ago from Loco-Boose, a Marklin dealer in Redwood City, California. That dealer managed to get its hands on many out-of-production Z-scale goodies from the Marklin U.S.A. warehouse.

I have stored this set with my Marklin locomotives ever since I bought it. As is common with Marklin Z from its era, this locomotive suffered from hardened oil syndrome. I have thoroughly cleaned the locomotive, and it runs like new (with original 3-pole motor). Marklin couplers. In original box.