Mantua Tyco Locomotive

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with the Mantua Tyco F7 A/B locomotives? I found a unit that's painted like I like but might not cost as much as a similar Athearn Genesis version.

[dknelson]

It depends on how old it is. When Mantua/Tyco first introduced their plastic F unit it ran rather well and quietly but the flanges were a bit deep. They had a unique drive train. The later train set versions do not have a good reputation and are often seen at giveaway prices at swap meets. I would put it at a level lower than the standard "old" Athearn geared F unit.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I have acquired quite a collection of Mantua/ Tyco F7s that I've been using to practice my painting skills. I find a lot of them in pieces in boxes of "junk" that I buy at train shows and have pieced them back together.
The biggest shortcoming is the 4 wheel electrical pickup. If you keep the wheels and track clean they don't run to bad.
Another problem is the fact that the power truck is riveted together making maintenance difficult(but not impossible). I've drilled out the rivets and replaced them with bolts on some in order to replace worn bearings and stripped gears.
If you plan to keep the original drive I would test run the loco before you buy it. If it's unusually loud it most likely will need this type of overhaul.
Check the plastic wheels, they have a habit of splitting and becoming loose on the axle.
You could mount the shell on an Athearn chassis with a little modification.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to pass on this since it's on Ebay and I can't test it at all.
Thanks for the input!

[Anonymous]

If you want a cheaper thanGenesis F unit, the Stewart, Athearn Blue-Box and Proto1000 F units are all decent. The Athearn being the worst of the lot, but still a decent runner (Much better than the Tyco units)

[dknelson]

If the Mantua Tyco was absurdly cheap the shell would be usable on other power chassis'. That assumes the shell is in good shape. I cannot think of a paint scheme that Tyco would have offered that others would not have offered that would just as nice
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I've been looking for the fairly elusive (and cheaper) Atlantic Coast Line Purple/Silver unit. Any of them. Don't really like the SD35's or the SW8's. I like the E6's but can only find them in black/yellow. Anyone know how the IHC E-8 (2 A's one powered, one dummy) are? How about the IHC passenger cars? I was planing on buying the Athearn cars, but I've seen the IHC set for cheaper

[trainfan1221]

Tyco is generally good to stay away from. I think some of the earlier models were better, but they are something you buy more nowadays for being a collectible than to actually run.