Proper use for a Tyco engine

[GMTRacing]

I started with Tyco, I still have them and still run them though less and less. I admit they are inferior in every way to newer stock, but they are still the reason I got back into this hobby. When I get a big enough layout, the cars and locos will be relegated to sidings at the back. I don't intend to weather them or make them look scrapped out, they have plenty of real weathering and wear from use. They deserve an honourable retirement as they have served my kids and I well. [^] J.R.

[randybc2003]

Never had plastic Tyco Diesels. My 2nd. loco was a Mantua/Tyco 0-4-0 shifter w/ tender. I had to put it together. The valve gear was a LOT of fun, but I got extra parts and got it to work. [banghead] It gave me my first taste of building locos. I added a Prarie. That one went together much better, and no problems with the valve gear. Those litle rascels are TOUGH. They started me dreaming about building brass locos.
I understand the NORTHLANDZ system swears by them.

[AggroJones]

Diehl: I was refering to the plastic crap diesels and toy-like rolling stock Tyco, not any old-school diecast.

[Anonymous]

Chew toy for the dog.

[Anonymous]

How odd. I received a Tyco train set in, uh, 1984 (?) or thereabouts. Being a kid, I ran it on the carpet, made it crash and threw the lot of it in the toybox when I was done. I wound up giving it away 4 years later to a younger cousin. Yeah, it still ran.

Guess I was just lucky.

SRT.

[Anonymous]

I have an old Tyco steam engine that I got from my dad - he always took real good care of his stuff. An this engine is all metal - super heavy. I think it's a 2-8-2 or 4-6-4, cannot remember off the top of my head. Anyway, I ran it on my layout before I converted to DCC, and it ran great, looked great. Haven't had an opportunity to put a decoder in it yet, though.

[Anonymous]

How about deep sea fishing lure? Solder some hooks to it and go after the big one.

[sledgehammer]

I use mine for a door stop in my train room.

[palallin]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SRTrudeau
Guess I was just lucky.

Not in the sense you might think: you were lucky to get an *HO* engine that ran; the TYCO name is incidental. A TYCO is no more or less likely to run well than any other.

[Anonymous]

Firewood.

Er, I mean, fire-plastic. The only halfway decent model from those days and from those manufacturers was the Bachmann BQ23-7.