Proper use for a Tyco engine

[Darth Santa Fe]

Just want to see what you all think is the proper use for Tyco's quality engines. I'd rather not have any flaming here, so don't anyone get mad at any of the opinions posted. Everyone remember the Glad commercials, "Don't get mad, get Glad!"[;)]

[Anonymous]

I use my dead one as a weathered scenery object.

[IRONROOSTER]

If I were still in HO, I would run my Tyco engines. I started with Tyco and have fond memories running them on my first layout. Of course I didn't know then that they weren't any good. I was just having fun.
Enjoy
Paul

[tstage]

Help to wedge or keep a door open? Seriously, the weathered idea that up_santafe suggested is a good one. I have a Bachmann GE 44-tonner (that I bought off ebay) sitting atop my new computer. I didn't run very well but it still looks good .

Tom

[csmith9474]

Although I don't have any of my old Tyco stuff anymore, I wish I did. I would proudly display it and run it. Tyco for a lot of folks was the "gateway drug", if you will. That's what I started with as a young lad, as well as many other modelers I know (although some would never admit it). Then I discovered BBs and the rest is history.

[grandeman]

I've got an old Tyco ATSF F7 and the passenger cars that my Mom bought for me as a little kid. I still remember seeing the train set up in the hobby shop window before we bought it in about 1971. Wouldn't take anything for it now.

[Anonymous]

Junk heap. kitbash object anything but keep it in it's current state.

[jfugate]

I started to do a detailing upgrade on a Tyco steamer and never finished it ... decided to move to a more modern era -- the 1980s. No steamers in regular operation then.

[Paul3]

I voted for "firewood", although I don't think buring plastic is the best way to dispose of it. [:)] Perhaps launched from a artillery piece, dropped from a B-52 while strapped to a thermonuclear weapon, or launched by the Space Shuttle on a one way trip to the sun. You know, the usual. [:D]

Tyco, old Bachmann, old Life-Like, and the rest of their ilk was (& is) J-U-N-K. I know, because I had an awful lot of it as a kid to play with. I couldn't wait until I saved up enough money to buy an Athearn or (gasp) an Atlas loco...locos that would actually work and stay on the track, all while pulling a decent amount of cars.

I have always wondered just how many people were chased away from this hobby by the Tyco frustrations...

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[cheese3]

They are for practicing weahthering and for kitbashing.

[SpaceMouse]

I voted for other.

What I do with my old "toy" stuff is clean them up get them running as best I can then give them to some kid that really gets excited about seeing trains. I've now done that with 2 of them. I have extra sectional track and extra power supplies and I give them enough to get them going.

To me this is just obvious.

[BentnoseWillie]

If it's got sentimental value, paperweight.

Otherwise, an anchor for a very small boat...

[orsonroy]

It depends on which Tyco stuff you're talking about. The old Tyco/Mantua steam might not look the best (and is almost all freelance) but the engines were engineered exceptionally well, ran pretty good, and could PULL. I've got one of my Mantua 2-8-2s on videotape dragging 100 freight cars around on my old layout.

Their diesels are NOT firewood. They're best reserved for skeet shooting clays.

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy

It depends on which Tyco stuff you're talking about.

I'm talking about the Tyco trains that weren't made by Mantua. My Mantua/Tyco F7 has a pretty smooth and reliable drive, except for the unreliable electrical pick-up.

[pcarrell]

Can you say "Gomez Adams"?

[bpickering]

Display for sentimental purposes.

That is, if I could FIND the stupid thing. Mom swears there are no boxes back home, but my very first loco (a Tyco BN hood unit) is amongst the few missing members of my teenage "empire".

It stopped running in the early 80s, but I would still have it sitting somewhere, just as a reminder of the "good 'ol days".

Brian Pickering

[Anonymous]

Tyco trains killed my participation in the hobby.

I returned to it after I was able to afford engines that actually work well. It was to be years before that happened.

Therefore I voted firewood. Although I dont suggest setting the plastic on fire.

[Anonymous]

I voted for weathering but then read Spacemouse's reply. Right there is why this hobby is so great. [tup] they may not last long but it will give them enough to run trains and keep them hooked. Hopefully it keeps running long enough for them to save up for a new one. Good idea chip.
Andrew

[Anonymous]

I'd say they're probably a good way to practice fixing broken locos - if you can pick them up for pennies at shows, etc then build one good loco out of two or more "duds", it'd be good experience for future repair jobs on more expensive locos. I've tackled locos that were worth a considerable amount more after I repaired them, but started out fixing old Hornby stuff worth next to nothing - if it goes wrong you've not lost much, and it's useful experience

[slotracer]

4th of July is right around the corner.....

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by slotracer

4th of July is right around the corner.....

KAPOW!!! That'll look cool, except for the sharp pieces of Tyco engine raining down on us.[xx(] I think I'll stand back... but if I were to pay money for a Tyco engine, I'd probably run it and give it proper maintanance when it needs it.

[Virginian]

You should have had an 'other' category, as none of those are really suitable for a Tyco. I really liked the "strap it to a thermonuclear weapon" idea above. I would really like to make all the people advertising rare, mint, wonderful, silver Tyco VGN hoppers on eBay eat the da*n things with no salt.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Darth Santa Fe

QUOTE: Originally posted by slotracer

4th of July is right around the corner.....

KAPOW!!! That'll look cool, except for the sharp pieces of Tyco engine raining down on us.[xx(] I think I'll stand back... but if I were to pay money for a Tyco engine, I'd probably run it and give it proper maintanance when it needs it.

LOL!!!

[slotracer]

Oh No...it's SID !!!

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Virginian

You should have had an 'other' category

Oops, I forgot that one.

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by slotracer

Oh No...it's SID !!!

Maybe Buzz Lightyear can stop him![:D]

[Darth Santa Fe]

Okay, I added "other" to the choices. Now the poll is perfect!!![:D] Maybe.

[Anonymous]

When I was 8 years old, my tyco SF GP20s were the greatest things since sliced bread. A couple of years later, they were relegated to secondary service when my dad came home with an Athearn U28B. The "gateway drug" comment is right on. Tycos filled the need until something better came along. I just wish I could fit them in as a weathering project on my N&W themed layout.

[areibel]

I still have a couple of runners, an F7 and a pair of Bicentennial Alcos and I've never had that much of a problem with them running. And the times I really had trouble it usually wasn't the loco's fault, it was that wondeful brass snap track!
It's real eazy for everyone to look down their noses now, but if you were a kid that liked trains 30 years ago, Tyco was probably what you had, and I'll bet more have good memories than bad. I had more problems with AHM locos - an old FM C liner comes to mind- That was the one that got kitbashed into something else. But to each his own!

[jeffshultz]

I remember my Tyco C630 (the "Golden Eagle" one) being a fairly good runner, at least on the carpet loop. I do sorta wonder where all that stuf went - when I got back out of the army and came back home, which had moved twice while I was gone, I found a lot of stuff missing. And I don't remember throwing it away.