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scmich
Little Six
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 Posted - April 10 2025 : 8:03:37 PM
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SO I've been collecting TYCO off and on for about 28 Yrs, since the advent of EBAY. I had some Tyco that I kept from my childhood and slowly the hobby grew into what became my "Slice of Woodbury " display.
For context for what I am about to say - my collection was Diesel Era, no Steam Locos or Old Time Freight and Passenger cars or sets. ALso no late years set (Transformers, A Team, Turbo Trains...) I didn't go crazy with variants either. I have a handful of distinct variants
(Red Roof Purina, Yellow BN..) but wasn't chasing stencil changes over the years or that level of variety.
Even with my focus that specific, my collection is just a little over 600 unique pieces. And in that collection, I probably have 70 Rare and Hard to Find pieces.
I have a listing of all my pieces, and more importantly all the ones I DON'T have. I always add to that list when I see something new that I hadn't accounted for, on EBAY or this site. Today I did some math, and I still have 77 pieces I want to obtain. 77! And most of those go in the much higher price range on Ebay, if they ever appear there at all. And I'm sure I'm still missing a few.
So... that's about 700 pieces without Steam, without all the minor variants, and without the late year crappy sets... that are out there from the 60's and 70's. I'm guessing it would be well over a THOUSAND if you tried to add Steam Era stuff.
So after nearly 30 years... I still only have about 85% of what's out there. I may have to live to 110 years old to get over 95% there.
At least I stayed in my lane and didn't get caught up in all the other brands. I love the AHM and Rivarossi stuff.
So just me, rambling about the interesting feeling I got when I added it all up. I've enjoyed the hobby, This site in the early days I think propelled Tyco into a desirable collectable. Based on the prices I see for the rare stuff, the word is out and I may have to hit Powerball to finish the job. Assuming anyone out there would even be willing to sell. I know I wouldn't.
Good Night
Scott
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Country:  USA ~
Posts: 122 ~
Member Since: October 26 2006 ~
Last Visit: June 08 2025
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Posted - April 11 2025 : 8:22:54 PM
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Hi Scott,
That is an interesting story. IMHO it is fun searching for the items that you really want. Every so often you'll find a real bargain. Why not post the items that you are looking for and hopefully someone may have what you are looking for?
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Posts: 548 ~
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Last Visit: June 12 2025
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scmich
Little Six
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Posted - April 12 2025 : 1:27:29 PM
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Yes Brian it fun, especially when you get a "steal" at least in your own mind. I got a couple of steals, but I'm sur I overpaid for many along the way.
The shortlist, out of the 70+ whales that are out, there looks like this for me. Heavily in favor of ones that would round out a particular group of cars I have collected most of.
Wooden Reefer Grocery Promos - Wegman's and Genaurdi/Martel
40Ft Sliding Boxcars - RCA, EH Hobbies (Blue Version), Canadian National (CN) Red
Chemical Tanker promos - Whitco and Eastman
50 Ft Plug Door - Whirlpool and Tulnoy Lumber- have eluded me for the entire time I've been collecting (got too pricey for me to justify when the opportunity was there)
F9's Cotton Belt and Western Pacific (I'm not holding my breath on those two)
Alco 430 - the 2 Great Northern versions
Sharks - NP and Canadiana ( I didn't really look at the sharks until a few years ago)
Steel Cabooses - D&H, GN (white font), Western Pacific (not holdnig breath for WP)
There are 3 Australian pieces I don't have NSW F9 and Caboose. And the Alco Queensland Rail
SO enough to keep me interested for some more years.
If anyone interested in my list of TYCO Diesel Era Cars and Locos, PM me and I can email you the spreadsheet, or a .pdf of it.
Scott
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Posts: 122 ~
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 Posted - April 13 2025 : 12:31:58 PM
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hey don't forget about the rare ones
Like the Durango streamlined caboose 
ShopKo Kinda rare
or any promos that Tyco did 
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Posted - June 01 2025 : 11:21:39 AM
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My collection goal is far less substantial (Tyco streamliner sets) and I've run in to the same problem with the last 10%. I bought my first Tyco passenger car around 2005, and I'm still missing a number of engines, chrome cars, variants, etc.
Tyco really made a lot of stuff.
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