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 Posted - February 15 2026 : 3:31:28 PM
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Hi everyone! I'm new to the community, but I've been collecting Tyco operating hoppers for over 10 years now. I recently found something rare that might interest you all.
In my pursuit to collect one of every operating hopper livery in existence, I've come across a couple cars that have paint variations. Notably, the B&M hopper, which has a variant with "clean before returning" decal to the left of the car number, and one without. Well, today I'd like to announce I've found a third previously unknown Variant.
Behold (see the last car in the image):
This car is essentially the "missing 'clean without returning'" variant car with all the printing shifted one panel to the left. discovered it in an Ebay listing about a year ago. It was being sold as a regular B&M car, no mention of the error. I wonder how many were made like this, since I've never seen another one...
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Posted - February 15 2026 : 7:48:17 PM
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Nice Find! I also see it is missing the capacity, load limit, and load weight numbers. The abbreviations are there, but the numbers in the following panel aren't!
"A place for everything, everything in its place."
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Posted - February 15 2026 : 9:26:00 PM
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I was aware of the variant with the printing shifted to the left and the capacity, load limit, and load weight numbers present, but your example I don’t think I’ve ever noticed!
Now I’ve got more searching to do!
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
Edited by - gmoney on February 15 2026 9:28:54 PM
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Posted - February 15 2026 : 9:32:25 PM
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By the way, are you aware of the promotional operating hoppers lettered for International Milling and Heliomalt?
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - February 16 2026 : 11:35:21 PM
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quote:By the way, are you aware of the promotional operating hoppers lettered for International Milling and Heliomalt?
Originally posted by gmoney - February 15 2026 : 9:32:25 PM
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What!? First I've ever heard of those. You got pics?
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Posted - February 17 2026 : 12:14:46 AM
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Hopefully these links will work. They access images on the GoingInCirclez.com website, which is defunct, but available via the Wayback Machine.
http://www.goingincirclez.com/FGImages/TycoCollection/RollingStock/332-Z2_CoverHop_IMC.jpg
http://www.goingincirclez.com/FGImages/TycoCollection/RollingStock/332-Z_SugarHop_Heliomalt.jpg
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - February 17 2026 : 01:27:58 AM
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Nice piece! Can you imagine all the aggravated mothers having to clean up coal particles
back in the day? There is some sort of coal tipple that went with it, and it probably works
after a fashion. No doubt Tyco was trying to emulate the success Lionel had with its
operating cars. The problem is this sort of ingenuity didn't translate well to HO Tyco
contraptions.
WKS and I were joking today that the next big thing will be DCC controlled windshield
wipers on N scale trains! A search using AI indicates that there are none at this time.
Oh, BTW GMoney, the links work fine, but I must say I've never known about those
two paint schemes by Tyco!
Edited by - Chops124 on February 17 2026 01:29:58 AM
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Posted - February 17 2026 : 02:22:08 AM
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Are you aware there are 2 versions of the Spreckels car?
Text on far right panel:
No text on far right panel:
Source: eBay
How about the Virginian with no herald?
Source: HO Scale Trains Resource
And have you noticed the two different styles of corner steps?
About the corner steps:
quote:The gussets were added in the early 70's. The only roadnames I know to have both versions, are the ones Tyco consistently sold from the late 60's through the early 70's. So, you won't find a gussetted C&O, Reading, Navy, Brachs, or other names that were dropped early. Nor will you find a square DT&I as that was only made in the 80's.
The Virginian, Monon, and Holly can be found in either. I don't recall for sure if B&M and Spreckel's may be, but they were produced close to the right timeframe.
Originally posted by spiderj76Â -Â August 12 2013Â :Â 4:12:19 PM
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Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - February 17 2026 : 03:49:13 AM
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Those promotional hoppers are very cool! Another white whale to chase down, haha.
I was not aware of the paint variation in Spreckels cars - I only have one and it's the kind with all the text. Looks like I'll be getting a second one sometime. I have both types of stirrups in the Monon, Holly, and Virginian cars, though I'm still looking for a Virginian sans herald. That one has been on my list for a while.
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Posted - February 17 2026 : 08:07:16 AM
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I don’t have a Virginian without a herald yet either, and I certainly don’t have the promos! Out of the dozen or so Spreckels I have, only 2 are missing the text, so I guess they’re the “error” cars.
Glenn
I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"
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Posted - February 17 2026 : 12:58:13 PM
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Two additional Tyco cars that are very, very rare.
This one is the Giraffe Car. It was manufactured only during
1971 on a Lunsday.
This one is the rarely seen Gorelephant Car.
Seriously, those are some cool Tyconian variants- gussets and grommets. The vast array of
Tyco keeps turning up new things. One also needs to look at the PEMCO brand, which was a late
entry into the model train market by a group of disaffected Tyco model draftsmen who
hated the way Tyco was cheapened to the point of junk what with the PT motor and all.
Regretably, PEMCO hit the model train market right at the time video games were starting
to take over the hobby market and it only lasted a few short years with a limited product
line. Still, the quality was excellent and PEMCO's turn up on eBay now and then. If you see
a PEMCO at a model train show, grab it. They are a delight to run.
Edited by - Chops124 on February 17 2026 1:03:48 PM
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