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 Posted - September 18 2012 : 10:37:00 PM
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I bought this Chattanooga tender (no loco with it) on the bay, hoping to rob the PT motor for a repower project. I'm shocked with what arrived. Not only is there no motor inside, but it's not even close to looking like a "real" Tyco Chattanooga tender! From end to end, this is about a half inch shorter than the real Tyco. The white lettering looks to be mass production applied. Like stamped, not decal or dry transfer. The size and length of the lettering look to be the exact same on both shells. The chassis is just a plastic frame, "made in Yugoslavia" molded into the bottom, with some weight glued in, and the two trucks screwed in. Does anyone know the story behind this? Did somebody try to make a Chattanooga Choo Choo set after Tyco closed up shop?
Sam
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Posted - September 18 2012 : 10:41:09 PM
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Just for kicks, I swapped the shells on the chassis. It looks pretty good actually. Not what I had expected. Also, this pic shows how the two ends of the shells are lined up even, but the "real" tyco is longer.
Sam
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Posted - September 18 2012 : 10:52:22 PM
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Based on the description you gave and the pictures, the mystery tender looks like a Mehano. I don't know any background info about the "Chattanooga" stamp though  Hopefully someone else will chime in 
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Posted - September 18 2012 : 11:31:33 PM
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It looks like the last Chattanooga loco made, it was a Mehano with the motor in the loco portion Tyco put in the last sets. Check the 1991-1992 description in the link below.
Good call on the Mehano Cheez
http://tycotrain.tripod.com/tycotrains/id88.html
Edited by - eaglerock109 on September 18 2012 11:37:42 PM
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 07:06:47 AM
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| Ah, thanks guys! That explains it. How well do Mehano steamers run? Were/are they lower starter set type power, or were some folks getting a deal if they had this set?
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 07:53:22 AM
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The smaller Chattanooga tender is in fact a Mehano! I've got both types myself, and the Mehano version was drawbar coupled to a IHC (Mehano) 0-8-0.
Altho, these I have are no longer in Chattanooga paint!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid... 
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 11:57:35 AM
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I own a few IHC steamers (mehano) and let me tell you they are the most problem free locomotives I own!! They last for years!! The oldest one I have is a 1993 2-6-0 Zenith Limited steamer #7809, it's lasted nearly 20 years with no issues! Right now its halfway through its overhaul due to excessive wheel wear from 19 years of continued service. When properly cleaned and lubricated They marvelous engines! I am not at all familiar with how their 0-8-0 runs, probably a little waddling here and there being it has no pilot or trailing wheels but it shouldnt bring you any problems! These 0-8-0s arent that rare but are more desriable then the tyco 0-8-0 chattanooga.
I buy, repair, and collect
http://scvr.weebly.com/
http://seyboldlocomotiveworks.weebly.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeputation?feature=watch
Hyde.
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 1:37:14 PM
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For the last few years of Tyco production, nearly everything was outsourced to Mehano. The C430's with the odd-looking fuel tanks and the substituted C628's (instead of 630's) were Mehano. The 50' boxcars with revised plugdoor, no roofwalk, and refrigeration unit in the end? Mehano. 40' tank with integrated handrail? Mehano. Even old Tyco standby's like the Autoloader, 40' hopper, gondola, and Chug-sound High-cube (purina) can be found with "Yugoslavia" stamped where "Hong Kong" or "USA" used to be.
So yes, for the final 2 years of the Chattanooga set, they used a Mehano 0-8-0 which was a far superior runner versus the PT 2-8-0. As you see, Mehano even had access to the Tyco paint masks and stamps. The only complaint I have is the gaping void behind the pilot, and drivers. Trucks swapped from another Mehano would do wonders for the appearance. In this way it's kind of odd that the Tyco version is superior in terms of appearance. But I would still take a Mehano's performance any day.
Edited by - spiderj76 on September 19 2012 1:38:57 PM
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 2:06:41 PM
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| It looks like Mehano took the shell from a Pacific and just dropped it on a 0-8-0 chassis. Strange looking, to say the least O_o
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 4:23:22 PM
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quote:Ah, thanks guys! That explains it. How well do Mehano steamers run? Were/are they lower starter set type power, or were some folks getting a deal if they had this set?
Originally posted by newhudson - September 19 2012 : 07:06:47 AM
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I have a 4-4-0, a 2-6-0, and a pacific....all excellent!
caboose 1
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 7:05:37 PM
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okay what I never understood was why they didnt put a pilot and trailing wheel on the 0-8-0!! Looks ridiculous like that
I buy, repair, and collect
http://scvr.weebly.com/
http://seyboldlocomotiveworks.weebly.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDeputation?feature=watch
Hyde.
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 10:16:03 PM
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quote:It looks like Mehano took the shell from a Pacific and just dropped it on a 0-8-0 chassis. Strange looking, to say the least O_o
Originally posted by DaCheez - September 19 2012 : 2:06:41 PM
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Eric,
Its actually a Mehano 2-8-2 with the pilot and trailing trucks, removed!
As for the shell, the boiler was the same boiler on the 2-8-2 as it was the 4-6-2. This boiler, was in fact VERY close to the USRA designed of both the 2-8-2 and 4-6-2.
This is why the TYCO "Mehano" 0-8-0 looks so similar!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 10:18:55 PM
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quote:I own a few IHC steamers (mehano) and let me tell you they are the most problem free locomotives I own!! They last for years!! The oldest one I have is a 1993 2-6-0 Zenith Limited steamer #7809, it's lasted nearly 20 years with no issues! Right now its halfway through its overhaul due to excessive wheel wear from 19 years of continued service. When properly cleaned and lubricated They marvelous engines! I am not at all familiar with how their 0-8-0 runs, probably a little waddling here and there being it has no pilot or trailing wheels but it shouldnt bring you any problems! These 0-8-0s arent that rare but are more desriable then the tyco 0-8-0 chattanooga.
Originally posted by SCVR66Â -Â September 19 2012Â :Â 11:57:35 AM
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Hyde,
Well sadly is not the trailing truck OR the pilot truck that keeps them from wobbling! Its the drivers! IF they are quartered 100% corect, they won't wobble, UNLESS the drive center is off, and thats all to common too!
The trailing truck and pilot trucks don't have anything to do with this as the spring on each of these sets of wheels isn't strong enough to pick up the weight of the actual toy itself! And even so, then all it would do, is slip! Not wobble.
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 10:20:31 PM
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quote:okay what I never understood was why they didnt put a pilot and trailing wheel on the 0-8-0!! Looks ridiculous like that
Originally posted by SCVR66Â -Â September 19 2012Â :Â 7:05:37 PM
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that how TYCO wanted it to be.........with the order from Mehano, to make it something like that of the old TYCO Chatanooga 0-8-0 that had tender power, the Mehano version took its place!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - September 19 2012 : 10:23:12 PM
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And last but not least, they do run well........ I have some IHC steamers from the early to mid 1980's that to this day run like swiss watches with alittle work to level things out a they new ran good, but bucked alot and I just couldn't live with it! So, they got re-quartered (which was WAY off) and I re-drilled the driver centers, and added in spacers to make up the difference on the axle press fit. With that little amount ofwork, they run pretty smooth!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - September 22 2012 : 6:55:39 PM
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I'd be interested in that or any other mehano tender of that size. I've got a tenderless mehano 2-8-2 that I'll be working on when I get to go home in a week. No idea what roadname this was, as there are no markings on it.
Though I don't think I'd keep the roadname "Chatanooga"
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Posted - January 15 2014 : 5:20:55 PM
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I just pulled a Mehano Chattanooga 917 out of storage from 20 years of rest.
What areas of the locomotive need service/oil before track ready?
thanks
RTR
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Posted - January 15 2014 : 5:27:27 PM
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hi Islanderh93,it a new york central ken
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Posted - January 15 2014 : 11:40:57 PM
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quote:I just pulled a Mehano Chattanooga 917 out of storage from 20 years of rest.
What areas of the locomotive need service/oil before track ready?
thanks
RTR
Originally posted by RollTycoRoll - January 15 2014 : 5:20:55 PM
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A little oil on the axles is what the instruction sheets always suggested. I believe the plastic cover on the bottom is only held on by a couple of screws. You could remove that and grease the gears if you really wanted to. Cleaning the wheels would be a good idea as well.
Mehano engines are solid. As long as none of the rods are bent, you shouldn't have a problem getting it going. 
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Posted - January 16 2014 : 02:16:53 AM
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| I agree with above, the Mehano steamers are really good dependable runners. My fav is the 2-6-0 Mogul, it makes a terrific little jack-of-all trades locomotive.
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Posted - January 16 2014 : 2:23:47 PM
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I don't understand them just taking the pilot and trailing trucks off of a Mikado. Mehano made a consolidation that would have been easily and more credibly reworked into an 0-8-0. That consolidation used the same boiler as the Tyco Chattanooga engine, too, so the transition would have been more seamless.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - January 16 2014 : 3:55:34 PM
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| I'm actually trying to find one of those Tyco Chattanooga locomotives made by Mehano! I've had enough of the PowerTorque ones now, and I think I should go for a higher-quality version. Either that, or any Santa Fe-branded versions of the "original" 2-8-2.
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Posted - January 17 2014 : 2:22:19 PM
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| The Tyco engine predates the Mehano consolidation. Which itself is a retool of the Tyco Chattanooga 0-8-0.
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