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Derek
Switcher
Status:
offline
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 Posted - September 17 2007 : 11:10:09 AM
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Hi All,
Another mid forties (44) guy here who loved the 4x8 train board I had set up in my basement from about '76-'78 with all Tyco trains and rolling stock. Fast forward to 2006, I decided after visiting a local big train show to get back into trains but my 2 year old gravitated to the O scale trains and that is what I decided to run. After 6 months something was missing besides the oodles of money. I could not get past the 3rd rail, the size of my proposed layout (I have a 10x12 room set aside for a train room) and thought about my old Tyco trains sitting in my attic. I found them still sitting in their dusty brown boxes and had a huge nostalgia rush. I decided then and there to try and resurrect my Santa Fe 630 (from my Xmas 1975 Santa Fe Action Freight Set). Of course after oiling the engine the light turned on but the motor sounded like there angry bee inside as it squealed and ran very jerkily. Maybe it is the traction or the motor itself. Anyway I have since purchased a Royal Blue Consolidation & Tender. I just received it and of course I oiled it and it runs about as equally as bad as my 630. Is this typical and am I in for bad time collecting Tyco? Are there any NOS engines you can swap into these or do you have to find a good running engine and strip it of it's motor?
Anyway, I plan on setting up an HO layout in a dedicated 10x12 room this winter. Hopefully it will be full of Tyco trains. I especially love those whimsical billboard boxcars/reefers. I apologize in advance if I bid on any items anyone else in this forum is tracking. I also want to thank Tony for his great and informative site. I have learned a lot, it is truly a wealth of knowledge!
Derek aka "DSL"
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Country:  USA ~
Posts: 6 ~
Member Since: September 10 2007 ~
Last Visit: October 04 2007
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Posted - September 17 2007 : 12:59:43 PM
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Welcome...and...as you are finding out, one does not collect Tyco for its running qualities.[:D]
With patience and tinkering, you'll be able to get them to run well enough to enjoy them but don't look for any tie by tie crawlers and whisper smooth drives.
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Derek
Switcher
Status:
offline
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Posted - September 17 2007 : 1:24:56 PM
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Thanks much. Does anyone sell NOS rubber rings for the drive wheels? What does everyone use for replacements? BTW I am more interested in collecting the boxcars so I will probably use them with a new Proto 2000's, Atherns and the like.
Thanks,
Derek
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Country: USA ~
Posts: 6 ~
Member Since: September 10 2007 ~
Last Visit: October 04 2007
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Posted - September 17 2007 : 4:22:25 PM
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Hey Derek. Welcome to the forum. As Shaygetz already said, Tyco's "PowerTorque" motor isnt the quietist, but they're fun to fix and run.
I use dental elastics (the kind they use on braces) as traction tires, but I doubt anyone but me actually has any lieing around their house[:D]... there are a few topics about this, and I think one of the things people used were hair elastics that you can buy at stores like Walmart.
-cheez
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Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: March 03 2026
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