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B 67
Switcher
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 Posted - April 23 2008 : 09:47:37 AM
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Hi,
I'm not a Tyco collector, but have owned many Tyco trains over the years. I have a broad interest in model trains, most scales and prototypes. I have run a hobby shop in Australia since 1988, which only makes things worse. :)
Although I don't actively collect them, I've had an interest in Tyco, Lima and many of the other older models discussed in the forum, so thought I'd join.
My Avatar is of one of the Tyco Australian offerings, a Plymouth in QR (Queensland Railways) colours. Or course QR never owned such a loco, nor any in that colour. There were a few other items available that don't yet appear on Tony's website - I'm trying to find examples to photograph.
Maybe I have been lucky, but despite their mechanical shortcomings, I've had more than a few excellent running Tyco locos. I've had plenty more that were not though.
Darren.
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Posted - April 23 2008 : 11:40:27 AM
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| hi Darren look forward to seeing the australian tycos,and any other items,you think may be of interest to us on forum,ken
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Posted - April 23 2008 : 12:30:49 PM
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| Welcome to the forum...
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Posted - April 23 2008 : 1:33:32 PM
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Hi Darren,
Welcome aboard. Neat plymouth you have there. Would be interested to see more of the Australian models. Do you recall how well they were received at the time? I have one of Tyco's Australian F-units, which had decent paint but of course was nothing like the real locomotive! I would like to find the QR 430 sometime.
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Posted - April 23 2008 : 3:55:59 PM
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Hey Darren. Welcome to the forum. Nice looking switcher you have. Hope to see more pics of Austrlian Tyco soon.
-cheez
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Posted - April 23 2008 : 10:27:38 PM
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| Welcome aboard Darren from down under. I too-want to see more Austrailian Tyco products. I find the Sugar Cane trains interesting as i listen quite regularly on the net to railroad radio. Have also seen some video on youtube of the cane trains and thier safety program with TV commercials. The sugar cane RR takes seriously in educating the public and school kids the dangers of their fast moving trains. Again--welcome aboard the freindliest site about trains on the web. Look forward also to seeing your contributions[:D]
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Posted - April 23 2008 : 11:39:54 PM
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Welcome Darren,
Mike
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B 67
Switcher
Status:
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Posted - April 24 2008 : 08:53:38 AM
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Thanks for the welcome.
I should point out that the little Tyco QR loco in my avatar is not mine. The photo is cropped from a photo I took at my local model railway club. Through my business, I have had several of them and all of the other Tyco Australian items plus many other Tyco trains and accessories. If only I'd kept them all. What a collection I'd have. :) But not so good for business to be keeping everything. As I said, I have many other interests and I just couldn't collect everything I like.
I don't trade much in used models anymore, but when I did in the 80s and 90s, I usually had a good selection of Tyco models for customers to choose from. And of course I got to know the insides of many Tyco locos in order to make them work or work better.
Although I live in Victoria, where the trains that the VR S301 was based on ran, I probably had more of the QR Alco 430s and their matching caboose. The Silver Streak version was also all too commonly seen on my shelves as well as the Chattanooga and Durango GP20s and the Comin' Round the Mountain SD24. Perhaps it was thought that these fictional roadnames would sell better in Australia. Judging by the numbers I saw, perhaps they were right.
Although I remember seeing Tyco sets in toy shops in the '70s, I was a kid myself at the time, so I would not have taken too much notice of how well the sets sold. But the numbers of secondhand Tyco trains I came across in the 80s and 90s suggests that they sold well.
As for sugar cane trains. The Tyco model in my avatar is probably closer to some of the 2' gauge cane locos in Queensland rather than the 3'6" gauge locos run by QR. This may have been intentional of course.
Edited by - B 67 on April 24 2008 09:01:01 AM
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Posted - April 25 2008 : 05:01:28 AM
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outstanding, B67.
As well as looking forward to seeing the TYCO offerings, I do look forward to reading about your experiences as a shop owner.
I have found that LIMA trains are put together quite well.
I have quite a few pieces and find their workmanship somewhat unique. Almost tiny wheel-sets, but quite detailed as models.
Usually, I think outside the box, without knowing I am doing it. I tell many people that "a hobby in model trains is a safe hobby. It's almost good therapy for my wallet... as I walk in the store, my wallet just wants to 'open up'..."
okay... I must admit something... As an alcoholic to a liquor-store, I am to the hobby shops.
Welcome to the forum.
Oh, I've been repeating to the visitors at our museum, the saying from a quote I see here from one of the members... "Too much... is never enough!"
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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Posted - April 25 2008 : 8:01:44 PM
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Welcome B 67. Come on in and get your feet wet.
Alco Fan
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