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 Posted - August 03 2008 : 9:52:41 PM
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Hey Guys:
Last weekend & this I had a cchance to run some of my Tyco's on a friends sizeable little pike. Now most of them have been packed away for 20-35 years. As you would expect most ran very poorly especially some of the older MU-2 powered units. Some however ran extremly well and if not quite Atlas-Kato still for what they are and they're age excellent. They include:
1) Plymouth Davenport Switcher PT power. never stalled over a switch frog and ran well at high, medium and rather low speeds.
2) Super 530 Bicentennial. Great at all speeds. PT again
3) GG1: Well considering what it is SUPERB! I mean only one truck is powered, went up a 4% grade, lit evenly (directionaly) and was quiet, very quiet. [^]
4) CR4 Centercab. Like the Davenport above this little centercab ran outstanding it was MU-2 powered
Well thats it. Some plesant surprises. Oh I know, there are guys who have brand "X" who will say they run like crap, but as my old Regiment's Motto put it "Honi soit qui mal y pense" (shamed be he who thinks evil of it)
Enjoy your Tyco's, AHM's whatever....!
-Gareth
PS: I'm certain with a little work the rest will run teriffic too!
Edited by - romcat on August 03 2008 9:55:33 PM
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 Posted - August 04 2008 : 8:41:34 PM
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| I'm with you G--My Tyco's run just as good as any Kato / Atlas / Athearn / And others i own. While the Serious rivet counter would cringe at having a Tyco on thier pike or even the possesion of one--I have fun running mine--That is what model railroading and Toy trains are about = FUN[:D]
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Posted - August 04 2008 : 9:54:29 PM
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Hey Brian:
Well ok, if you've got a Tyco that runs as well as my Atlas-Kato RS3 we have a bet to be made!? HOWEVER does it do a good enough job to operate on any Model RR except one being essentailly proto modelling, I'd say sure!
Now I have an early Tyco Pacific and once it's been detailed and custom painted it will run on my layout. A perfect scale example of a Baldwin B&O F7 Pacific? No. But a pretty good one and it runs well and is a good puller.
It's when people say they're worthless that I take umbradge.
-Gareth
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Posted - August 04 2008 : 11:20:07 PM
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quote:I'm with you G--My Tyco's run just as good as any Kato / Atlas / Athearn / And others i own.
Originally posted by Brianstyco - August 04 2008 : 8:41:34 PM
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You're on, Brian...[:D]
I like running all my Tykes but one, my blasted So76 C430 is about to become a physics experiment if it don't straighten out.
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 Posted - August 05 2008 : 12:15:25 AM
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Hey SG:
I'm thinking that the "physics" experiment you have in mind falls under the heading of Ballistics!?
-and uh; SOOOOPEEEEERRRRRBBBB Shot!
-Gareth
Edited by - romcat on August 05 2008 12:18:26 AM
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Posted - August 05 2008 : 06:44:48 AM
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I'm sure we all have MU2ed Alcos that will out pull Atlas, Athearn, etc. and at a proto speed. I bought an Atlas SD35 that will pull a small train of 8 or so cars but spins it's wheels from a dead stop or if more are added while the 4wd Mantua Alco doesn't. If the PT's don't have the power you double-head them and that looks cool.
Alco Fan
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Posted - August 05 2008 : 6:22:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by shaygetz - August 04 2008 : 11:20:07 PM
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Hope you've got a 5 amp powerpack on that layout. [:o]
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on August 05 2008 6:23:03 PM
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Posted - August 05 2008 : 8:27:53 PM
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Thanks, Gareth.
Nelson, it has about a 3.5 amp draw, even with the third generation motors so, yes, my MRCs better be the beefier models[:D] I can hard wait to see what it draws after I put about a pound of lead in each loco.
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Posted - August 06 2008 : 6:51:55 PM
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Wow, 3.5 is awfully high for 3rd generation motors, unless you're talking stall current. If not, I'd give them a tuneup and lube.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - August 06 2008 : 10:20:43 PM
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My Tycos are all over the map. I have some PT's that are silky-smooth joys to run and others that won't get out of their own damn way; MU-2s that shoot sparks and others that are virtually silent.
I would never compare the best running Tyco in my fleet (and there are some excellent ones) to any modern Athearn or Atlas or P2K. You may as well compare a finely-tuned Yugo to a Corvette.
But... I like the Tyco's - I can get even the balkiest PT to an acceptable level, and would much rather have those than any piece-of-crap Kader pancake a-la LL or Bachmann. [^]
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Posted - August 06 2008 : 11:14:40 PM
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The point is that to compare a noisey but good pulling 4wd MU2 Alco to a slightly newer but not modern Atlas or Athearn engine that have 12 wheel drive of the same vintage is a fair comparison and one that the Mantua fairs better.
I like Tycos too.
Alco Fan
Edited by - Alco Fan on August 06 2008 11:19:47 PM
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