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 Posted - October 23 2006 : 6:52:11 PM
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Hi, New here to the forum, but old friends with Tyco. Well going through some memory pictures with my 7 yr old son I ran a cross one of my Tyco set ups in 1976. At the age of ten this was one of the coolest things to have. Well my son went nuts. Even though the picture was blurry (kodak 110 cartridge camera) he wanted those trains. I had to explain Tyco was not made any more. We would have to search for them. Gone were the days of going to Zodys and buying what ever your heart wanted or allowance could afford. Now there is no stopping him or me. I forgot how much fun Tyco was. I have the basic set up from the track expansion set catalog. Almost all the lighted houses and accessories. The legendary f-9 Santa Fe( 4 to be exact). Looking at this set now just opens the flood gates of memories. My son now wants all the stuff I had when I was young. Can you blame him. Most toys now I wouldn't want to play with . To date he has the Tyco set up, a Schwinn Stingray bike, Evel Knievel stuff, plus a lot more from my past. His friends think its cool and the parents do too. I know I will probably have a lot of questions since most things I buy will need to be fixed. Something I didn't do back then.
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
Edited by - relivingthepast on October 23 2006 7:47:05 PM
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 7:23:04 PM
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Great post; thank you! The Tyco cold-boiler club has been lamenting of late the lack of accessibility to "tinplate" HO and resultant disconnect that potentially imperils the future of model railroading. You and your son's exodus is very encouraging indeed, proving there's life in the old gal (Tyco trains and their other late-lamented hi-rail brethren) yet!
Magnolia Academy
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jlong
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 9:23:15 PM
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So your son was born with a train gene. If you want your 70's Tyco back, trainshows are a good source for used stuff as a lot of it shows up at very nice prices. Santa-Fe F9's are pretty common and you shouldn't have a problem finding one or two. Being 30 years old, you need to be inclined to service these engines as the lubricants are likely to be dried up. That is if the engines even run. Some trainshow dealers carry used HO that they have serviced to top running condition. Most train shows have test tracks. Another source is ebay. Lots of 70's Tyco. Both new and used. But again, you need to be inclined with the stuff when buying on ebay. It's buyer beware.
If your number one priority is getting on the floor with your son, you might consider a newly manufactured set. For reliable, long term operation, an Athearn starter set is probably your best choice. They make them with Santa-Fe F-7's.
Again, welcome to the forum. Glad you could join us.
John Long
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 Posted - October 23 2006 : 9:45:49 PM
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You're digging into my memory also. I also had a Stingray, it was the coolest bike to have in those days (70's). I remember it had the 5 speed center mount shifter, banana seat, sissy bar and gorilla handlebars. Have you seen the NEW Stingray Schwinn has put out,  I would have went nuts over that.
If you want to hold onto your money longer, do NOT let him learn about SSP cars. [:D]
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 10:17:12 PM
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He knows about SSP's, vertibird and smash up derby. They're a little pricey for my blood. My Stingray was like your, but only three speed center shift. Now if I remember stay away from the Tyco tender driven engines and late 70's engines. Anything else that might pose a problem. Thanks
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
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jlong
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 10:19:50 PM
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http://cgi.ebay.com/1971-TYCO-7325-THE-SUPER-CHIEF-SANTA-FE-SET-M-I-B_W0QQitemZ300039377689QQihZ020QQcategoryZ19140QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300039377689
John Long
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 10:26:17 PM
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Thanks John Long. That's one of the sets I had as a kid. Along with the Diesel freight set and over and under set. Can you tell what engine I liked. I'm going to watch this one.
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
Edited by - relivingthepast on October 23 2006 10:27:11 PM
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jlong
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 11:14:36 PM
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I have a gut feeling there will be a bid war for that set within the last hour. It will be interesting to watch. I didn't quite read you first post thoroughly. You say you still have some of the Tycos from your youth?
John Long
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 11:26:44 PM
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No I wish I did. They kind of disappeared when we moved in 1980. Took the whole set down boxed it put it in storage and that was it. All I have is one blurry picture. Never thought of taking more. Well we learn from our mistakes. The bidding war will be because of the set box. I've seen a few with out the box and they went between 35.00 to 45.00.
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
Edited by - relivingthepast on October 23 2006 11:27:41 PM
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Posted - October 23 2006 : 11:30:43 PM
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Reliving the past - Dig the name! I too find myself reliving my own not-so-long ago (10 years or so behind yours) childhood as well. I still have the Tyco GI Joe switcher that burned up after a piddly few weeks, that set this lifelong affair going. It's so awesome that you get to share things with your son. My little girl seems to have a liking, you might like my post "why I love railroads" from a couple weeks ago.
Despite my knack for stirring up Magnolia's Ire, I DO have a deep fondness for Tyco (my bank account will soon bear this out) and other "vintage RTR", and am glad he and others have pointed me toward other gems I missed or never heard of (but I'll still run my new fleets, too - everything is what it is, after all).
This forum is a great place, continually growing. Glad to have you aboard...
-Tony L.
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 12:09:33 AM
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My little girl now 11 (maybe not so little any more) tries to like trains, but really doesn't care to much. She is more intrested in her American girl doll, Molly. I guess I'm glad she is into girls stuff. I hope I can acheive the Tyco layout I wanted as a kid, but couldn't afford. I just tell my wife it is for our son , he just looks at her and she gives in.
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 12:54:17 AM
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Next thing you know your son will conjure up a home-made version of the old Lionel cardstock "Hello Pop, Xmas is just around the corner and I've been a good boy" reminder, with "Tyco" substituted for Lionel.
I'm sure JLong remembers 'em: the instructions read "fold card in half and stand before Pop's breakfast plate"
The outside showed a boy with a halo 'round his head watching trains saying, "Pop--this could be me with my new Lionel" followed by an instruction to look inside, which revealed a "checklist" of Jr's wants, concluding with a reminder for Pop to "please shop early."
This year I'm asking Santa for a Tyco 1962 ACL Sunshine Special streamliner.
(and a bikini-clad super-model...one who likes toy trains)
MagnoliaAcademy
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 01:12:09 AM
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Close, his system is every three days we sit down and go over Tyco on E-Bay and he tells me what he likes. If I tell him it might be hard to get, he always has the same answer; Santa will bring it he still makes everything. So far I've found the Chessie steamer, Santa Fe loader and hopefully the Santa Fe steamer. All on the top of his list.
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 10:19:06 AM
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Regarding Xmas wish list:
I generally qualified for the "naughty" consolation prizes, myself.
You know: the sharp stick and a lump of coal.
Here's to the good son and hoping his--unusual but refreshing in these dark digitally transmogrified ages--TYCO wishes come true.
MagAc
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jlong
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 1:36:54 PM
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Mag, I've seen that note to Pop wish list as it's shown in Hollander's book "All Aboard" if I'm not mistaken. There is a sunshine special on ebay in case you haven't noticed.
John Long
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 2:25:33 PM
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VERTIBIRD!
I still have mine, and it still works!
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 3:25:55 PM
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John:
Sunshine special on Ebay? Nah, never noticed (chuckle).
Bob:
Damned neighbor dog at the crappy styro-stern off my ship-board verti-bird. Life was somehow never the same...
MagAc
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 6:02:48 PM
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Let's try this again.
My Vertibird is the Polar Adventure, and it still works!
I lost the sno-track somewhere along the line, but, my kids got a charge out of it when they were kids.
I still have my Cox P-51 "Miss America" and most of my Hot Wheels (including the orange track) from many years ago.
In a way, I wish I had not kitbashed (trashed) most of my Tyco from back then, I have a lot of good memories with that C-430 and the other Tyco stuff.
I didn't have Tyco slotcars, I had Aurora G-Plus cars. Those would beat the pants off of my friend's Tyco cars!
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 6:35:32 PM
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I had my first vertibird back in 71. It was basic no frills. Try to rescue the astronaut. My dad got tired of returning it when the cable turning the prop broke at the spring in the base ( three times). So I ended up with a metal (Yes metal) garage complete with cars and lifts. I still have my Hot Wheels with the super chargers, speedo, orange track and redline cars. I wish I still had my Cox Army Jeep and PT Trainer. Come to think of it I wish I still had most of my toys from back then. There goes the bank account.
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 6:56:55 PM
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My first Vertibird did that too, and it was the "rescue the astronaut" version, and yes, it broke in the same place.
My dad took it apart, and fixed it with a piece of copper tubing.
That worked till New Years day.
Got the Polar from my 10th birthday.
(FYI in '72)
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 8:38:44 PM
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Wow... ya'll had all the cool toys. In my childhood, it was all licensed-this and movie-that and cartoon-this and StarWars StarWars StarWars.
But man did I ever have a ton of hotwheels. Wish I hadn't pulled all the rubber tires off to make junkyard stacks - oh the humanity the day I saw the prices on those.
I loved the fold-up City playsets they had... even one for the HotWheels Railroad! And the "Crack-ups" test facility. I don;t dare look for that stuff now...
My only "classic" toy as a child was the bigass metal Tonka dumptruck that got me in trouble all the time. You know, it was metal, see, and I just couldn't resist rolling it down the stairs to see just how much punishment it could really handle...
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jlong
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 10:22:04 PM
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quote:| My only "classic" toy as a child was the bigass metal Tonka dumptruck that got me in trouble all the time. You know, it was metal, see, and I just couldn't resist rolling it down the stairs to see just how much punishment it could really handle... |
....Makes me think of the time my cousin and I threw a Tonka dump trunk into an oncoming train doing about 60. This was around 65 on SP&S trackage. We were like 8 years old. The engineer pissed his pants and cursed all kinds of things at us as he roared by. I wish now we had saved that crumpled piece of history. I still LMAO thinking about that.
John Long
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Posted - October 24 2006 : 10:53:21 PM
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Why did you have to mention the Tonka dump truck. Bad memory. I was doing what every kid did. Both hands on the dump, running full speed and wham. Hit a small pebble, truck stops, I go flying, face hits cement and 10 ten stitches in the mouth where the front teeth tried to come through the lip. Needless to say we parted on bad terms never to play again. ( my mom got rid of it)
We have nothing to fear, but fear itself!" - FDR
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