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 Posted - November 08 2006 : 01:07:52 AM
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Hi All,
I have a Spirit of 76 caboose that looks just like the spirit of 76 caboose shown on this site but it has FEC 76870 as reporting marks instead of SLSF. The bottom of the car is not marked at all. Unless i'm blind in one and can't see out the other. Is there a way to tell if this is a TYCO car? If anyone has info. please fill me in. I can post a picture tomorrow if need be.
Thanks
Mike
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Country:  USA ~
Posts: 790 ~
Member Since: April 30 2006 ~
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 Posted - November 08 2006 : 11:13:53 AM
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mytyco,
Yes that FEC, which I guess TYCO was using for Florida East Coast perhaps is the same Spirit of '76 Caboose as the one carrying SLSF reporting marks. I had just seen an FEC example on eBay the other day and made a mental note to review what I had pictured and described on the TYCO Resource for this model.
Here's what I think I know regarding this one. First, the SL-SF marks are for the Frisco as many probably know. I don't know all the details, but have heard that Frisco's Bicentennial caboose often journeyed with the Seaboard Coast Line's Bicentenntial U36B diesel. Seems to me that the Seaboard and Frisco might have been either doing a pool or run-through freight service or I also kinda recall the Frisco was a possible merger partner to a few different roads in the '70s. Maybe the joining of the Seaboard U-boat and Frisco Caboose was some pre-merger promotion thing. Either way, I believe that is where TYCO gets its inspiration for the SLSF reporting marks on the one/first example Spirit of '76 caboose model.
Now, for the FEC Spirit of '76 caboose...Here I think it goes to that Tropicana promotional train set that I believe was done with a Florida grocery store chain. Don't quote me, but maybe somebody like Publix perhaps? This set included the 62' Box and Flat Car and Pigs dressed for Tropicana service and was powered by the Spirit of '76 C430. It's a guess, but I think TYCO lettered the '76 Caboose for FEC for this train set.
Doubtless with TYCO it is very possible that FEC Caboose found itself available outside the Florida Tropicana set. I seem to see both examples with good frequency.
Finally, though called in one catalog Seaboard Coast Line Spirit of '76...TYCO never lettered the frame above the fuel tank with the SCL name...as Bachmann did on its more correct U36B...and Athearn at the time did too on its U33B SCL Bicentennial locos.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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