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 Posted - May 06 2009 : 09:09:25 AM
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Hello -
This is a most interesting forum, and a variant of the train hobby that I never expected. I really appreciate how your interests seem to run the gamut from collecting to kitbashing to just plain fun (e.g., the shark-faced shark). Don't seem to be any holier-than-thou naysayers here, either.
I found this forum because someone gave me a big box of HO (I am an O-scale guy), and I thought I would fix a few of them up for the grandson of a friend. I have been impressed by how well these 30+ year old engines run once you clean them up a little, even though they were pretty cheap toys to begin with. Parts seem to be a problem, but by combining various broken pieces I have a couple dozen good-condition, complete freight cars, a running trolley, and so far, a running Santa Fe F3. There were maybe five that had cracked shells or other problems that made them more valuable as organ donors rather than candidates for fix-up.
I have three banged up streamline-type passenger cars that I think I will rehab to run behind the Santa Fe. These Tyco cars are an odd length - maybe scale out to 67'. I would like to have a diner and full dome to go with the combine, coach, and obs. car. Athearn and ConCor 72' cars would seem not to match too well. I saw somewhere that in the early days Tyco offered streamlined diners as a kit only, would love to see a photo.
I am going to keep the broken stuff and gradually look at train shows for parts.
I am a little uncomfortable with Tyco's approach to prototype faithfullness. For example, I have an Alco C630 high-nose. Near as I can tell, almost all C630 and C636 engines were delivered in low nose, except for N&W, which I have not seen that Tyco offered. On the other hand, the Santa Fe F3 is quite credible. Lionel did the same thing in O-Gauge, and I have never understood what the advantage was in flaunting prototype when you didn't have to.
I have noticed many people think that eBay prices are too high, and compared with free (which is what I paid), how can you argue. On the other hand, I picked up a Santa Fe F3B for $12, including shipping, so how bad is that? I know, if I had waited, I would have found one in a box lot somewhere, but I am not a patient person.
Maybe the joy of discovery is part of Tyco collecting? It looks like some of you are trying to assemble EVERY model ever produced, so it must be very satisfying to come across that one thing you are missing.
Some of this stuff almost looks like it was a private label thing. There is a 50' plug-door Ship-Rite boxcar, a supermarket chain around here (I don't think it is national, could be wrong).
At any rate, thanks for the help I have already received.
Bruce Clouette
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Country:  USA ~
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Member Since: May 05 2009 ~
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Posted - May 06 2009 : 10:01:30 AM
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take pics of your finds we's all curious to see them 
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Posted - May 06 2009 : 6:16:59 PM
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Hey Bruce. Welcome to the forum! Are your passenger cars the plastic bodied cars, or the old metal ones? Would love to see some pics :P
-cheez
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Posted - May 06 2009 : 7:47:51 PM
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Hi Bruce:
As with other, welcome to the obsession er, Cult that is Tyco collecting! Yeah proto-like Pewshaw & Egads! Orangee-brown rules...
Het Cheez,
PM me your shipping address again will ya, found something to go with that caboose! MEEEEWWWWWWWHHHHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Gareth
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Posted - May 08 2009 : 10:16:40 PM
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Welcome Bruce!
Hobbies are great, aren't they? I have Nscale, Tyco HO, US-1, and then 1:1 cars for hobbies. My wife prefers the scale models because they are MUCH cheaper than the real thing.
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Country: USA ~
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