Tyco Trains

Welcome to the forum.

	Username:

	Password:

Save Password

Register
Forgot your Password?

[ Active Members: 0 | Anonymous Members: 0 | Guests: 21 ] [ Total: 21 ] [ Newest Member: PvtDoughnutt ]

Select Skin:

All Forums

General HO Train Discussions

Introduce yourself.

Hello

All users can post NEW topics in this forum
All users can reply to topics in this forum

Printer Friendly

mscherpenberg
Switcher

Status: offline

Posted - December 26 2010 : 9:55:12 PM

Given I just used the forum for help with a problem on one of my locomotives, I thought I'd say hi. I am a long time lurker here. I got my start back in the late 70s in model railroading with Tyco when I was 3. I got a Midnight Special set, the diesel Chattanooga Choo Choo and a Chattanooga steamer 0-6-0 along with a few extra cars that were set up around the tree that year. I had a 2 circles of track and could only run 2 of the 3 engines. Over the years I collected more Tyco and other HO trains before moving onto my dad's old American Flyer. I have a full S scale layout in my parents house. I also am involved in ridable live steam railroading (I have a 7 1/2 gauge delivery van on rails). I also collect G scale and have dabbled in N and O. I've always had a soft spot for the old HO Tyco since it is where my roots are. The Midnight Special shark is my all time favorite locomotive. I bought my 5 favorite locomotives and some rolling stock as shelf pieces several years ago for the S scale train room. I got the Special, the Chattanooga diesel and the later "boiler headlight" steamer (my original was the consoladated with the headlight up top). I also got the Golden Eagle and Silver Streak. I don't know why but with the Tyco the fantasy schemes were the only ones I really cared about and those 5 were my favorite. Last year I got some track and got all 5 running again. I returned them to the shelf and bought a second Midnight Special and some extra cars just to run on a small oval of track at my own house recently for my own enjoyment. Someday, I'd like to build a Midnight Special Shark in 1.5 scale to run on 7.5 gauge track.

Country:

USA ~ Posts: 6 ~ Member Since: December 26 2010 ~ Last Visit: January 09 2011

Alert Moderator

AMC_Gremlin_GT
Big Boy

Status: offline

Posted - December 26 2010 : 10:05:33 PM

quote:
... I thought I'd say hi. I am a long time lurker here. I got my start back in the late 70s in model railroading with Tyco when I was 3. .... I also am involved in ridable live steam railroading (I have a 7 1/2 gauge delivery van on rails). .... Someday, I'd like to build a Midnight Special Shark in 1.5 scale to run on 7.5 gauge track.

Originally posted by mscherpenberg - December 26 2010 : 9:55:12 PM

Wow, you're into 7.5 gauge? Whew, that's expensive, isn't it? I've had an interest in it, but of course, like many of my interests ( Scuba diving, Ultralight flying, R/C flying ), they all involve gobs of money, which I have never had to get into any of them, sadly. Anyway, can you give me/us/forum members a quick synopsis on costs for things like, oh, rails and trucks? Say I wanted to build just a trolley or flat car in 7.5, how much does track cost per foot, where do you buy it, and where can you find powered/unpowered trucks for this type of gauge? And at what expense? I've never run into anyone personally who had a legit interest/ participation in this gauge, so I'd like to know what is involved cost-wise into breaking into it in ANY way. There's very few clubs on the East coast near where I reside, I think some in PA and NY, and one in MD, but none in Virginia that I know of. Always good to find someone with some knowledge of this gauge, as I an intrigued with the possibilities, but don't think I'll have any chance of full-scale <sic> participation in it to any extent. But I'd like to know what it would cost to GET into it, even if just for a single unpowered car. Other bits of knowledge about it I'd like to know is, how small a radius can you have with this gauge, and how do you bend the track ( with what tool ? ). Thanks for posting, look forward to hearing more from you.

Jerry in Virginia

" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"

Country:

USA ~ Posts: 3974 ~ Member Since: January 04 2009 ~ Last Visit: January 11 2019

Alert Moderator