Looking at a Tyco trains catalog from 1963.

With a blog about why I love the company post it being around out there, I wanna head back to looking at Tyco's catalogs again and time skip a bit. 

While I don't want to go too far into the future, I do wanna stop at 1963, as this was the year that Tyco was starting to really get the ball going, while also introducing slot cars as well. 

One other thing I'll give Tyco is a mixed train set they offered that had passenger cars and fright cars. I know, if released today this would be up there in money (especially if it came with enough track for a loop and power), but gosh dang it, I love this. 

Best of both worlds as you get one diesel that can either carry some passenger cars, or fright cars. Closest you're getting to something like this today is buying a diesel or steam starter set from Bachmann and then ordering some passenger or fright cars. 

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but it really feels like there aren't that many coal unloading trestles out there on the market, at least for HO scale. Yes model railroaders I know, it can easily be a DIY project, but it would be nice if someone at least offered a pre-made one like Tyco did...

As I mentioned at the start of this, Tyco was introducing slot cars into the mix, and the cars they showed off look pretty nice. 

Slot car sets were also offered in this catalog: 

The accessories in this catalog aren't much, but can come together to make a nice slot car set up or railroad set up. The street lamps that are offered here are my favorite, and I love the yard stuff that is offered as well. 

Alongside the unloading coal trestle is an freight handling depot, and while those are a bit more common, they don't come with an operating tractor. 

Final Thoughts: 

I know I skimmed thought this catalog a bit, but 

A: it is shorter then Bachmann and MTH's

B: I do overall like and wish some of the stuff offered here could come back. I know, I know, model railroading has come a long way since Tyco was even last offering stuff, but it's hard to deny that there is some charm to what's being offered here, and just in general I don't hear that much about slot car tracks anymore. 

I'm sure there's sets still being made and what not, but thanks to tech I can see them joining trains on the backburner of the "Hobbies" stove. 

What I like about Tyco Trains

 Before anyone says it, yes I know Tyco/Mantua are no longer around making model trains, but I do have a decent amount of their cars and engines thanks to me getting them from train shows/hobby shops, and with how much Tyco stuff there is on Ebay, it's like they never left. 

Thought the company is gone, their not forgotten, and in this blog I wanna take a look at the things that I like about the old company that I wouldn't mind seeing other companies do. 

U.S 1 Trucking: 

While I don't want to make U.S 1 Trucking as the sliced bread of model railroading, I do like the concept. Model trucks on slot car track that can pick up and drop off loads just like real trucks do. 

It's a nice twist on slot cars and I really wish it was done again. True, we do have E-Z streets by Bachmann, but that's in O scale and apparently not that popular. Either U.S 1 Trucking needs to come back, or one of the model railroad/miniature model companies need to make a deal with Faller to use their car system (which see's a small motorized diecast car follow a magnetic line.) 

Tyco's freight and passenger cars:

Yes model railroading folks, I know Tyco's fright and passenger cars don't hold a candle to modern day cars in the realism department, but I do have a soft spot for them. For one, they seem pretty durable and reliable. Maybe it's because I've gotten lucky, but I have a decent amount of Tyco cars in my collection and I haven't had any issues running them on the layout. 

Heck, I have a streamline car that still lights up in spite of being up in my grandmothers attic through the cold and heat. 

Speaking of the streamline cars, I really do have a soft spot for them. Again, I know they don't hold a candle to modern or even more accurate ones, but give Tyco some credit for at least trying to make them as appealing as possible. 

The shadows of passengers inside looks nice, and I do like how the lights at the end of the car actually light up. 

Train sets that came with accessories:

Guys I'm sorry but I just can't accept the idea that accessories in train sets can't become more of a thing these days because "the hobby is niche." 

Yes Bachmann I know you do sell some sets that come with accessories still to this day, but the sets with bridges and inclines are no where to be found. Also would it really be not worth the extra money to put in a fright unloading dock into a set, or a coal dump? 

And let's not forget the roads and rail set that Tyco sold where their US Trucking line crossed over with their railroad line (literally because they had a railroad crossing.) 

They overall had some nice trains/train sets:

I know this one's kind of cheap, but I can't help but add it to the reason why I wanna give Tyco their post-mourn flowers. Some of the sets and trains that Tyco released are things that I'd love to see be re-released in some way or anther. 

From the snazzy looking Midnight special, the Golden Eagle, and even their spirit of America with state themed cars, Tyco had some decent trains/sets that are worth adding to the collection just based on how nice they look. 

To those who were around when Tyco was, what was your favorite things about the company?

MTH O gauge catalog 2010, volume 1 and 2 overview

Part of the reason why I want to go into MTH's 2010's catalogs so much is because this was the last decade they were fully active. Yes I know MTH is still around, but they don't make catalogs like they used to, and their not up to Lionel's level anymore. 

It's gonna be a bit bitter sweet and also painful as I still do wish we'd get a proper competitor to Lionel (in O scale/gauge.) 

Volume 1: 

Before getting into the Trains themselves, I wanna briefly go over the "30 Years of Innovation and Fun" section, highlighting most of MTH's history from their beginnings in owner Mike Wolf's house to introducing one gauge and HO scale to the line. 

When we do get to the trains we're greeted by a 4-6-6-4 Imperial Challenger in RailKing scale. 

I don't mean to obsess over MTH's ability to make big trains run on 31 curves too much, but I do find it impressive. Obviously I wouldn't recommend having some of these trains run on two pieces of straight track and a curve, but if you had a smaller layout that had 31-36 radius curves, this train could handle it. 

The 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler is anther engine I have to tip my hat to MTH for including, as I am a sucker for old steam engines from the western era. 

As someone who's both a sucker for candy themed trains, the M&M's EP-4's were nice to see. 

In the fright car section for RailKing is smoking tank cars for NASA and Hawaiian Kona Coffee. Finally, a good reason to use that Coffee smelling smoke fluid. 

MTH also offered a decent amount of 19th century fright cars in this catalog. 

While not a 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler, MTH did offer a good old fashion 4-4-0 American in O scale. 

The Bavarian Class S 3/6 steam engine MTH offered in this catalog looks beautiful, and I really hope those that model European trains in O scale got their hands on this engine. 

The Turbo train made it's debut in this catalog with schemes for Amtrack, Canadian National, and Penn Central. 

Both the AC440CW diesel and Harley Davison ES44AC diesel sets look really great, though I do wish the Harley Davison set wasn't just a bunch of Harley Davison Trailers on flat cars. 

Volume 2: 

The good old PA Railroad K4 starts the Railking section off, featuring two sets for freight and passenger. 

A GP9 BNSF diesel? That's not something you see everyday. 

It is nice to see flatcars with cars on them being offered. I have a soft spot for these things and hope they continue to be made in all gauges for a long, long, long time (or at least offer us a flat car so we can put our own cars on said flat cars.) 

While the Railking section didn't have too much going on, O scale did, starting with a 4-8-2 New York Central Mohawk that also had two fright train sets offered. 

The 4-8-2 Union Pacific Mountain is a favorite of mine. It might not be the most beautiful looking steam engine, but it does look like an engine that will still get up at the crack of dawn and show up for work on time. 

The 4-4-6-4 Pennsylvania Q2 Duplex was offered alongside a specialty freight set. 

MTH really ramped up production for European engines this catalog. Alongside the trains are European freight cars to go along with the trains. 

I know European trains aren't everyone's cup of tea (for those of us in the USA), but I still stand by the idea that it was nice of MTH to offer said trains in O scale, especially since I'd imagine those who wanted European trains in that scale in the USA didn't have many options. 

I know their dummy subway cars, but I still find the idea of MTH selling flat cars with subway trains on them funny. 

Final thoughts: 

Like I said at the beginning of the blog, it is kind of painful to know that we're in the home stretch for catalogs from MTH. I really liked some of the stuff they were doing, and as I stated in the blog them doing European trains in O scale is pretty nice for anyone who wanted those trains in that scale or model European trains. 

It certainly wasn't something Lionel was doing outside of the Hogwarts Express train set. 

Lionel shows off new engine type for battery operated O gauge train set

I know train news isn't something I do often on here (minus the newer train catalogs overview), but I'd figure I'd break some this week has it seem Lionel is really going all in on their O scale battery operated line. 

On Facebook Trainworld.com posted a new mold/tooling that Lionel revealed for their battery operated O scale line. The mold shows an unpainted diesel engine that looks to come from the GP/Dash family of diesel engines. 

Photo curtesy of TrainWorld.com's Facebook

As for what set this GP train is going to belong to, that would be a John Deer train set that Lionel is planning to release in October. In fact, going onto the Trainworld website you can find the set available for pre-order, alongside what the new diesel looks like completed. 

Alongside the John Deer set, Lionel is also releasing a Disney Christmas train, and Star Wars train in October. 

Thoughts:

I don't blame Lionel for continuing to go all in on the O gauge battery operated train sets. From what Trainworld said on their post, they seem to be pretty popular, and as I stated in my "What I like about modern day Lionel" blog, I feel these types of sets are needed in the industry. 

Again, I know their not gonna look as good as the electric ones, but their perfect for the kiddos who grew out of Thomas but might not be ready for an electric set, or even a lukewarm train fan who just wants a set to have running around the Christmas village. 

I'm still iffy on the price though. Come on Lionel, I'm glad these battery operated sets have some "magic" to them with water vapor smoke, a remote control, and sound, but do they really have to be $100+ a pop?