More train show fallout: Tyco LIVES!

Folks:

As I mentioned in another thread, I recently went to a local train show, and I continue to be amazed at the sheer volume of stuff that Tyco must have produced, and the sheer garbage quality of that Power-torque drive. Seriously, I helped the test-track owner (who was more a Lionel guy) convince some parents whose two kids had found a Mantua F-something with an MU-2 and a chrome-dipped Silver Streak Tyco Powertorque to forget about the Silver Streak and trade it for an almost-as-shiny Bachmann power- truck unit. The Bachtruck might not be much, but it sure ran circles around that Powertorque.

Seriously, that drive is the pits. It has no redeeming features. It's bulky, weak, won't swivel freely, has brass wheels, takes up a lot of space in the shell, and has no useful life. I swear, Tyco probably did more damage to model railroading with that steaming pile of dung than we will ever realize, and it keeps right on going. I think we model railroaders have a sacred civic duty to warn everybody we know never to pay more than $3 for a working PT unit, unless they are Tyco collectors who simply must have that Durango locomotive to go with their not-PRR caboose.

Cordially yours: Gerard P. President, a box of track and some plans

Reply to
pawlowsk002
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Rob

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trainfan1

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Rob

Reply to
trainfan1

I wouldn't single out just Tyco for producing stuff that probably did more damage to the model railroad industry than it did good... most all of the "train set" type of products did little to promote reliable operation with brass track, talgo trucks, plastic wheels, etc. Plus the price didn't help matters either... it branded better items like Athearn & MDC, etc as "high end" products. In reality, they are kind of the lower end of "good stuff."

dlm

Reply to
Dan Merkel

Dan:

Well, there's something in that. The early Life-Like diesel drives are pretty horrendous too (the Varney-like power truck and the single- truck U-joint-drive chassis, yikes), and the brass track is a good point...Tyco at least came up with steel.

Still, I have a hard time coming up with any power-truck worse than the PT design.

Cordially yours: Gerard P. President, a box of track and some plans.

Reply to
pawlowsk002

I actually quite like it, other than the following points:

- unplated brass wheels oxidise.

- the copper armature oxidises very quickly.

- the muck-metal armature gear wears out very quickly.

Mind you, those points tend to make it unusable.

Regards, Greg.P.

Reply to
Greg Procter

Isn't that kind of like saying that you like your new suit except for the fit, color & material that it is made of??!? : )

dlm

Reply to
Dan Merkel

DM:

Well, it's more like saying that you like a suit, except that it falls apart when worn.

I *suppose* if I really try I can see some good features in the PT truck.

It's metal, so it's fairly heavy, but the engines were practically empty shells, so there goes that advantage.

It picks up current from solid axle-bearing contact instead of wipers. I like that - I don't mind wipers for supplemental contact, but I don't like depending on them for the main current path. Of course the wheels are brass and the trucks pick up from alternate sides, so there goes that advantage.

It has spur gears, so it doesn't lock up like a non-reversible worm when current is shut off suddenly, and the gears are reasonably fine-toothed and quiet. These would be great if the gears didn't die quickly from wear.

Being a power truck, it can be used without alteration in a lot of locomotives. This would be nice if it could actually decide whether it was a 4 or 6-wheel truck. (Aside - in a moment of weakness, I once made rubber molds and cast epoxy Tyco sideframes to replace some that were missing. :) )

It would also have the advantage of avoiding all motor-torque reactions on the truck mount which would be great if the gimbal swivel could actually let the truck turn freely...but it doesn't so the thing derails anyhow.

So I suppose I could agree a little with Greg P. It shows some promise. I figure somebody came up with this great idea, tested it for 5 minutes in a 'clean room', and then Tyco made

500,000 or so of them...and then brought back the MU-2. I think that ad on the Tyco collectors' site about the 'deluxe F' says a lot. :D

Cordially yours: Gerard P. President, a box of track and some plans

Reply to
pawlowsk002

Well, umm, yes! ;-)

Reply to
Greg Procter

Reply to
curtmchere

DM:

I have to add one more thing in reply to this...I actually bought a Tyco 50 foot flatcar at the train show, but that at least is one model that nobody needs to apologize for. (Hey, a broken clock is right twice a day.)

Cordially yours: Gerard P. President, a box of track and now some L-girders.

Reply to
pawlowsk002

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