Hi, Im usually a lionel guy but I sometimes buy some HO scall stuff. I bought this nice looking Chessie system 4301 but I cant find any information on it anywhere. Who makes it? Whats it worth? When was it made?
What kind of engine is it? Probably more important, can you find any manufacturer’s identification on it?
With Lionel equipment you can find out about anything with its unique engine/car number. It does not work like that in HO scale. There are many, many manufacturers and there is no list of what they all made, by unit number. Sorry, but that’s the way it is.
For help in identifying your model, post good photos of it, list what printing may be cast into the bottom, tell as much as you can about it - brass or other wheels, rubber inserts on the wheels, metal or plastic handrails, etc. As for how much it is worth, generally HO scale models don’t have standard values like Lionel equipment does. Probably not worth very much.
Theres no printing on the bottom at all. no identification or anything besides the road name and number. its die cast metal and looks pretty old, Its a pacific type ( 4-6-2) it has a workign headlight and is yellow, red and blue. Thats really all there is to say.
Does it look like this
http://www.hoseeker.org/tycoinformation/tycocatalog1975pg06.jpg
Can you post some pics of it? Hand rails, tucks, underframe shots can tell alot by who made it.
Yep, the one in the link is it.
Billbarman - If you are indeed correct as identifying your model with that shown in the link, then here’s what you’ve got.
It’s a Tycho locomotive offered as part of a set from 1975-76, as illustrated in the link. Tyco was considered one of the extreme low end manufacturers of HO, with a very poor reliability record. Folks in HO typically regard Tyco in the same way Lionel O-gauge collectors look at low end Marx trains. Likewise, although there are a few folks that do collect Tyco, unlike with regard to Lionel, there is no organized collector market for HO items, so the model has little if any significant resale value.
CNJ831
Good thing I wasnt thinking of selling it. Anyways thank you for your help.
Contrary to what some may try to tell you, the steam locomotive models by Mantua and Tyco were the same. They were low cost, most were available as kits, and they were and still are easy to repair and maintain. Because of the die cast zamac boiler, they have good weight on drivers and pull pretty good. The basic design of this particular locomotive hadn’t changed from the early 60’s to the 80’s and this one may still be marketed by Model Power under the “Mantua Classics” name. Just don’t look for the Chessie paint scheme. I have two of these Pacifics, in standard black. Parts breakdowns are available on the same HO seeker website as the catalogue link.
http://www.hoseeker.net/tycomiscellaneous.html
The parts breakdown sheets are actually the assembly instructions for the kit version.
The poor quality some refer to (and unfortunately the Tyco most people remember) is the post 1970’s take over by Consolidated Foods when they moved manufacturing overseas, and is mainly the diesel models.