Tyco Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello,
New here. I’m hoping someone can help me find information on the Tyco Chattanooga Choo Choo. Like when was it introduced, where can I find a catalog for that year, were there any different variations of that train, etc.? ANY information would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance for your help!

2

1977 if I remember correctly… 13th birthday, that’s all I wanted… Yes, I got it, still have it… There were several different versions of it though, the first being a 2-8-0 (steam engine) and it later went to an 0-8-0… They also had a diesel version of it but it was introduced later… Can’t help you with a catalog but that should get you started…

Good luck,
Jeff

3

I had the diesel version, a GP 20. Try this: http://tycotrain.tripod.com/tycotrains/index.html

Jim

4

The GP20 version was my very first train set and the beginning of a lifelong involvement in model railroading. I got it for Christmas in 1974. If I remember right, it came with a Sahara Lee boxcar, a Wesson oil tank car, a Morton salt 3-bay hopper and the caboose.

5

Last year my Gramdfarther gave me all his Ho stuff (was not using it) it came with thre GP-20 Chattonoga. I have sincwe switched over 2 N scale so it is just sitting but dos still run. Why do you want 1??? Tim

6

Jeff,
Thanks for the info. Mine was the all black, 2-8-0 steam version! I had so much fun with that! I’ll keep trying for the catalog! Thanks!

7

Jim,
Thanks for that link! I’ll definitely take a look there! Mine was the all black, 2-8-0 steam version! Loved that thing! Thanks again!

8

Chad,
Sadly, I don’t remember what all mine came with! Is there some way of finding that out? Thanks!

9

Tim,
I’m interested, let me know. Thanks!

10

A time machine and a trip to the toy store?[;)] I don’t know. I didn’t even know the Chatanooga steam train existed.[8D]

11

there really wasn’t a “Chattanooga Choo Choo” only in a song…if you get a chance, go to Chattanooga Tenn. and see it for real…they have a nice section in their downtown area with the Chattanooga choo choo there, you can take an old trolley ride thru town, and in the shopping center there, they have a real nice train layout upstairs…chuck

12

A little tip-make sure you keep the drive gears in the tender greased and oiled. There’s a large black plastic drive gear in there that will wear out quick if you don’t. Mine just wore out and I’m really bummed out . (probably never find a replacement)

13

how the heck did it run? i’ve NEVER heard of a TYCO running for more than a few days- my grandfather had the 2-8-0 w/ smoke- i never got to see it run (motor burned up) apparantly the 2-8-0 wouldn’t even pull 1 car - the motor was in the tender so the wheels the should have been driving (-:sunglasses: just rolled- VERY stupid design

14

I saw an article several years back in MR that described using a Bachman spectrum GE44 tonner to repower these types of locos… Mine died under the christamas tree a year after I got it. Same problem… It probably didn’t help matters much that I dropped in on the concrete floor in the basement some time earlier.

usnomad, if you have/had the same set I do, Old Dutch Cleanser covered hopper, A long Gulf tank car, of course the caboose, Crane and boom car set… The set also came with the ever popular trestle set though it didn’t go to a full train clearance, only about 1.5 inches, the bridge, and who could forget (okay I guess many could) the billboard steam train whistle. Actually didn’t sound that bad since it was really moving air rather than a crude electronic approximation. Burned up the power pack when I learned about reverse loops [:(]…

Ahh, the memories of a birthday suprise, 28 years and 364 days ago. [:)]

Jeff

Edit… Corrected contents of the set…

15

i should also note that i have a 1976 TYCO brouchre and the Chattanooga 2-8-0 w/ smoke cost $35 (i think)-- someone else on the MRR fourm had the 2-8-0 and the motor burned up after 2 days and it was fixed twice and still was junk -Trains You Can’t Operate

16

Actually, a tender drive isn’t as stupid as you may think… How do you think your Diesels run?? HMMMMMM?? Just imagine pushing a car in front all the time… And for what it’s worth, the loco would pull far well more than one car. In fact, it’ll outpull the stock genesis steamers which I know isn’t saying a whole lot but considering the sources, it doesn’t make the genesis pulling power look very good.

17

i actually have the burned up motor and it’s small-- the tender drive only ran 4 wheels- it just seems like it would derail with the motor pushing from the tender- the motor in the tender was the “power torque” which was junk

18

I didn’t say the motor was anything great… It’s the same one they used in most of thier locos at the time, and probably the reason For using it. It is a 6 wheel drive, 4 with flanges, 2 without, in between the others. Although I will say, none that I ever had Burned out… The gears let loose, yes, due to poor design. Suprisingly enough, if trackwork was half way decent (as it should be anyway) the front loco stayed on just fine. There’s enough weight in there to insure that. It also picks up power on all 8 in the front… Something even the brass manufacturers of the day hadn’t figured out how to do (or just didn’t want to). The Cool thing about it is that the mechanical smoke unit actually Puffed the smoke out of the stack in sync with the drivers rather than just boiling and spitting it out like the bachmans do. They didn’t put the motor in the front, probably because there isn’t room…The boiler assembly is pretty well packed with stuff.

Jeff

19

i forgot it is 6 wheel drive but mine is missing an axle- that’s the thing i don’t understand about TYCO they had wheels w/o flanges that drove -the C430’s had the non-flanged wheels on 1 axle too

20

Was this the engine some guys were re-powering with a switcher chassis in the tender?

Jim