Someone should really tell these people that they’re off their nut. look at the Buy it now price!!! Sheesh!!!
Tyco actually has a very strong collectors’ following.
The Chattanooga locomotive is one of the “iconic” Tyco train set locos.
Could just be collectors fighting over this. You never know. It’s not my thing, but there’s a whole internet forum like this one just for Tyco collectors.
Well maybe some one should give them a heads up on this, because with 2 hours and change left there are 0 bids LOL, well and who knows, some one out there may have had that engine as their start in MR’ing so maybe trying to buy back some of their childhood, all i can say is at $150 for buy it now, well my childhood was’nt that happy!
Astounding.
Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo “”“” ???
Track 29, ???
Something like that.
Only TYCO could offer such a classic/ Is is any surprise that we missed out on this one…
It is right up there with the Elvis, Dale Earnhart and other train offers. The latest Genesis John Deere locomotives are in the same “collectors” corner.
A newspaper reporter dubbed the huffing and puffing little steam locomotive the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Although the Chattanooga’s Terminal Station was significant in its role of the train era with it’s “Track 29”, little was known about the first Chattanooga Choo Choo. Only after Glenn Miller’s orchestra made the catchy song popular in the late 1940’s did the name become world famous. Introduced in 1941 by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the song was featured in the movie “Sun Valley Serenade” and performed by Tex Beneke and the Modernaires. Harry Warren wrote the original music score, while Mack Gordon takes credit for the rhythmic words. The song, “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” traveled fast throughout the circles of Europe during World War II, and today it is an international favorite.
I had just recently had taken one of these in trade and I must say for all the bad feed back I’ve gotten about this unit it runs very well and strong, I like the fact that the coal tender is powered also.
I’ve heard these were junk but so far I can’t see it.
It also stays on the track better than some of the newer locomotives I have.
So until it explodes and sets the layout or house on fire I’ll keep running it.
Just my opinion.
If your engine runs well and you like it, that is great. Overall, TYCO had a poor reputation and most do not give the older TYCO models any good comments. They never sold well in the LHS since they were generic in nature.
You can watch the ebay auction and if it sells for a good price, you can value your model in that range.
Enjoy it!
I hang out on the Tyco forum on occasions. Even THEY bash that loco and avoid it.[(-D]
NIOB ones only fetch about $40.
Must be some pretty strong dope in Medina, Oh![;)]
Although their equipment doesn’t run as well, and may lack detail, they are toys, and some do have a nice, cute look to them [:)]
When I was 10 my grandmother bought me some tyco’s at a yard sale. After a bit of coaxing they were running welll, and I must say they did have a certain look to them. 4 years later they are stilll being played with by my young neighbors [:)]
$169.99 for a Tyco tender drive Chatanooga 0-8-0? Not for me. I had one of those many years ago and it was a total piece of junk! Looked good in the display rack but didn’t run worth a plugged nickel. I put the chassis from a Model Power switcher in the tender and it ran much better.
I agree. I always liked them and you can get a good one now and then. Keep the gears in the tender lubed really well. They’re pretty thin and weak and will chew themselves up if you let them dry out.
In case you don’t know it, that loco has a smoke unit in it. You put the smoke fluid in the hole under the brass bell.(gently pull it out) NOT down the smoke stack. And only use a drop or two at a time.
That’s not even the nicer Consolidation version of that loco, it’s the cheap 0-8-0 that came later with numerous cost-saving measures. The 2-8-0 had additional handrails, a diecast tender frame and boiler weight while that 0-8-0 actually had a plastic boiler weight. [D)]
I found this out the hard way by winning the 2-8-0 version last year, as I was determined to install a motor in the loco, and replace the tender. The seller mixed up two auctions and sent me a broken 0-8-0 version, then vanished. eBay has since shut her down. At least I paid very little for it, but I think that loco is profoundly cursed. [B)]
This seller is dreaming. Just like the woman who couldn’t tell an 0-8-0 from a 2-8-0, this person probably heard that Tyco is becoming collectible and set up the auction without looking at the going price.
Red Horse, you’re lucky to have a Chattanooga in running condition. Don’t pull too much with it, because that Powertorque gearing is flimsy and won’t take it very long.
Maybe I’m dense, but I’m seeing what appears to be a metal worm gear on the third driver axle. The pictures are too dark to tell about the under side of the tender. Is it really a tender drive?
Fred W
Yeah, only the tender was powered. The engine itself was free rolling.
That’s a clear plastic cam that flicks the smoke unit plunger and puffs the smoke out of the stack. That’s where you can put a standard Mantua worm gear. The hard part is devising a new screw boss to hold down the rear of the boiler, because installing a motor means taking out the old one.
I treasure and keep my Tyco from my early days in the hobby. But that is really a high price - I’m not surprised it has no bids.
Enjoy
Paul
There are a lot of people out there who hear all kinds of stories about making a fortune on ebay, who watch things like Antique Roadshow and think that every old thing in the attic is worth a fortune. It’s not just that way with trains. It’s that way with anything people think is collectable.
I’ve bought old locos like that very cheaply to get parts for kitbashing.
Sometimes people get caught up in bidding. Last week I bid on an IC sidedoor caboose from Centralia Car Shops. I dropped out when the bid exceeded what I could have bought one from Des Plaines Hobbies for. IIRC, it ended up selling for about $12.00 over retail.
Jeff
Well i guess i have to correct myself here, i thought it had a $149 buy it now when it was actually $169, plus $15 for shipping, so for $184.99 you to could own a fine tyco specimen such as this, got a tell ya i am really shocked that did not sell LOL!.
Truely sad…but not as sad as this auction:
The seller is very positive though, as you can see from their reply to my Email. I politely explained to them that the appraised value was more likely the insurable value rather than what they could expect to get at sale, and that Ebay might not be the best venue for such a sale. Their reply is as follows:
Hello!
No worries about your message… I’m finding that you Railroad collectors are a passionate bunch to be sure! This is only one of dozens of messages I’ve received; some saying too high, most saying way too low, everyone wanting to help. As for insurance value, I did clearly post in the auction that the appraiser called the amounts the ‘Fair Market Value.’ In doing extended research, I’ve found that he low balled many items, especially the metal cars, and was generous on some of the plastic cars. In my opinion, (and that’s really all it is) I don’t think this particular appraiser did all of his due diligence and may have been a bit “lazy” with the appraisal. But the family’s been through enough so I haven’t pushed the point.
At this time there are more than 90 watchers on this auction and the page has had over 2000 hits! That’s more than I’ve ever experienced on any auction I’ve listed. It’s very exciting! I have some truly interested e-Bayer’s, so I think I’m in pretty good shape.
I’m sure your intent is good. I thank you for your interest, advice and best wishes.
Here’s “The Son of - Ugh, Another Incredible eBay Sale” with four Kalmbach Books using “Buy It Now” - Needless to say, it was quite tempting! So, you can get all four books for only $900.00 USD. But, don’t forget $4.60 shipping & handling for each book.
- $150 - The Classic Layout Designs of John Armstrong…
- $200 - Realistic Animation, Lighting & Sound…
- $250 - Diesel Locomotive Cyclopedia - Volume Two…