Model trains are one of the most interesting and entertaining hobbies there are. As with any modeling hobby, it requires a great attention to detail, a lot of assembling, and a love for the machines that it represents.
In the case of model trains, a fan of the hobby might also expand his or her interest in designing and preparing a landscape for his or her train to travel through. This part of the hobby requires a lot of planning and work, but it’s also one of the most rewarding aspects of model trains, especially when other people are amazed at the little city that you created in the back of your house. Read the rest of this entry »
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HO scale trains are a perfect mix of size and detail making them the most famous and popular type of trains in the world. Read the rest of this entry »
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If you have experience with model railroading, you must have built HO scale layouts and N scale layouts. N scale model trains can be a bit more difficult to handle than HO scale model trains, but on the other hand, they allow for a much more elaborate layout.
If you think you have mastered N scale model trains, and you are really committed to the hobby, then maybe it’s time you graduated to Z scale model trains. Read the rest of this entry »
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During the 1980s, Consolidated Foods expanded its TYCO Model Trains line by producing fantasy and Movie and TV themed HO-scale railway sets. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tyco, the leading model railroad brand, has been making die cast metal reproductions HO scale model trains since 1930s. The company was founded by John Tyler and family (from the name Tyler Company) within his Mantua Metal Products.
Between 1942 and 1945 during the Second World War, Mantua suspended manufacture of their model railroads to produce precision measuring and mapping equipment for the war effort. After the war, in the 1950s Mantua pioneered ready to run HO-scale model railroad kits under the TYCO brand and in the 1960s they added HO-scale slot car electric racing sets to their range. From the 1970s they aimed their products at the consumer-oriented, world mass market.
The Company was sold to Consolidated Foods in 1970 and Tyco continued to market and expand their model train and electric car sets within a division of what became Sara Lee Foods. Tyco continued to diversify until the company was purchased by Mattel in 1997 and the brand survives as the Mattel Tyco Radio Control Division.
However, in 1977 the Tyco model railroad business was repurchased by the Tyler family and distributed them under the Mantua Industries Brand. In 1994 when Consolidated Foods-Tyco stopped producing model railroads Mantua brought back many of the products with the International Hobby Corporation buying the remainder.
Mantua ceased production of its model railway lines in 2001 and sold the business to Model Power Company which still produces some of the original lines such as steam engines under its Mantua Classics Brand.
Lee Porter collects vintage model trains and railroads. He publishes a wide range of articles about model trains, remote control cars, boats and airplanes, Transformers, collectibles and toys. Visit our website http://modeltrains.kiddywinktoys.com
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After the TYCO model train lines were purchased by Consolidated Foods in 1970 they began producing their Fantasy Railroads series of model trainsets marketed as the Brown Box Era HO-Scale Fantasy, Movie and TV Train Sets.
Each set consisted of specially designed engines and rolling stock based on a Fictional train, TV or Movie theme or character/s and were given imaginery combinations of engines, rolling stock and roadnames which were not based on any real railroad prototype example. Because of this serious ‘purist’ modellers tended to dismiss them preferring accurate reproductions of actual existing rideable trains and railroad accessories.
The fictional ‘fantasy’ model trains consisted of:
Chattanooga Choo-Choo
Midnight Special
The Durango
Comin’ Round the Mountain Rocky Mountain Line
The Royal Blue
Silver Stream
Clementine
Golden Eagle
USA Express
Note: Although these trains are based on actual trains, the engines and model railroad sets may share many similarities but are not accurate reproductions of all or most parts of their real world counterparts.
In the 1980s TYCO launched their Movie and TV Train Sets. These consisted of:
The A-Team Electric Train Set No.7428 (1984)
G.I.Joe Electric Train and Battle Set No.7418 (1983-85)
Mask Electric Train and Action Play Set No.7410 (1986)
Rambo Electric Train and Battle Set No.7415 (1986)
Transformers Electric Train and Battle Set No. 7
Lee Porter collects vintage model trains and railroads. He publishes a wide range of articles about model trains, remote control cars, boats and airplanes, Transformers, collectibles and toys. Visit our website http://modeltrains.kiddywinktoys.com
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As most train modelers know, the most famous train scales or gauges are the HO gauge and the N gauge. However, these are not the only gauges there are. For example, O gauge trains are somewhat popular.
O gauge model trains used to be the main standard in model railroading more than 50 years ago. It wasn’t until the 60s came and technology allowed manufacturers to build smaller trains that made O gauge trains fall in popularity. Read the rest of this entry »
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In the 1980s, when Consolidated Foods owned TYCO Model Trains, they released their Movie and TV HO-Scale Electric Train sets as part of its Brown Box Era HO-scale lines. Read the rest of this entry »
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Toy trains have been around ever since the days when trains were the main transport of the day and well before the advent of cars, buses and airplanes. Some of the oldest ones have become collectors’ items, selling for big amounts of money. Read the rest of this entry »
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Over the years Lionel trains have become an icon of model trains. Their fame has spread far and wide during the one hundred years of their manufacture. Read the rest of this entry »
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