Yes, one Philadelphian replied how relaxing it was to watch a train go around in a loop. I agree. I wonder sometimes why it is that I like my train so much. It doesn't do much, does it? Just goes around in a circle and it has a couple of little lights on it.  Well maybe therein lies the answer. Peace. Jim ( a former Philadelphian)

Yes, I have a 1970 Tyco F-9 that is still faithfully running but has always been loud. I wonder too how something can last so long. I wonder if it needs lubrication? I don't want to kill it.


Yes, the GP-20 has the motor attached right to the front truck. I am going to replace it with new technology. This one has to be put to rest.

I have a Tyco F-9 loco from about 1970. It has been in storage now for all these years and I've just in the last couple of years taken it out at the holidays to run it and I wonder if I should somehow lubricate the motor. Thanks in advance. Jim

Was it hard to add the flourescent light? Did it just require a little soldering or more than that?

Good points. I'll replace it with a new loco.  Thanks for help. Jim

Hello, This past weekend my 35 yr old Tyco GP-20 just stopped running. It is strange as for the past 6 weeks it was running really well and smooth and quiet, and now all it does it sits there. The headlight comes on really bright but no movement. I wonder if the motor just died of old age. I tried taking it apart to see if maybe the wire came undone but in prying the outer shell off it seemed like it might begin cracking so I stopped. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. At the time it died I was pulling three passenger lighted cars and I think one of these cars might have had a small short in it and I wonder if this could have led to the demise of my loco. If it died of old age it's ok; 35 years of service is not bad. But it has nostalgic and sentimental value.

I have my layout on my carpet. What works great but does not look too great is to take small squares of cardboard (say 3" x 3") and place them in random areas up against the track. Then on each place a weight (canned food works great). This will hold your track down solidly and the trains will run great. The more of these you add the stronger the hold will be. They are especially needed on the outside radii of the track. Of course now your layout looks like "Campbell City" but hey, it's temporary and there is no better thing for your trains than a good strong foundation in the track.

Thanks everyone for your help. I have tried very carefully to find the short using a ohm meter and volt meter. I thought I was pretty smart about electrics but maybe not. My gosh, I have tried everything and I cannot seem to find what the problem is. I've even compared resistances from the working cars to the non working car. They appear to be about the same but are very sensitive to how hard you push the voltmeter leads onto the wheels of the car. I simply give up. I am going to try bringing it to a local RR club Tues night. The wheel arrangement is fine(ie the metal wheels of each truck are on the same side but the metal wheels of one truck are on the opposite side of the other). 35 years ago this car worked fine. Strange thing happened also this weekend, in that while running a nice TYCO GP20 that had been running very smoothly for me these last 6 weeks suddenly stopped (and died?). It still lights up but does not move. I tried taking it apart but I was risking cracking the outer shell. Yes, I love passenger cars ever since I was a kid. I especially like the lighted ones. So I will try your suggestion of that one brand you mentioned (Athenum?), and I'll add the lights myself. I love the Amtrak 85' cars but I'm afraid they are a little too long for my small layout.

Hello,
Are the 85' passenger coaches too long for an 18" radius curve? If so are there any other good lighted passenger coaches you would recommend? My old Tyco PA RR lighted passenger coach from the 1960's has a short in it and I'd like to replace it, but I really would like a lighted coach. Can I add lighting easily to another type of coach? Thanks. Jim