How to Make Tyco Steamers Make Smoke

Tyco trains were marketed by Tyler Manufacturing Company beginning in 1952. From the beginning, Tyco made trains in the 1/87 scale, better known as "HO." Larger scale model trains had predominated in prior decades, but by the 1950s more than 60 percent of modelers were using HO scale. Tyco captured a large portion of the HO market during the company's glory years in the 1960s. Corporate acquisitions diluted the brand's focus, however, and Tyco exited the model train market entirely in 1993. For added realism, many of Tyco's steamer locomotives offered smoke capability provided by a special smoke fluid added to a reservoir and heated by a small electric coil wire.

Things You'll Need

• Small funnel
• Tyco number 713 smoke fluid

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Access the smoke fluid fill port by pulling the locomotive bell assembly straight up and out of the locomotive body.

   • 2

     Insert a small funnel into the smoke fluid fill port.

   • 3

     Pour approximately 20 drops of Tyco Replacement Smoke Oil Number 713 into the smoke fluid fill port.

   • 4

     Remove the funnel and reinstall the bell into the locomotive body.

   • 5

     Run the locomotive at least three to five minutes at three-quarter speed to heat the electric coil and produce smoke from the smoke stack. Maximum smoking will occur when the locomotive is run at full speed.