Tomy Metroliner. Talk to me about this...

[wm3798]

After the TGV rebuild thread, ive been eyeballing old Bachmann Metroliner sets with the idea of improving the drive with a new motor and perhaps new gearing... maybe even a with a new Tomy drive.

Then I stumbled across this...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F322697077630

Similar box to the old Bachmann, so I'm wondering what the heck this is.  Same crappy drive with a Japanese label?  Or something worth a look?

Can anyone shed some light on the origins of this species?

Lee

[LarryN]

Geeze, it sure LOOKS like the B'mann metroliner. I think my brother might have the old one we used to run-have not seen it in years. But IIRC,  the shell was held on by a tab on the chassis that protruded through the walls(...right in the middle of the stainless steel sides), and I believe I am seeing that tab on this model. The rubber pantagraph seems familiar as well.

[wm3798]

I had the Bachmann Amtrak set when I was a kid also.  The underframe and trucks of this one don't look the same to me, at least not for a power car.  I can't make out the big brass gears on the bottom of the trucks.
The listing also says the country of origin is Japan, where the Bachmanns were made in Hong Kong...  Was there some arrangement where Tomy got to use the shells on their own drives?  Man, for $40 that would be a real time saver...
Conversely, the Hong Kong drives go for $25 all day and all night... I'd hate to overpay for the same thing.
Lee

[learmoia]

WOW.. never seen that before..

Even more evidence that Tomy/Tomix somehow boils down to the Bachmann/Kader? Universe of models..  (Bachmann N SCALE Thomas line..)

Trucks look the same as the US version to me..

~Ian

[Mark5]

Maybe its the Bachmann model planted in a Tomy "nest"?

[Catfan]

Lee- Don't forget to add the shipping into your cost.

Mark

[peteski]

Maybe its the Bachmann model planted in a Tomy "nest"?

Wow!  And that nest looks like the nests Bachmann used in the flip-up jewel boxes, just with different writing on it.  WHere are the N scale historans to figure out the TOMY/Bachmann connection?

The name TOMY is also interesting. TOMY is the company name. The N scale trains are produced under TOMIX name, while model vehicles are made under TOMYTEC name. They also made (or make) a line of Matchbox-size diecast model cars under the name TOMY.  But I wonder that since the Metroliner is an older model, whether back when it was made, they also used the name TOMY for model trains.

[learmoia]

The plot thickens!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOMY-BACHMANN-EMD-GP40-CANADIAN-PACIFIC/192860257572?hash=item2ce75dfd24:g:TbIAAOSwndBcjXC4

~Ian

[Mark5]

The plot thickens!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOMY-BACHMANN-EMD-GP40-CANADIAN-PACIFIC/192860257572?hash=item2ce75dfd24:g:TbIAAOSwndBcjXC4

~Ian

Solved! A co-marketing arrangement with Bachmann! Good work.

[nickelplate759]

By the way, the model in the picture (Tomy/Bachmann Metroliner) appears to be a dummy/unpowered unit.

[Point353]

http://www.trainweb.org/tomix/tomy/tomy.htm

[peteski]

http://www.trainweb.org/tomix/tomy/tomy.htm

Nice find - thanks for the link (and for R.D. Kerr for doing the research)!

[wm3798]

Thank you, hive mind of the Railwire.  It looks like my best bet will be to accumulate a set of dummies at about $10 a throw, then invest in a modern Tomix drive that closely approximates the wheelbase.


I was also pleased to discover that Microscale makes a set of PC passenger decals that includes Metroliner markings.  So while the shell remains a pig, there is lipstick available!

Lee

[learmoia]

Thank you, hive mind of the Railwire.  It looks like my best bet will be to accumulate a set of dummies at about $10 a throw, then invest in a modern Tomix drive that closely approximates the wheelbase

If your not worried about prototypical vintagness.. a Kato RDC would be a solid drive with an approximate wheelbase.

~Ian