Though some may consider that they just barely qualify as "trains"
and really share as much or in some cases more in common with TYCO's slot car line, the Turbo Trains are presented here
for your enjoyment. The first Turbo Train set enters the TYCO product catalog in 1986. The Turbo Trains line is
fairly short-lived, the final catalog to feature a Turbo Train set is the 1991 edition with The Twin Turbo set.
Turbo Train
(No.7427)
The Turbo Train was the initial offering in TYCO's Turbo Train
line in 1986. This set remains around until about 1990. Similar to TYCO's Turbo Express, this train operates on
HO-scale railroad track and not slot car track like TYCO's Twin Turbos.
Turbo Express
(No.7424)
Listed as The World's Fastest Freight Train in TYCO's 1988 catalog, The Turbo
Express featured a Turbo Loco and Turbo Caboose dressed in red-and-silver Santa Fe. These two items, the loco
and caboose, are common to the Turbo Train's front and end pieces. The Turbo Express also featured
a Turbo Tank Car in silver paint carrying TEXACO on it; a green Burlington Northern Turbo Box Car; and a yellow Union Pacific
Turbo Gondola. The standard 17-Piece Bridge & Trestle Set is cast in orange and was included in this set.
The Turbo Express also featured a set of cardboard buildings, including a Control Tower; Loading Dock; Tunnel/Station;
and Freight Crane. Though it road on railroad track, The Turbo Express was controlled by a TYCO Racing Power Pack and
featured a racing style hand-held control unit. The set built a 40" x 87" figure-8 layout. In an attempt to hold
the track sections in place and together, The Turbo Express set also included 26 Turbo Track Boots.
Turbo Express Diesel
TYCO's Turbo Express Diesel shares the same tooling with the Turbo Train's first unit/loco.
The Turbo Express example has a red and chrome warbonnet scheme and carries the roadnumber 1579. The Turbo Express items
are known only to have been available as part of the Turbo Express train set offering.
Turbo Express Box Car
Is this what the future holds for the 50' Burlington Northern Box Car? Included in TYCO's
Turbo Express train set were three "freight cars" that were similar to examples found in regular TYCO sets. Above is
the Turbo Express Burlington Northern Box Car.
Turbo Express Gondola
A regular feature in many TYCO train sets was the 40' Union Pacific Gondola, here is the Turbo
Express Union Pacific Gondola.
Turbo Express Tank Car
The Turbo Express had its version of the TYCO #315A Texaco Tank Car with the above shown black
Texaco Turbo Express Tank Car.
Turbo Express Caboose
TYCO's Turbo Express offered new tooling and unique examples in its Box Car, Gondola, and Tank
Car offerings. The Turbo Express Loco and Caboose however share tooling with the Turbo Train. Above is the red
and chrone Santa Fe Turbo Express Caboose, that is the same as the last car of the Turbo Train set.
Super Turbo Train
(No.7434)
The Super Turbo Train was introduced in 1988 and it was similar to the design
of the Turbo Train set first offered in 1986. The Super Turbo Train was yellow, red and black in color.
Thanks to Vintage HO for supplying information for this section.
The Super Turbo Train was introduced in 1988 and it was similar
to the design of the Turbo Train set first offered in 1986. The Super Turbo Train was yellow, red and black in color.
Twin Turbo Trains
(No.7438)
Introduced in TYCO's 1989 catalog, The Twin Turbo Trains
differ from other TYCO Turbo Trains as the Twins ride on a modified slot car track and not standard HO-scale railroad track.
The set included a pair of three-car Turbo Trains. Each were of the same model design, but painted differently.
The black Turbo with red stipes is lettered for Pennyslvania. The red and silver Turbo is lettered for Santa Fe.
The set was operated by a TYCO Electric Racing Power Pack and racing style control units, rather than a standard train power
pack.
TYCO also produced this three-car slot-track-riding Turbo Train
in Chessie System colors. Thanks to Vintage HO for supplying information for this section.
Introduced in TYCO's 1989 catalog, The Twin Turbo Trains differ
from other TYCO Turbo Trains as the Twins ride on a modified slot car track and not standard HO-scale railroad track.
The set included a pair of three-car Turbo Trains. Each were of the same model design, but painted differently.
The black Turbo with red stipes is lettered for Pennyslvania. The red and silver Turbo is lettered for Santa Fe.
The set was operated by a TYCO Electric Racing Power Pack and racing style control units, rather than a standard train power
pack.
TYCO also produced this three-car slot-track-riding Turbo Train
in Chessie System colors.
