I'm new here.

Daddybee,

First of all, welcome to the "Darkside" of the forum. Please explain, "a little out of reach" and "asking too much". One has to set goals that are well within ones reach. As a "newbie" to tinplate are you trying to reach for the stars? None of us started out buying a, $1500.+ piece. Very few started out spending much over, $250. If you want new you can buy a complete MTH Std Gauge starter set for around, $500.

McCoy trains are simple, strong runners that were made years ago. If you're complaining about the prices of the others you've not checked into the McCoy line very deep.

What is your background in the hobby, Postwar, Modern?

Standard Gauge tinplate is going to be more costly, on average, than O  - just because of the size if nothing else.  But Pappy is right, there are some very good deals to be had in MTH reproduction sets.

I range from vintage Ives in Standard Gauge, where you are looking at sometimes $1000 for a passenger car, through the modern reproductions, to prewar Marx O gauge tinplate which can be had for $10 a car.  When I started I didn't even know about McCoy, but they have gradually become one of my favorites.  They were mostly made in the 1970's or thereabouts.  The style is like the very early Lionel 10 series freights: quite toylike and also quite large in scale.

Most of the McCoy designs are really unique, and sometimes whimsical.  They have some very nice trolleys and interurbans, a very cool handcar, steam and electric locomotives, freight and passenger sets.  Some of their locomotives, like the Chief Cle Elum steam or the big E2 electric, are at least as good as, and maybe better, than anything else out there.  And you are right about the prices, it is possible, with patience, to find McCoy freight cars for $40.

There is a limited number of McCoy trains, and it is a small niche with not too many serious collectors, as compared to the bigger manufacturers.   Bob McCoy Jr. and his wife Bonnie are still selling inventory, and have parts and will do repairs.  They do some selling on ebay as "mccoyswoman".  

There were problems with some of the castings in McCoy motors, so always check to see if these run or have been replaced.  Everything I have bought from Bob and Bonnie has been repowered with newer motors that they have put in.  Others I have found that had the motor casting problem, I sent to them and they put a new motor in at a reasonable price.

Other than that, I find all the McCoy products to be very well made with high quality finish and graphics.  They use the universal hook coupler, they are built of heavy tin stock that seems to resist bending, and they are enameled with silkscreened lettering and graphics. They have big trucks and wheels like the Lionel 10 series freight.  

McCoy originally went in business making reproductions of early Lionel, but people got upset with him because it was extremely difficult to tell his repros from the originals - they were that good, and I think that speaks to McCoy quality.  As a result, in the late 1960's he started making his own designs, which could not be confused with older trains.

Much of the McCoy line consists of cars made for TCA and TTOS conventions and other events.  This is what you most often find on ebay, and they bring the lowest prices.  Personally, I collect the McCoy trains that are not convention or division graphics - McCoy trains carry a number of heralds, some authentic (Great Northern), some whimsical, and many with themes from the Pacific Northwest area (McCoy is based near Seattle).  It is a great line for collectors because McCoy often made only a few (sometimes only a hundred or two) of many variations, so there is always something new to discover.

McCoy standard gauge was a wonderful discovery for me and it could be for you too if you like the style.

Thanks Pappy & hojack for your replies. Yes, I should have given you more info on just what I was looking for. Too high $$ wise on both issues. I started looking at the $75 - $150 range for a used/near new tinplate cars. That's when McCoy caught my eye (thanks hojack for the review). Never heard of them. They aren’t as fancy as the new Lionel or A. Flyer but I like that. (I'd still like to have a Mayflower set.) Kind of takes me back to my youth. McCoy's different from everything else, new or old. I like their style. See a lot of their "club" cars but not to many of the others. Why is that? Are their locos so good that no one want's to part with them? Might be able to afford used. Not a member of TCA or TTOS so those cars don't interest me. That kind of narrows the field. Just leery of any brand not familiar with.

Are there any other members with an opinion of McCoy? Pro or con.

Thanks, Daddybee

I've got lots of McCoy, most of which I purchased from the factory when I lived in Washington.  In general the cars are simply made but the graphics are very bright.  They made lots of stuff which is seldom seen an E-Bay.  The GN set immediately comes to mind.  One thing to be aware of:  They had a BAD problem with casting deterioration (zincpest).  I personally haven't seen a circus wagon with intact wheels in years, which is too bad because the circus cars make a very nice set.  Ditto with drive wheels, steam chest castings, side castings on the E-2, motor castings on the underframe motors, etc.  You get the idea.  The engines have a manual reverse but I've found this isn't a problem since you can't remotely uncouple a standard gauge car so what is the point in going in reverse?

Daddybee, welcome aboard. 

Yes tinplate can be expensive, especially Standard Gauge.  If you keep an eye on ebay and are patient, deals can be had.  Also here on the "For sale" board you can find some very reasonbly price trains.  I recently bought a used engine and passenger car set for about 1/3 of the full retail price and am very pleased with them.  Best of luck, once you get into tinplate you'll be hooked for life, to me there's nothing like it in the toy train world. 

Take care,

John.