Where do you find this garbage? Seriously, this channel has introduced me to more obscure train lines than anyone else. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
This is a rather unique video on something that I didn't realize that it existed. My guess is that Varney hoped this set would be a transition to their other more scale offerings. This would be the classic hope of giving a kid a cheaper trainset with the hope that they would take care of it to get the more expensive trainset in the future along with creating future brand loyalty. Obviously, this was a marketing failure due to other manufacturers offering trainsets with better quality for the relative same price as mentioned in the video.
up until the late 1950s, Varney was on top of the world. beautiful detail, the (I dare say) ideal suspension and drive mechanisms, budget versions of models, a great parts catalogue, they had everything! Once Gordon Varney left though, everything deteriorated quickly and things like this started appearing. After a while, It all became Tyco. How Sad...
@@raymondleggs5508 I read it as 'It all became junk' because that was Tyco's reputation, especially in the Consolidated Foods era. Having said that, Tyco Powertorque motors, early Life-Like, late Varney, they can all be respectable performers with some care and attention.
I absolutely love the old Varney die cast steam locomotives. Managed to secure for myself one of their elusive 2-8-8-4 yellowstones which are incredibly rare, I have a number of other Varney steam locos as well. This set, in contrast, is certainly unique.
@@spencercorby4571 Yeah, SMT is how I got into the old Varney steam locomotives in the first place, especially his Yellowstone. His is a cast aluminum example, mine is a cast brass example. I've got all the major parts and was just missing some smaller detail stuff that is easily obtainable. He did a pretty good job bringing it back to life. The yellowstone was mainly sold from Varney as a kit or just a boiler, meaning you were on your own with building it! So really there's nothing at all wrong with what he did. And at the end of the day I'd certainly rather see it functional again even if without an original Varney chassis.
The horn hook/X-11 coupler was originally designed by someone with the NMRA in the mid-1950s because Kadee and the other various coupler designs were all patented by their manufacturer and not compatible with each other. They wanted an inexpensive coupler that was in the public domain, so any manufacture could use it, and they would all work together. It worked, and for decades, most manufacturers sold their trains with the horn hook couplers, since they were very cheap to make, easy to use, and reasonably reliable, as well as compatible with trains from other manufacturers who also used them. But the NMRA itself distanced itself from the horn hook once the couplers were out there, because they were not realistic in appearance. Still, Varney and other manufacturers that used them referred to them as "NMRA" couplers, much to the NMRA's chagrin. Having them made out of flexible plastic is actually a neat idea. But I could see how with longer trains, or if something caused the train to jerk, the couplers could pull apart.
Piko did this type of set better when they did what would become the " Piko junior " at the same time, (first called Batterien Eisenbahn) that this one came out, they even acquired the tooling for the athearn hustler somehow despite being an East German company, in fact they still make the junior line locomotives, except they are mostly sold as the bottom of the hobby range, they bought back the Junior line in 2017 as the "Mytrain"
Could the rear wheel jumping the switch be due to the rigid nature of the long chassis? It would explain why the hustler doesn’t have the issue due to the shorter wheelbase.
Thanks for posting this vid. Very interesting . Tin plate HO. Where were these retailed? I've never seen that motor before. It looks like a battery powered style. What's the voltage?
I imagine it's meant for parents probably overly concerned about the fine details breaking and their kid eating them, or denting tin locomotives, or something like that. Of course for that first concern the kid would have to be *really* young. Or maybe for the Varney faithful to give their kid niblings.
My dad has had varney since he was about 5 yrs old. And know it's been handed down to me. It's a varney ho Pennsylvania RR it comes with the engine and dummy unit the only thing wrong it the engine is missing the drive line
same here. My dad has the PRR Golden Eagle train set from the early 60s. Came with a Tuscan red A-B-A set. the powered loco crapped out 10 yrs ago but we still run the dummies. I bought him new Walthers mainline PRR A-B-A F7s in 2018.
I think i will never able to buy these of trains becz it price so such my parents throw me out if i say them to buy this 😞 because it takes a lot of money approx salary of one or two months by the i am from india 😢
Авто/Мото
Where do you find this garbage? Seriously, this channel has introduced me to more obscure train lines than anyone else. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
eBay mostly
*Evil Bay
4:56 was that a Santa Fe Shinkansen?!?!?
This is a rather unique video on something that I didn't realize that it existed. My guess is that Varney hoped this set would be a transition to their other more scale offerings. This would be the classic hope of giving a kid a cheaper trainset with the hope that they would take care of it to get the more expensive trainset in the future along with creating future brand loyalty. Obviously, this was a marketing failure due to other manufacturers offering trainsets with better quality for the relative same price as mentioned in the video.
I can imagine this being used in 60's comedy action films about children
up until the late 1950s, Varney was on top of the world. beautiful detail, the (I dare say) ideal suspension and drive mechanisms, budget versions of models, a great parts catalogue, they had everything! Once Gordon Varney left though, everything deteriorated quickly and things like this started appearing. After a while, It all became Tyco. How Sad...
Varney became life-like
@@raymondleggs5508 even before then, their quality was slipping and they stopped making premium products (super h0 locomotives and sprung trucks).
@@raymondleggs5508 I read it as 'It all became junk' because that was Tyco's reputation, especially in the Consolidated Foods era. Having said that, Tyco Powertorque motors, early Life-Like, late Varney, they can all be respectable performers with some care and attention.
The two-axle adaptations of American train prototypes remind me of the old Marx O gauge trains.
It does yeet itself off the tracks in spectacular fashion though
I absolutely love the old Varney die cast steam locomotives. Managed to secure for myself one of their elusive 2-8-8-4 yellowstones which are incredibly rare, I have a number of other Varney steam locos as well. This set, in contrast, is certainly unique.
@Smt Mainline has one of those yellowstones, albeit kinda restored with spare parts, but still cool.
@SMT Mainline I meant
@@spencercorby4571 Yeah, SMT is how I got into the old Varney steam locomotives in the first place, especially his Yellowstone. His is a cast aluminum example, mine is a cast brass example. I've got all the major parts and was just missing some smaller detail stuff that is easily obtainable. He did a pretty good job bringing it back to life.
The yellowstone was mainly sold from Varney as a kit or just a boiler, meaning you were on your own with building it! So really there's nothing at all wrong with what he did. And at the end of the day I'd certainly rather see it functional again even if without an original Varney chassis.
2 axle American trains look so cute!!! Maybe I'm crazy haha, thanks for making this video I've never seen this range before.
Its a good day to start with a new MTE upload. Keep it up!
Honey, I shrunk the HO F3
For real the Varney two-axle F3 is goofy looking as if Disney made a cartoon as a continuation of “Mickey’s Choo Choo”
I love how the train goes of your layout
The Bullet F3
The horn hook/X-11 coupler was originally designed by someone with the NMRA in the mid-1950s because Kadee and the other various coupler designs were all patented by their manufacturer and not compatible with each other. They wanted an inexpensive coupler that was in the public domain, so any manufacture could use it, and they would all work together.
It worked, and for decades, most manufacturers sold their trains with the horn hook couplers, since they were very cheap to make, easy to use, and reasonably reliable, as well as compatible with trains from other manufacturers who also used them. But the NMRA itself distanced itself from the horn hook once the couplers were out there, because they were not realistic in appearance. Still, Varney and other manufacturers that used them referred to them as "NMRA" couplers, much to the NMRA's chagrin.
Having them made out of flexible plastic is actually a neat idea. But I could see how with longer trains, or if something caused the train to jerk, the couplers could pull apart.
My first H-O train wore it out ina couple days. Memories yes
I believe I had this set when I was a kid.
All the derails have me laughing
I f-ing love it!
Piko did this type of set better when they did what would become the " Piko junior " at the same time, (first called Batterien Eisenbahn) that this one came out, they even acquired the tooling for the athearn hustler somehow despite being an East German company, in fact they still make the junior line locomotives, except they are mostly sold as the bottom of the hobby range, they bought back the Junior line in 2017 as the "Mytrain"
HUSTLER MENTIONED??!?!1!1!?
Could the rear wheel jumping the switch be due to the rigid nature of the long chassis? It would explain why the hustler doesn’t have the issue due to the shorter wheelbase.
*🤔Hmph?* Never heard of Varney, it was a very popular set.
Isn't that pic of the reefer from my set?
Oh my god it is. You are literally the only person who’s ever uploaded an image of the reefer to the internet
The flanges might be too deep for your tracks, hence why the Lil Raskal derailed frequently
Thanks for posting this vid. Very interesting . Tin plate HO.
Where were these retailed? I've never seen that motor before. It looks like a battery powered style. What's the voltage?
The Marx tinplate was O gauge. The advertisement says the sole sales agents were from Stromback-Becker, and the motor will run comfortably at 16 volts
I imagine it's meant for parents probably overly concerned about the fine details breaking and their kid eating them, or denting tin locomotives, or something like that. Of course for that first concern the kid would have to be *really* young. Or maybe for the Varney faithful to give their kid niblings.
Hunh, looks like the atma silver diesel
Jusssssttttt wondering if there a 4-12-2 kit I need a better wheel base for my custom one
Train Wizard
The apparent model train you can crash aside 😱was that a Santa Fe bullet train on your table
My dad has had varney since he was about 5 yrs old. And know it's been handed down to me. It's a varney ho Pennsylvania RR it comes with the engine and dummy unit the only thing wrong it the engine is missing the drive line
same here. My dad has the PRR Golden Eagle train set from the early 60s. Came with a Tuscan red A-B-A set. the powered loco crapped out 10 yrs ago but we still run the dummies. I bought him new Walthers mainline PRR A-B-A F7s in 2018.
This thing is weird.
Marx is peak
You get some more o gauge things?
Couple things. Nothing too spectacular and worth showing off
@@cobramerciless I saw that 2025 that’s something!
Bruh this train set is s#&%.
First
Second
First is interesting but dare I start an effort to be last???
I think i will never able to buy these of trains becz it price so such my parents throw me out if i say them to buy this 😞 because it takes a lot of money approx salary of one or two months by the i am from india 😢
Terrible train set 😞