The Tyco US1 Electric Trucking Interstate Delivery Set is one of a series of play set cross slot car sets manufactured by Tyco, and released into the US, UK, and other markets worldwide in 1982.
Not to be confused with the 1984 version with a blue box, this is the original Interstate Delivery Set with the orange/yellow box.
Concept
US1 Electric Trucking sets were intended to bring the technology from Tyco's HO slot cars into the world of playsets. They incorporated imaginative role play scenarios involving trucks loading, transporting, and unloading various materials, involving semi trucks loading and unloading, carrying, and transporting into various set pieces included, and many more sold separately.
Features
Interstate Delivery contains 3 action sets to be used with the included trucks and accessories.
- Red Line Trucking Loading Station - load crates with long hauler
- Red Line Trucking Depot - unload crates
- Dumping logs at Yard with Semi
Additionally, as with all Electric Trucking sets, instead of slot car controllers there's a set of Tyco Steering Wheels used to control the trucks forward and backward movement.
Accessories include crates, various log sizes, as well as overhead signs and stickers.
Vehicles
Included are two US1 slot cars, the Red Line Trucking Flat Bed Truck carrying several crates, and the Green Dump Truck carrying logs.
in #3206 US1 Interstate Delivery
US1 vehicles are different from other slot cars, in that their electrical pickups extend almost the length of the vehicle bottom, and they have a locating pin at both the front and the back. This allows them to easily travel in both directions when using the steering wheel controllers, so they can pick-up and drop-off their loads, and return home.
Track Layout
Interstate Delivery uses a typical Electric Trucking layout, designed to provide plenty of 'road' for you to drive along between the action set pieces.
This layout and general track piece design works well with combining multiple sets together to build a larger Electric Trucking City, even blending it with Tyco slot cars and trains for a complete city!
Included in the set are:
- 6 x 9" Radius Curve (1/4 circle)
- 2 x 15" Straight
- 1 x 9" Terminal with Connectors
- 3 x 9in Straight with Turnouts
- 1 x Crate Loader set piece
- 1 x Crate Unloader set piece
- 1 x Dump Yard
- 3 x Highway Signs and sticker sheet
- 1 x Flatbed Trailer with 3 crates and 3 x logs
- 1 x Truck Cab, 1 x Dump Truck
Availability and Collectability
US1 Trucking sets are widely available on eBay in used condition, including Interstate Delivery for 1983. Be careful when purchasing open sets (which is the vast majority for sale) as its common for sets to include extra vehicles, tracks, and action sets which were sold separately.
On whether US1 sets are worth including in your collection, the answer is a resounding YES! Some of the most innovative and downright fun slot sets of the time, these will likely continue to be popular.
