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United States Toy Train Company

(Del Mar, California, USA)

Tom Stephenson was the owner of TESA Design, a company that specialised in transportation design for such clients as Amtrack, Pullman Standard and various regional transit authorities. He launched USTTC in the early 1970s, with first production being in 1974, the philosophy of the company being tinplate trains that would operate on 0 or 027 track, but new designs, not reproductions. The first product was a series of boxcars, the US Army loco, various other locos as kit or ready to run, and the BART streamliner, followed by the Washingtom Metro set and 555 Interurban.

The BART sets comprise a three car unit powered by the ever reliable Marx double reduction motor, USTTC having purchased all remaining stock of Marx motors when then Marx owner Quaker exited the toy train business. Around 200 BART units were produced, the three piece set being powered A with unpowered B and A units. Additional B units were produced to create longer trains.

Tom Stephenson passed away in 1989 and, with him, USTTC.

Image of USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
Image of USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
Image of USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
Image of USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
USTTC locomotive 160, repainted and reworked Lionel 8603 Hudson. 46 produced, 1977-78
Image of USTTC boxcab locomotive 150
USTTC boxcab locomotive 150		 Image of USTTC boxcab locomotive 150
USTTC boxcab locomotive 150
Image of USTTC Toy Train Collectors Society electric loco, 1984, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC Toy Train Collectors Society electric loco, 1984, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC Toy Train Collectors Society electric loco, 1984, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC Toy Train Collectors Society electric loco, 1984, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC interurban car, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 500 Metro Set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
USTTC 514 San Francisco BART set, fitted with Marx double reduction motor
Image of USTTC 102 Stephan Gerard set
USTTC 102 Stephan Gerard set
Image of USTTC 102 Stephan Gerard set
USTTC 102 Stephan Gerard set
Image of USTTC 102 Stephan Gerard set
USTTC 102 Stephan Gerard set
Image of USTTC boxcar 424 Santa Fe
USTTC boxcar 424 Santa Fe
Image of USTTC boxcar 424 Brookside
USTTC boxcar 424 Brookside
Image of USTTC boxcar 424 Golden Hardware
USTTC boxcar 424 Golden Hardware
Image of USTTC boxcar Toy Train Collectors Society 1981
USTTC boxcar Toy Train Collectors Society 1981
Image of USTTC reefer 454 Denver & Rio Grande
USTTC reefer 454 Denver & Rio Grande
Image of USTTC 495 Rail Service Car
USTTC 495 Rail Service Car
Image of USTTC 428 UP cattle car
USTTC 428 UP cattle car
Image of USTTC 428MT US Cavalry cattle car
USTTC 428MT US Cavalry cattle car
Image of USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
Image of USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
Image of USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
Image of USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
Image of USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
USTTC flat car, available with various permutations of military hardware
Image of USTTC 425 lumber car
USTTC 425 lumber car
Image of USTTC 425 lumber car
USTTC 425 lumber car
Image of USTTC searchlight car, Toy Train Operating Society
USTTC searchlight car, Toy Train Operating Society
Image of USTTC caboose 400MT US Army
USTTC caboose 400MT US Army
Image of USTTC 400 caboose Terminal Railroad
USTTC 400 caboose Terminal Railroad
Image of USTTC 400 caboose Terminal Railroad
USTTC 400 caboose Terminal Railroad
Image of USTTC lumber car, exploded diagram
USTTC lumber car, exploded diagram

The building below was offered for sale via eBay, and is clearly marked USTTC, but what it is? Clearance within is barely 4.5 inches below the cross members, and both ends are closed, although removable. Width 16.5 inches and depth, or length, 14 inches. Too low for 0 gauge or larger station or goods depot? Perhaps an aircraft hanger or industrial unit, a factory? Paint finish appears to be hammered enamel, or hammertone.

Image of USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
Image of USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
Image of USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
Image of USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
Image of USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
Image of USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches
USTTC sturdily built hammered enamel building, 16.5 x 14 inches

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