Empire #0717 Flintstones Crazy Loco Train Set (1980)

In case you're wondering, I haven't given up or stopped working on Flintstones posts. The past week has kept me busy with a couple of other projects and in the meantime I was also photographing and taking videos of this cool Flintstones Crazy Loco train set by Empire.

This was a recent acquisition that, when I saw it, knew it had to be added to the collection. Made by Empire in 1980 for sale by Woolco (Woolworth's) this now makes three different Flintstones themed battery operated train sets I have by Empire. I wasn't even sure if it was complete or if it even worked, but I took a chance on it anyway! Fortunately, after unboxing all the components I was very surprised to see that it was in fact complete and operating. Needless to say, some quality time was spent watching this gizmo go through its paces!

Ed

My YouTube Video

Box and Instructions

The Little Engine That Could

Setup Complete and Ready to test

When all set up the layout measures: 15.25" (38m73cm) W x 12" (30,48cm) D x 19.75" (50,16cm) H

Graphics

My Setup For The Video

Empire Plastics - 40mm Robot (Archer copy) - Green SP

Here's an interesting little robot that I've had in the collection for a while now. After sitting in The Cave for so long, it was time to take photos and try to identify it. I posted it to a couple of Meta groups and they identified it as one of Empire Plastic's small space pieces. Empire had spaceships, space cars, aliens, you name it. It was a wonderful line of toys packaged nicely on rocket ship-shaped backing cards. The robot itself is a fairly crude rendering of Archer's much larger 4" hard plastic robot. I have a few more pieces in the collection from this small series and I'll post when the photos are done. Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

From Meta (facebook)

Archer 4" hard plastic robot

It's A Small World After All: Empire Plastic Corp. Ranch and Cape Cod Houses - Green and Yellow HP

In late 2023 and running into early 2024 I did a series focusing on really small plastic vehicles and houses. During that series I covered a bunch of vehicles made by Empire Plastic Corp. and meant to include the two houses shown here today. Looks like I got distracted again, and these two never got included. These are the only mini-buildings I have from Empire but it appears there were only three buildings in the line anyway: Ranch House, Cape Cod House, and Church. Be Blessed and Relish Life! Ed

This photo is courtesy of super collector Michael Green

This photo is courtesy of Bill Hanlon's website usdimestore.com

(L) Marx (R) Empire

The small Marx HO scale houses I covered last year are still huge in comparison to Empire's

The only two Empire Ranch houses I have

Green Ranch: 3"(7.62cm) W x 2.25" (5.71cm) D x .75" (1.90cm) H 

Yellow Cape Cod House: 2.25" (5.71cm) W x 2" (5.08cm) D x 1" (2.54cm) H

Empire Ranch House

Empire Cape Cod House