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Pre War American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation

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Posted by fifedog on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 8:15 AM

Congrats, Northwoods! How SWEET it is...Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by palallin on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 6:56 AM

Wow!  I had forgotten about the January beginning!  Looking eagerly forward to the newest post.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Monday, January 22, 2024 4:45 PM
Happy Anniversary
 

January 22, 2008  -  January 22, 2024

 

Celebrating

16

 years

of

Pre War American Flyer Pictures

 

(Watch this space for a new message)

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by palallin on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 10:01 PM

Oh, I say!  That is *clever*!

Thanks!

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 9:43 AM

Hi palallin,

Its good to hear from you.  They are the two halves of the 2230/4230 Roadside Flashing Signal.  I purchased them with the hope of finding the reproduction top flashing sign some day. So far no luck.  I think they worked out pretty well this way.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by palallin on Tuesday, November 28, 2023 7:10 AM

I like the two "You Are Appraching" signs/monuments/?????.  I don't remember seeing those anywhere before.  What are they?  Do they have a catalog number?

Always a new treat in this thread!

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Posted by pennytrains on Saturday, November 25, 2023 5:18 PM

Big SmileThumbs Up Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all!

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, November 24, 2023 1:38 PM

strains, pennytrains;

Its nice to see that the thread is available again.  It appeared to be non-functioning for a while.  Mersenne did some research and discovered that the missing photos are the result of Shutterfly changing their coding addresses. I doubt that I will try to go back and repost them. If you have any questions about specific posts or photos please ask.  I will do my best to find the photos for you.

Don't trust the total number of views count.  That is a problem that CTT/Kalmbach has never bothered to address.

BTW Happy Thanksgiving/Black Friday

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by pennytrains on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 6:46 PM

Great story!  Big SmileThumbs Up

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by strainst on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 9:19 AM

Beautiful Hiawatha Freight Set.  I was able to get one several years ago, but it was a set bought for my train bussiness and I could not afford to keep it.  The first show I did when I had it for sell, I sold to an individual who was really happy to see pre-war Flyer train being offered.  We went on to have a really good relationship and he was one of my best customers and good friend.  He always made it a point to see me each year and I had many great conversations with him about Flyer trains.  I always looked forward to meeting up with him each year.  So even though I don't have a Hiawatha Freight Set, I made a good friend. 

strainst

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, October 8, 2023 2:59 PM

If you were closer I would happily take you up on your painting offer.  I would even feed your huskies.

Of course you were on my mind when I got the Potomac cars. After all those years of hearing you give the weather report for the Potomac highlands How could I think of anything else?

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

 

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by fifedog on Sunday, October 8, 2023 5:25 AM

IdeaI can paint those walls. I just need to find a team of huskies for the journey.

BTW, nice trains, and I know you picked up the Potomac cars in my honor. Thanks.Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Saturday, October 7, 2023 9:19 PM

Well the lakes haven't begun to freeze over yet (it was 82 on Monday). The temps are getting cooler and there is a freeze warning for Sunday night.  So it is beginning to feel more like train season.

fife, alas the Blueboard 2.0 is still languishing.  No real progress.  My mobility is not what it used to be and the main stumbling block is that the last 2 walls need to be painted in the train room.  Hopefully that will occur in the next few months.

Collecting in 2023 continues to be a fruitful endeavor. I did come across a #3185 to head up the 318X cars that I posted about above - Potomac cars in Golden State colors and markings.

 

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by fifedog on Friday, September 22, 2023 5:41 AM

Handsome set. PirateThumbs Up Glad you got them in before the Lakes freeze over.

Any developments on the Blueboard 2.0?

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Posted by pennytrains on Thursday, September 21, 2023 5:21 PM

Looks like they all came together Big SmileThumbs Up

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, September 21, 2023 10:19 AM

Northwoods Flyer

 I will use the Hiawatha engine to assemble a 1937 Hiawatha Freight set.  I only need 2 cars to complete it.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer 

Well its 4 months since I posted this and I finally have the last 2 cars to complete the 1937 Hiawatha Freight set. Its not an original set, however it is a close approximation, and good enough for my collection.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by AF53 on Sunday, April 30, 2023 3:51 PM

Beautiful!

Ray

Bayville, NJ

 

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans - John Lennon

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, April 23, 2023 2:08 PM

Hi Ray,

Nice to hear from you.

Here is my attempt to replicate the cover of the 1936 catalog.

I can't believe I took these photos back in 2008.

Only a vauge resemblence.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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    January 2010
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Posted by AF53 on Sunday, April 23, 2023 1:15 PM

The 1936 Hiawatha set is on my bucket list.  It would complete the cover of the 36 catalog.  

I couldn't find one at York this week. The hunt continues. 

Ray

Bayville, NJ

 

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans - John Lennon

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Friday, April 7, 2023 12:31 PM

Nationwidelines

As you know, I bought this set at York, which came in its original setbox with a Hudson whistling billboard from 1937.  It is thought to be a Gimbels department store set, but I have no proof.  All I know is that the setbox holds the engine, tender, 4 cars, whistling billboard, and track.

NWL

NWL,

Thanks for posting the photo of your set.  It has been the inspiration for me to look for a set of Hiawatha cars so that I could at least duplicate the look of yours.  When I was looking for Hiawatha cars I came across the set with engine that I posted above.  I may have a 1937 Hudson packed away.  I will be looking for one to head up these cars.  I know that I have a boxed Whistling Billboard with the original doorbell activation button and the instruction sheet.

I will use the Hiawatha engine to assemble a 1937 Hiawatha Freight set.  I only need 2 cars to complete it.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by pennytrains on Thursday, April 6, 2023 4:51 PM

Northwoods Flyer
Another pair of faces to love

And to race!  Big Smile

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Nationwidelines on Thursday, April 6, 2023 12:27 PM

Northwoods, 

No idea on your set, but you are likely right in that either the original owner got an extra car or it was a department store special.

As you know, I bought this set at York, which came in its original setbox with a Hudson whistling billboard from 1937.  It is thought to be a Gimbels department store set, but I have no proof.  All I know is that the setbox holds the engine, tender, 4 cars, whistling billboard, and track.

NWL

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, April 6, 2023 12:05 PM

Recently I picked up another one of my favorite Flyer sets. I try very hard not to buy duplicates of items for my collection.  Sometimes the temptation gets the better of me.

The Hiawatha

The engine and tender are from 1937 (the front truck on the engine has two sets of swiveling wheels and there is no whistle in the tender.).

The interesting thing is that the set has 3 passenger cars plus the observation. The cataloged sets have 2 cars and the observation.

The cars all match in condition so I am fairly confident that they have always been together.  The previous owner said that this is the way he got the set. My best bet is that it was a set for a department store or that the original owner bought an extra car.

I do wish some of these trains could talk and tell their story.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer

Another pair of faces to love

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

of

American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by pennytrains on Monday, April 3, 2023 5:28 PM

Gorgeous!  Big SmileThumbs Up

Big Smile  Same me, different spelling!  Big Smile

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Monday, April 3, 2023 9:54 AM

As I was taking the photo I had a similar thought.  And then I realized that I was the lucky kid who put the set together in 2023.

The set looks impressive in the 1938 catalog.  But can you imagine getting the box and opening it up and discovering this inside.

This is why I am

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Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by fifedog on Monday, April 3, 2023 6:04 AM

First thought was "WOW!". 

Then I started to think of the lucky kid that received this set back in '38.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, April 2, 2023 7:43 PM

Here is what the entire set looks like all together.

Set #15 from 1938

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Northwoods Flyer

The Northwoods Flyer Collection

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American Flyer Trains

"The Toy For the Boy"

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Posted by philo426 on Saturday, April 1, 2023 11:45 AM

Check out all of the valve gear,!

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Posted by strainst on Saturday, April 1, 2023 9:32 AM

That locomotive and tender will look great pullings those cars.  Great add to your collection.

strainst

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