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Any information on this 1950's American Flyer layout?

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Any information on this 1950's American Flyer layout?
Posted by stebbycentral on Thursday, May 3, 2012 6:51 AM

This image was posted on the AF Trains group on Facebook.  Since it is black and white I would assume it's contemporary to the 1950's.  It is a very impressive layout based upon this one peice of evidence.  I am wondering if anyone has information on it.  Individual's layout?  Club?  Museum or commercial display?  I would be very interested in seeing other pictures if they exist.

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Posted by Texas Pete on Thursday, May 3, 2012 7:37 AM

Second floor layout, Gilbert Hall of Science, New York City:

http://www.americanflyerdisplays.org/ghos/ghos_buckage_home.htm

Pete

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Posted by AF53 on Thursday, May 3, 2012 6:23 PM

That's some nice layout. The pics are great.

Ray

Ray

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Posted by dfsmith26 on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 8:50 PM

This photo was taken from my website, americanflyerdisplays.org, as witnessed by the watermark.  It is a part of a collection made available to me by Clay and Charlie Buckage.  In short, this layout is the second floor layout at the New York Gilbert Hall of Science.  It was not open to the public, but was used to demonstrate the latest products for store buyers.  It was built in late 1949 and early 1950.  This photo is probably from about 1951.  For full information on the layout and many other photos of it as well as photos of other Gilbert produced layouts from the halls of science, go to the website.  

Dale Smith

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americanflyerdisplays.org

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 10:50 PM

More info HERE too.

Rob

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Posted by wallyworld on Thursday, January 1, 2015 9:22 AM

Wow....High-rail before there was high-rail.No doubt to empathasize the more scale like appearance of their product line. It got me to thinking how some layouts are just as historic to the hobby as the equipment is considered to be. Lionel's corporate display layouts have been given more than ample coverage and Flyer's remained a mystery until I saw this post. To say it's impressive is an understatement.

Has there been an article in CTT on this layout? If there was, I guess I missed it.

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Posted by ADCX Rob on Thursday, January 1, 2015 12:48 PM
It didn't help Flyer at all that Gilbert was so secretive about the second floor layouts.

Rob

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Posted by sir james I on Thursday, January 1, 2015 4:05 PM
Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, January 1, 2015 5:26 PM

I think that you can see more of the layout in the Boy's Railroad Club videos. There are six of them in all.  I recognize some of the buildings and the water feature with lift bridge from those.

Northwoods Flyer

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American Flyer Trains

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