What does A.C. Gilbert-produced American Flyer O-gauge track look like ?
I wish I could post a picture but can't. However the ties of the three rail track are the same shape and height as their S-scale two rail kin except for being shorter in lenght. The switches are roughly of similar outline to S Scale two rail switches and have a light housing that contains two bulbs, Manual switches lack the light housing. Also the curve track diameter is 40" measured from outside edge to outside edge. MyFlyerTrains.org website has catalogs from the late 30's early 40's showing pictures of the track.
Thank you, Major ! Nice to hear from Charm City! I grew-up in Ellicott City, just outside da Beltway. I will check-out that MyFlyer site.Where are the nail-holes located on the Gilbert three-rail track ?Best,Fran McM
Nail holes are located in the same location as on S-gauge track.
P.S. When I retired I left Maryland and now live near Gettysburg, PA. Much more economical to live here than in Maryland. No state taxes!!!
I can confirm, as I own a few sections that undoubtably are Gilbert prewar, they have ties with the same distinct profile as the S gauge ties. I only seem to have several straight sections. Looking at a straight section, and comparing it to a Lionel postwar straight, brings these observations: Maybe it's just mine, but all my sections have chemically blackened rails. Unlike the lionel rails, which have ribbed sides, the flyer rails have smooth sides. The railheads are round, and the same rough diameter as on the Lionel track. Unless someone carefully replaced every pin on my 8 or so sections, the pins they all share are likely original. The pins stick out about 1/2"-5/8" from the end of the section, and look a lot like nails, except they (mine anyway) are bright, smooth, and shiny, and overall seem to be much more precisely made than your typical nail. Also, the points of the pins are slightly beaded, they seem to have been dulled intentionally, either by the factory or the former owner I don't know which. The height of the rail on the flyer section is less than that of the Lionel. I measured the height of both, and got 3/8" for the Lionel, and 5/16" for the height of the Flyer. The difference in height, although subtle, is quite percievable when you put the two beside eachother and compare. However, the height of the Flyer's ties is greater than the lionel by roughly the same ammount, so the railheads are about level on a flat surface. Lastly, the length of the sections differs slightly, the flyer section is about 1/8" shorter than the lionel section. This makes sense to me, since gilbert O also used a different curve radius, and thus a different form of track geometry.I never bothered to scrutinize my gilbert track until now, but I'm glad I did, I found it very interesting, and I hope in the future I can aquire more sections. Mine are in pretty decent shape as far as used track that's been stored in a garage goes, very little rust on any of them!
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
Thanks for the replies, gentlemen ! Last December I picked-up a decent Gilbert O-gauge Pennsylvania K-4 /5 Pacific, with similar vintage friehgt cars.My first O-gauge Flyer. I grew-up with my older brother's S-gauge Flyer trains.I am thinking it wouldf be neat to try to find O-gauge Gilbert track to run this on.Since the ties are like the post-war S-gauge ties, are the track clips similar / same-as the S-gauge spring clips, or are they like the Lionel-style clips ?Thanks ! Fran McM
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