Toy train operating and collecting

My current passion in collecting trains is Pre War American Flyer.  I like the looks of Wide Gauge, Narrow Gauge, 3/16 O Gauge, accessories, or anything associated with Flyer.

I'd like to invite other Flyer fans to post pictures of the items they have in their collections or to ask questions.  I am not an expert, but I know that there are folks with a wealth of knowledge and experience that do read and post.  I enjoy seeing what others have gathered, and I never seem to get enough of seeing Flyer.  I run into pictures in a number of threads, but I thought it would be nice to have a thread that was devoted entirely to Flyer pictures.  I haven't found a thread that does this yet.

Let me start it out with an overview of some of the Flyer items I have collected.

I will post pictures of individual items as I take them.  I am just begining to learn how to use my digital camera too, so this will be a great way to practice.

I look forward to your responses.

 Greg

Nice collection you have there!

I only have one prewar Flyer piece,a green 4 wheel gondola.(oops I mean sand car)in O gauge.

I want to get more,but I'm looking for stuff on the cheap.

Guess I'll have to look harder.

Carl T.

Greg

As a total American Flyer nut, I'll start with pictures of my accesories

Repro 594 Animated Track Gang

Repro Gabe the lamp lighter 23780

785 Coaler

770 Loader and 734 operating boxcar

583A Electromagnetic crane

23796 Sawmill

752 Seaboard coaler

718 Mail Car

772 Bubbling Tower and 23568 Whistle

23791 Cow on the track

760 & 759 Flashers

758A Sam the Semafore MAn

774 Rotating beacon

766 Animated Station

779 Drum loader

755 Talking Station and 789 Baggage Smasher

596 Water Tower

771 Stockyard

767 Brandford Diner

Layout so far

I posted them elsewhere but here is my Flyer again! any experts willing feel free to tell me more about my train.

Scott 

choochin3 wrote:

Nice collection you have there! I only have one prewar Flyer piece,a green 4 wheel gondola.(oops I mean sand car)in O gauge. I want to get more,but I'm looking for stuff on the cheap. Guess I'll have to look harder.   Carl T.

Carl,

I don't know how to tell you this, but this is the way collecting Flyer starts.  One small piece of equipment comes into your posession from family or by a purchase and before you know it, your're hooked!  No one can own just one.

Good luck with your hunting.  I've found that there really is a lot of Flyer out there to be had.  Not as much as Lionel, but then the folks competing for it are smaller in number, except for the pieces that I want that I find on eBay.  It seems like everyone wants those.

Greg

37fleetwood wrote:

I posted them elsewhere but here is my Flyer again! any experts willing feel free to tell me more about my train. Scott

Scott,

Thanks for posting your pics here again. From what I can see you have:

3315 2-4-2 cataloged 1932-1935 and again in 1937  this should have a ringing bell in it

3199 tender  (the one behind the engine in the photo) Is the other tender in the background the same?

3025 wrecker (crane) 1936-1938.  It looks like yours might be from '36 or '37

2-3207 sand cars(gondola) 1928-1938  these had a long run in the line

3208 box car 1928-1938  because of the trucks I am guessing its from later in its catalog life,the second one with the black roof is most likely a repainted roof

3216 log car  1930-1938  it originally had 4 wire tie downs that held the wood block in place

3211 caboose 1928-1938  but most likely 1935

3019 dump car 1934-1935   Flyer made a line of freight cars that were 9-1/2 inches long and then a smaller line that is about 6" long.

I think I got them all. Nice start to your Flyer collection

Greg

Sturgeon-Phish

Jim,

Who would have guessed that you were the heir to the A.C. Gilbert family properties!  What a nice collection of accessories, and its great to see them on an operating layout.  How long have you been working at collecting?  Most of my S gauge Gilbert production is packed away for now.  Your pictures make me want to go rummaging around in the boxes.

Thanks,

Greg

Hi, thanx. the front row was a set that came with the transformer. the back row has misc. cars I have picked up along the way. from what you said I'm guessing that is the way it came. the tender is from the other engine I have. it is very similar except for the reverse unit. the one in the set has an "E" unit the other has a nut on the front of the boiler that you pull out. both engines have the bell. the orange box car has a repainted roof and also has the later couplers. so in your opinion the set looks to be around 1935 give or take a bit? here are a few photos of the other engine:

Scott 

Scott,

My best guess is that the set in the front is from 1935 or 1937.  I don't have those catalogs yet so I can't look up the set number or what was offered those years.  The engine was offered in 1935 and 1937, and the trucks that are on the set were only used up until 1937.  Maybe someone who has the catalogs can look it up.  Most of the sets had names too.

Greg

Northwoods Flyer wrote:

Sturgeon-Phish Jim, Who would have guessed that you were the heir to the A.C. Gilbert family properties!  What a nice collection of accessories, and its great to see them on an operating layout.  How long have you been working at collecting?  Most of my S gauge Gilbert production is packed away for now.  Your pictures make me want to go rummaging around in the boxes. Thanks, Greg

Greg,

I started collecting about 10 years ago.  My addiction started when a friend of mine wanted to build a layout and asked me to build a table for him.  That led to me getting a 300 loco and frieght set set, and I've not looked back! 

Jim

I'm not a AF nut, but I am a prewar one.  Anyway, here are two pictures I had from an auction a few years ago.  The first is the Potomoc set pulled by a 3116 electric cab.  Great tinplate colors. 

The second is very interesting.  It's a celebration piece made in 1927 and given out to dealers and others to celebrate AF's 20 years of business.

envfocus,

Thanks for the pictures.  I really enjoy the variety of colors that the train manufacturers used in the Pre War era. The Potomac set has great colors, it has been one of my favorites. Flyer made a Wide Gauge train in the same colors named The Pocahontas with 14 inch cars and one set with 19 inch cars.  That is one of the Flying Colonel sets if I remember correctly.  Flyer called the tan color Rookie Tan.

I have only seen pictures of the anniversary clock.  One of my collecting goals is to own one of them some day.

Its nice to see another Wisconsin person.  Stay warm!

Greg

fifedog,

Joining TCA has always been one of those things on my "to do" list, but I never seem to get around to it. Wow lots of people with Flyer Pox, scary thought.  I will have to go visit the website.

I have this posted on another thread but it illustrates how colorful Flyer was in their Wide Gauge line.  The second set from the top has the cars from the Pocahontas set I mentioned earlier.  It is actually "The Warrior" set I think.  I will have to check the box lable.

Greg

I have "forced" myself to stay with AF "S".  I really love the look of the pre-war, and been tempted many times, but I will stay focused.  I will stay focused.  I will stay focused.

JIm