American Flyer Passenger Cars VI
The remains of the day
#1120
These cars, a passenger and an observation are sort of the poor cousins to the #1107 cars. The lithography is very plain. The cars litho colors are either red, dark green or blue. Markings consist of "American Flyer Lines" above the windows and the number "1120" at either end below the windows. Roof styles are either the earlier squared off style or the later rounded version. Roof colors can be red, black, orange or light blue. They were manufactured from 1923-1929/30.
#1120 with squared off red enameled roof
#1120 with rounded black enameled roof
#518 and #519
These cars are similar in outline and shape to the #515 series of cars discussed in the post on the Hummer and Express passenger car sets. The passenger car has 5 windows instead of 4 and the club car is a simple litho version of the more elaborate enameled club cars described in the posts above. They were manufactured from 1931-1932.
Their one big claim to fame are those that had the additional litho treatment on the roof which consisted of the "Coca-Cola" script and the phrase "Pure as Sunlight"
#519 passenger
#518 Club Car
to the Forum Clayton and to this thread.
I don't know of any wiring diagrams for the bell ringer off hand, someone may know of a source for them. I will have to take a look at mine and see if I can figure something out. I hope you can get your engine ringing down the track, its a fun addition if you can hear it over the sound of the wheels on tubular track.
I saw the mold for the clock on eBay too. It went for a nice tidy sum as I recall. I was amazed that the molds still existed since that clock was made for the 20th anniversary if I remember correctly. I hope he does reproduce the clocks. I would be more than happy to have one.
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
American Flyer Passenger Cars IV - Addendum A
Back on page 15 mersenne6 posted some information and pictures of the 8 1/4 inch enameled passenger cars known as the Potomac set. I thought I would add a few pictures of that particular set to augment the information that he posted.
The set was cataloged in 1928 and 1929. Here is the catalog page from the 1928 catalog.
The set was headed up by the 3116, a St. Paul style center cab.
The set contained the 3180 Club Car
With Potomac plates above the window, and Club Car 3180 plate to the right of the baggage door.
Next in line was the 3181 Pullman
with Pullman 3181 plates
And the 3182 Observation
With Observation 3182 plates
And an "American Flyer Lines" plate on the observation platform. These plates frequenlty are missing.
It looks a great deal like its bigger sibling the Pocahontas Wide Gauge set. The Rookie tan and green make a nice combination. As mersenne6 points out this size of car also comes in a blue green enameled body with a darker roof and with Golden State brass plates over the windows.
Northwood Flyer
3/16" Operating Cars
The first remote control operating cars had to wait for the move to New Haven and the production of the 3/16" inch line.
#472
The first car was #472 U.S. Army Automatic Unloading Flatcar which has a yellow ramp mounted on a flatcar. The ramp holds a Tootsietoy armored car which came with either one or two guns. The prewar version of the car has white wheels and the postwar version has black.
The color versions are yellow ramp, red superstructure and black frame or
yellow ramp, red superstructure, red frame.
The car requires a special section of track to work - the same track is used to activate all of the Flyer operating cars. The car was offered in 1940 and 1941.
472 - yellow ramp, red superstructure, red frame, armored car with two guns
# 474
The Automatic Coal Dump Car was offered in 1941. The coal is loaded into a V shaped trough and is dumped when a solenoid in the car is activated and the side of the car opens.
474 with special track section, remote button, instructions and box. Note the hinged side of the car.
View of the hopper body. The hinged car side is at the top.
#492
The mail pickup baggage car was offered in 1941. It came in red (#492R), Pullman Green (#492G) and Tuscan (#492T). It is an automated version of the manual mail pickup accessory/attachment that was offered with the early large Chicago litho baggage cars. Like the others it uses a special track trip but this one has the addition of a mail baggage pole from which to hang the mail bag.
#492G with box track trip and mail bag and mail bag pole
Operating baggage car instructions and inspection slips
I don't think it can be said enough, so....GREAT THREAD!!!! The experience and information shared here cannot be found anywhere else. Even though I'm a prewar Lionel guy, I've broken down and gotten a few AF pieces since this thread has started.
Jago,
to the thread and Thank You for your kind words.
envfocus,
Thank You too for your kind words. Its nice to know that others do appreciate Flyer and have enjoyed the thread as much as mersenne6 and I do. I always appreciate the photos of your layout and collection. I could see more of them, especially displaying your Flyer Items .
And now for another installment:
American Flyer Passenger Cars IV - Addendum B
Following up once again on mersenne6's entry back on page 15 here are some additional photos of the 3280 series of enamel cars. In 1934 these 9 1/2" cars were nearing the end of their cataloged run. Flyer offered a passenger set called Man-O-War. Here are some pictures of the catalog page from 1934.
The description of the set and the art work both show the set having two 3281 pullman coaches, and a 3282 observation. There was no club car offered with this set. And the decal above the windows is an American Flyer Lines version.
This is the set that I have.
The 3323 Engine and Tender combination
This engine has the red firebox light
You will notice that the condition of these cars in operator quality. I think it was well loved and played with.
The two 3281 Pullman coaches - which if you look closely have the order of decals reversed - so even within the set there are very minor variations. Neither coach has brass steps (which the Greenberg guide lists it as having) while the observation does. I cannot tell if the coaches ever had brass steps.
And the 3282 Observation
It is a nice looking set.
I'd really like to find a set with either "Jeffersonian" or "Golden State" brass plates above the windows.
The Other Freight Cars I
Crane Cars
#240
The first American Flyer crane car was offered in the G. Sommers 1910 catalog. It was listed as being 5 inches long and was cataloged as #240. I've never seen one, neither had Greenberg as of the last publication and I don't know anyone who has but I have been told it was made.
#M1106A
In 1914 Flyer offered a crane car (also called a wrecker car) which consisted of the then standard Flyer frame and a crane and cab made by KBN. Those versions that have been observed differ from the catalog cut in that the crane cab is center mounted instead of on one end.
#3045
This eight wheeled enameled car was offered in 1930-1931 for separate sale. The body is Flyer however the crane is a cast iron hoist made by the Arcade Company in Freeport, Ill. Of all of the crane cars offered by any of the American toy manufacturers I think it is the most unique.
#3025
The 8 wheeled crane is an all sheet metal construction. The crane is the same one used on the long base #97 freight station. The crane boom is held at a particular height by a hook fixture whose end slips into small holes drilled in the crane cab roof. The car was made from 1936-38
#416/481
The 3/16" version of the crane was offered in 1939 mounted on an all black #3025 frame. In 1941 the all 3/16" #481 was offered. Typical colors were red frame and roof, yellow cab, black cab base, and green boom. The car also came in a red cab version as well as a black frame, gray boom version.
mersenne6 wrote: The Other Freight Cars I Crane Cars #3025 The 8 wheeled crane is an all sheet metal construction. The crane is the same one used on the long base #97 freight station. The crane boom is held at a particular height by a hook fixture whose end slips into small holes drilled in the crane cab roof. The car was made from 1936-38
Mersenne6,
Great post on the Crane/Wrecker cars.
I thought I would add a few pictures of the 3025. Even though it was offered for only a few years there were several variations.
This is a version from the years 1936-1937, with type VIIIb trucks.
And this is the version from 1938, with the type XII trucks and the Type X or curly cue couplers.
Apparenly there were two types of sheet metal bodies used for these cranes, the main difference being the early models had 5 windows punched per side and later versions had only 4 windows. I'm still looking for a 5 window version.
The two versions also have different shades of green for the subframe
This is a view of the metal piece that raises and lowers the boom and hook by placing it in the holes on the roof of the cab. Lionel's version is definitely more interesting with its actual ability to crank the hook up and down.
However the 3025 can also swivel on its base.
There were also two designs of decal used on the crane body and two different placements. Some years it appeared above the windows and other years below.
One version of the decal has black lettering on a white background.
And the other version has gold lettering on a black background. This decal is actually from the crane body mounted on the #97 freight station.
So once again even within a single type of car there can be a multiplicity of variations.
Happy hunting.
More fascinating posts: thank you, gentlemen!
I'm particularly grateful for the wrecker car posts. I have my father's AF 408-412 freight cars. I'd very much like to see a picture of the 416 wrecker car. Was it similar to the 3025 but with link couplers?
I hope to acquire a 416 wrecker and the 1100 series wrecker: those are the only AF freight car series I'm collecting (at this time, and to help preserve my financial sanity).
Thanks!
Cubster
416 is a cross between 3025 and 481. It has the base and frame of 3025 (but painted all black) and the cab crane assembly of 481.
Northwoods - thanks for pictures of the real thing. I've never had the chance to photograph one. Over the next few weeks I'll be working my way through the freights and I'm going to have to put in catalog cuts for more than one of them. I was hoping you'd have a picture of 3025 and, of course, there was the always optimistic thought that you might have one of the #420's too.
mersenne6
Improved and revised index now on pp. 27
List is obsolete - deleted
Cubster/Chris,
I don't own an example of the #416 wrecker but here is a photo of page 184 in Greenberg's Guide to American Flyer Prewar O Gauge by Alan Schuweiler. It follows the description that mersenne6 gave. It is a nice transition piece from 1939. Gilbert's 3/16 version uses the same crane but the early versions have an open die cast frame.
Good luck in collecting the rest of the 400 series cars. Which ones do you have already?
Thanks for putting some order to the random postings in the thread. I'm going to print out your index so that I can find things more easily too.
This is a really nice set:
Methinks this would be a nice set for Lionel to reproduce.
- Clint
American Flyer Passenger Cars IV - Addendum C
I thought I would add some comparison photos of the passenger cars in this category just so that folks can see the difference in the sizes. I have used the Pullman coaches from each size
This is the 11 inch coach from the Ambassador set
And the 9 1/2 inch coach from the Man of War set,
And the 8 1/4 inch coach from the Potomac set,
And a 6 1/2 incho coach from the Frontenac set - I don't think we have covered this size of passenger cars yet.
It is amazing to see the variety in the sizes that Flyer produced in Narrow Gauge.
And just for good measure lets throw in a 14 inch coach from the Wide Gauge Pocohantas set.
I like to see the variety and the similarities between the cars. The designers at Flyer always seemed to playing with variations on a theme.
Thanks guys. With the index you are developing I am now spending even more time in this thread.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Here's one of my favorites. I also have it in brown.
The Other Freight Cars II
The early boxcars
#243
The G.Sommers catalog for September 1910 was the first to show Flyer freight cars. This catalog illustrated only a tank car and a boxcar. The first boxcar was listed as being 5 inches long. The car had the same Type II frame as found on the 4 window passenger cars of the period. The door and all other markings are just litho.
Boxcar from 1910
M1110
In 1914 the Flyer catalog illustrations showed a new style of boxcar. It was listed as being 5 ½ inches long and was catalogued as M1110. This car was the first AF boxcar to carry the herald of a real railroad - Illinois Central.
The boxcar can be found with no doors, a brown five panel door, or a lithoed red door with black handles as above. The door on this car is a factory error. The metal was fed into the cutting press and instead of cutting along the line it was offset and put the cut line about a quarter of the way up from the bottom.
Greenberg states that the car appears to be German made or a copy of a German car. If we set the M1110 next to a Fandor and a Bing car of the same period, the resemblance to the Bing car is easy to see.
A closer look at the roof indicates an almost perfect match with respect to roof line and end cuts of the sheet metal roof between AF and Bing.
1110A
In 1917 the catalog illustration was that of a Baltimore and Ohio boxcar as well as a caboose. The caboose was a very odd affair - just the B&O boxcar without a cutout for the doors and a cupola on the roof. The boxcar can be found with yellow and red painted doors as well as either an orange or yellow five panel door.
B&O Boxcar with orange 5 panel door
PhilaKnight,
to the thread. That is a great picture of Flyer's 3020. Its one of the electric outline locomotives that I still have on my "to get" list.
mersenne6,
great post as usual. I have to admit that I don't have examples from my collection to add this time.
However I do have some pictures of a new addition to the roster of steeple cabs here at the Blue Board Central Division of American Flyer Lines. A yellow version of the 1218 has arrived. I edited a few pictures of it into the posting on steeple cab engines back on page 9.
Except for the color it looks just like its siblings.
It has the identical stampings as well.
Flyer made good use of the body style and with just a few additions or subtractions, and different colors of paint managed to produce a number of variations. Everytime I read through the listing in Greenberg I wonder if I will ever run across some of the other colors like maroon, blue, green and red; all which are stamped with 1218. I still have some hunting to do.
And a parting shot of the 1218 travelling the rails.
Happy Hunting,
That mustard yellow 1218 is pretty nice.
Carl T.
The Other Freight Cars III
Hopper Cars
The American Flyer hopper fleet is as anemic as the cattle car fleet - just one car from Chicago and three cars from Gilbert.
#311267
This uncataloged car was made from 1936-1937. According to Greenberg it was listed as #1126 in the 1936 Dealers' Price List and I've seen the car in its cardboard sleeve (no boxes for these cars) with the number "1126" rubber stamped on the outside. The car can be found in a 4 or an 8 wheel version with either a black or a red enameled frame.
#311267 - 4 Wheel
#486 - Sheet Metal
This 3/16" hopper was the non-operating cousin of #474 discussed on pp. 16 It was offered in 1940 and 1941. It came with a black frame, yellow body, hatches on the bottom that could be manually opened, and a brake wheel on one end. Its decal treatment is either a mix of "American Flyer Lines" and "486" or just "American Flyer Lines".
#486 - mixed decal treatment
#474 - Operating Hopper - see also post above
#508 - 3/16" Die Cast
Offered in Gray and lettered for the Virginian Railway. Listed from 1939-1941. Has four manually operating hatches on the bottom. This car was also offered in kit form - kit number K508.
You are certainly offering some challenges lately. I only have one item in my collection to add some pictures to your post. It is the 8 wheel version of the 311267 hopper, with the black enameled frame.
And a few closeups of the lithography
Steeple Cab - 3110 Addendum
The Greenberg Guide to American Flyer O Gauge lists two variations to the common 3110. One is a model that is identical to the green version of the 3110 offered from 1928-1929 and again in 1931 except that it is black. While I don't have very many repaints in my collection I saw this one and decided I would add it, until I can find an authentic version.
Some one did a very nice job of turning this into an example of this uncommon engine just about as it would have looked when it came from Halsted steet.
It is very similar to an authentic green version
There are a few details that are not quite right for it to be an original. If you compare the frames you will see that the repaint uses an example from a different number steeple cab because it doesn't have brass journals.
And when I took it apart to examine it more closely I can see that there are still remains of its original green color on the inside of the body. I suppose I could pretend its a factory repaint, but it is in much too nice condition to be original. It is a nice looking engine in any case.
Northwoods Flyer, the 3110 is one of my personal favorites. A very sturdy little thing that just goes and goes with minimal maintenance. They're pretty zippy as well! I have a nice 3110 in green/red like yours, though the wheels have been replaced. I'm particularly fond of the little American Flyer 0 gauge electrics for some reason. I'm still looking for a really beat-up 1218 to restore, and a 1096 in good shape.
As always, thank you for the posts and the education!
Thats a real nice yellow 1218 when you find one like this do you
a... leave the paintwork as found
b...give it a clean and polish or
c...go the whole hog and go for a repaint
just curious as to your approach to these great trains
Chris/Cubster,
It appears that we have lost the ability to change the color and size of fonts in the upgrade. I will miss those as I used them a lot to help organize the thread. (well its not that big of a rant - really)
In any case, I like the steeple cabs too. Your comment motivated me to do a quick count of how many I have and I was surprised to find that I have a total of seven steeple cabs with only one duplicate of a 1218. You could almost say the little guys are addictive. I wish you luck on finding a 1218 to restore. From my observations, particularly on eBay they are easily available.
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