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Pre War American Flyer Pictures - An Invitation

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Saturday, January 14, 2023 9:53 AM

318X Cars

Recently I spotted the cars below on ebay.

I was a bit puzzled by them because they are the size of the 8 1/4" cars that come in the Potomac set that are rookie tan and green, but they were the colors of the 9 1/4" Golden State set, and included the "Golden State" name boards.

I went to my Greenberg guide and on pages 150 -151 I found the information that cleared up the mystery.  The cars are part of a set that was marketed through Montgomery Ward circa 1930. The cars were headed up by a 3116 in matching colors or by a 3191 locomotive.

I have the steam engine that would have headed the set.

And the tender that would have accompanied the engine pulling these cars,

Its nice to find somethiing new in the reference book I thought I knew pretty well.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

 

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Posted by strainst on Saturday, January 14, 2023 1:40 PM

Northwoods, that is one fine looking set.  I have always loved the two tone blues that Flyer used on their trains.  I spent the Chrismas holidays finding my prior posting and was able to update all of my photos so they no longer have the photo-bucket water marks.  A couple posting back where you are showing the boxes you have collected, is the blue board up and running at your new home?

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, January 15, 2023 2:57 PM

Hi strainst,

Thanks for the doing the work of restoring your photos.  I still need to take on that daunting task for the early part of this thread.

The photos of storage under the Blue Board Central are from the archives.  The layout came down 3 years ago.  The new layout will be named "The Arrowhead Division of American Flyer Lines". At least it will be when it finally gets built.

The 318X cars are most frequently seen in the Potomac Set

As I posted above the; Montgomery Ward set came in the two tone blue color scheme with Golden State brass name tags on the 318X cars.

  

And here are the 328X cars in the boxed "The Jeffersonian" set that I have. The set is also in two tone blue.

Now all I need is a Presidents Special in two tone Roles Royce blue

Edit:

The Wide Gauge stock car also came in a two tone blue color scheme.

Somewhere in my collection I also have street lights that are in the same two tone color combination.

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Posted by pennytrains on Sunday, January 15, 2023 7:55 PM

Interesting.  Ward's also had special run blue Lionel 33's with matching 35 and 36 passenger cars.  Although the Lionels are usually referred to as "midnight blue".  I wonder, was blue a prominent thing with Ward's the way red was with Macy's?

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Posted by palallin on Monday, January 16, 2023 7:24 AM

I, too, like the two-tone blue, but I *really* like the military blue of the Flying Colonel, my Flyer Unicorn-made-of-Unobatnium set.

There is a vey reasonable Persidential Specicial on the Evil auction Site right now.

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Monday, January 16, 2023 8:34 AM

palallin,

Ah yes the beautiful blue Flying Colonel set.  It has been on my list for years; ever since I picked up this orphan from the 1927 lithographed Presidents Special.

I've had to be satisfied with these repainted cars in O gauge (rare birds in my collection) until I find the rest of the family

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, January 19, 2023 4:43 PM

Northwoods Flyer
 

Now all I need is a Presidents Special in two tone Roles Royce blue

Edit:

The Wide Gauge stock car also came in a two tone blue color scheme.

Somewhere in my collection I also have street lights that are in the same two tone color combination.

Enjoying the World's Greatest Hobby

Northwoods Flyer 

As I was sorting through photos in the archive I came across the #2209 street lights that I mention above that came in the blue color scheme.

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Northwoods Flyer

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Sunday, January 22, 2023 4:03 PM
Happy Anniversary
 

January 22, 2008  -  January 22, 2023

 

Celebrating

15

 years

of

Pre War American Flyer Pictures

Each year when this day rolls around I am amazed that I am still making additions to this thread.  It has been a great joy to participate in this hobby and to take stock of the friends that I have made because of it.  One of the things that I have noticed is that there is much less participation in postings here, as I mentioned last year.  It should come as no surprise when I consider that I don't find very many "new" items to add to the collection after 15 years. I have discovered many other sources that have sprung up on the internet that provide photographs and information about Pre War trains and I know that those who used to post here have moved on to those sites.  It is still great fun to see the enthusiasim of those of us who participate in The World's Greatest Hobby.

I intend to participate here for as long as I can or for as long as the thread exists answering questions and posting new finds. There is still great stuff to find out there. In honor of year 15 let me post some photos of set #315 from 1939

Cars with 6 wheel trucks

 I would have liked to post set No. 15 from 1938 but I don't have the complete set.

At this point I have the cars  - 4 wheel trucks. I don't have the engine for them yet.  So my quest for the next year is to find the No. 4622-6 locomotive.  

 See, the quest never ends.

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Northwoods Flyer

Greg

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Posted by strainst on Friday, February 3, 2023 12:19 PM

Northwoods Flyer, congrats on 15 years going strong, still the best forum on Pre-war American Flyer Trains.

Americam Flyer Type 5 No. 15(C/D); this loco has the early body (Version C) but the motor has 10 spoke wheels (Version D)

Americam Flyer Type 5 No. 15(D)

 

 

Americam Flyer Type X No. 15

 

 

Looking forward to 15 more years

strainst

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Posted by Northwoods Flyer on Thursday, March 16, 2023 12:18 PM

Thanks strains,

That is a beautiful example of a #15 clockwork engine.  Its been good to have you on board for this journey through American Flyer Prewar equipment.

2023 has been great for adding to the collection.  I have found a #4622-6 to head up the blue cars posted above.

The 4622-6 Locomotive-Tender Combination combines a Type XV Pacific die-cast engine and a 1623 Type XIII tender. It was cataloged in1938.

The engine returned in 1939 - 1940 as the #436

 

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Posted by fifedog on Friday, March 17, 2023 2:05 PM

Northwoods - How could you not love that steam engine.YesCool

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

Check out all of the valve gear,!

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

Gorgeous!  Big SmileThumbs Up

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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.

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Northwoods Flyer

Another pair of faces to love

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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.

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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

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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.

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Northwoods Flyer

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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 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.

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Northwoods Flyer

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

Beautiful!

Ray

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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.

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

Looks like they all came together Big SmileThumbs Up

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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 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.

 

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Northwoods Flyer

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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 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?

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