CSXect,
I started out collecting S gauge based upon a set that ran around our Christmas tree when I was a child. I discovered that my Dad had other trains beside that one; several O gauge trains and a Wide Gauge passenger set. I know that he bought all of them after the War for my brother. I guess Flyer trains have always been in my blood. I would say that I am a die hard Flyer guy.
Thanks for checking out the thread, post any pic or question when you can.
Greg
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
One of the things that I enjoy about collecting toy trains is learning the history of the company, the history of the individual piece, and the historical era in which the items were produced. Flyer and Lionel both responded to the factors present in the culture at the time. As a case in point, we talk about Pre War or Post War trains, etc. My offering this time is pictures of the 1934 version of the Burlington Zephyer produced by Flyer. It appeared in the catalogs from 1934 to 1938, in several configurations.
Flyer went on to produce a number of streamlined sets. More of these later.
JIm,
Good point about the rings on the nose of the engine. Years ago one of my collecting friends made up an O gauge Circus set by repainting an O gauge Royal Blue and a 494 coach. I think he also made a spotlight car and a box car. They looked great. He dispersed his collection, and I have always wished that I had purchased the set from him.
I have an S gauge circus set that I have put together through individual purchases, and I purchased reproduction loads for the flat cars. I have the reproduction paper parts for the Circus set too. I should have bought two sets though, one to "collect" and one to set up. I have also seen tank cars, stock cars and searchlight cars repainted and lettered for the Circus sets. Ebay has several flat cars for sale right now that have reproduction trucks lettered for the Circus, like the trucks on the 956.
Northwoods Flyer wrote:Spankybird,Thanks for the links to the museum. I have heard you mention it in the Coffee Pot thread and wondered what it was like. I will spend some time today during the snowy afternoon to explore it.This is a page from the 1950 catalog. To my knowledge this is the only equipment that Flyer manufactured for the Circus set. There are some examples of the engine being painted yellow and the passenger car being red, but these are very uncommon from what I have been told. The extra equipment that you have shows up from time to time on eBay and I believe that they are re-manufactured pieces that one of the S gauge hobbiests or a shop have produced. They look great and I have been tempted to purchase them.The paper cutouts that came with the set are harder to find then the train itself. They command a huge price. They were reproduced a number of years ago and when they show up on eBay now they are bringing quite a bit too.Still you have a great set there and I bet it really draws attention when you have it running on the railroad.Thanks for postingGreg
Spankybird,
Thanks for the links to the museum. I have heard you mention it in the Coffee Pot thread and wondered what it was like. I will spend some time today during the snowy afternoon to explore it.
This is a page from the 1950 catalog. To my knowledge this is the only equipment that Flyer manufactured for the Circus set. There are some examples of the engine being painted yellow and the passenger car being red, but these are very uncommon from what I have been told. The extra equipment that you have shows up from time to time on eBay and I believe that they are re-manufactured pieces that one of the S gauge hobbiests or a shop have produced. They look great and I have been tempted to purchase them.
The paper cutouts that came with the set are harder to find then the train itself. They command a huge price. They were reproduced a number of years ago and when they show up on eBay now they are bringing quite a bit too.
Still you have a great set there and I bet it really draws attention when you have it running on the railroad.
Thanks for posting
A qiuck givaway if a 353 Circus Train loco is a repaint is to look at the painted circles around the headlight. Most repaints don't try to paint the rings and a majority that do lack the detail. As Greg says, the original set was flatcars with wagons and a passenger car, but the crane and caboose are really neat items. I've got the repro paper set, and will likely make up a repro circus set because I can't afford an original!
Jim
Flyer produced some beautiful motive power for its Wide Gauge line. Here are a few:
Top engine is from the earliest President's Special
Steamer that Flyer aquired in the deal with Lionel to divide up Ives
Engine for the Hamiltonian passenger set
4644 - one of the more common engines
Enjoy,
This is a page from the 1950 catalog.
To my knowledge this is the only equipment that Flyer manufactured for the Circus set. There are some examples of the engine being painted yellow and the passenger car being red, but these are very uncommon from what I have been told. The extra equipment that you have shows up from time to time on eBay and I believe that they are re-manufactured pieces that one of the S gauge hobbiests or a shop have produced. They look great and I have been tempted to purchase them.
Thanks Northwoods,
As I recall, this set is all orginal, but I could be mistaken.
Here are two links to The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum
www.wrmrrm.org
and
www.wrmrrm.shutterfly.com
I am a person with a very active inner child. This is why my wife loves me so. Willoughby, Ohio - the home of the CP & E RR. OTTS Founder www.spankybird.shutterfly.com
prewardude wrote: 37fleetwood wrote:you know I'm tempted by the MTH standard gauge B&O #384 Tin Plate Traditions set even if it is modeled after a Lionel set. it has protosounds 2.0 protosmoke very cool. the best of both worlds. they even offer tin buildings!Scott Just as a point of clarification, that is a 400E in the photo, NOT a 384E!With that out of the way, let me just thank all the contributors to this thread. It has been thoroughly enjoyable seeing all of these great trains and accessories. Great job, guys! - Clint
37fleetwood wrote:you know I'm tempted by the MTH standard gauge B&O #384 Tin Plate Traditions set even if it is modeled after a Lionel set. it has protosounds 2.0 protosmoke very cool. the best of both worlds. they even offer tin buildings!Scott
you know I'm tempted by the MTH standard gauge B&O #384 Tin Plate Traditions set even if it is modeled after a Lionel set. it has protosounds 2.0 protosmoke very cool. the best of both worlds.
they even offer tin buildings!
Scott
Just as a point of clarification, that is a 400E in the photo, NOT a 384E!
With that out of the way, let me just thank all the contributors to this thread. It has been thoroughly enjoyable seeing all of these great trains and accessories. Great job, guys!
- Clint
Actually this photo was taken from the MTH web site.
I didn't notice 'til you mentioned it that this isn't the one in the catalog.
I am going to have to get a Flyer Passenger set. I really like the electric engines.
Thanks for all of the great pictures that you are posting guys.
Paul - I love the pictures of the trains on the carpeting. Just the way most boys used to run them.
Spanky - it looks like your member has done a nice mixture of original items and some of the reproduction and repainted items that are available for the Flyer S gauge Circus set. Where can I find a description of the museum.
Here are some pictures of a common Pre War Flyer passenger set : The Oriental Limited
Keep those pictures coming,
This belongs to one of our Museum members who was giving it a test run at the Museum.
Northwoods Flyer wrote: 37fleetwood wrote: I would love to find an o gauge electric engine and passenger set. the problem I see is with the wheels. the two engines I have have crumbling wheels.Scott Scott,Here is a nice little passenger set. It was listed for several years in the Flyer catalogs and was called "The Frontenac". It actually has one more car, a matching baggage, which I am still looking for.Jim, stop looking! Where is your self control. You do know that every time you look at Pre War you become more susceptible.Greg
37fleetwood wrote: I would love to find an o gauge electric engine and passenger set. the problem I see is with the wheels. the two engines I have have crumbling wheels.Scott
I would love to find an o gauge electric engine and passenger set. the problem I see is with the wheels. the two engines I have have crumbling wheels.
Scott,
Here is a nice little passenger set. It was listed for several years in the Flyer catalogs and was called "The Frontenac". It actually has one more car, a matching baggage, which I am still looking for.
Jim, stop looking! Where is your self control. You do know that every time you look at Pre War you become more susceptible.
I gotta get one of those. The bride and I honeymooned at the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec. Bon Jour!
Some of my Am. Flyer
American Flyer produced a wide variety of trackside buildings. You can imagine a small, medium or large community for your passenger trains to stop at.
I can hear the whistle of the 5:52 now!
If you have Pre War Flyer Trains, you really ought to have Flyer and accessories to go with them. There is a certain charm to the litho and painted buildings.
I have almost as much fun collecting them and their variations as I do the trains themselves.
thats exactly what I was thinking about. I'll get one eventually!
37fleetwood I would love to find an o gauge electric engine and passenger set. the problem I see is with the wheels. the two engines I have have crumbling wheels. Scott
EDIT: 7/2021 I can't find the original photo to repost here, but when I do I will post it.
Found it!
Soooo tempting, soooooooooo pretty,
No Stay focused!!!!
Maybe just one Yea , right
Jim,
Somehow I think its a losing battle. How can you resist? Come to the Pre War side, you know you want to.
Think of the sound of heavy metal wheels beating against metal track. The rumble of metal cars careening behind a throbbing locomotive. Or the sound of a bell chiming along as an engine like this pulls a consist of Victory Red passenger cars, shining with brass windows and a warm flickering electric light inside each coach, into a lithographed station. Now imagine the lights in the room tuned down low and the glow of the engine headlight shinining along the polished track. The engine rounds a curve and comes directly at you. You are drawn to the light like a moth to the flame.
You will stray in your focus
Welcome to the land of Flyer compulsion
Northwoods Flyer wrote: Jim,Are you absolutely sure that you can't be tempted by some beauties like this?I took this photo at Train Fest in Milwaukee in November. This the largest amount of Standard and Wide Gauge trains that I have seen running in one place. It was a real inspiration. The only problem would be to find a place large enough to set something like this up permanently.I never thought I would be tempted away from AF "S" either. But it happens.Greg
Are you absolutely sure that you can't be tempted by some beauties like this?
I took this photo at Train Fest in Milwaukee in November. This the largest amount of Standard and Wide Gauge trains that I have seen running in one place. It was a real inspiration. The only problem would be to find a place large enough to set something like this up permanently.
I never thought I would be tempted away from AF "S" either. But it happens.
I will stay focused
Crumbling wheels seems to be a very common problem for pre war Flyer. Most of my recent purchases have come from eBay and I have been careful not to purchase something with that kind of a known problem. Because Flyer was mass produced, there are numerous examples available. I have never attempted to do any replacement of the wheels, I guess that will be one of those things that I learn to do in retirement. Hopefully the rest of the wheels on my engines won't deteriorate by the time a get around to them.
I took this photo at Train Fest in Milwaukee in November (edit: this was November of 2007). This is the largest amount of Standard and Wide Gauge trains that I have seen running in one place. It was a real inspiration. The only problem would be to find a place large enough to set something like this up permanently.
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
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.
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!
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