Mike DeHart,
, Welcome to the thread. I hope we are providing some helpful information. I wonder if you would consider purchasing a similar Type XX engine to use until you can get your mom's original piece up and running. One can never have too many trains you know.
Here is another aspect of Flyer production and its association with the Comet. The A.C. Gilbert company also produced a train called the Comet in S gauge. It was cataloged from 1953-1956, and while it looks nothing like the real comet it is a streamliner (diesel however) and maintains the blue and silver colors of the PreWar Comet. It came in a 4 unit set with the PA, combine, vista dome and observation.
Northwoods Flyer
The Northwoods Flyer Collection
of
American Flyer Trains
"The Toy For the Boy"
Yes Northwoods, I am a member of the "New Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Association" www.nhrhta.org . They publish a very fine (collectible) magazine 4 times a year, the "Shoreliner". In a 1982 issue (Vol.13 issue 1) it had the complete story of the building, running and scraping of the "Comet". Another place to look for New Haven Railroad information is the University of Connecticut Thomas Dodd Research Center. http://railroads.uconn.edu/locomotives/
The all Aluminum "Comet" was built in 1935 by the Goodyear Zeppelin Company in Akron, Ohio. Designed to run between Boston and Providence, covering the 44 miles in 44 minutes, a cruise speed of 100 mph, it made 6 round trips a day, 6 days a week. The "Comet" was a 3 car train, a Power Unit/48 seat coach on the east end named "Boston", another Power Unit/48 seat coach on the west end named "Providence", and a 64 seat center coach. As World War II passenger traffic increased, she proved to have too few seats and was removed from Main Line Service in 1943. She spent her last 9 years on Branch Line and Commuter Service. Her precious Aluminum was too valuable during the Korean War, the "Comet" was scraped in July 1952 replaced by Budd RDC trains. As a child, I rode the "Comet" many times as my mother would make a quick shopping trip to Boston. ($1.75 round trip, children half fare)
P.S. -- The Boston and Maine "Flying Yankee" (built by BUDD, a twin to the Zepher) is being restored to operating condition with funding by the State of New Hampshire. Target to enter Tourist Service is 2010. www.flyingyankee.com
Don U. TCA 73-5735
Mike,
Hunting for intact wheels is going to be a real snark hunt. It wouldn't be a case of finding a motor with intact wheels it would be a case of finding multiple motors with at least one intact wheel which you could salvage. You mentioned cutting your own mold - if you have that capability there is an alternative. Several years ago a friend of mine purchased a set of the cosmetic wheels, carefully machined off the tire portion, and used what was left to make patterns for brass castings for the centers. He machined the centers and then turned separate tire rims and mounted them in the traditional manner (heat the rim, drop it over the center, let cool). His little #614 ran like a swiss watch.
DMUinCT wrote: Yes Northwoods, the "Comet" was real. Built by Goodyear in the mid 30s for The New Haven Railroad, it was constructed like an airplane and wind-tunnel tested. (New Haven, Gilbert?) Photos NHRHTA
Yes Northwoods, the "Comet" was real.
Built by Goodyear in the mid 30s for The New Haven Railroad, it was constructed like an airplane and wind-tunnel tested. (New Haven, Gilbert?)
Photos NHRHTA
DMUinCT,
to the thread,
Thanks for posting the pictures of the prototype of the Comet. I appreciate seeing what the "real thing" looked like. I assume that you are a member of the Historical Society. Do any parts of the Comet still exist? For those of us who are fans of the Milwaukee Road here in the midwest all we have are pictures of the motive power for the Hiawatha, although passenger cars do exist, and fans of the CB&Q and The Zephyer can see that beauty in Chicago.
Production of the Comet also points out how American Flyer stayed on the cutting edge of marketing, trying to be current and attract consumers in by making items that were in the news and a part of everyday life.
Thanks Again,
Northwoods Flyer (Virgina?)
The #614 had a number of different tenders and came with different connecting rod arrangements. One of the variations is that shown in the catalog that Northwoods posted earlier. The wheels you describe are those of the #614 in the picture on page 5 of this thread...and now the bad news - no one makes these wheels for running. Trickel catalogs these wheels but, as far as I know, they are cosmetic only.
Description
Catalog ID AO21 1 1/8" Dia. 12 spokes painted black for short wheel base motors used in many small sheet metal, cast iron, and tin litho streamliners.
A - Front, with gear, no crank
B - Rear, with gear, and crank
C - Front without gear, and crank
D - Rear, without gear and crank
The address given in the catalog (and the one I used to order some parts last year) is
Richard's Prewar Train Parts
Retail Sales and Production
44 Sunset Drive
Paoli, Pa 19301
On that same line, are you sure the gear connecting the motor and the wheels isn't diecast also? If so, is it crumbling too?
Hi, all. I am a new guy here having just discovered this place. These pictures are wonderful considering my Dad and I have been trying to fix my Mom's AF-O loco literally for as long as I can remember. Problem is, I have never been able to identify the loco to be able to identify proper parts. Here's my story:
Mom got this set when she was a small kid, we figure around '36 to '39. (She was born in '32.) She wanted a toy train but her parents didn't have the money for one, and "girls didn't get trains." Her uncle was an electrician and had a small electrical supply store. He got her a train set for Christmas, making her as happy as she could be. (We don't know if it was a catalogue set or maybe some off set or salesman sample of some kind.) Fast forward to the early 70's: Dad collects Lionel, and he, I, and my older brother fix many of them. However, Mom's engine has a bad case of explodo-wheel on the main drivers. Dad scours train shows, can't find wheels. I take up the cause in the early 90's and I can't find wheels. A collective 40 year search has turned up nothing, despite searches, catalogs, and oodles of emails and 'net searches. The engine has no ID number that I can find. I'll describe what I know.
Engine is a tinplate O-gauge 2-4-2, black with copper piping and trim. Tender is a small square type. The drivers are 12 open spoke, black, die cast, with no steel tires. All 4 are different. The rear pair, one geared and one plain, have a raised post to attach drive rods and valve rod cranks. The post is tapped and the very top of it is squared to engage the crank. The front pair, again one geared and one plain, have no boss as no rods connect to them. The motor has 2 pickup rollers and both axles are driven. The engine wheels and tender (not 100% certain on the tender) look to be similar to the pic of engine #614 posted by mersenne6 on 2-15-08, 3:09AM on page 5. The side rods look to be like those of loco 4603 (grey loco near bottom) posted by Northwoods Flyer on 2-13-08, 4:11PM on page 5. Amazingly, the passenger set in the catalog page posted by Northwoods Flyer on 2-15-08, 4:47AM which shows a "Lone Scout Passenger Set" looks to be almost exactly Mom's set, except for the tank type tender! That certainly looks like her engine and car set!
Can somebody please help me figure out what I have and what I need to get it running again? I tried to buy a similar engines but they always had the wrong motor and wheels. I am certainly willing to buy a parts engine and swap motors if the wheels are good. I thought it was a Type-XX, but I just learned that a Type-XX has closed wheels, not open spokes, so I am back to square one again. I have even threatened a few times to cut a mold and try to cast my own darned wheels. Mom isn't getting any younger and I would very much like to present her with HER train as she received it, on track and running, before the chance is lost forever. I have always sensed that she didn't take more of a liking to Dad's collection because hers was broken and she felt a little put out by that. Thanks for any help you can offer.
Northwoods Flyer wrote: JimCongratulations on the new aquisition. Unfortunately my Trainorama did not come with the instruction sheets. I have had mine together, and managed to do it just by matching the numbered and lettered tabs and slots to each other. I did see a Trainorama on ebay a short time ago that did include the instruction sheets and the seller claimed that it have never been assembled. Amazingly that one sold for close to $325.00. Take some pictures when you do get yours assembled, and you will be amazed how nicely it compliments PreWar Flyer items Northwoods Flyer
Jim
Congratulations on the new aquisition. Unfortunately my Trainorama did not come with the instruction sheets. I have had mine together, and managed to do it just by matching the numbered and lettered tabs and slots to each other. I did see a Trainorama on ebay a short time ago that did include the instruction sheets and the seller claimed that it have never been assembled. Amazingly that one sold for close to $325.00.
Take some pictures when you do get yours assembled, and you will be amazed how nicely it compliments PreWar Flyer items
Yes I saw that auction and felt pleased I was able to get mine for under $200. It is in very good condition and many of the pieces have not been used so they are like new. When I get a few days off I plan on putting it together and for now put it on the layout on a shelf extension in the back. This will less evasive than taking up existing track and fixtures.
Thanks,
Let me return to Flyer Tank Cars for a moment.
Here are some examples of the 9 1/2" enameled tank cars. They were cataloged from 1928-1939. This car constitutes a small collection in its own right. By my count in the Greenberg book there are at least 20 variations. These variations occur with changes in the color of the tank, the color of the frame and the difference in trucks.
These three cars all have the same frames and trucks (known as type VIII). The third one has been altered by a previous owner who must have taken a tin snips to the truck to give it the look of a step in the middle of the truck.
This version is from 1938 which you can tell by the trucks and more obviously by the sheet metal knuckle "Curly Q" coupler. This one is not listed in the Greenberg Guide, so I guess this makes 21 variations.
If anyone has other examples of these cars please post them.
Sturgeon-Phish wrote: Northwoods Flyer wrote: Staying with a theme, here are some pictures of the Lithographed version of Flyer's Burlington Zephyr. It was only listed in the Flyer catalog in 1935, although it was listed in other specialty catalogs for several years after. It was intended to be a lower cost alternative to the cast aluminum set. It came in several sets with different numbers of cars. It came in either 3 or 5unit sets. I have a 4 unit set. So that means that either I have an extra car that got added along the way, or one of the original cars got lost somewhere. Ahhhh, another reason to cruise Ebay!.Sturgeon-Phish, Jim,The background is actually a few pieces from the 790 Trainorama. I thought you would like to see it.GregGregYou are right! When I saw the Trainarama, I did get excited. The trainarama is a beautiful accesory. Maybe one day . . . Jim
Northwoods Flyer wrote: Staying with a theme, here are some pictures of the Lithographed version of Flyer's Burlington Zephyr. It was only listed in the Flyer catalog in 1935, although it was listed in other specialty catalogs for several years after. It was intended to be a lower cost alternative to the cast aluminum set. It came in several sets with different numbers of cars. It came in either 3 or 5unit sets. I have a 4 unit set. So that means that either I have an extra car that got added along the way, or one of the original cars got lost somewhere. Ahhhh, another reason to cruise Ebay!.Sturgeon-Phish, Jim,The background is actually a few pieces from the 790 Trainorama. I thought you would like to see it.Greg
Staying with a theme, here are some pictures of the Lithographed version of Flyer's Burlington Zephyr. It was only listed in the Flyer catalog in 1935, although it was listed in other specialty catalogs for several years after. It was intended to be a lower cost alternative to the cast aluminum set. It came in several sets with different numbers of cars. It came in either 3 or 5unit sets. I have a 4 unit set. So that means that either I have an extra car that got added along the way, or one of the original cars got lost somewhere. Ahhhh, another reason to cruise Ebay!.
Sturgeon-Phish,
Jim,
The background is actually a few pieces from the 790 Trainorama. I thought you would like to see it.
Greg
You are right! When I saw the Trainarama, I did get excited. The trainarama is a beautiful accesory. Maybe one day . . .
I got a 790 Trainarama last Friday and it is really beautiful. Do you have the assembly instructions? Many of the pieces have not even been creased yet and no instructions were with it and I don't wanr to bend something in the wrong direction.
Thanks
American Flyer 6 1/2 inch litho freight cars.
These cars were first shown in the 1919 catalog. They consisted of a tank car, a sand car (gondola), a boxcar (automobile car), and a caboose and in various forms they ran through 1935. The sand car is shown in the earlier post on Flyer's lithoed gondolas.
The tank car came in gray with a single style of lettering. The the shade does vary but that is nothing more than simple lot-to-lot paint variation.
The automobile car also came in red and white and then, in the late 1920's in yellow with black lettering.
It's interesting to note that the re-introduction of the yellow also saw a change in the font style and the lines of reporting marks which went from 3 to 4. It is also apparent from the 1930 catalog that Flyer no longer intended the lettering "American Flyer Lines" to appear across the top of the car. Rather than change the litho stones they just adjusted the cutting of the sides so that when the roof was attached the lettering was obscured.
While not nearly as prolific as Ives when it came to prototype names on the 6 1/2 inch cars Flyer did make some very interesting choices and for the Southern and Southern Pacific they were the only toy train company to offer cars with these names.
learner,
to the forum and to this thread. I posted some pictures of the Comet earlier in the thread but I will post them again here. I assume that you are are refering to the Comet made by Flyer in the Pre War era. That version runs on three rail track and is O gauge. There is an American Flyer train by Gilbert produced in the '50's named and labled the Comet too, but that version is made of plastic and is S-gauge.
This is the O gauge version.
Edit: This is the S Gauge Comet by Gilbert American Flyer
The other pictures are posted in this thread for the date 1/30/08.
The following is a quote from Greenberg's Guide to American Flyer O Gauge Trains by Alan R. Schuweiler and published by Kalmbach:
"Produced in 1936, the Comet set was offered in a seperate low-end train brochure, which was not dated,.... The electric sets in this brochure were called Champion sets. The inventory of sets may have been sold for several years after that year by retailers and wholesalers. Like many other lower-priced sets of this era, it never appeared in an Amercian Flyer consumer catalog and no catalog numbers for the individual items have been discovered.
The Comet has a strong resemblance to the lithographed Burlington Zephyr, and both trains are sheet metal throughout. However, most but not all Burlington coaches have six windows while Comet coaches always have four. The set was brightly lithographed in blue and silver, with gray and black details.
Unlike most but not all Burlington power cars, the Comet power car rests on two trucks and can run by itself. The cars...have only one truck; the front ends of these cars rest on the preceding car. The train units are linked by a pin on the trailing car that fits into a hole on the preceding roof and by a drawbar on the car in front that engages a pin at floor level on the following car. The trailing car is a curiosity. It is not an observation car but rather an unpowered version of the power car with only one...truck supporting it. This simulates the prototype train, which had a power unit and control cab on each end.
The set was brightly lithographed in blue and silver, with grey and black details. "THE COMET" appears on both sides of the power car and the trailing car, while "AMERICAN FLYER LINES" appears in a stripe above the windows on the coaches"
I hope this is what you are looking for.
I just checked on ebay and there is a set up for auction. Much to my chagrin the seller lists my earlier entry about the Comet in his description, but at least he posted a link to the thread too.
I can find little information on "The Comet"-can you tell me what scale it is?
Yes Northwoods, I do. I was going to post something else this weekend but let me see if I can scan those cars instead.
meresenne6,
Excellent pictures as usual. You have managed to post all of the streamlined sets that I don't own yet. Well at least I have some things to look for. Flyer certainly did offer something for everyone. Thanks too for the earlier post on Hummer. I have resisted that part of Flyer production for now. But some day I will open the collection to those items too I suppose.
My offering this time is for Flyer's O gauge tank cars. Tank cars were first introduced in American Flyer's catalogs around 1910. Several different styles, in varying lengths were made through the years. 5 1/2" cars were made from 1910 to about 1914, 6 1/2" cars were made in Lithographed and Enameled versions, 9 1/2" cars were also made in Lithographed and Enameled versions.
The Northwoods Flyer collection contains the following 6 1/2" versions
This is the 3018 from 1932
When I was ready to post these pictures I noticed that I had another version as well
The tank car on the right is also a 3018 but from 1930-1931. Notice the difference in the trucks and that the tank supports are different colors. Truck stlyes help to date the years of production as Flyer used a variety of them.
left - 1932 version has AFL painted in gold transfers on both sides in the depressions on the tank
right 1930-31 version has 3018 to the left and AFL to the right
American Flyer Streamlined Steam
Flyers first offering in the world of streamlined steam was the ill fated No. 9915 in 1935. The catalog described the engine as being a "New York Central type". Many collectors refer to the cast aluminum engine-tender combination as the Aeolus because of a resemblance to the CB&Q's engine of that name and some claim the Q's engine was the inspiration for 9915. The only problem with this is that the Q didn't build Aeolus until 1937. The reality is that Flyer tried to make an engine with characteristics of the two best know streamlined engines of the day - the Hiawatha and the Commodore Vanderbilt. The set 1325-RCT was a sales failure and was catalogued for one year only. Like the Lionel Girl's Train of 1957 what was 1935's trash is now 2008's treasure and this engine and passenger set is one of the most sought after of the Flyer prewar offerings.
The second streamlined steam engine made its appearance in the back pages of the same 1935 catalog. It too was describes as an NYC engine. It is also referred to as the "Minnehaha" because it was part of that particular set. The electrically powered version is usually lithoed in orange and silver and the clock work version sports a reddish/rose and silver livery. This train was made from 1935-1937 and came in either a two or a three car articulated passenger set or a freight set.
In 1936 Flyer went after the prototype look with its top of the line Hiawatha passenger set. The engine also came in a freight set.
At the same time they also offered an uncataloged, lithoed tin 0-4-0 version of the Hiawatha which came with either passenger or freight cars. The 0-4-0 version was made with or without a mechanical whistle that was powered through a gear train connected to the main gearing of the motor. The engine had either a rounded or a squared rear. The tender for the engine with the rounded end has a much longer drawbar than the one with the square end. The lithoed engine was made 1936-1937.
Freight Set
Passenger Set
In 1938 Flyer introduced a PRR streamlined style engine (#4603) with 2-4-4 wheel arrangement. The engine was sheet metal with a diecast front end and came with either freight or passenger cars.
The same engine, with a different front end treatment, more cut away driver skirting, and a different decal on the tender (the engine tender combination now identified as #419) was offered in 1939 in a freight and a passenger set. The freight set was No. 403.
In 1940 A.C. Gilbert returned streamlined steam to the lineup with #553 in gunmetal gray (4-4-2)and in blue as #556 The Royal Blue (4-6-2).
The Royal Blue engine was an accurate model of the B&O streamlined engine. The Royal Blue set also included a whistling baggage car.
Is this where you got your Northwoods Flyer name? Again, thanks to you and all for your American Flyer blast-through-the-past pictures and posts. Keep them coming.
Jack
The Northwoods Flyer name comes partly from the legacy of the Northwoods Hiawatha, which ran on the Milwaukee Road on the routes that you describe in your post, and partly from the fact that everything from about Stevens Point north in Wisconsin is referred to as the Northwoods. With my love of Flyer I thought it was a natural choice.
Diabolical plot..........Hmmm, I have never considered that as an attribute, but if it brings more folks into the fold, then I'm all for it. Of course you know that you won't be able to stop with just the water tower now. If you have read ivesboy's post on his family trains you will definitely be inspired. Yes, I guess it is a diabloical plot. .
To follow up a bit on the water tank. I actually have two free standing tanks, one of them is also missing the spout. I am not sure if anyone has reproduced them yet, but I bet there would be a market for them considering the number of them that are missing.
And mine has the yellow ladder.
The 215 water tank was also used on a larger accessory - The 235 Water Tank Set. It was sold from 1933 through 1935. Mounted on a 15 1/2" sheet metal base are a lighted lithographed shanty, a manually operated semaphore, and a red water tank with the typical black support structure and black spout with a counterweight. It has a red ladder and a brass cap that hides a light bulb from view. I suspect it is the same brass ring used on locomotives. Flyer came up with some great accessories with visual appeal and play value.
Bob Nelson
Northwoods Flyer wrote: RockIsland52,If you came back to Wisconsin for another visit I think you would find that it is still pretty much the same. The places you mention are still very much summer destinations, especially for folks from Illinois. I think you would also find that there are still roads in some areas that are the same as you remember them. The depots that you took the trains from are still here, one of course is the emblem for Wausau Insurance, and Walthers just reproduced it in HO as a kit. Sadly, the passenger trains that you remember riding to Chicago no longer exist. You might even have ridden the Northwoods Hiawatha.I do have some information on your water tank. Let me quote from the Greenberg guide to Wide Gauge:"About 1922 American Flyer offered their first water tank, the 2020, for O Gauge trains. This same style water tank with the addition of a light in 1934, was sold until 1940 (as the #215). The plain water tower is quite common, however it is often missing the water spout, which simply hooked onto the tank itself.... Ives catalogued an identical water tank from 1923 through 1929 with the Ives name as thier number 89.... It could have been built by American Flyer or a common vendor for both companies." I have also seen pictures of at two examples of the tank with "Mack Junction" printed on it. I don't have any other information about that variation. My example is missing a ladder, but it is obviously an earlier version because it has no light. Variations do exist with ladders coming in green, yellow, red and black.Its time to go rummaging around for the tower and display it somewhere as a memory of your childhood.Northwoods Flyer
RockIsland52,
If you came back to Wisconsin for another visit I think you would find that it is still pretty much the same. The places you mention are still very much summer destinations, especially for folks from Illinois. I think you would also find that there are still roads in some areas that are the same as you remember them. The depots that you took the trains from are still here, one of course is the emblem for Wausau Insurance, and Walthers just reproduced it in HO as a kit. Sadly, the passenger trains that you remember riding to Chicago no longer exist. You might even have ridden the Northwoods Hiawatha.
I do have some information on your water tank. Let me quote from the Greenberg guide to Wide Gauge:
"About 1922 American Flyer offered their first water tank, the 2020, for O Gauge trains. This same style water tank with the addition of a light in 1934, was sold until 1940 (as the #215). The plain water tower is quite common, however it is often missing the water spout, which simply hooked onto the tank itself.... Ives catalogued an identical water tank from 1923 through 1929 with the Ives name as thier number 89.... It could have been built by American Flyer or a common vendor for both companies." I have also seen pictures of at two examples of the tank with "Mack Junction" printed on it. I don't have any other information about that variation.
My example is missing a ladder, but it is obviously an earlier version because it has no light. Variations do exist with ladders coming in green, yellow, red and black.
Its time to go rummaging around for the tower and display it somewhere as a memory of your childhood.
Thanks for the info, Northwoods. I figured if you could do the identification legwork, the least I could do was locate the water tower. I suspect this is a diabolical plot on your part to get me started on pre-war. Your pictures and those of Ivesboy and the rest already had my mind churning.
My rummaging took some......well, serious rummaging. Success. The water tower you have is the one I have, though mine is in a little rougher shape paintwise. Integrity wise, it sits pretty square. No light on top, so that would put the production date between 1922-1933. While mine still has the ladder, I am missing the spigot. just like the write-up says is a common missing piece. You don't have any spares laying around, do you?
As you can see with your's, there's a water level indicator on the left side as you face the tower.
The ladder affixes on the rear, centered between the tower's main rear 2 supports. Two tabs on top of the ladder fit through open slots on the tower's roof. There is one one u-shaped bracket affixed (pressed in place) on the ladder, between the second and third rungs up from the ladder bottom, and riveted through the rear tower base crossmember support. The ladder is about 1 inch wide, black matching the base color, 18 rungs total, with the uppermost rung tucked under the roof overhang. Bottom of ladder sits flish to the ground.
Re the trains my sisters and I took from Wausau WI to Chicago in the mid to late 1950s, I did a "Wick" search on "Hiawatha passenger" and found that the North Woods Hiawatha main line ran between Chicago to the Twin Cities, but it also had a spur from New Lisbon WI to Minocqua WI, obviously stopping in Wausau. The RR name was the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, & Pacific. So I must have ridden the Hiawatha, albeit deisel versus the steamers which were in first in service in 1935. Deisels were first introduced in 1942. I believe the last Hiawathas ran in April of 1971, replaced by Amtrak, though the writeup didn't say when service to Waussau was discontinued.
I still haven't figured out how to cut and paste web addresses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiawatha_(passenger_train)
Is this where you got you Northwoods Flyer name? Again, thanks to you and all for your American Flyer blast-through-the-past pictures and posts. Keep them coming.
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Thanks, Northwoods.....your water tower sure looks like it, except if I recall, mine is missing the spigot. It's packed away. Now you've got me going. Got any info on it?
Some people unfamiliar with Wisconsin don't realize just how beautiful and unspoiled it is. I spent many childhood summers in a town called Rib Lake (sign at the time said population 356), about 60 miles North and a little West of you off Route 13 North, the place my Grandparents called home. They had a cottage on Spirit Lake, but we'd go swimming in Harper Lake because it had a "beach" and a small grill, convenience store. For back roads, gravel was the paving material of choice, and the road crews had to keep grading it and dumping oil on it to keep the dust down. Had relatives in Minoqua and Lake Crawlingstone (sp?) too which if I recall is straight North of you off Route 51.
Talking about trains, my sisters and I would take the train home to Chicago out of Wausau.
RockIsland52 Thank you for all of the exceptional pictures, information, and especially the history of AF. Many of us older guys were introduced to toy trains 45-60 years ago by fathers whose roots in toy trains and AF went back to their childhoods. Unfortunately, none of my father's American Flyers made it through the Depression years, starting in 1929, because they were sold or traded off for things we may take for granted, food or an unpaid bill. I suspect many of this forum's viewers wish they had their fathers' AFs too. All my father could pass on to me from his childhood was a maroon AF water tower. Based on the high number of views this thread has received, one can only assume that most train hobbyists truly enjoy and appreciate AF, even if they don't own any or are not into prewar for their own collections. Keep it going! Jack
Thank you for all of the exceptional pictures, information, and especially the history of AF.
Many of us older guys were introduced to toy trains 45-60 years ago by fathers whose roots in toy trains and AF went back to their childhoods. Unfortunately, none of my father's American Flyers made it through the Depression years, starting in 1929, because they were sold or traded off for things we may take for granted, food or an unpaid bill. I suspect many of this forum's viewers wish they had their fathers' AFs too. All my father could pass on to me from his childhood was a maroon AF water tower.
Based on the high number of views this thread has received, one can only assume that most train hobbyists truly enjoy and appreciate AF, even if they don't own any or are not into prewar for their own collections.
Keep it going!
Jack,
Thank you for the kind words. I am glad that you are enjoying this thread. I originally started it because I enjoy seeing Flyer items, and hearing the stories that accompany them for many people. I have been having a great time posting and seeing what other folks have to post.
I have some wonderful memories of being with my father and brother on the living room floor playing with trains, particularly at Christmas time. One of the items that has come down to me from my father is also a Flyer water tank. Is this similar to your water tank?
Enjoy,
mersenne6 wrote: Northwoods, thanks for the compliment concerning my collection but before you start imagining that my collection occupies a small warehouse I should tell you that, based on your pictures, your collection is much larger than mine. Most of what I've posted is stored in a small filing box in the library and, prior to my decision to start scanning them into the computer, they existed only as strips of negative film. Early on, I was fascinated by the similarities and differences of the prewar toy train offerings from the various manufacturers and I take delight in seeing how different manufacturers treat the same subject (hence the post on the IC cars).
Northwoods, thanks for the compliment concerning my collection but before you start imagining that my collection occupies a small warehouse I should tell you that, based on your pictures, your collection is much larger than mine. Most of what I've posted is stored in a small filing box in the library and, prior to my decision to start scanning them into the computer, they existed only as strips of negative film. Early on, I was fascinated by the similarities and differences of the prewar toy train offerings from the various manufacturers and I take delight in seeing how different manufacturers treat the same subject (hence the post on the IC cars).
mersenne6,
I had to chuckle at your comment about needing a small warehouse to store your collection. My wife has made that comment to me on more than one occasion. As I have posted on another thread, I would like to have a train building or specific larger room to use as a layout room and a museum of sorts. My ideal room would be a bonus room above the garage, or a garage built with something on the scale of a small apartment on the second floor.
I like the idea of having a collection in a small space the way that you do. At least you know where each example is, and you can do the comparisons much more easily. As I look at the ever increasing number of boxes in which I have my collection stored I have often thought that it would have been much easier and a saving of space to collect stamps. But then I look at the items I have and I think again how much I have enjoyed running and "playing" with my trains. I hope you will continue to share your collection with us and do more comparisons.
QueensNY,
The way that Flyer numbered their equipment is at times confusing. They frequently gave a locomotive one number, a tender another number, and when the two were combined there was another number for both of them together. The number 4692 actually refers only to the locomotive that you have pictured earlier on the thread. The combination of your engine and tender is known as the 4694. The casting for the locomotive is one that Flyer developed. There is a second earlier locomotive with the same number(4692). It was originally a casting developed and marketed by Ives, but when Lionel and American Flyer divided Ives up in the bankruptcy Flyer got ownership of the Ives boiler casting.
In the 1931 catalog your (grandfather's) engine was only used in one set, The Flying Colonel. Do you still have any of the cars that came with the set? You have not mentioned what kind of cars you do have.
Here is a picture of the page that shows your engine from the 1931 catalog.
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