American Flyer Plus

A bargain buy when first introduced as Chicago Flyer, American Flyer trains rose to premier toy train status in the last half of the 20th century, and maintain the second spot today! The company's claim to fame, the S gauge train, is supported by the wide gauge and prewar HO and O gauge trains, in collector popularity, and this one-of-a-kind guide covers all three groups in extensive detail. &break;&break;The most comprehensive overview of the American Flyer line, this book follows the winning format of the Standard Catalog line of toy train reference. It is the only full-color guide on the subject, serving the needs of toy train collectors who rely on detailed color photos to accurately identify trains.

Following responses from numerous discussions/arguments with (mostly older) "train guys" as to whether American Flyer trains had two or three rail track, it seemed some clarification was in order. It also appeared that, while the post-war "S" gauge two-rail period is quite well covered, there is very little information still in print on their immediate ancestors. The purpose of this little guide is to present, to the people who are unaware of their existence, the three-rail "Tru-Model" toy trains of the A. C. Gilbert Company, of New Haven CT, which were introduced at the 1939 New York World's Fair, and which were produced until the war-imposed shutdown of non-essential manufacturing, in July 1942. Dimensions and color schemes are provided, throughout the work. Wheel arrangements follow the Whyte system of course. Lengths given exclude couplers. Locomotive lengths given include the proper tender. At LEAST one large color photo is included for EACH distinct item, and EVERY set is illustrated in catalog format, in color! Captions are self-explanatory. All (220+) photographs were taken by the author, of specimens from his personal collection, unless specifically credited otherwise. While an attempt was made to show 'better-grade, collectible' specimens, the cars are representative of vintage TOYS, and are not intended to represent the pristine, mint-in-the-box, items available to only a very wealthy few.It should be noted that when Gilbert brought American Flyer in 1938 there was a substantial amount of salable (but non-scale) "Chicago" inventory on hand. Prior to that time, most toy trains, in general, were quite unrealistic in appearance, particularly car length. If you wanted more realism, you had but one choice - build from scratch! This guide does NOT cover ANY of that pre-1940 "Chicago Flyer" material! The 1939 American Flyer catalog first introduced the die-cast 3/16" scale equipment, but only in the four most expensive sets, with would become the two top-of-the-line locomotives. By 1940, the conversion to 3/16" scale (including the first pressed-steel cars) was well under way, but it was not until the 1941 catalog that ALL offerings were of Gilbert's new 3/16" scale design. The first post-war catalog (for1946) does not list the very limited remaining stock of "O" gauge trains which was sold off as soon as possible so as to concentrate on the brand new - and more exciting - two-rail lineup.There is some intentional redundancy in the descriptions, since it is felt that many users are going to simply look in the index for "their" car(s), and I wanted them to be able to find everything in one place, without their having to crawl page by page. It should be noted that legitimate, factory produced, items are known with some feature(s) differing slightly from the "standard" versions of the items presented here. Money was saved wherever possible, and shortcuts were taken, particularly as to colors, and markings. Nothing was wasted - some cabooses were even made on tender frames! The most common off-beat example being that some cars will have two "American Flyer Lines" decals instead of the normal one, plus the car number. Paint shades may vary.It must be remembered that their intent was to produce operable toys, hopefully at a profit, for the enjoyment of (mostly) children, and they were not following any rigid rules to satisfy 'nit-picking' collectors in the then far-distant future. Within certain parameters almost anything is at least possible and, after 80 years, some repairs, repaints, etc. have themselves acquired the patina of genuine-ness and antiquity. The author takes full responsibility for the accuracy of any opinions regarding such specimens which may be stated in this work. The author welcomes input from fellow collectors having any corrections, or further information, regarding these trains, which may be incorporated into future editions of this work.

Of all the toys a boy could want, a Gilbert American Flyer train has always been high on the list. Gilbert’s American Flyer two-rail trains looked real, featured smoke and choo-choo, horns and whistles, operating lights, realistic-looking couplers and bright paint schemes that matched prototype railroads. Climb aboard with us as we discover these fascinating trains made between 1946 and 1966, which have provided a long-lasting legacy from The A.C. Gilbert Company. Includes handy alphabetical and numerical indexes. An invaluable book worth every penny! This book tells you what S gauge products Gilbert made and when. Its covers such items as the Royal Blue, 4-8-4 Northerns, 0-8-0 switchers, the Pennsylvania 0-6-0’s and 4-6-2s and the famous 4-6-4 New York Central Hudsons. In the diesel chapter, you’ll read about the colorful PA-style Alco Santa Fe warbonnet units, the rare Silver Flash and the beautiful yellow and blue Comet locomotives, the green and yellow A-A Rocket units, the classy C&O Geeps, the New Haven Alco A units in white, red and black, and the later-era General Motors diesels from 1961. Freight cars from the State of Maine 40-foot box car to the Missouri Pacific yellow-blue-gray box cars to the Northern Pacific Pig Palace cars are covered in detail, as are the Chicago & NorthWestern refrigerator cars, the American Refrigerator cars, tank cars, Baker’s Chocloate cars, Gilbert and Celanese chemical cars, hoppers and covered hoppers, flats, depressed center flats, gondolas, cranes, and operating cars such as the milk car, tie car, rocket launcher and lumber cars. Passenger cars included are the New Haven-style red and green cars, the long, six-wheel truck Pullman-style passenger cars in red and green, the streamlined passenger combines, coaches, domes and observation cars, and the 1959-1960 Frontiersman passenger cars. Exciting accessories such as the #787 Log Loader, #752 Seaboard Coaler, #23796 Sawmill, #583 Electromatic Crane, #766 Animated Station, #578 Station Figure Set and #789 Baggage Smasher Station are also described and detailed. This 8½ x 11”, 200-page hardbound book includes 330 b/w and color photos and period advertisements.

Based on the popular “Collectible Classics” column from Classic Toy Trains magazine, 101 Classic Toy Trains surveys the most collectible toy train accessories, locomotives, and rolling stock. This book is very helpful to those who have found an old train collection and are looking for the value of it, as well as for those who just want a better idea of what they should buy next for their layout.

An extension of the best selling "Gilbert American Flyer Operating and Repair Guide." This volume is full of new information and covers many of the aspects not found in the original book and adds an index to both volumes. This is a new book and not to be confused with the original book. The price is higher than Volume 1 because of the full color phorographs founs in this new volume.

Collectors and fans will be thrilled with this first-ever, gloriously illustrated guide to the history of the American Flyer model trains. “Informative and colorfully illustrated...a delight for collectors.”—Chicago Tribune A visual tribute presents more than 200 photos and illustrations, starting with the very first pre-1920s trains, from the engine to the caboose, along with the individuals who designed and built them, the stores that sold them, and the most intriguing tabletop train displays. For those on the lookout for rare models, pictures highlight the hardest-to-find, most valuable train cars. That way, collectors will be sure to recognize them when they check those forgotten toys stored in the attic or discover them available for a song at a yard sale.