Flyer Random Goodness

Overhead Flyer Shot

Here's a shot of a Flyer Standard Gauge consist running past a Lionel factory. These are hard shots to take (at least on my pike) because there is no room to move on this side of the layout. At the moment, I'm just glad to have a layout.

Marc

Another Day on the Pike....

I just thought this was a neat picture. A dimly lit caboose, heading into a tunnel, noisily clanking away with the rest of the rolling stock. The bright red cabooose color contrasts wonderfully with the cool, muted earth tones of the Olson Displays Tunnel.

Yes, I know the tunnel has a little overhang. It's to remind me to expand the layout sooner rather than later. It's so stable (both the layout and the tunnel) it won't budge one iota.

Marc

Stout December Auction

Looks like if you are in the market for authentic American Flyer Wide Gauge, then you should take a look at the December 2009 Stout Auction. Some very nice Flyer and some pretty decent Lionel Standard Gauge as well.

Marc

Nice American Flyer Youtube from Pipes

Check out Pipes American Flyer Youtubes. Here is one (they are pretty darn neat). Try on HD and blow it up to full screen.

marc

Some Seriously Nice American Flyer Standard Gauge

Pipes71479 posted some great Youtube of Standard Gauge American Flyer sets running. I've started a small Flyer Standard Gauge collection myself because the lithography is just amazing and I don't think the Flyer stuff will really get reproduced anytime soon. Plus its' just plain neat. Check it out:

Was in an old house in Norwalk...

I was in an older home in Norwalk and I spotted this American Flyer set. It's amazing what you see when you really look! I just wish I had a better camera with me!

Marc

Brass Piper Movies

Check out this Brass Piper Youtube Video. Also, the guy that did a great job loading this one loaded quite a few more. Check them out when you go to You Tube.

Marc

1929 American Flyer Wide Gauge Flying Colonel

The 1929 American Flyer catalog cut showing the Flying Colonel set. Click on it to blow it up and read the text. $62.50 must have been about two or three weeks pay for the average American worker in 1929!

Jim

AF's Handsome Wide Gauge Flying Colonel

A friend asked to see photos of my American Flyer Flying Colonel set that I posted about yesterday, so here they are. You can click on the photos to enlarge them as always. I believe that the Flying Colonel was introduced in 1928 but catalogued only in 1929. It is a scarce set that always brings a premium, probably because it was not produced in the same numbers as other AF Wide gauge sets. The photos don't really do it justice because they don't show the beauty of the deep blue colors that this set is painted. I used to think that the Rolls Royce Blue 1928 President's Special set was the prettiest AF Wide gauge set. But now I like this handsome Flying Colonel set most of all. It is noteworthy that MTH reproduced this set.

Jim

A Toy Train Giant Has DIed: Frank C. Hare

From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Obituary:

All because his Aunt Kate gave him a little black wind-up steam engine 79 years ago, which he held onto ever since. It will go into his casket with him, at Mr. Hare's request.

I didn't know Frank Hare, but I did speak to him a couple of times, once to order some of the lovely American Flyer reproduction prewar catalogs that he published, and on another occasion to ask permission to use a photo from one of his books, which he gladly gave me. He struck me as being a fine gentleman and a real credit to our hobby. I regret that I didn't interview him for Tinplate Times.

Frank, have fun playing with that AF President's Special out there in the cosmos.

Jim

More Station Goodness....

Here's a page out of the world of Ives, Flyer and Lionel. Yep, they all look familiar and they are variations on a theme.

Marc

PS I confess. I am a station nut. I probably have somewhere between 12 and 20 stations. More than could ever fit on my budding layout. Champagne wishes and caviar dreams. I'll still settle for a free dinner at Red Lobster....

A Great American Flyer Wide Gauge Bridge

I've wanted to own the spectacular American Flyer Standard guage No. 4220 Lighted Trestel Bridge for about as long as I've been collecting Standard gauge trains. They come up on EBAY from time to time but I have never won an auction for one. I passed up one at the Allentown semi-annual show a few years ago and I've been kicking myself ever since. This past weekend in Allentown some guys had this beauty on their table along with the smaller 0 gauge "Salt Lake" bridge and so I bought them both - for $140.. The price was right, that's for sure! The 4220 has both original light castings which are soldered to several sections of original AF track. The telegraph poles are gone, but that's an easy replacement from Trickel cast parts. The bridge is so long that it can hold three AF "Lone Scout" cars on its span! Talk about an impressive accessory!

Jim

JAD Hiawatha On Display At Grand Central

I had a fun day in the Big Apple last weekend. New York is always a blast around the holidays. One of my stops is always Grand Central Station to see the holiday laser light show and to visit the Transit Museum Store. I was surprised and delighted at the window display at the store this year, which features a JAD Standard gauge Hiawatha and an AF Standard gauge Pocahontas set. I don't own either of them, so it was a pleasure to see them so prominently displayed. Inside the store there was a reprise of the large 0 gauge layout that I saw last year. This drew a big crowd.

Jim

I liked this picture....

I just saw this picture and it made me think of days long since past. At least there's something in the window that I want to buy. Kind of hard to imagine this picture with "online" shopping.

I miss the old analog world.

Marc

AF Classic Period Gems

Whew! I've been busy as I can be here with a ton of different projects...everything from selling trains on EBAY to repairing newly acquired trains to working on Tinplate Times, to...I don't know, there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to. How did I ever find time to work?

Every once in a while I stop and just look up at the shelves in my room at some of the trains that live there quietly year in and year out, waiting patiently for a little attention, or maybe even a chance to see some duty downstairs on the layout. Here's a beautiful American Flyer Wide gauge stock car. What's not to like about AF Wide gauge? What a beautiful line of locomotives and cars. I'm fortunate to have a small but representative collection of these great looking tinplate trains.


We think of the period of the late 1920s through the mid 1930s as the "Classic" period of Standard gauge. This period was characterized by the big, bright, colorful Standard gauge trains made by Lionel, American Flyer, Dorfan, and IVES.

A.C. Gilbert, who would later come to own American Flyer (just after AF stopped producing Wide gauge trains) marketed a spectacular series of Erector sets during roughly this same period. These sets were the biggest and most spectacular Erector sets ever made. Erector collectors refer to them as "Classic" era sets. They came in beautiful red painted wood boxes, and boys could build spectacular models of trucks, trains, and even Zeppelins. Pictured here is a N0. 7-1/2 "White Truck" set from 1931 that I am just finishing up on - taking inventory and organizing it - in an attempt to make it look like it did, as closely as possible, on the day it left the factory. It's like doing a giant jigsaw puzzle because invariably when you buy these sets they're a jumble of hundreds of parts all loose and disorganized in the box. Pieces are missing and it takes time and patience to sort everything out. However, when you're done you have a wonderful looking display set. The Erector "Classic" period dates are 1924 until 1932. As with our beloved Standard gauge trains, economic realities after the crash of 1929 put an end to these large Erector beauties. Luckily, we can still enjoy some of them today.

Jim

I love those American Flyer Engines! Why can't any of these get remade? These things just seem to get better looking with age!