The NASG American Flyer Car Project

Over the next several issues of the Dispatch, I thought I would attempt to summarize the history of the American Flyer cars that have been produced as exclusive releases for NASG over the years.

The first AF car was released in 1981, although the background on this car is slightly different from all subsequent NASG cars. In 1981, the NASG convention was hosted by the Syracuse club, the CNYSGA. That year, CNYSGA contracted with Lionel to produce for them a unique AF car decorated for the 1981 convention. This car was orange with black & white print and decoration. On the left side of the opening boxcar door, it was lettered

21st National Convention

Syracuse, NY July, 1981

N A S G

0 7 0 0

The car number was 0700…….I am not sure if that number had any significance, or why it was chosen. On the right side of the door, the black-&-white NASG "Unified" logo was featured. Unfortunately for CNYSGA, Lionel required them to purchase a minimum run of 2000 of these cars! Since re-introduction of the American Flyer line had just taken place in 1979, I suppose a run of 2000 did not seem all that formidable at the time. But in reality, the club was left with many unsold cars! Note that CNYSGA sponsored, ordered, and sold these cars…...not NASG.

So, what to do with all the leftover cars ????? At the time, the late Walt Danylak was one of the CNYSGA leaders, and Walt operated his own part-time S-scale business, G&W Models. Under Walt’s leadership, several hundred 0700 cars were stripped, repainted, and sold. The list of repaints, as once cited by Walt, included:

Walt recalled that each car was produced in a quantity of 100 or less, with some being considerably less. In addition, the Cuyahoga Valley S-Gaugers purchased several cases of the 0700 car, and redecorated them as a "Burning River" boxcar (commemorating the fact that the Cuyahoga River once actually caught fire!).

Where are all these cars today?

The original 0700 cars still turn up on occasion, including EBAY. From my experience, I would say they usually bring about $100 each. They came in the early white AF clear-front box, with red & blue printing.

Of the repaints mentioned by Walt, I think the D&H "I Love NY" boxcar is the most common. In red, white, and blue, it was probably a very good seller, and I would suspect CNYSGA made more of this car than any of the others.

I have not seen an AC Gilbert repaint for sale in many years, but the last I knew, they were bringing $150 +. This was a white car, decorated on one side to commemorate the 100th anniversary AC Gilbert’s birthday (1884), and on the other side to commemorate the AC Gilbert Company’s 75th anniversary (1909). It is a very attractive and desirable repaint.

The AFMW/1989 Tool car is unique. Gray with black print, four square four-pane windows were carefully cut into the sides of the boxcar (two on each side) before it was painted and decorated.

The important thing to remember about all of these cars is that they were repaints…….they are not original AF production cars from Lionel; only the 0700 car fits that bill ! That is why you will not find these repainted cars listed in the mass-market AF Price Guides.

Post-1981

 No AF cars were produced for NASG or any convention-sponsoring club after 1981, until 1988. At that time, NASG itself began the run of exclusive NASG-AF Commemorative cars available only to members, which continues to this day

 1988 & Beyond

In 1988, the national convention was hosted by the Central NJ club, and was held in New Brunswick, NJ. That year, under Don Thompson’s leadership, Lionel was approached about producing an American Flyer car exclusively for the NASG, and to be sold only to NASG members as a convention car. Lionel agreed, a contract was signed, and the NASG AF Commemorative Car Project began. The 1988 car was a Jersey Central Lines insulated boxcar (a boxcar shell with opening reefer doors), numbered 48470. The car sides are painted orange, and roof and ends are tuscan. Lettering and decoration on the car is black, red, and white.

Only 504 cars were produced, and they sold for $29.95 each (postpaid), to NASG members. The 1988 car is not often seen for sale on the secondary market. (As an aside, the host club also produced the same car design that year as a plug-door reefer by American Models, in two numbers.)

As noted, Don Thompson spearheaded the project that year. He recruited me to receive orders and keep data. Upon production, the cars were delivered to Tom Hawley in Michigan, and Tom and some recruits took charge of shipping them all out, with shipping information provided to him.

As I recall, the car sold out very quickly…...a factor which probably contributed to the decision to increase production when the 1989 car was planned.

In 1989, Don twisted my arm and convinced me to take over the AF Car Project for NASG. Agreeing to do so, I formed a small committee of volunteers-----NASG members interested in the AF project; as I recall there were about 6 of us. After entertaining some suggestions, we settled on a tank car for 1989. Specifically, we chose a colorful MKT "Edible Oil" chemical platform tank car, green with yellow and white print. The car number chosen was 120089, based upon a prototype car number and the year 1989, as I recall. We contracted with Lionel to produce 660 cars for us, and they sold for $29.50 each, postpaid. The car sold out prior to delivery, and no extras were available thereafter.

The "Katy" tank car is also a rather elusive NASG car, rarely seen on the secondary market. When I have seen it sold, it usually brings $150-$200, MIB.

Next time, we’ll take a look at the first few cars produced in the ‘90s for NASG members.

THE NASG AMERICAN FLYER CAR PROJECT, Part II

In the last issue, we covered the beginnings of the NASG AF Car project, starting with the 1981 Syracuse Convention car, and then the resumption of that project in 1988 and 1989. This issue, we’ll continue the series, beginning with 1990.

With the success of the 1989 MKT tank car, we opted to come back in 1990 with another tanker. I can’t recall what inspired us to choose the car, but I know that I was particularly "smitten" with the Pennzoil triple-dome tank car paint scheme. This was a silver car on a black plastic frame. The PENNZOIL Co. logo appeared on the left side of center in red, yellow, and black. To the right of center was printed "OIL CITY, PA." ; P.A.X. 390", and the car data. Centered underneath the ladder: "1990 NASG Commemorative Car". Handrails were silver, with black ladders. Each end of the car featured a marker board, with a brakewheel on one end. New this year were the diecast trucks; in 1990, Lionel scrapped the original Gilbert AF trucks and tooled new trucks with somewhat more detail. Naturally, many diehard Gilbert AF collectors were taken aback by these new trucks, which continue to be criticized to this day! The 1990 Pennzoil tank car carried the number "PAX 390", the "3" representing the third car produced exclusively for NASG, and "90" representing the year of production—1990. This was the start of the practice of numbering most of the NASG AF cars in this manner. Production was increased in 1990, as we ordered 900 tank cars, which sold for $29.95 each. Once again, the car proved very popular and sold out quickly. Today, the Pennzoil car usually sells in the $200 range, MIB.

1991 marked a departure from the previous norm. This year, we opted to release two AF cars instead of one. The first, "NYMX 491" was a NYC Mechanical Refrigerator car with plug doors. The car featured yellow sides with a dark blue stripe across the middle, and silver roof and ends. Car data appeared in the lower left, as well as "1991 NASG COMMEMORATIVE CAR". Additional car data appeared in the lower right. The NYC logo was printed in the upper right, above the blue band. In the blue band, in white print, was

NYMX MECHANICAL

491 REFRIGERATOR

The second release for 1991 was a Boraxo covered hopper, numbered " GACX 591". Painted dark gray, the large BORAXO red and white lettering and the red, white, & black image of the familiar Boraxo can were very eye-catching. Car data appeared in the lower left, and "1991 NASG COMMEMORATIVE CAR" was printed in the lower right. The new "Flyonel" diecast freight trucks were used on both of these cars again, of course.

It is worth noting that the "NASG" lettering on the entire series of cars had become a requirement of Lionel. Over the years, we attempted to either delete the NASG reference, or at least make it as small as possible, but Lionel continued to require that it be present with a minimum required font size.

The 1991 NYC reefer sold for $37.00, and the Boraxo hopper sold for $33.00.

800 of each car were produced. These cars did not sell out before delivery, but they did not last long afterward, particularly the hopper.

In 1992, we continued the decision to release two cars. Our first car for 1992 was an "experiment". We chose to produce a Nickel Plate Road flatcar with piggyback trailer. However, the only trailer load available through Lionel was oversized and top-heavy on a standard AF plastic flatcar! ERTL, however, agreed to do a custom-run of NKP 1:64-scale tractor-trailers for us, after we determined that an ERTL trailer could be mounted on the AF flatcar using Lionel’s standard fifth-wheel mount and wheel chock. However, the fly-in-the-ointment was that Lionel would not deal directly with ERTL to obtain the loads, nor would they agree to include them with the flatcars when they were assembled and delivered to us. Thus, we had to purchase the loads directly from ERTL, purchase the flatcars direct from Lionel, and then combine them ourselves for shipment to our members.

The black flatcars are lettered in white, "NKP 20602" and "Nickel Plate Road" in old-style script. Car data and "BLT 1-92" also appeared on both sides of the car. The 7-1/2" long trailer represented an approximately 40’ S-scale trailer. Made of dark blue plastic with opening rear doors, it was lettered

NICKEL PLATE ROAD

HIGH SPEED FREIGHT SERVICE

in white, along both sides. It was accompanied by a 10-wheel dark blue International Navistar tractor with chrome trim, also lettered "Nickel Plate Road" on the cab doors. Unfortunately, this was not the tractor we had requested…..it is more modern than we intended. But, once delivered, we opted not to return them for replacement, as it would have greatly delayed final delivery to members.

The production quantity on the NKP flatcar was 977, although 1250 ERTL loads were purchased, and the loads were made available for separate sale as well. The NKP flatcar with tractor-trailer sold for $40.

Note that this NASG car featured two exceptions to the "rule". The car number was 20602, based, I believe, on a prototype car. In addition, for some unknown reason, Lionel did not print the NASG identification on this car!

The second car for 1992 was a CB&Q boxcar in bright red with white print and the black & white "Burlington Route" rectangular logo. Car number "792" and "BLT 1-92" appeared on the left, while "EVERYWHERE WEST" was printed on the right. Car data appeared on left and right. As with the NKP flatcar, no NASG identification appeared on this boxcar.

980 CB&Q boxcars were produced, which sold for $30.00 each. Both 1992 cars sold out within a year after production.

The 1991 and 1992 cars seldom seem to appear for resale on the EBAY market, despite the higher production numbers. However, when they do, they are usually in the $75 - $90 range, MIB.

Next time, we’ll take a look at the six cars produced in 1993, 1994, and 1995.

THE NASG AMERICAN FLYER CAR PROJECT, Part III

In the last issue, we continued the history of the NASG AF car project through 1992. This month, we’ll cover the four cars produced in 1993-1994.

In 1993, we continued the practice of producing two separate cars. The first was a plugdoor steel-sided REA refrigerator car, numbered REX 893. Painted dark green, all lettering was white. In addition the RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY red diamond logo appeared on the right side of the door, beneath the word REFRIGERATOR. "BLT 1-93" is printed next to the lower-right corner of the door, on the right panel. The panel to the left side of the door included the print "RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY", "R.E.X. 893", and "1993 NASG COMMEMORATIVE CAR".

The REA reefer marked the high-water level in production quantity, as we received 1135 cars, and they sold out by the end of 1994. The sales price was $36.00, shipping included.

The second car for 1993 was the "Susie-Q" boxcar, for the Susquehanna. Painted a darker shade of green than the REA car, it had all white lettering, with the multi-color Susie-Q female logo on the right. Left of the door in large white letters was "SUSQUEHANNA". Below it was "NYSW" and below that "993". Across the bottom, in three lines:

CAPY 15400 BLT 1-93

LD LMT 17430 1993 NASG Commemorative Car

LT WT 4570

On the right side of the door, next to the Susie-Q logo, in three lines, "SHIP WITH SUSIE-Q", and below that in four lines:

IL 50-6

IW 9-4

IH 10.6

CU FT 4954

NASG received 1028 of these cars, which sold quite well, also at the $36 price postpaid.

In 1994, production quantity was reduced to 1000 of each of two cars, and the sales price increased to $39 per car, postpaid. As I recall, the price increase was a combination of increased wholesale cost and increased postage costs.

The first of the 1994 cars was a Northern Pacific boxcar, car #1094. Painted dark brown, all print was in white except for the large "NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY" circular yin-yang logo on the right. Next to the logo was the phrase "ROUTE OF THE VISTA DOME NORTH COAST LIMITED", in four lines. Below that are six lines of car data. Additional car data appeared on the lower left side. This year, instead of having "NASG Commemorative Car" printed on the car sides, Lionel allowed us to substitute the NASG circular logo in white.

The second 1994 car was a NYNH&H boxcar, #1194, painted the same shade of dark brown, with all white print. To the left of the door was the old script-style "New York New Haven, and Hartford" logo, and the NASG logo. To the right of the door, "N.H. 1194" appeared in two lines, and in between two horizontal white lines. Below that was the car data.

All four of these 1993-1994 cars had sheet-metal frames with the newer Lionel AF diecast trucks and operating couplers. All trucks were mounted with hollow brass eyelets, and all had opening boxcar doors (with latches) and a black plastic brakewheel on the end of each car.

Next issue: four more cars, from 1995 and 1996, the final year of two-car production for NASG, and also the first year that the price broke the $40 mark.

THE NASG AMERICAN FLYER CAR PROJECT, Part IV

Continuing our "history" of the NASG American Flyer Commemorative cars, we begin this time with 1995, when two "experiments" were tried. The first car selected was the Lehigh Valley 3-bay covered hopper using a newly-tooled grain cover produced for us by Lionel. This was the first covered 3-bay hopper ever offered in the AF line by either Gilbert or Lionel! Our original intent was to produce a Quaker Oats covered hopper, but we were denied permission to do so by Quaker Oats Corporation. The LV road name was chosen to match the area of the 1995 national convention in Altoona. Numbered "1295", the LV hopper is painted gray with black print and the red-&-black LV flag logo. Once again, the NASG logo was used to identify the car as an NASG club car. The flag logo and the NASG logo were located just left of center on the car sides.

Left of center lettering: Right of center lettering:

L V LEHIGH

1295 VALLEY

CAPY 183000 CU FT 5181

LD LMT 113700 BLT 95

LT WT 54200

1200 LV cars were produced, and they sold for $43 each, shipping included. This production number proved to be a bit ambitious, as this car sold slower than usual, and took 2-3 years to sell out. The car still sells on the secondary market for $75 or less.

The second car for 1995 was a Southern Pacific TTUX double flat car set, carrying "Southern Pacific Golden Pig Service" trailers. These were Lionel O-27 units, mounted on American Flyer knuckle coupler trucks……an experiment which several S-gaugers had tried on their own and both displayed and operated at earlier NASG conventions. The two car set was also supplied with the necessary couplings to combine units and create a prototypical 5-unit set.

The SP cars were numbered "TTUX 1395", and lettered for the "Trailer Train" consist, with a "BLT95" date on them. Cars had a yellow body with orange stanchions, and black trucks and trim. Trailers were white with the orange and red trim and lettering, plus the multi-colored Golden Pig Service logo on the center of each side. The trailer front end also carried the GPS logo, the trailer number, and the NASG logo. The two-car set sold for $85, and 1000 were produced. These sold out within a year.

Unlike most NASG cars which are limited to two cars per member order, the SP limit was increased to three. This allowed for the creation of a prototypical 5-unit set. In fact, many members ordered additional cars after delivery, which is why the car sold out fairly quickly despite a high production number. Although not often seen on the secondary market today, the SP TTUX rarely brings more than $75.

Lionel produced additional regular-run TTUX units in other road names in succeeding years, but the practice of using S-gauge trucks under O-27 bodies was not generally well-received, and the practice was abandoned soon afterward.

In 1996, we continued the two-car concept. The first car selected was to coordinate with the Dearborn (MI) convention, an Ann Arbor RR 3-bay covered hopper, painted AARR orange with black & white print. Once again, the newly-tooled grain hopper cover was used on this car. Numbered "AA 1496", there were 1000 of these cars produced and sold for $44 each, shipping included. As usual, the pre-delivery orders were limited to two cars per member.

Lettering and placement can be quite clearly seen in the photo of this car, so I won’t bother detailing it here.

This car did not prove overly popular, and took several years to sell out. Today, it usually sells on the secondary market for under $75.

The second car for 1996 was one of our most popular. Returning to the offering of a tank car, we chose to produce a Mobilgas single-dome car with chemical platform. This was a silver tank with black frame. All print was black, except for the two red "Flying Horses" on each side of the car. The chemical platform was black with nickel handrails. The car number appeared on the far left end of each side, "S.O.V.X. 1596". Centered on the car, and located behind the ladders, was the Mobilgas trademark, and underneath it "SOCONY VACUUM OIL CO" in small print. On the far right end of each side, in very small print:

SAFETY VALVES

TESTED 1-30-60

PRESSURE 25 LBS

PER SQ IN

BWS TANK

And below that, "BLT 1996 For NASG".

1000 of these tank cars were produced, and they sold out very quickly. This car was priced at $49 each, shipping included. The primary reason for the higher price on the Mobilgas tanker was that Mobil Oil Corporation imposed an 8% royalty on NASG for the right to use their name and logo on this car, a total expense of about $3700.

Today, when found on the secondary market, the Mobil tank car usually brings between $75 and $125, MIB.

Next time, we’ll look at 1997 when we returned to production of a single car per year, through 2000.