A.C. Gilbert Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) Depressed-center Flat Cars

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Notes:

This car was produced from 1947 through 1953. Their bodies were all made out of die-cast metal, except for the one shown in the photo, which was only produced in 1952. It is made out of pressed wood. You can tell from where the paint is chipped off; the chassis is a brownish/tan color confirming that the chassis is pressed wood. This variation is somewhat more rare than most and as such is higher priced in today's market. Note the tie-down cables are black elastic bands that pass through the car and are butt-spliced under the car. The elastic bands are very fragile and due to age they are typically broken or become broken when handled.

This is the rare pressed-wood version.

A scan from the 1947 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

646

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

Erie Railroad (ERIE)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1950

Road Number(s):

7210

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes!

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A scan from the 1950 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

936

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Year/Era:

1929

Length:

56'

Road Name:

Erie Railroad (ERIE)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

7210

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

These cars were produced through 1956. This version has the attachment brackets, four on each side that are not there on #636. To secure the load, a thin metal wire is attached to the brackets across each end of the reel.

This is Paul Heater's first attempt at converting an A.C. Gilbert car into a "scale" freight car. Paul repainted both the car and the reel, and applied NWP decals. He replaced the tie-down wires with actual chain and attached them as they would in the real world. He also added wood cribbing to keep the load from shifting. Paul removed the exposed portions of the cast-on side steps, and replaced them with hand-formed wire steps. The trucks are American Models 6-wheeled tender trucks. He also replaced the couplers with those by American Models. Finally, he added and weathered the wooden decking, which is decking material sold by Micro-Mark for ship building.

A scan from the 1953 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

946

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

Erie Railroad (ERIE)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

7210

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes!

Online Article:

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Notes:

The #946 was produced through 1956, in six variations. Two of the variations have green motor generators (one is green plastic while the second has a green painted generator). The next three variations all have red painted motor generators. One has chrome-finished lamp housing while the other two have a silver finished light housing. Of these two, one is stamped "NEW 5-29" while the second is stamped "NEW 5-28". The fifth variation has a red plastic motor generator with a silver finished lamp housing, as shown in the photo. Uses knuckle couplers. Note that the light lights up when power is supplied to the rails.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

648

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1952

Road Number(s):

648

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

This was a track-cleaning "Service Car". If you compare this car to #636, you'll notice that these use 4-wheel trucks, whereas #636 uses the prototypically-correct 6-wheel trucks. The space of the "missing" axle is taken by the track-cleaning rollers. These models were made through 1954. The leading wipers are saturated with the cleaning fluid (held in the tank "load"), and the trailing wipers dry the rails. A.C. Gilbert #27 Track Cleaner was the recommended product to use. This model used the link couplers.

A scan from the 1952 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

948

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

648

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Online Article:

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Notes:

This is a track-cleaning car. If you compare this car to #636, you'll notice that these use 4-wheel trucks, whereas #946 uses the prototypically-correct 6-wheel trucks. The space of the "missing" axle is taken by the track-cleaning rollers. These models were made through 1957. The leading wipers are saturated with the cleaning fluid (held in the tank "load"), and the trailing wipers dry the rails. A.C. Gilbert #27 Track Cleaner was the recommended product to use. This version used the knuckle couplers.

Jim Hammond's model is missing the track-cleaning rollers.

A scan from the 1953 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24533

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1957

Road Number(s):

24533

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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