A.C. Gilbert fantasy: American Flyer Lines Wreck Crane Car MoW Cars

A.C. Gilbert

635

wreck crane car

Chicago & North Western (CNW)

AF

1949

42597

metal

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

Very rare.

A.C. Gilbert

644

Industrial Brownhoist

wreck crane car

fantasy: American Flyer

John D. Atkinson has done extensive research into which prototype A.C. Gilbert may have used for their creation of this model. His conclusion is that it there were only 5 Type-Z wreckers rated at 250-ton lifting capacity built as new diesels between 1945 and 1948. Additional steam wreckers were created as well, but #644 was not a model of a steam wrecker converted to diesel. So, John's conclusion is that the diesel outline of the 644 wrecker does not appear to have been manufactured referencing any existing prototype wrecker placed in service on any real railroad. It seems the wrecker was developed using promotional materials from Industrial Brownhoist sales brochures, renderings from Operating Instructions and Parts Catalogs, and A.C. Gilbert's own artistic interpretation of the wrecker built by Industrial Brownhoist of Bay City, Michigan.

AF

1950

644

metal

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

This car was produced through 1953 in 7 variations. The 1950 release featured a red unpainted cab, with either a black or green boom. Specifics about the other 5 variations are unknown at this time.

A.C. Gilbert

944

Industrial Brownhoist

wreck crane car

fantasy: American Flyer

AF

1952

944

metal

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

Similar to #644, this car was produced through 1957. In 1952 it was one of the first cars to receive the then-new knuckle couplers. Over the years there were three variations produced:
1. gray-painted car body; lettering on the left-hand side.
2. metallic-blue-painted car body; lettering on the left-hand side.
3. metallic-blue-painted car body; lettering on the right-hand side.

A.C. Gilbert

24543

Industrial Brownhoist

wreck crane car

fantasy: American Flyer

AF

1958

24543

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

One variation produced in 1958 only.

A.C. Gilbert

24561

Industrial Brownhoist

wreck crane car

fantasy: American Flyer

AF

1959

24561

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

This car was produced through 1961 in 5 variations:
1. produced in 1959, made out of black plastic with the chassis and boom painted gray, and the cab was painted black; knuckle couplers.
2. produced in 1960, the chassis and boom were made out of gray plastic while the cab was made out of black plastic; knuckle couplers.
3. produced in 1961, the chassis and boom were made out of gray plastic while the cab was painted black; Pike Master couplers.
4. identical to variation #3; sold in the standard red & white box.
5. identical to variation #3; sold in 1965 and 1966 in the "All Aboard" box.

A.C. Gilbert

24569

Industrial Brownhoist

wreck crane car

1961

fantasy: American Flyer

AF

24569

metal

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

This car was produced through 1966. Greenberg claims that there were two variations, but S-scale modeler and historian Ted Hamler believes there were three variations. Greenberg lists:
1. unpainted gray plastic car body with Pike-Master trucks and couplers; unpainted black cab.
2. unpainted gray plastic car body with Pike-Master trucks and couplers; black or gray plastic cab that was painted black.
3. Ted Hamler's variation has a black plastic body that was painted gray; the cab is unpainted black plastic.

A.C. Gilbert

606

wreck crane car

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

AF

1953

606

metal

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12