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

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

635

Prototype Info

Style:

wreck crane car

Road Name:

Chicago & North Western (CNW)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1949

Road Number(s):

42597

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Magazine Article:

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

Notes:

Very rare.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

644

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Industrial Brownhoist

Style:

wreck crane car

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Notes:

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.

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1950

Road Number(s):

644

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Magazine Article:

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

Magazine Article:

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

Notes:

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.

An example of variation #2.

Jack Sudimak's model which he turned into a PRR wreck crane. It uses brass 6-wheel Buckeye trucks and Kadee couplers.

The model works on Bob Werre's layout, replacing a broken uncoupler with a new one. The scene includes stabilizers to keep the car from tipping over when it swings the heavy load.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

944

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Industrial Brownhoist

Style:

wreck crane car

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1952

Road Number(s):

944

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Magazine Article:

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

Magazine Article:

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

Notes:

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.

This is an example of the first variation.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24569

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Industrial Brownhoist

Style:

wreck crane car

Year/Era:

1961

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Road Number(s):

24569

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Magazine Article:

S Gaugian, Nov 2006, pg 32

Magazine Article:

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

Notes:

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.

Ted Hamler's variation #3.

A standard model produced in 1965 and 1966 which came packaged in a red & white "All Aboard" box. During the same period some #24561 cars were erroneously packaged in "All Aboard" boxes numbered #24569 (for more information see the entry for #24561 on this web site).

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

606

Prototype Info

Style:

wreck crane car

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

606

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Magazine Article:

NASG Dispatch, Jan 2018, pg 12

This is an example of the second variation.