A.C. Gilbert fantasy: American Flyer Lines Heavyweight Coach (Open Vestibule) Passenger Cars

Prototype Info

Era:

heavyweight

Car Type:

coach (open vestibule)

Doors:

Windows:

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Car Name:

Grand Canyon

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

978

Gauge:

Introduced:

1956

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

Lighted:

yes

Notes:

This operating car was produced through 1958, in two variations. One variation has three steps under the car's doors, while the other variation has four steps. In 1958 it was one of the few cars that still carried the A.C. Gilbert three-digit numbering system. It was later renumbered to 25039, but no models ever carried that number on their sides. The car was also part of the rare #24963 set. The brakeman at the end of the car is animated (it is the same mechanism found on the #977 and #25031 cabooses).

Incidentally, the U.S. Patent for the mechanism is 2,861,391. It was filed on May 24, 1956 and approved on November 25, 1958. It is titled "Toy Caboose With Animated Flagman" that lists W. R. Smith as the inventor. Mr. Smith, who holds many Gilbert inventions, was an engineering department employee of the A. C. Gilbert Company.

This is an example of the three-step variation.

Ad for the special car set of which this car was a part.