AF Heavyweight Mail/Railway Express Agency Passenger Cars by A.C. Gilbert

Prototype Info

Era:

heavyweight

Car Type:

mail/Railway Express Agency

Doors:

2

Windows:

0

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

918

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

918

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

no

Online Article:

Has Photos

The car in action on a layout (kind of overshooting its target!)

Prototype Info

Era:

heavyweight

Car Type:

mail/Railway Express Agency

Doors:

2

Windows:

0

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

25005

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1957

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Reproduction Silhouettes

Notes:

The model has a green body color.

Prototype Info

Era:

heavyweight

Car Type:

mail/Railway Express Agency

Doors:

2

Windows:

0

Road Name:

New York, New Haven & Hartford (NH)

Road Number(s):

718

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

718

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1947

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

no

Online Article:

Has Photos

Notes:

These operating cars were produced through 1954. Note that the separately-available #713 "Pick-up Stand and Mail Bag" accessory is shown in the photo. Greenberg states that a 1946 version was produced, but many Gilbert experts have disputed that. The versions made are as follows:
1947: diecast chassis, red plastic body with red mail-bag collector arm (watch out for inauthentic red-painted versions).
1948-1954: diecast chassis, red plastic body with black mail-bag collector arm.
1948-1954: sheet-metal chassis, plastic body painted either red, green, or tuscan with black mail-bag collector arm. They were sold with either the New Haven text or with the American Flyer Lines text. The latter was available with either a diecast or metal chassis.

The rare 1947 version is shown in the foreground. In the center is a 1950 diecast chassis with the red plastic body. In the back is the sheet-metal chassis version with a dark-red/tuscan painted body.

Shows the car in action