A.C. Gilbert AF Steel, Riveted (Ice) Refrigerator Cars

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

American Refrigerator Transit Co (ART)

A.C. Gilbert

988

AF

1956

988

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

Similar to #24413.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

American Refrigerator Transit Co (ART)

A.C. Gilbert

24413

AF

1958

24413

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This car was produced through 1960 in two variations:
1) "Close & Lock..." lettering and type 3 frame.
2) "Close And Lock..." lettering and type 2 frame.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

3042cuft

Baltimore & Ohio (B&O)

A.C. Gilbert

633

AF

1952

633

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has More Photos

These were not in the 1952 catalog. One was red and the other was tuscan.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Bangor & Aroostook (BAR)

A.C. Gilbert

24425

AF

1960

24425

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This car was produced in two variations:
1) sintered-iron trucks with knuckle couplers.
2) Pike-Master trucks and couplers.
Trivia: it was produced in 1960, the year before the Pike-Master era, yet there is the one variation with Pike-Master trucks and couplers, which is hard to explain.

steel, riveted (ice)

1955

40'

2273cuft

Canadian National Railway (CN)

A.C. Gilbert

24419

AF

1958

24419

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This car was produced through 1959 in one variation. It was typically sold in the company's Kleer-Pak carton.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

fantasy: American Flyer

A.C. Gilbert

639

AF

1951

639

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has More Photos

Most reference guides indicate that #639 was produced in 1951 and 1952 in these 5 variations:

1951: yellow plastic body with no brake wheel and type 2 trucks.
1951: white or cream plastic body painted yellow with no brake wheel and type 2 trucks.
1951: black plastic body painted yellow with no brake wheel and type 2 trucks.
1952: yellow plastic body with type 3 trucks and a one-piece brake wheel.
1952: yellow plastic body with type 2 trucks and a one-piece brake wheel.

Note that A.C. Gilbert also made the #639 box car, but it has different doors and no roof hatches.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

fantasy: American Flyer

A.C. Gilbert

642

AF

1952

642

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has More Photos

This was an uncataloged item in 1952, with three variations:
1) red plastic body.
2) red painted body.
3) tuscan painted body.

steel, riveted (ice)

1952

40'

4997cuft

Great Northern (GN)

A.C. Gilbert

24422

AF

1963

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

Available with sliding doors and non-movable doors.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Illinois Central (IC)

A.C. Gilbert

623

AF

1953

623

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has More Photos

There was only one variation of #623, offered in 1953. Some reports indicate that there was a 1952 version, but Ted Hamler found no such evidence. Trivia: the Illinois Central is the only car that was produced with all four American Flyer number series: 600, 800, 900, and the five-digit number series.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Illinois Central (IC)

A.C. Gilbert

802

AF

1956

802

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

steel, riveted (ice)

1937

40'

Illinois Central (IC)

A.C. Gilbert

923

AF

1954

923

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

Produced in three variations:
1) painted, with "new 2-37" lettering.
2) painted, without "new 2-37" lettering.
3) unpainted orange body.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Illinois Central (IC)

A.C. Gilbert

24403

AF

1958

24403

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This car was produced through 1959 in two variations:
1) orange plastic shell (common).
2) 1958 only, painted a slightly darker orange; it was offered as part of the uncataloged #20151 Simmons Special train set, with less than 500 produced, with each set containing two of these cars, there are less that 1,000 known to exist.

steel, riveted (ice)

1940

40'

North Western Refrigerator Line (NWX)

A.C. Gilbert

989

AF

1956

989

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

steel, riveted (ice)

1940

40'

North Western Refrigerator Line (NWX)

A.C. Gilbert

24416

AF

1958

24416

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

Only one variation of this car was produced, and it was available individually and as part of a set.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Northern Pacific (NP)

A.C. Gilbert

647

AF

1952

647

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has More Photos

Similar to #947, except that this one has link couplers.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Northern Pacific (NP)

A.C. Gilbert

947

AF

1953

947

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This car was produced through 1957 in three variations:
1) two-piece brake wheel.
2) one-piece brake wheel.
3) one-piece brack wheel, a slot and screw hole in the body ends ('57, '58).

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Northern Pacific (NP)

A.C. Gilbert

24409

AF

1958

24409

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

Only one variation of this car was produced, and it was available individually and as part of a set.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Rath Packing (RPRX)

A.C. Gilbert

24426

AF

1960

24426

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This car was produced through 1961 in two variations:
1) standard knuckle couplers.
2) Pike-Master trucks and couplers.

steel, riveted (ice)

40'

Simmons

A.C. Gilbert

24420

AF

1958

plastic

painted & lettered

hi-rail

AF

view page

Has a photo

This reefer was not sold separately, but was part of the 20161 Simmons Display Set that contained two of these cars. It was offered as a store premium by a small regional group furniture stores in Michigan only. The Michigan store wanted to further promote the national "Simmons Carload Bargains Sale" that was featured in Life magazine on June 9, 1958. When a second furniture store saw what was happening they wanted to get in on the action. They went to Gilbert to have them make a few sets for them but the contract between the Michigan store and Gilbert would not allow it. Gilbert offered the second store the uncataloged 20151 Simmons Special Set that contained two 24403 painted Illinois Central reefers with a sticker like the logo on the side of the 24420 that could be placed on the side allowing them to use the 20151 set to promote the sale. To date none of the stickers have been found and the painted 24403 IC reefers are as rare as the 24420 Simmons reefers. Some say that there was less than 500 of each set ever made but the exact number is unknown.