1946 Steam Locomotives by A.C. Gilbert

A.C. Gilbert

342

0-8-0

fantasy: American Flyer

AF

1946

342

Die-cast

painted & lettered

AC or DC

hi-rail

AF

Wiring Diagram for 342

Wiring Diagram for 342 DC

Wiring Diagram for 342 AC

Parts Diagram

#342 was produced from 1946 through 1948, and again in 1952. It has 5 variations. Three of the variations have the smoke unit located in the tender. The first of these variations, produced in 1946, has round head linkage rivets, two brass buttons, and thin shank link couplers. The second variation, produced in 1947, has hex head valve linkage rivets, no brass button on the bottom, and thick shank link coupler without a weight. The third of these units produced in 1948 is very similar to the 1947 variation except is has link couplers with a brass weight. The two remaining variations with the smoke unit housed in the boiler were produced in 1948 and 1952. The 1948 variation has hex head valve linkage rivets, no brass button on the bottom, thick shank link coupler with brass weight, and four wires running from the tender to the boiler instead of two, as was the case for the other 1948 unit with the smoke unit located in the tender. The last of the five variations, shown in the photo, was produced in December of 1952. It has white sans-serif "AMERICAN FLYER" lettering, a thick "342" road number, a "NICKEL PLATE ROAD" herald, hex head valve linkage rivets, no brass button on the bottom, thick shank link coupler with black weight, and four wire plug plus one direct wire running from the tender.

A.C. Gilbert

299

300, 300AC

4-4-2

fantasy: American Flyer

AF

1946

299, 300

Die-cast

painted & lettered

AC

AF

Wiring Diagram for #299

Wiring Diagram for #300

Wiring Diagram for #300AC

Wiring Diagram for #301

Wiring Diagram for #302

Parts Diagram

The 1946-47 models have diecast boilers and sheet metal tenders, while the 1952 models typically have plastic boilers and tenders. There are six variations of the 1946-47 models and three variations of the 1952. The unit in the foreground of the photo is an early 1946 with an indented tender with silver lettering that read "Reading". Like the tender shell of the #350, the Atlantic tender shell was also a carryover from 1940. In 1940 tenders had separate numbers and the number for a 4-4-2 tender shell was #421. This unit, along with the next 1946 model in the photo, both have thin-shank link couplers that tended to break so in 1947 Gilbert made the shank thicker. The middle model in the photo is also a 1946 with silver letter, however it does not have the indented tender, which indicates it most likely was produced later in 1946, after most of the indented shell were used up. In the background, that model is an example of a 1947 #300 that has thick-shank coupler. However, the most notable difference is that, instead of the tender having "Reading" printed in silver on the side, the 1947 model has "American Flyer" in white letters with the reading logo. There are two reported variations of 1947 units with silver lettering like the 1946 model except they have thick-shank link couplers one of those two has an indented tender. Photo #2 is of Jack Sudimak's model converted to scale operation with the Nimco wheels replacing the Gilbert ones. Other than its scale wheels this model is pretty much in its original condition except that it has a repainted tender and a Delta type trailer truck added.

A.C. Gilbert

310

313, 315, 316

4-6-2

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

AF

1946

310, 313, 315, 316, 317

Die-cast

painted & lettered

AC

AF

General Wiring

Wiring Diagram for #310

Wiring Diagram for #312

Wiring Diagram for #312 SIT

Wiring Diagram for #312 AC

Wiring Diagram for #313

Parts Diagram

3D-printed pilot and cattle guard

The model was produced in 1946 and 1947, and possibly 1948. It has a diecast boiler and tender. The only operating feature was its functional headlight. There are three variations of #310. The 1946 model, shown in the photo, has "Pennsylvania" printed on the tender in silver and has thin-shank link couplers. The 1947 model has "American Flyer Lines" printed in silver on the tender with the PRR logo and has thick-shank link couplers. A third model thought to have been produced in 1948 has smoke and choo-choo and looks a lot like the 1947 model except it has a brass coupler weight. See second photo for the coupler comparisons. All of the #31x-series of locomotives have the distinctive PRR Belpaire firebox (squarish section in front of the cab).

A.C. Gilbert

312

4-6-2

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)

K5

AF

1946

312

Die-cast

painted & lettered

AC

AF

visit site

visit site

3D-printed pilot and cattle guard

This model was produced from 1946 through 1948 and again in 1951 and 1952. It features a diecast boiler and tender. The 1946 and 1947 models have lettering on the tender in silver and are the same as they were for #310. Those models also had the smoke and choo-choo sound unit located in the tender driven by a separate motor that allowed the unit to smoke and make the choo-choo sound while sitting in the parked position. In 1948 the lettering on the tender read "American Flyer Lines" and it was in white. That model had the smoke and choo-choo sound unit moved to the boiler. By doing so, Gilbert was able to utilize the drive motor to run the smoke and choo-choo unit. Because the smoke and choo-choo unit was now in the boiler, the reverse unit was moved to the tender and as such, the smoke and choo-choo unit could not work unless the engine was moving. There are five-reported variations of #312.

A.C. Gilbert

320

322, 324, 325, 326

4-6-4

New York Central (NYC)

AF

1946

320, 321, 322, 324, 325, 326

Die-cast

painted & lettered

AC

AF

Wiring Diagram for #320

Wiring Diagram for #321 SIT

Wiring Diagram for #322

Wiring Diagram for #322 AC

Wiring Diagram for #324 AC

Parts Diagram

This model was produced in 1946 and 1947, and has a diecast boiler and tender. The 1946 model has "New York Central" printed in silver on the tender, while the 1947 model has "American Flyer Lines" in silver as well as the NYC logo printed on the tender. Typically, the unit comes with a headlight with a smoke and choo-choo sound unit that is mounted in the tender. There are three variations; one of the two 1946 units does NOT have a smoke and choo-choo unit. Like #310 and #312, #321 had thin-shank link couplers in 1946, and thick-shank ones in 1947.

A.C. Gilbert

332

4-8-4

1946

Union Pacific (UP)

AF

1946

332

Die-cast

painted & lettered

AC or DC

AF

Wiring Diagram for 332

Wiring Diagram for 332 SIT

Wiring Diagram for 332 DC

Wiring Diagram for 332 AC

Parts Diagram