Manufacturer:
A.C. Gilbert
Manufacturer ID:
342
Category:
0-8-0
Road Name:
fantasy: American Flyer
Gauge:
AF
Introduced:
1946
Road Number:
342
Product Type:
Die-cast
Finish:
painted & lettered
Power:
AC or DC
Wheels:
hi-rail
Couplers:
AF
Online Article:
Online Article:
Online Article:
Notes:
#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.