That is the most informative piece I've ever seen on them Thank You
@jayoHobbies
3 жыл бұрын
A very well done beginner's introduction to the American Flyer locomotive lineup, tons of valuable information. I enjoyed this video quite a bit, well worth the watch. 😁🏁
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it, hopefully you find my other videos just as useful to all railway fans
@MarkWick
3 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed this trip back through time and the associated memories. I had at least one of each of these locomotives, but three, during my second phase of operating American Flyer trains. Some were as sold, others were modified. I had worked for the Monon Railroad in the Lafayette shops for part of a summer right at the end of the Monon Line's time so I painted many pieces that needed lots of work to look as they would have had they been owned by Monon in 1948. One of the Also PAs was build from a cracked shell with just the chassis frame that came in a $10 box of junk. A lot of research revealed that this piece was from the very first, very limited production of the Alcos, in which separate handrails were applied at all six doors. Although most were bent, the rails were still attached at five of the doors. I repaired the shell, straightened the handrails, fashioned rails from the same gauge wire at the sixth door, and gave it the Monon Gray, Red, Gray passenger paint scheme. This body did not allow from a front coupler so it ran as an unpowered dummy in front of another restored PA in a matching paint scheme. I also had an Alco PA, PB, PA set painted in the black and gold Monon freight colors. I also repainted a Geep in the black and gold scheme.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it. Model trains are meant to be run & have meaning to each of us. You having worked on the Monon have a direct connection to it & naturally would enjoy running relogo'd units to match them. Having brought back to life units from the junk bins is the ideal use of resources. I do the same, have a look at "Building a Railway Empire 4" that was a junk AF Atlantic,2 coaches are slightly modified but repaints, 1coach is a Frankenstein repainted & 1 a scratch build. S is a great gauge to work in, hope you still have a running layout .
@MarkWick
3 жыл бұрын
@@buildingarailwayempire5811 I haven't had a layout for the last 30 years, but when the rest of my orders arrive I will have plenty of original Gilbert AF track to build a decent layout. I have some of the Lionel AF FasTrack and will have more when I get the Polar Express set. My son still has most of what we had on our last layout.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
@@MarkWick Well you've had lots of time to plan the next one; it will be exactly what you want right ? I'm sure you know a Monon paint scheme that will look right on that Polar Express. Just remember the golden rule...never put track further than you can reach !
@track1219
10 ай бұрын
My Baldwin switcher was noisy and slow, and it drew 4 amps. The e unit had already been removed. I hooked up the field wires and brush wires in series, instead of parallel. Now it is quiet and faster and less sparking at the wheels. Only draws 1/2 amp.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
10 ай бұрын
That current drop is significant
@8avexp
3 жыл бұрын
I only have one Northern - a 21140, part of my Pathfinder set. Apparently they had a lot of leftover 21139 Northerns at the factory; not many 21140s were made. Having lived in Connecticut for 7 years, I'm a big fan of New Haven rolling stock. NH Pacifics, Alcos and electrics (my personal favorite) dominate my collection. I even have two 296 Pacifics and three 21561s, one of each variation. The pantographs on Gilbert's 499 and 21573 electrics could be wired to pick up current from overhead wires; in fact, I rigged one of my 21573s to do just that.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
WOW ! Make sure that puppy is listed on insurance. Going with an all NH theme must be a visual treat, with the three types of locomotives & assorted rolling stock that Gilbert made available. You are a brave soul to get overhead wires going. I'm sure you have an impressive layout to run & enjoy.
@markstevens9249
6 ай бұрын
The Final Version of the Streamlined Pacific, the 354 Silver Bullet, DID come with a smoke unit!
@buildingarailwayempire5811
6 ай бұрын
Only the smaller smoke unit from the Franklin would have fit in there ?
@track1219
10 ай бұрын
My Atlantic has a manual reverse switch in cab, no smoke, no light, but runs great!
@buildingarailwayempire5811
10 ай бұрын
They never needed all the bells & whistles to be enjoyed glad you got a good one.
@myworld67
3 жыл бұрын
Just ran across your channel....and subscribed . Great job......and niceequipment . "Happy Rails " GMan
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
Welcome Aboard & glad you like like it. More to come. Can't quite make out your icon, what have you done there ?
@michaelgmoore5708
3 жыл бұрын
Yes the Gilbert GP7s trucks were over sized but I never noticed at the time. My 372 and 377 378s ran great and no melt marks either. The 2007 Lionel produced Docksider set is a great performer. The Docksider engine has a headlight and rear light too! Plus Smoke and Choo Choo unit that will produce smoke as thick and white as my Gilbert 283s ! Pulls really be well too with those rubber tires. Lionel has made some great AF Steam passenger sets that are quite collectable and pricey but you can find some at good prices on Auction.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
Sounds like Lionel piled everything into that little docksider to make it appealing. My hats off to Lionel, American Models & MTH for producing what they have at the price points they did. The joy of bargain hunting comes after that.
@timnewman1172
2 жыл бұрын
The electric locomotive is a Milwaukee Road "Little Joe", they ran in the Pacific Northwest from around 1950 until de-electrification of the line in the 1970's...
@buildingarailwayempire5811
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Tim, I guess I say I don't know what to call because the Little Joe handle stuck so well in the Flyer ranks. The Little Joe was an EP4 a 12 axle loco, 8 powered 4 non with a long tall body. The American Flyer loco is an EP5 a smaller unit, different body with only 6 powered axles, perfect for using the same trucks as the AF PA s. I'm just being picky, you call it what ever you want OK ?
@jimciancio9005
6 ай бұрын
Just like the whole Chevy 🆚 Ford, we have Lionel 🆚 AC Gilbert for the toy trains Lol. But yes I personally prefer Lionel or 3 rails over the Gilberts 2 rails. When it comes down to brass tacks, Gilbert has the ability to be more realistic in their layouts, but Lionel give you more flexibility and more options for accessories like the whistle/horn abilities to fire these things remotely at any given point on your layout. So there's a bunch of pros and cons to each I'm saying, otherwise thank you for making this informative video about something I'm not very familiar with but interested in! Anything trains is cool 😊❤
@buildingarailwayempire5811
6 ай бұрын
Both manufacturers have given us good product to enjoy & spur creativity, what we do with them is now up to us. Modern products can eclipse the old but not always. Nothing like the heft of those old locos
@michaelgmoore5708
3 жыл бұрын
Was not my first AF engine, mine was the 293 Pacific with 13 cars and figure 8 from Sears store. No the 303 does not lift because it is heavier with SMCC. Mine pulled 45 well oiled freight cars of mostly boxcars and tank cars. The link Atlantics that are die cast without Pul-Mor can't lift anyway. I like the old GP7 trucks and they are not the PA trucks.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
Suggestion if you have both a PA & a GP7... remove the truck side frame assemblies from both & attempt to replace on the other Loco. Ge it works ! You have now created a "FA" freight Alco & well what looks like a 6 axel GP7. Next you are going to wonder why those trucks ever had oil holes on them.
@jockellis
3 жыл бұрын
I had/have a 290. I figured it out one fairly recent day that it had been run the equivalent of the distance from New Haven to Atlanta. Needs new front and rear driver tires.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
The Pacifics were faithful steads requiring not much more than a couple of drops of oil on the axles ,smoke oil ,the occasional light bulb & motor brushes. Sounds like you put yours to good use. I picked up a wheel once from either Portlines or Rfgco I cant remember which. Had to make my own wheel puller out of a screw, a nut & a pair of bent nails. You can do it !
@jockellis
3 жыл бұрын
@@buildingarailwayempire5811 Portlines still shows the wheels in its as but doesn’t sell them because, he said, they didn’t work well.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
@@jockellis Go to their "Repair Clinic" it will help you decide if you can repair a wobbly wheel or reglue the steel rim in place on the loco. Plastic wheel shrinkage is a common prob. I only went the wheel replacement route when the centre hole went out of true. Used steel rims can be had cheap but shipping prices lately are nuts. If you went to the "oldest" Hobby shop in your area they might have someone who could sort it out for you
@jockellis
3 жыл бұрын
@@buildingarailwayempire5811 my wheels aren’t wobbly but the actual tire is worn away just like on a 12”:1’ scale locomotive. I do need to get them fixed. Thanks.
@olhemi1
Жыл бұрын
🙂👍☕ nice video thanks
@buildingarailwayempire5811
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Glad you liked it
@michaelgmoore5708
3 жыл бұрын
All the Atlantics and Pacific's were many. The ones with Smoke and Choo Choo were better with more weight. My 303 Atlantic could pull 40 or more well oiled cars with no front end lift in at all. More weight with the smoke unit.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
No question about it weight equals traction. I have a 300 Diecast,299,307 & 21160 plastic-none have smoke units.(1st time I saw an Atlantic with Choo Choo was on KZitem) On my grade 300 can pull 17 cars while others are happy with 10. "All" units are prone to pilot truck lift on corners. The 299 became my CP Jubilee, originally put a Timko flywheel motor in but had to immediately replace with a no flywheel unit.
@andy41417
8 ай бұрын
My Casey Jones runs great. Some had lights, chooch and smoke. Mine none of that.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
7 ай бұрын
Good running Locomotives are the most important part of enjoying model railroading. Detail stuff can be added.
@brianoneill5143
Жыл бұрын
FYI on the New Haven EP-5 locomotive en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Haven_EP-5
@buildingarailwayempire5811
Жыл бұрын
That link is the most informative piece on them I've ever seen Thank You
@donnlowe9129
2 жыл бұрын
You forgot to mention the Washington set.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
2 жыл бұрын
Hi Donn, While the Washington is a coveted set it wasn't a different Loco to the Franklin. Gilbert came up with standout set by applying period symbols & colours to the Franklin loco, introduced the civil war box car, added a canon & side rails to an existing flat car, finishing with the screaming red combination car again from the Franklin. The video was intended to cover the "types" of locos Gilbert built, omitting the F9 diesel & Casey Jones steamer probably smoked a few people.
@paultieman1675
2 жыл бұрын
I have about 6 302's
@buildingarailwayempire5811
2 жыл бұрын
It was an interesting loco wasn't it with so many incarnations all bent to the lower the selling price
@kevinkilleen6375
3 жыл бұрын
Your track looks great. What kind is it?
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
Track is a mixture of AF tinplate & GarGraves flex track always elevated by a cardboard strips, have the sides of the rails painted with a flat rust shade to take off the shiny glare & finished off with either medium or coarse ballast. Where I don't have AF rubber roadbed stained coffee stir sticks are placed to resemble ties then ballasted. Switches are all original AF just tactically blended in to landscape.
@michaelgmoore5708
3 жыл бұрын
The new Baldwins are great, I don't like the ones without sound because they are boring to me. Yes the original Gilbert Baldwin motors were junk. I never owned one.
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
I'm sure the new ones use can motors while Gilbert's had open spark throwing units (which caused interior melts). Now a day the adventurous can add smoke & sound just a matter of coin. Enjoy !
@joezuccardo3245
3 жыл бұрын
I have Gilbert Baldwins CNW with 3 step e unit and Seaboard with 2 step e unit they a little noisy because of the gears motor to truck but they run great with no problem pulling about 10 cars
@buildingarailwayempire5811
3 жыл бұрын
@@joezuccardo3245 Good to hear yours are running fine. YES Noisy is the word for them...AF would I suppose call it a realistic diesel rumble. Modern designs are quiet enough that sound units can be heard. I run DC & they have rectifiers but may get can motors. Strongly recommend interior shell liner to protect from sparks.
@michaelgmoore5708
3 жыл бұрын
I like your show. The diecast 302 link coupler Atlantic is heavy and not Pul Mor so it does not lift at all when loaded with 13 boxcars and tankcars etc. The SMCC makes it far better and more realistic and heavier. My 303 Atlantic has PulMor and with the the SMCC makes it pretty heavy too. My mine pulled 45 well oiled cars with walk away action. Lots of boxcars, tankcars, hopper and loaded gondolas and flatcars with Gilbert loads that came with the cars only. The trick is weight and well oiled axles. I don't like steamers without SMCC. Too light as well.
@michaelgmoore5708
3 жыл бұрын
My 336 Northern runs at speed around the curves without any problem. I had a 21139 Northern that would freeze up around the curves back in 1968. Oil was not getting into the drivers axles, my expert repairman found was the problem. After thoroughly oiling those axles, that 21139 took off like a shot around those curves like it did on the straight track.
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