American Flyer smoke

Gilbert, had the best smelling smoke of all time. c.sam, you may want to get a smoke fluid call Super Smoke. Its made by Robert Board. He is located in Lancaster PA. I believe he has a train shop call All Aboard Train Shop.

Here is Bob Boards Website.
His American Flyer Railroad is pure toy train enjoyment! Check out the photos as well.

http://bartspneumatics.com/AARR_home.htm

quote:

Originally posted by c.sam:
How many of you had Flyer and remember the distinctive aroma of Gilbert smoke fluid back in the 1950s?
The RFG Company advertises "Original AF Formula" for their smoke fluid. I bought some and in my opinion, it completely misses the mark - in fact, it has an unpleasant smell in our steamers and smells almost like kerosene or lamp oil from the bottle.
Has anyone else purchased this stuff recently?

It's interesting to me that you say that, C. I was running the trains earlier this afternoon, both of which are loaded with the RFG smoke, and thinking that it comes pretty darn close. Seems like it took an hour or two to clear the petroleum product stink of the Lionel fluid that was in the locos previously. The more RFG I use the better it gets. Don't give up on it yet.

Pete

The smoke fluid that smells the most like original, to my nose at least, is made by A-normal1.

old link

better link

Thanks for the input fellas, I appreciete it. Have used the 'Super Smoke' many years ago and was disappointed in it. I am curious about 'A-Normal1' and will try some.

Pete, you tipped me off to the RFG fluid and I've run almost 1/3 of the bottle so far but the stuff stinks! Am hoping you're right and that it will get better but I'm using it in three steamers and a very prolific MTH SD70 with nothing pleasant so far...

C. sam,
Have to agree with you, there is nothing like the true American Flyer smoke.
Just brings back the memories.

I bought some Cedar smoke from Mega steam, thinking it would smell the same. It did not. It smelt more like a Cedar cigar closet. Nice but not the AF smell.
Let me know how the quest continues.

Oh and I bought some Hot chocolate as well.... The Lionel factory smoke, Cedar, and Hot chocolate just smells horrible! It took a few laps to cleans these puppies out! Hot Chocolate is still one of my favorites.

Years ago I happened upon a plastic 'toy' locomotive that came into our hobby shop. It fit on the 3 rail track and only ran forward. But it smoked and the aroma was excactly what I remember Flyer smoke smelling like! Regrettfully, it ran out within a few minutes.
At the time (1989-1990) the small tubes of Lionel fluid smelled slightly like the Flyer did at some times.
I purchased a bottle of the 'Super Smoke' at York two years ago and only recently finished it but it was not at all what I remember Gilbert's smoke to be like.
As you say, "The quest continues"!

quote:

Pete, you tipped me off to the RFG fluid and I've run almost 1/3 of the bottle so far but the stuff stinks! Am hoping you're right and that it will get better but I'm using it in three steamers and a very prolific MTH SD70 with nothing pleasant so far...

How much smoke does it produce? Mine outsmokes mega-steam. I'm concerned yours came from a bad batch or was stored for too long. I'm real sorry it isn't up to your expectations.

Pete

Hi Pete. I'm thinking that it could be a bad batch too but I've written back and forth with someone at RFG who asserts that their quality control is top notch - no mistakes. I told them that my bottle had leaked and that it smellied like kerosene. He essentially 'blew me off'.
I've run quite a bit through our Lionel scale Erie Berk as well as the EM1 and especially the MTH diesel. No change in smell which is actually unpleasant!

Smoke output is OK with the diesel but not the steamers. That's probably the fault of the Lionel smokers however.

I ordered it from their webite back when you first posted your thread and they never responded (two months?). Had to reorder from the company you mentioned and it came in a week. All this about a small bottle that cost almost $20 with shipping...

C. - Sorry to say it sounds like somebody, somewhere "got to it" and substituted for the RFG stuff. I just went out to the garage, popped the top and give mine a good whiff To my surprise it smells kinda like eucalyptis with a hint of minty and a hint of petroleum product. A little bit got on my finger and after the volatiles evaporated it smells just like Flyer smoke.

Pete

ps - Was it shipped to you by RFG or a third party?

Sam,
I think you should try SuperSmoke again I find it almost as good as the OLD formula AF smoke with Anormal1 a close second.
The mere fact he publishes a data sheet on the stuff says a lot!

Gunny