American Flyer Wide Gauge Passenger Cars

Here is another Statesman pullman...anyone want to try to guess to date it?

Here are two cars from the same Statesman set.  The first is like the car above except the green roof... the second is different....

Rob,

What a great idea for a thread! 

Most of my research resources are in storage and all of my Wide Gauge collection is in storage.  I'll take a shot at your questions.

This car has lithoed doors.

2 "STATESMAN" decals on each side with red outlines

"AMERICAN FLYER LINES" with a dark background and gold letters with a red outline

Windows are outlined in red litho

Gold or Brass line below windows

This car has lithoed doors

one letterboard below the windows that says BUNKERHILL with a light background and Black(?) letters

The letterboard above the windows that says AMERICAN FLYER LINES in the same colors and background

The litho around the windows is dark green

Is there more?

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Rob English posted:

Here is another Statesman pullman...anyone want to try to guess to date it?

Rob I believe this car is from 1931

Clues: (using the Details article)

Ventilator bumps on roof appeared from 1928 - 1936

Lithographed doors appeared from 1925 -1934

Brass air tanks appeared from 1927 -1934

Grey rigid trucks appeared from 1931-1936

The Statesman name was used from 1928 -1931 (From Schuweiler)

The grey rigid trucks were first used in 1931 and the last time that "Statesman" was used was in 1931.  1931 is the only time that these two details would have appeared together.

The car is a 4151 (Variation E - Schuweiler) am I close?

Northwoods Flyer 

Greg

Here are a few more versions of this car.

This is my photo from a previous post.

This photo shows the same car with a roof without ventilator bumps.

This car has a red roof.  This is a cropped portion of another larger photo.  I will post a better photo when I get it out of storage.

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Rob, 

i got these at our favorite, not to be named train shop.

I was told the seller wanted the green roof version that they had. I’m happy with these! I don’t have nearly enough room to collect all the iterations. I am happy that we can create a virtual collection here!

George

Greg J. Turinetti posted:

Rob,

What a great idea for a thread! 

Most of my research resources are in storage and all of my Wide Gauge collection is in storage.  I'll take a shot at your questions.

This car has lithoed doors.

2 "STATESMAN" decals on each side with red outlines

"AMERICAN FLYER LINES" with a dark background and gold letters with a red outline

Windows are outlined in red litho

Gold or Brass line below windows

 

This car has lithoed doors

one letterboard below the windows that says BUNKERHILL with a light background and Black(?) letters

The letterboard above the windows that says AMERICAN FLYER LINES in the same colors and background

The litho around the windows is dark green

Is there more?

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Thanks Greg. 3 minor points....the 2 "statesman" decals are actually lithoed. and... my fault for not covering it better... but the Orange car / Turquoise details has cam locks for the roof...The orange car with green /red/gold details does not... Lastly, the end door opening has gold trim around it on The orange car with green /red/gold details.

Greg J. Turinetti posted:

Rob English posted:

Here is another Statesman pullman...anyone want to try to guess to date it?

Rob I believe this car is from 1931

Clues: (using the Details article)

Ventilator bumps on roof appeared from 1928 - 1936

Lithographed doors appeared from 1925 -1934

Brass air tanks appeared from 1927 -1934

Grey rigid trucks appeared from 1931-1936

The Statesman name was used from 1928 -1931 (From Schuweiler)

The grey rigid trucks were first used in 1931 and the last time that "Statesman" was used was in 1931.  1931 is the only time that these two details would have appeared together.

The car is a 4151 (Variation E - Schuweiler) am I close?

Northwoods Flyer 

Greg

Awww...so close.  It is indeed a Schuweiler variation "E", but there is one issue... this car has Flex trucks and not Set trucks. That leads me to 1930.  I have an additional clue.... the loco in this set is a 4654... and that loco along with the green roofs lock it into 1930.  I have never seen a Set truck equipped Statesman.

Greg J. Turinetti posted:

Here are a few more versions of this car.

This is my photo from a previous post.

 

This photo shows the same car with a roof without ventilator bumps.

This car has a red roof.  This is a cropped portion of another larger photo.  I will post a better photo when I get it out of storage.

 

Northwoods Flyer

Greg

Greg,  I believe that there were carry overs from the Commander sets in to Statesman sets in 1928. That explains the Roofs w/o ventilator bumps.... and the locos with Red window trim color.

The red roof cars were the MOST attractive scheme IMHO.  There is something more with your car pictured... it has a vestibule diaphragm.  VERY unusual. Not usually found on 14 inch cars... only the big 19 inch cars.

George S posted:

Rob, 

i got these at our favorite, not to be named train shop.

I was told the seller wanted the green roof version that they had. I’m happy with these! I don’t have nearly enough room to collect all the iterations. I am happy that we can create a virtual collection here!

George

Good get.  I wondered where they went!

Rob English posted:

George S posted:

Rob, 

i got these at our favorite, not to be named train shop.

I was told the seller wanted the green roof version that they had. I’m happy with these! I don’t have nearly enough room to collect all the iterations. I am happy that we can create a virtual collection here!

George

Good get.  I wondered where they went!

He gave me new bulbs for them too. Of course the red one in the rear was burned out, and I only got clear bulbs. I had red ones packed away somewhere, but I just painted a clear one red and moved on. 

These have cam-lock roofs. One was bent and a little stuck. I oiled it up and gently pulled it out and straightened it. The window inserts are in pretty good shape. 

Now I need another Flyer wide gauge engine. I'm currently pulling it with my LCT Piper remake.  Maybe I can find a nice original one somewhere?

George

George, those cars would have been pulled by a 4654 (manual reverse) or 4684(remote control) New Haven Boxcab to match 1928 cataloged sets... Of course, you can used either steamer if you so desire!  Really ...any AF Wide gauge loco will pull them .

Pretty nice Statesman set I picked up today. Runs nice.

Steve

That’s awesome Steve! The originals are fantastic.

George