Difference between 3 and 5 digit Flyer Steamer #'s?

John,

21130 and 21129 are later versions and have a different style motor and reverse unit than the 326 and have plastic tenders. They are also more expensive so stick with the 326. The 326 with the larger motor is more desirable for both running and collecting. The motor field and armature (seen under the cab) is about 1/2" on the smaller version and 3/4" on the larger which results in greater pulling power. Price is contingent on condition. Expect low $100's for a small motor engine in excellent condition and low $200's for a large engine version in the same condition.

Rich

Thanks (again!) Rich.

The 326 has a operating 'whistle'. As where the 5 digit locos do not.

Adding a little to what has already been posted. If you want to operate the engines on a layout the 326 is the best choice of a knuckle coupler Hudson. Be aware you must use a pure sine wave transformer with this engine. This is because the "whistle" in the tender will sound continuously from the harmonics in non sinusoidal power supplies. The alternative is to open up the tender and unwire the whistle. Based on personal experience you will not notice any operating difference between the large and small motor versions unless you plan to pull long trains on grades.

If you are planning to collect these engines then the 5 digit versions are fine. be aware a 21129 in excellent to LN will be over $1,000. The 21130 will be at least $300.

Also, if you find a nice 326 and the seller has a top end value on it then make sure it does have the whistle speaker in the tender if you plan on using it. I’m not sure what value it may decrease by if it is missing, perhaps others can give some indication on this situation.

Ideally the engine should include the Air Chime or Steam Whistle controller as well. If a working whistle is important then test it prior to purchase. If not buying in person then we need to accept the sellers representations. There are several variations of the tender, some have plastic wheels in the truck center positions, others have spring loaded sliding pickup shoes. For best whistle operation get one that has the sliding pickup shoes in the tender trucks. To be blunt, the air chime whistle is so marginal few people use them.

If you are purchasing a LN condition engine with the OW or OB then everything has to be there to support the LN pricing. If you just want to run a nice engine then the value is based only on what the purchaser wants. All the replacement parts for tender whistles are available from vendors, most are repro's.

AmFlyer posted:

Adding a little to what has already been posted. If you want to operate the engines on a layout the 326 is the best choice of a knuckle coupler Hudson. Be aware you must use a pure sine wave transformer with this engine. This is because the "whistle" in the tender will sound continuously from the harmonics in non sinusoidal power supplies. The alternative is to open up the tender and unwire the whistle. Based on personal experience you will not notice any operating difference between the large and small motor versions unless you plan to pull long trains on grades.

If you are planning to collect these engines then the 5 digit versions are fine. be aware a 21129 in excellent to LN will be over $1,000. The 21130 will be at least $300.

Thanks for the info Tom, Rich and everyone else who responded.

Would a Lionel ZW provide this pure sine wave? If not, do all Gilbert Flyer transformers?

I know a lot about Lionel postwar but, obviously, not a lot about American Flyer. Learned a lot from you guys, the websites you guys recommended, the on-line catalogs and other info I found on the internet.

I spent just about the whole day today with an American Flyer acquaintance who walked me through his collection and gave me quite an education. Nice looking at hard copies of the catalogs with him too. We became good friends! He volunteered to help me Flyer shop at York too.

It is a wonderful world - too bad two other groups, beginning with the letters R and D can't/won't get along like train guys do!

All the American Flyer and Lionel post war transformers would be pure sine wave. The ZW will work just fine.

Thanks again Tom - I'll probably buy an American Flyer transformer sooner or later anyway jut to keep in the spirit.

My plan is to convert the small area shown in the pic below to Flyer. The loop and short sidings where you see the Lionel Seaboard switcher goes through a tunnel opening in the wall (hard to see in the pic), goes around paint cans in my workshop, and back through another.

I plan on eventually making an American Flyer store type display in the area above it.

Nice display! Clever arrangement. I always wanted to do a Train Store display but ended up filling the the room completely with the layout.

Keep in mind Gilbert Hudson engines require a minimum 40" diameter curve (outside to outside, not center to center.) Some Lionel operators are surprised that the AF engines need a larger curve diameter than postwar Lionel.