Empire Express Origins

Here is a c. 1928 freight set

Note the tender has a number and no American flyer and the cars are not labeled American Flyer on the sides.

NWL

A c. 1927 1101 set.  Note the top box label is too large for this box and folds over on one side.

NWL

Set #13 c. 1927

Again, note that the tender is a numbered tender and not lettered for American Flyer and the cars do not have American Flyer on their sides.  This seems to be one characteristic of many of these early Empire Express sets.

NWL

Another c. 1927 set.  Note the top label, which is a different design than the previous top label.

This top label is interesting as there appears to be 2 Empire Express labels on the top (as evidenced by the missing portion on the bottom of the label, which exposes the label underneath).

This set is interesting, as the cars are missing the "Broadway Limited" lettering below the windows.

NWL

A c. 1927 #19 set

NWL

Here is a setbox for a 1217 set.  Note that originally this box appears to have had a top label covering the standard American Flyer top label.  One can see where the label has been peeled off of the standard label and where there are some remains on the left side.  

NWL

I have observed, but do not own, Empire Express labeled 1927 Bluebird and Jeffersonian sets.  Therefore, I suspect that the full 1927 electric line was likely sold as Empire Express labeled sets.  

Have not observed very many of the 1928 electric sets with Empire Express labels.

One obvious Empire Express set from the 1927-1928 era is the Standard gauge set, which I do not own.  I have seen a couple of these sets in their original boxes and oddly, the boxes featured regular American Flyer labels.  These sets are associated with JC Penney.  

Another obvious 1928 era Empire Express item is the airplane, which to my knowledge was not associated with JC Penney.

NWL

The Empire Express airplane, which appears to be a direct result/copy of Lindy's famous flight, is interesting in its own right.

Not sure why this got the Empire Express name, but it marks the first split from JC Penney.  

In 1929, JC Penney would start using its store brand "Nation Wide Lines" on their American Flyer produced sets.

NWL

Here is what I consider to be one of the hardest to find Empire Express items.  

This boxcab electric engine dates to 1927, as evidenced by two pantographs on the top and no bell.  So this engine appears to have been made during the JC Penney era of Empire Express.  I have only seen a few of these engines sell over the years.  

Again, the cars have no identifying American Flyer labeling.  In fact, although it does not show in the photos, one can faintly read American Flyer at the top, underneath a layer of red lithograph.

NWL

There is one last, very obvious Empire Express engine that should be noted.  This engine first appeared somewhere around 1930-1931, so it was not generally associated with JC Penney.

The engine was included in countless uncataloged American Flyer sets, one of which, is in fact associated with JC Penney.

However, there are numerous other set configurations with this engine.

NWL

Thanks for the string of posts NWL - a great history lesson!

Nation Wide Lines posted:

The Empire Express airplane, which appears to be a direct result/copy of Lindy's famous flight, is interesting in its own right.

...

wow... and i thought Lindy had it tough with only that small side window to pick up the runway and land! ...

fantastic collection of some rarely seen Flyer liveries (and box graphics!).
cheers...gary

Robert S. Butler posted:

Thanks for the string of posts NWL - a great history lesson!

+1

Just when you think you have seen it all, something new comes along.

Empire Express transformer box.

The box is faintly stamped 1/12 dozen on the upper part of the label and 126? on the bottom part of the label.  I believe that it may be stamped 1269.

NWL