Flyer Smoke in Tender questions

The Northern & the 0-8-0 were made in 1948 with smoke in tender very hard to find in nice condition and expect  pay a lot when you find one.

Gunny

The Northern was made in 1947 with SIT, the 0-8-0 was made in 1947 and 1948 with SIT. I have personally seen and examined a 1947 version of each. They were part of a 1947 4622 Complete Railroad set. Both of these two engines were DC. The set was owned by Dennis Bagby at the time and is documented in Greenberg's Sets, Volume III. A picture of the 1947 DC 322 with SIT is on page 34 of that book as well as the DC 342. Finding an AC SIT 332 or 342 is going to be possible but difficult. I think the concensus is none were made in 1946. Either of these engines, AC or DC, are hard to find.

Probably out of my price range then. But thanks for the info. I am still learning as I venture into the S world!

Don't give up, keep looking in the usual places. You may get lucky and find one at an affordable price.

I always thought the smoke in the boilers worked better. Also easier to fine parts.

Jim, you have a good point on parts!

The SIT Gilbert steamers are truly unique postwar toy trains. A few clarifications vis-à-vis what was posted above might prove useful. The SIT steam engine models were manufactured in 1946 and 47.   The versions from 1946 have the full correct road name placed on the side of the tender in the prewar Gilbert fashion. The SIT Northern and 0-8-0 were built and offered in truly few numbers in 1946 ( I have held an example of each); so few that the word "rare" does apply with values to match. The 1946 No. 332 is AC. The 1947 SIT Northern (DC) is very scarce and continues to command increasingly high prices. The 1947 0-8-0 was made as either DC and AC versions which are 'tough' but much more findable and command more accessible pricing. I have an AC version in my collection. The SIT K5 and Hudson are much easier to find and are priced quite reasonably for the operator. For listings, relative scarcity, and 2012 pricing see TM's American Flyer Price and Rarity Guide, 2012 Edition.

Generally, the parts are available to get SIT steamers in operating condition. The parts for the piston configuration to replace the bellows are available and, indeed, the piston configuration is what Gilbert used and provided as a retro-fit in later 1947. To be sure, the SIT configuration is more complicated and prone to troubles than the classic SIB arrangement (1948 and later), but worth the trouble because the sight of a postwar steam engine expelling volumes of smoke while sitting in neutral is a great show for both its owner and his/her guests and puts the wimpy, wispy postwar Lionel smoke to shame.

Have fun!

Bob

Bob, I missed the fact that a few 332 SIT engines were made in 1946. I saw that your Guide lists them as 5+. In 40 years as an active collector I have never seen a 1946 332.

The smoke output of Flyer is quite impressive. Marx will always rank the best for me but Flyer is a solid 2nd. Lionel really needed to take a lesson from the other guys. But I guess to be fair the Lionel whistle can't be beat.

@RamblerDon posted:

The smoke output of Flyer is quite impressive. Marx will always rank the best for me but Flyer is a solid 2nd. Lionel really needed to take a lesson from the other guys. But I guess to be fair the Lionel whistle can't be beat.

Well, talking sound and smoke, Gilbert's synchronized smoke and choo-choo was in a class by itself.

Have fun.

Bob

@Bob Bubeck posted:

Well, talking sound and smoke, Gilbert's synchronized smoke and choo-choo was in a class by itself.

Have fun.

Bob

You do bring up an interesting point. I wonder why Lionel never tried to replicate the Choo Choo effect.

Where there's smoke there's Flyer!

Bill T

Speaking of Flyer smoke units.

Does anyone recommend a current brand for the right smelling stuff? I see a few types online that all claim the same thing. What one does hit the mark the best?

Challenger smoke fluid is original Gilbert scent and smokes well. It is the right viscosity for New Lionel AF smoke units. Original Supersmoke works well in Gilbert engines but is too thick for best results in the new Lionel fan driven units.

JT's Megasteam seems to be the preferred smoke fluid for O gauge trains. They make a cedar scent but to my nose it is not quite the correct Gilbert scent. It works fine.

@AmFlyer I use Mega Steam for my O. I can attest it is a good product and I had heard some use the cedar. I do have cedar for some wood burners and I can say the smell is the not the same at all.

I will look into the challenger smoke fluid.