Need Help with American Flyer Set

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8B has a circuit breaker ( thermal trip ) …..the button resets it if an overload or short occurs.

the Hudson has an e unit, very similar to a Lionel E unit, …..almost 100% similar. Slide it to one side, it’s got F-N-R just like any postwar Lionel. Slide it to the other side while running, and it remains in that position.

Pat

The Hudson was one of Flyer's top two or three locomotives. They smoked very well, had chuff and some had a red glow emitting from the stack. Gilbert's 'Air Chime whistle' left a lot to be desired however as Lionel had a patent on the traditional air whistle we all remember. If the Hudson is in a set, it's likely a good one.

The engine is a 1947 Hudson with smoke in the tender, SIT. The tube carrying the smoke from the tender to engine is visible. The cap on the smoke fluid fill tube is visible in the front corner of the tender. There should be an On-Off lever for the smoke unit under the tender. There are two wires connecting the tender to the engine, these provide power to the engine. The lever sticking out the top of the boiler is the locking lever for the Reverse Unit. In one position the lever allows the reverse unit to cycle through the four positions. The other position locks the reverse unit in the current position.

As stated, The 8B is a 100W transformer with a circuit breaker. The green light should normally be illuminated. A short or overload will trip the breaker illuminating the red light. Clearing the problem and pushing the Reset Button resets the circuit breaker. The 8B is a good transformer still used by many Gilbert operators today.

The Gilbert Factory Service Manual is online at www.myflyertrains.net.

The 322 was used in three sets in 1947, all were expensive. The 4611 was a four car freight set with two operating cars. The 4613 was a four car heavyweight illuminated passenger car set.The 4620 was an unusual freight set that included the 752 operating coal loader accessory. It was very expensive for 1947.

None of the sets included a transformer so the 8B was purchased separately.