Need Info on AF 322 Locomotive

Without any more details or pictures I would say $80 in C5 condition.  There are a number of variations of that locomotive so to get a better idea you would need to give more information.

The Audio Engineer was a voice-activated "command" system that responded to stop and go instructions through a handheld microphone. It worked, sort of, but the ones I see at train shows are generally in the $10 range.

According to one source, the AF 322 was available 1946-1950. See here for pictures and tender lettering variations that date the loco.

 

Here is a description of the Audio Engineer accessory.

 

Check auction sites for an idea of the worth of the items.

 

Larry

I am not an AF expert but have had experience rebuilding some old clunkers. First, the engine gets its electricity through the tender wheels then through a tether from the tender in to the engine.Both weak points but you can touch wires to the engine to see i it runs. If it runs, it will need cleaned and lubed like a Lionel, if not then there is a problem, probably in your power supply. If it doesn't run, not worth much except if someone wants to fool with it.

Jim is right.

First off confirm which variant you have:

I restored my Dad's collection and the 322 is a nice locomotive. It smokes nice, pulls well, and is a great operating locomotive. There is a smoke in tender version and a diaphragm box for the chuff this variant has a link coupler.

The other variant has the chuff piston in the tender and the smoke unit with a "standard coupler" and it is usually marked 322AC

 

 

 

 

The smoke in tender variant tends to catch less money and this is my feeling why:

1) The diaphragm tends to tear and the chuff is lost and no parts to repair but you can still fix it by fabricating up a new diaphragm.

2) the smoke unit is not as robust as smoke unit in the engine and it tends to squeal sometimes.

3) The smoke unit transfer holes between the tender and the locomotive comes off during running and it tends to have a smoke out the cab malfunction.

4) Production numbers on the link coupler 322 where higher than its variants

5) Link couplers can be upgraded, but I tend to shy away from them

6) the smoke fluid fill sticks up out of the coal bunker.

 

If you find the 326, or the 5 digit Hudson, call me. They are the most sought after. '

They have the pullmore motor and the 326 had a noise in the tender that was so called a "whistle". They are harder to find.

 

BTW, test the E unit, sticking E units are easily fixed but you have to know the secret...

 

 

 

This model (#322AC) was built 1949 - 1951. Greenberg's pocket guide book lists it at $44.00 - $142.00. Hope this helps.

Dave, LBR

American Flyer Smoke In Tender rebuild kits are available here. Click on "Steam Engine Parts" on the bottom and then scroll down.

 

Larry

BTW some 326 Hudson's  had small motors as well. No rhyme or reason here... you have to flip them over and confirm they have a larger housing and magnet length.

If you have the 5 digit locomotive in good shape they tend to be worth allot more because of the numbers produced and the being the last ones made before American Flyer went out of business.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Larry. This reproduction will save allot of headaches and duct tape......

 

 

Glad to help.

Perhaps you could post a picture of the insides of an SIT tender...

 

Larry

Gilbert made several versions of the 4-6-4 Hudson, starting with the 320 released in 1946.  Since you mentioned the 322 specifically, it appears to have had three variants - two of which had the smoke and choo-choo mechanism in the tender and the last variant had the smoke and choo-choo in the boiler, with the reversing unit moved to the tender.  This has some effect on price - though I'd guess that condition is at least as important.

 

You can get some feel for the kinds of prices these engines command by looking at eBay - which has a reasonable search engine.  So by searching on 322 (within the S scale section of the Model Railroads and Trains category), you get:

 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html...322&_sacat=19143

 

There aren't too many current listings for this engine.  Although the picture taking capabilities of the eBay posters vary widely (leading you to wonder if some of them ever look at the pictures they post), you can get a sense of the condition of the engines being sold.

Rich that's right, I forgot about the lock out switch was moved to the tender in 1948...

the 1948 version looks better with the lever not sticking out of  the top of the boiler.

 

Here is the 1946 version:

 

 

Better find out if it runs first because, if it doesn't, will be worth about $40.

Not to change the topic, but does anyone know what a #21140 4-8-4 would be worth? I have this engine since I was ten years old. My father bought it for me to replace the steam engine he dropped putting it away after Christmas.

It's the rarest of the Northerns. In nice shape and original condition, $800 and up would not be out of the question.

$525.00 - $2,014.00

Dave, LBR

> On March 31, 2015 at 3:22 PM O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum
> <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

I would have same it is close to L/N. It was packed up in the mid- sixties when my interest went to cars and girls. I've had it on display in my study for the last ten years or so. I don't think I would sell it. Thanks again.

I'm not quite sure what you mean when you refer to the 322AC. This version had the smoke and choo-choo in the boiler and the reverse unit in the tender (as did all the Hudsons until the 5-digit versions). The coupler would have been of the link variety, typically with a black weight.

Not to pick nits, but the 322 in the photo, while beautiful, is not exactly how a "stock" 322 from 1946 would appear. Most likely the one depicted has been nicely refinished and "updated" with later generation parts. The 1946 version would have come with blackened handrails and an unweighted link coupler (typically with a black pin). The crosshead guides would have been of the "two-prong" style. The L-shaped version on this example was not introduced until some time in the 1948 model run. To my eye the lettering on the tender doesn't look quite original (maybe a tad too tall?), but I can't say for sure. Otherwise, this is a lovely unit.

 

EDIT: I found the source of the above photo on:

 

http://www.americanflyerexpres...press-hudsons-01.htm

 

It appears that the same locomotive is used to show variations through the years with couplers, lettering, and other features overlayed on the unit to illustrate the differences. The illustrations are pretty slick, although stuff like the broken step on the tender is a giveaway.

 

[/end thread hijack]

Evening Guys,

 

I want to thank all of you for all of your help and comments.  They were exactly what I was hoping for and I passed the info along to the guy to whom it belongs to.  I tried earlier to post a couple of pics of the loco and tender but for some reason it wasn't happening.  However, the last pic posted of the 1946 version looks exactly like the one I was describing but not in as good a condition as that one.  It was also missing the rear coupler on the tender too.  I really don't think it is worth very much.

 

Again, I thank you all very much for your help.  Have a good one and happy modeling.