The new Lionel American Flyer FlyerChief EP-5; A review.
As many American Flyer S gauge fans know, the A.C. Gilbert Co. introduced a model of the New Haven RR GE EP-5 in McGinnis colors on the back cover of the 1956 catalog (See below). It was a decent representation of the GE rectifier electric locomotives that often passed by the Gilbert factory. Although originally intended to have black trucks, the Gilbert models were done with silver trucks as was Gilbert practice for most of their diesels. In real life, the EP-5’s picked up the nickname “Jets” because of their loud whine-like ventilator noise. These locomotives saw service on the New Haven and PRR mainlines in passenger service and some examples made it into the Penn Central Era.
Lionel produced two previous reissues of the venerable Nos. 499W and 21573 Gilbert EP-5 models in New Haven McGinnis colors. These are the Nos. 6-48008 and 6-48075 from 1991 and 2009, respectively. Some fantasy road schemes have also been done, but the New Haven version is the subject of the discussion here. The other road name that would be prototypically legitimate, if ever done, is Penn Central. The LTI era 6-48008 was fitted with a drive truck with the early Lionel horizontal can motor (“the coffee grinder drive”) while the 6-48075 was fitted with two of the newer 6-wheel drive trucks (painted prototypical black) resulting in smoother operation and more pulling power.
The latest No. 2021010 FlyerChief entry builds upon those improvements by adding a remote control, electrocouplers, horn, bell, and sounds volume. All the reissues were built using the original Gilbert tool for the shell with some details sharpened and new tooling for the pantographs. Motive power sound is different from the typical for the FlyerChief diesel models, but probably not a close facsimile of the ventilator sounds of the prototype. The Nos. 6-48075 and 2021010 are shown parked side by side on my Gilbert-style layout in the second figure below. Their appearances are virtually identical with only a number change and placement on the sides of the latest model.
My sample arrived in perfect shape with sharp cosmetics, smooth FlyerChief remote operation, a clear bell and horn sound, and two functioning electrocouplers. Start ups and slow speeds are smooth and the speed control works perfectly. As always with this model, the elevated pantographs will not usually clear a No. 792 Terminal Shed without lowering and tethering the height with a wire. So, be sure to check layout vertical clearances. Because it is FlyerChief and operates at a constant 15 V, the model is perfectly operable in a TMCC/Legacy environment with the included FlyerChief remote. The model is also Bluetooth capable via the LionChief App.
The Lionel/AF rendering of the EP-5 is a respectable effort consistent with its intended mission as a reissue of a Postwar Gilbert Flyer engine, which in turn is a better model than the Postwar Lionel model. The new FlyerChief EP-5 looks great pulling the LTI 6-48935, 36, 37 orange stripe passenger cars from 1995, thus forming a de facto reissue of the Gilbert No. 20520 The Bankers from 1959. From a prototypical standpoint, it is also correct to use it in a consist of Gilbert New Haven Pullman-Bradley (“American Flyer”) cars which most Flyer fans have on hand.
The last reissue in 2009 had a street price of about $225 and this new one of about $300. Given the feature enhancements, this represents fair value.
Have fun.
Bob
