American Flyer Trains

Eli Whitney Museum

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Alfred Gilbert arrived at Yale in 1903 by rail. The Northern Pacific, The New York Central, and The New Haven railroads had carried him from Salem, Oregon to New Haven in a mere 96 hours.

A. C. Gilbert spent his life embracing and encouraging change. It’s not surprising that at age 62 he defined America by the technology that was about to be supplanted by newer technologies. Rail had made his fame. The newer automobile and television would soon conspire to disassemble his empire. His magic persists. Forty and fifty year old American Flyer trains still run from coal mine to city at the Eli Whitney Museum. They still transport the imagination.




The Passenger Car

Alfred Gilbert arrived at Yale in 1903 by rail. The Northern Pacific, The New York Central, and The New Haven railroads had carried him from Salem, Oregon to New Haven in a mere 96 hours. America was moving and railroads drew its map. By the time he brought American Flyer to market in 1946, the airport and highway had begun to reshape American geography.




The Coal Car

Gilbert pressed his Erector Square Factory complex against a rail siding in Fair Haven. Coal fired his factory and New Haven’s growth.




The Box Car

Rail united the states in commerce. Gilbert’s sold his products to the nation. And some of his products...his motorized orange juicer, for example, followed the delivery of other new products: Florida’s oranges.




The Circus Car

Before, television, before radio, rail was the entertainment network: it brought the circus. So smitten was the young Al Gilbert that he tried to join the circus at age 9. He remained a passionate showman throughout his life.




The Radio Car

Gilbert invented a new kind of showmanship. Briefly in the early 20’s he outfitted a garish mobile showroom linked to Erector Square by radio. His blend of entertainment and sales introduced America to broadcast advertising.

Chemical Car

Chemical Car

Coal Car

Coal Car

Engine

Engine

Lumber Car

Lumber Car

New Haven Line Box Car

New Haven Line Box Car

New Haven Line Engine

New Haven Line Engine


Passenger Car

Passenger Car

Railway Express Agency

Railway Express Agency

The Royal Blue

The Royal Blue

Track Maintenance Car

Track Maintenance Car

Tool Shed

Tool Shed

Train Station

Train Station


Slot Cars

Slot Cars

Gilbert Radio Car

Gilbert Radio Car

Train Layout

Train Layout

Another Train Layout

Another Train Layout

circus car

radio car


American Flyer Instruction Book

American Flyer Instruction Book

Instructions for Assembling and Operating 3/16 Scale Trains and Equipment

Instructions for Assembling and Operating 3/16 Scale Trains and Equipment


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