Operating Accessories (Page 4 of 9)
In addition to adding visual interest and realism to a train layout, Operating Accessories allow you operate it like a real world-railroad rather than simply running trains around in a circle.  Gilbert made 62 distinct accessories as listed on a little over seven pages of the TM Guide, not counting the variations on some of the 62.  Lionel made a few more up under the American Flyer name.  Because there are so many, I have split them up over four web pages:

Gilbert accessories #561 through #588 are on page 1
                           #591 through #752A are on page 2
                           #755 through #762 are on page 3
                           #766 through 785 are on this page
                           #787 through #23601 are on page 5
                           #23602 through #23786 are on page 6
                           #23787 through #23830 are on page 7
Lionel accessories #2300 through #49807 are on page 7
                           #49808 through 49819 are on page 8
                           # 49820 and above are on page 9

Unless otherwise specified, the pictures on this page are from the collection of The Upstairs Train.
#766 Guilford Station made in 1953-1955.  It was sold as a set with the  #735 Operating Coach.
People move around the station, down through the tunnel, and into the coach for a ride around the layout.
After their trip, they move off the coach, returning to the station.  All under remote control.

#K766 Animated Station Guilford with #735 operating coach converted to knuckle couplers made in 1953.
#K766 Animated Station Guilford with 975 AFL operating coach made in 1953 thru 1955.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
On the end of the station is a lever for adjusting the vbibration.
#770 Loading Platform made in 1950 thru 1952.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#771 Stockyard made in 1953-1956.
It was sold as a set with the
#736 Operating Stock Car.
Like the Guilford Station, the cows "walk" around their pens and go up the ramp into the livestock car when you open the gate.  They leave the car through the
other door after a ride around the layout.

Most had a green base and black vibrating mat like this one.

(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
A  variation of the #771 Stockyard had a blue-painted base and tan vibrating mat.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
Here's a close-up of the one I recently acquired.

Greenberg reports a third variation with a green base and white vibrating mat.
Most of the of the #771 Stockyards have three fence rails like the one above, but some had four..
(Photo courtesy of Sam Williamson.)
#K771 Stockyard made in 1953-1956 is the same as the 771, but came with the  #976 Operating Stock Car.
All of these had just three fence rails.

Greenberg says the K771 had a blue base but the TM Guide says it was green.
The two I've had were both green.
Some of the stockyards came with an Erector Set wrench to adjust the vibration.
My blue-base stockyard has a screw instead.
Here are the instructions for the stockyard.
The #775 Baggage Loading Platform loads boxes into the #734 Operating Boxcar.
The #734 Operating Boxcar tosses a box out onto the station platform as it passes by.
L:ike the Log Loader below, a man in blue overalls does the tossing.  Maybe they're cousins.
The #K775 is the same but it came with
the knuckle coupler #974 Operating Boxcar.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#779 Oil Drum Loader on an unpainted light tan plastic base made in 1955 and 1956.
(Photo courtesy of Rick Dunn.)


A pre-production prototype of the #779, on a black painted sheet metal base, was made in 1955.
The earliest Oil Drum Loaders,  made in 1955, came on a gray painted plastic base.
(Photo courtesy of Tom Devenney.)
#785 Coal Loader made in 1955 & 1956.
Because the #752 tended to spray coal all over the place, Gilbert came up with an all new design.
(Photo courtesy of www.NicksTrains.com.)

Show me the rest of the Operating Accessories.

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If you or your friends have some American Flyer trains and would like them to go to a nice home where they'll be loved and cared for, this is the place!  Email me: theupstairstrain@yahoo.com.  See my Wish List for the items I need most.  Thank you very much.

On the other side of the coin, I post pictures from time to time on my For Sale page of surplus items I have for sale.
This gallery will continue to grow and become more comprehensive as I collect more equipment, and as visitors send me pictures of the items I don't yet have.  If you have a car, engine, accessory, or set that you would like to share with the world, email me a picture:   theupstairstrain@yahoo.com.  Click here for a list of the pictures I need to complete the Gallery.

The books I am using for reference are listed in the Bibliography page.  All the writing and all the pictures on this website are, however, my own, except where cited.  No copyrighted materials have been included and all pictures provided by others are used by permission.

Now show me:

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