American Flyer 4-4-2 Atlantic Steam Engines
Unless otherwise specified, the large pictures are of engines in the collection of The Upstairs Train.

If you have a picture that you would like to share with the world of any of cars not shown here, or a better picture of one that is shown, email them to me: theupstairstrain@gmail.com

When I get all the pages built, you will be able to click on an engine picture to see the train sets it pulls.
#299 Reading Atlantic made in 1954.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#300 Reading Atlantic made in 1946-1947 and 1952 had many variations, the most significant of which were:
Indented sides of tender made only in 1946.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
A similar version was made in 1946-1947 with flat tender sides.
(Picture courtesy of Don Hasenzahl.)
Despite the fact that engines ending with zero were supposed to be the basic engine with no smoke, a preproduction prototype with smoke unit in the boiler was made in 1947.

#300 Reading Atlantic made in 1952 had many variations, the most significant of which were:
Sheet metal tender with "Amerian Flyer"
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
Plastic tender with "Amerian Flyer"
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

Other variations said "Amerian Flyer Lines"
I am told that the Maury Romer interviews said these cut aways were made so the directors could see how things worked and approve or disapprove production of an item. These cut away locos were then used in the corporate sales center on the second floor so buyers from big stores like Sears and Macy's could come in and see what the product was all about, how it was made, and how it worked (and check out the massive layout up there) before they made their orders. When the change was made to smoke and choo choo in the boiler, these were used to show how everything fit and worked in the boiler.
(Picture and story courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

The #300AC Reading Atlantic made in 1949-1951 had three variations:
The first, made in 1949-1950 had a four-piece diecast boiler.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

The second, made in 1950-1951, had a one-piece diecast boiler like the third below, but a tender like the first.
The most obvious change is that the railings are part of the diecast boiler, not separate parts.
The third variation, made in 1951, had the one-piece diecast boiler but a long chassis on the tender that gave it a "porch" on the back.
#301 Reading Atlantic made in 1951.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#302 Reading Atlantic made in 1948 had a diecast boiler.
The earliest ones made had a smoke unit in the tender, but most had it in the boiler.
The #302 Reading Atlantic made in 1952-1953 had a plastic boiler.
Notice that the wire handrails have been eliminated and instead were molded into the plastic boiler.
There were many variations, some with "American Flyer Lines" on the tender ...
(Picture courtesy of Jacque Marsh.)
... and some with "American Flyer Lines" on the tender.
Here's its cutaway.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#302AC Reading Atlantic made in 1950-1951.
#303 Reading Atlantic made in 1954-1957
#305 Reading Atlantic made in 1951.  Or was it?
It appeared in the #D1637 1951 catalog, but ...
in the #D1640 1951 catalog "Sorry not available" is stamped across the description of the engine.
Greenberg cites it as in the Carnes collection.  The TM Guide lists it but as "NR" (no reported sales).
Heimburger's book says he examined two and saw a picture of a third, but no two were alike.
He speculates that a few samples were made but that it was never put into production.

The picture above appeared in a highly controversial auction some time in the early 2000s;
no concensus was reached on its authenticity.

(Picture and its story courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#307 Reading Atlantic made in 1954-1957.
Click the picture to see the freight sets it pulled.  It was not used in any passnger sets.
The later #307 Reading Atlantics made in 1957 had a quick disconnect plug between engine and tender..
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#308 Reading Atlantic made in 1956.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#21100 Reading Atlantic made in 1957.
(Picture courtesy Sam Mercanti.)
#21105 Reading Atlantic made in 1958-1960.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#21105 Reading Atlantic with aluminum driver inserts made only in 1958.
(Picture courtesy of Albert's Trains.)
Here's a close-up of those aluminum driver inserts.
(Picture courtesy of Albert's Trains.)

It was also made with plastic wheels in 1958-1960.
#21106 Reading Atlantic made in 1959.  The underside is shown below.
(Pictures courtesy of Stout Auctions.)
#21107 Pennsylvania Railroad  Atlantic made in 1964-1966.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#21160 Reading Atlantic made in 1958-1960
The top of the boiler on my other 21160 is all molded plastic.
The two metal pieces on the engine above are replaced by plastic.
#21161 Reading Atlantic made in 1960

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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@gmail.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 cars and as visitors like you send me pictures of the cars I don't yet have.  If you have a car that you would like to share with the world, email me a picture:   theupstairstrain@gmail.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.

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