American Flyer S Scale Boxcars (1 of 11)
Gilbert made 65 distinct boxcars as listed on a little over three pages of the TM Guide, not counting the variations on some of the 65.  Lionel made many more under the American Flyer name, in addition to their line of Christmas cars.  Because there are so many, I have split them up over eleven web pages:

Gilbert boxcars #613 through #642 are on this page
                       #734 through #973 are on page 2
                       #974 through #24029 are on page 3
                       #24030 through #24057 are on page 4
                       #24058 through #25062 are on page 5
                       #25062 through #25082 are on page 6
Lionel boxcars  #0700 through #9709 are on page 6
                       #9710 through #48268 are on page 7
                       #48300 through #48325 are on page 8
                       #48326 through #48355 are on page 9
                       #48356 through #48483 are on page 10
                       #48484 and above are on page 11

Unless otherwise specified, the large pictures on this page are of cars in the collection of The Upstairs Train.

If you have a picture that you would like to share with the world of any of the cars not shown here (or a better picture of one that is shown!), email them to me: theupstairstrain@yahoo.com.   Click here for a list of the  pictures I need to complete the Gallery.
The first boxcar (numerically) was the #613 Great Northern made in 1953 with link couplers.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
Similarly, I don't have the link coupler #622 GAEX boxcar made in 1953, but I have the later #922 with knuckle couplers (see below).
Like many of the cars made between 1946 and 1953, the #633 boxcar had many variations and the tuscan and white variation was followed by the 933 with knuckle couplers.  There were even #633 refrigerator cars, though they are somewhat rare and pricey.

The difference between boxcars and reefers is easy to see in the hatch cover in the roof where they put the ice into the reefers or bulk commodities into the boxcars; in this picture, the reefer is on the right and the boxcar on the left:
From the side, you can see the difference in the doors.  Also, the panels in the side of the car are noticeably wider on the reefer.  Again, the reefer is on the right and the boxcar on the left:
#633 B&O painted brown boxcar with silver lettering made in 1946.
(Photo courtesy of Don Hasenzahl.)
#633 B&O unpainted red boxcar made in 1947-1950.
I got it in my first train set for Christmas, 1948, the #48T Royal Blue Freight.
#633 B&O painted red boxcar made in 1951-1952.
#633 B&O painted brown boxcar with white lettering made in 1951-1952.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
The very rare #633F G. Fox boxcar made only in 1947.
(Photo courtesy of Stout Auctions.)
This one is a "Rarity Repaint" from TLS Research.  If you like the looks of one of the very rare cars, but can't find one (or can't afford one!), this is a great way to get the next best thing.  They take an old Gilbert car and repaint it to look like the rare one.  But watch out:
If you see a rare car offered for a great price, find out whether it is a "Rarity Repaint"
and make sure you don't pay more than it costs from TLS!
Unpainted #637 MKT boxcar, "The Katy", made in 1949-1953.
There is also a painted version and a refrigerator car made with the same number.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
Like most of the cars of that era, there are many variations of the 637.  This one is closer to butterscotch.
Like the #633, the #639 Boxcar was made in many variations, some as boxcars like this and some as reefers.
(Photo courtesy of an David "Bull Gator" Tyner.)

My 639 is the yellow painted reefer made in 1952 that came with my Farm Freight set.
Like the 633 and 639, the #642 was made in many variations
including AF and Seaboard Boxcars and reefers.
Here's my unpainted red 642, made in 1950.
And a painted red 642, made in 1951 & 1952.
It also came in tuscan.
(Photo courtesy of an anonymous donor.)
#642 Seaboard Silver Meteor made in 1953.

Show me the rest of the boxcars.

Over the years, Gilbert made four different kinds of couplers, three of which are common and familiar to most American Flyer owners: link, knuckle, and Pike Master.  The fourth, the so-called "solid knuckle coupler," was short-lived and not used on very many cars.  Lionel later came up with its own version of knuckle coupler.  American Flyer has therefore gone through five generations of couplers.  Because there seem to be a lot of people confused by this, I created a page to show the differences.  Click the picture below for more detail.


It takes time and money to maintain a website like this.  If this site is interesting and helpful to you, please contribute financially to its ongoing success.  You may send a contribution via PayPal using theupstairstrain@yahoo.com as the payee. Both credit card and direct transfers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

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 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@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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