Buildings & Towers (Page 1 of 8)

Imagine a world without buildings.
Now imagine a train layout without buildings.
You see my point.

Gilbert made 62 distinct buildings and towers as listed on a little over seven pages of the TM Guide, not counting the variations on some of the 62.  Because there are so many, I have split them up over eight web pages:

Gilbert accessories #50 through #167 are on this page
                           #168 through #273 are on page 2
                           #274 through #590 are on page 3
                           #593 through #755A are on page 4
                           #758 through #767 are on page 5
                           #768 through #774 are on page 6
                           #779 through #799 are on page 7
                           #23586 through #23796 are on page 8

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

#50 District School made in 1953 & 1954.
(Picture courtesy of Glenn N.)

Views of the left and right sides of the District School.
(Pictures courtesy of Glenn N.)

Views of the back, and of the roof and inside, of the District School.
(Pictures courtesy of Glenn N.)

The following note appears in the TM Guide: "Items No. 160 through 168 and 270 to 275 are buildings made for A. C. Gilbert by Mini-Craft using (mostly) pressed board and Masonite. There are numerous detail variations, particularly with the railroad structures. Versions were also sold directly by Mini-Craft. Mini-Craft versions of stations often have destination boards hand lettered for various cities (e.g., Philadelphia, Chicago)".

#160 Valley View Station Platform made in 1953.
Both Greenberg and the TM Guide say it was made with either a red masonite roof or
a dark green plastic roof, but here it is with a blue roof and original Gilbert box that says "blue."
Oddly, its sign is hand-lettered which should mean it is not a Gilbert station.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

Here's one with a printed Gilbert-style sign.
Some were made with a single long wooden bench and others with three small plastic benches.
(Pictures above and below courtesy of Ronald W. Durst.)

Here's the green roof version with three benches.
(Picture courtesy of Mike Thielle.)

Here's the green roof version with three benches.
(Pictures above and below from the collection of Tom Devenney.)

#161 Bungalow made in 1953.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#162 Mysto-Magic Company Factory made in 1953.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#163 Flyerville Station made in 1953.
(Photos courtesy of Rick Dunn.)

The bottom has an access hole for wiring and changing the light bulb.

#164 Red Barn made in 1953.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#165 Grain Elevator made in 1953.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#166 Church made in 1953..
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#167 Town Hall made in 1953.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

Show me the rest of the Buildings.

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 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: