Boxcars (3 of 11)

American Flyer S Scale Boxcars (3 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 page 1
                       #734 through #973 are on page 2
                       #974 through #24029 are on this page
                       #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.

#974 AFL operating boxcar made in 1953 and 1954.
It came with a button, #712 Automatic Track Rail, four boxes, and four milk cans.
(Picture courtesy of Marvin Thiel.)

You load boxes (or milk cans) in the left hand door, either by hand or
using the #K775 Baggage Loading Platform.
If you push the button while the car is on the Automatic Track Rail, the right hand door opens, and
the man in the blue overalls pushes out a box or milk can.
(Picture courtesy of David Butterfield.)

These are two boxes and a milk can that the #974 operating boxcar carried.
(The milk can is sitting on top of a box.)
(Photo courtesy of Douglas Weronick.)

Here's the operating side of the car.

Here's the other side.

#974 Erie operating boxcar made in 1955.
Other than the Erie markings, it's the same as the earlier #974.
(My apologies. I lost track of whose picture this is.
If you recognize this as yours, please let me know and I will give proper photo credit.)

Unlike the earlier #974, the #974 Erie boxcar had the Erie markings on both sides.
(My apologies. I lost track of whose picture this is.
If you recognize this as yours, please let me know and I will give proper photo credit.)

#980 B&O boxcar made in 1956 & 1957

My #981 Central of Georgia boxcar made in 1956-1957 has shiny black paint.
It is part of the Sante Fe Freight set

A somewhat harder to find version in dull black was also made.
(Picture courtesy of Don Hasenzahl.)

#982 State of Maine boxcar made in 1956-1957. It is part of the Sante Fe Freight set

#983 Missouri Pacific boxcar made in 1956 & 1957

984 New Haven boxcar made in 1956 & 1957

985 B&M boxcar made in 1957.

The very rare #C1001 WSX White's boxcar made in 1961.
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

This picture is a "Rarity Repaint" reproduction.

The C2001 Post boxcar made in 1962 came with or without a Hayjector mechannism.
This one has it. (Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#24003 Santa Fe Chief boxcar made in 1958.

The extremely rare #24006 Great Northern boxcar made in 1958.
(Picture courtesy of Harwood Owings.)

The very earliest #24006 boxcars were #913 boxcars repackaged in boxes numbered #24006
during the transition to 5-digit catalog numbers.
(My apologies. I lost track of whose picture this is.
If you recognize this as yours, please let me know and I will give proper photo credit.)

#24016 MKT Katy boxcar made in 1958
(Picture courtesy of an anonymous donor.)

#24019 Seaboard Silver Meteor boxcar made in 1958.
(Picture courtesy of Stout Auctions.)

#24023 B&O boxcar made in 1958-1959.
(Picture courtesy of Stout Auctions.)

#24026 Central of Georgia boxcar made in 1958.
(Picture courtesy of Stout Auctions.)

#24029 BAR State of Maine boxcar made in 1958-1960.
(Picture courtesy of Stout Auctions.)

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:
The Gilbert Gallery Home Page
Engines    Passenger Cars    Freight Cars    Freight Sets    Work Cars    Accessories    Infrastructure Gallery

Christmas Cars      Boxcars      Refrigerator Cars      Stock Cars      Hopper Cars      Gondolas
Tank Cars      Flatcars      Aquarium Cars      Autorack Cars      Mint Cars      Cabooses

Pictures Needed     Useful Links     For Sale     Wish List     Bibliography     The Upstairs Train