A.C. Gilbert Chicago & North Western (CNW) General Service Flat Cars

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Prototype Photos, Information

Notes:

627 flat car with 627 orange girder beam load which was produced from 1946 through 1950 in nine variations. The variations are broken down into three major groupings. The first grouping consisted of cars produced in 1946 and 1947 with plastic chassis that has three variations. The first, as shown in the photo, has a light gray body with link couplers with thin shanks. The second is like the first except the body is white. The last variation made in 1947 has an unpainted dark gray body with link coupler that have a thick shank. The second grouping has five variations all of which have die-cast bodies that were produced from 1946 through 1950. One was produced in 1946, two in 1948, and two in 1949 and 1950. The third grouping has one variation that was produced in 1950 only with "AMERICAN FLYER LINES" stamped on the side of the gray body instead of "C&NWRY 42597" that was typical of all previous variations. The A.C. Gilbert model is very accurate, given its production era.

A scan from the 1946 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

628

Prototype Info

Style:

general service

Year/Era:

1927

Length:

46'

Road Name:

Chicago & North Western (CNW)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1946

Road Number(s):

42597

Product Type:

plastic or metal or pressed wood

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

The #628 was produced from 1946 through 1953 in nine variations. The variations are broken down into three major groupings.
The first grouping consisted of two cars produced in 1946 with plastic bodies. The first has a gray body with link couplers that have thin shanks. The second is identical except that it has a white body.
The second grouping has six variations, all of which have die-cast bodies. Four of the six variations in this group were produced in 1948. One variation was produced from 1949 through 1953. The last has metallic blue body that was produced in 1953. The last variation group consists of one variation produced in 1952. According to Greenberg the 1952 variations of this car and the #636, #643 and #928 all have "pressed wood" chassis. It is believed that Gilbert used both Bakelite and/or "pressed wood" on these models in 1952.

One of the 1946 plastic body variations.

The 1947 plastic body version.

The 1952 pressed wood version. Note the larger lettering used, since there are no stake pockets on this version.

A view of the underside of the car.

A scan from the 1946 catalog.

A scan from the 1953 catalog, which shows the pressed-wood version.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

928

Prototype Info

Style:

general service

Year/Era:

1927

Length:

46'

Road Name:

Chicago & North Western (CNW)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1952

Road Number(s):

42597

Product Type:

plastic or pressed wood

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

This car was produced from 1952 through 1954. The 1952 model was either made out of Bakelite or pressed wood. All others were all plastic. Due to the Korean war material shortages, Bakelite was used, but it didn't hold the paint very well over time. This car is one of only eight cars that came with knuckle couplers in 1952.

The Bakelite (an early plastic) version.

The pressed-wood version.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

934

Prototype Info

Style:

general service

Year/Era:

1927

Length:

46'

Road Name:

Chicago & North Western (CNW)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

42597

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes!

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