Plastic Lightweight Observation Passenger Cars by A.C. Gilbert

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Archer Transfer 3D resin rivets

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Archer Transfer 3D resin rivets #2

Notes:

This model was produced only in the satin silver finish. See the #500's description for all of the information about the 500-series cars.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

663

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

663

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1950

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

These were produced through 1952. This photo is of the factory-error car made from extruded aluminum. The main body was shortened such that when the curved end was added, it would wind up being the same length as #660. The nameplate is not centered in the side of the car. By measuring the hole locations for the nameplate with and without the added observation end, the holes needed to be shifted to the right to compensate for the length of the added observation casting. In order to get the holes drilled in the correct position, Gilbert created a jig to insert the extruded body into, for drilling. It appears that the wrong end of the car was inserted into the jig, shifting the nameplate holes the wrong way. Only 4 of these factory-error cars exist.

Fix the lights and replace the silhouettes

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This model was produced through 1954 in four variations (these don't have a color band):
1953: black body with chrome finish.
1954: black body painted a satin silver.

This model is an example of the first variation.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963B

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1954

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

The model was produced through 1955 in only one variation. It has a satin silver painted finish over a black body and a blue color band (the "B" in the model number).

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963C

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1954

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This model was only produced in 1954 in one variation with a chestnut-colored band (the "C" in the model number).

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963G

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1954

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This model was only produced through 1955 in only one variation. It has a satin silver painted finish over a black body and a dark green band (the "G" in the model number).

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963O

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1956

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This model was produced through 1957 in two variations, both of a black body painted a satin-silver color with an orange band (the "O" in the model number):
1956: uses a metal nameplate for the "963 Washington 963".
1957: has "963 Washington 963" stamped directly on the body.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963R

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1954

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This model was produced through 1958 in three variations, all have a black body painted a satin-silver color with an red band (the "R" in the model number):
1954-56: uses a metal nameplate for the "963 Washington 963".
1954-56: identical to the first variation, except that its red band was painted over an originally chestnut band (this was a factory error car).
1957-58: has "963 Washington 963" stamped directly on the body.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

963

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

963S

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1954

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

The model was produced only in 1954 in only one variation, namely a black body that was painted silver. It has a silver color band (the "S" in the model number).

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

24833

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24833

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1957

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

The AFL Washington Observation car #24833 was produced in 1957 and 1958 and again from 1960 through 1962 in two variations. The first variation has "24833" illuminated in the first window. The second variation as shown in the photo has an illuminated "24853" in the first window in place of the "24833". It is apparent that the second variation is a factory error as the window insert used on this variation was the same used on the 1958 #24853 Northern Pacific Observation Car. Could it be this variation was produced in 1958 or was it produced in 1960-62 when Gilbert was attempting to use old inventory of parts?

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

24836

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24836

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1959

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

Similar to #963O (orange band).

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Road Number(s):

24868

Car Name:

Washington

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24868

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This model was produced through 1960. It has a silver body color with a red stripe.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

Missouri Pacific (MP)

Road Number(s):

24866

Car Name:

Eagle Valley

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24866

Gauge:

AF

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Online Article:

Has Photo

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This was part of set #20475 only produced in 1958. This version had the blue stripe go over the doors. The set was re-released in 1963 and 1964 as #20767, in which the stripe stopped at the doors.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

Northern Pacific (NP)

Road Number(s):

24853

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24853

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1958

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Online Article:

Has Photo

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

These were a part of set #20445.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Road Name:

Union Pacific (UP)

Road Number(s):

24840

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

24840

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1959

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part: