ORDER PARTS BY VIEWING EXPLODED DIAGRAMS
FOR AMERICAN FLYER LOCOS  

• New Diagrams  Show Specific Loco
  Steam & Diesel Model Variations

• New Consolidated & Augmented 
  Parts Lists

• New Information From AC Gilbert 
  Factory Records

• How To Use These Exploded View Diagrams & Parts Lists
• How To Identify Your Steam Or Diesel Engine
• Select The Correct View & Parts List For Steam Locos
• Select The Correct View & Parts List For Diesel Locos
• A.C. Gilbert Factory Records Documentation 
• What Is Not Included On Web Site

This Information Also Available As A Spiral Bound Book
Designed to open flat on your repair bench! Features more diagrams and more complete parts listings than offered on here on our website. The 2nd Edition of our book contains 

DIAGRAMS FOR ALL A C GILBERT S GAUGE 
STEAM & DIESEL LOCOS  ONLY $29.99 CLICK HERE TO ORDER 

Introduction

Determining the correct part needed to repair a specific American Flyer locomotive can be frustrating even when consulting one of the previously available service manuals or repair guides.  Often, the generalized exploded view parts diagram and parts listing offered for the engine type is not correct for the specific variation being repaired.

These new diagrams and materials presented here address the specific differences in the many variations of the 12 types of steam or 5 types of diesel locomotives produced by American Flyer between 1948 and 1967. Utilizing previously unavailable A.C. Gilbert factory records obtained by Vincent Amato with his purchase of the factory parts department, original American Flyer exploded views have been expanded and parts lists have been consolidated and augmented. 

One exploded view for each type of locomotive is offered. Each of these parts diagrams contains newly developed view inserts showing all the alternative major sub assemblies. For each diagram one comprehensive parts listing contains the series of differing parts used, each clearly marked as to the specific locomotive it was used in. This concise format allows you to quickly and accurately identify the parts needed for your repair project.

A. C. Gilbert Factory Parts Department Documentation

Each of these newly developed diagrams and associated parts lists are based on the original A.C. Gilbert Service Station diagrams and parts lists. These materials have been consolidated and edited to show all locomotives of a given type. Additional information obtained from original A. C. Gilbert factory ledgers has been used to augment these views and lists to make them as comprehensive as possible… right down to the handrails and porthole lens.

Painstaking research into the original factory records and examination of confirmed production variations has been done to insure that each view and list is as complete and accurate as possible. With the exception of locomotives produced prior to the establishment of its Authorized Service Station system 1948 the A.C. Gilbert factory produced extensive documentation of each production type and variation. These parts lists and exploded views were issued to service stations. As modifications to the production of the item were made or when a new variation was produced supplemental copies would be issued stamped with the updated product number and new parts lists would be issued.

Complete sets of parts documentation are difficult to come by as many service stations discarded the old lists and often were not concerned with maintaining a library of files. Plus it appears that very little documentation was released from the factory between 1956 and 1959. Given this situation, access to the original A.C. Gilbert factory ledgers has been invaluable in the preparation of the enhanced parts diagrams and lists offered here. Vincent Amato preserved these records when he purchased the contents of the Gilbert factory repair parts department in 1968. These records contain detailed information about the final assemblies and subassemblies. These ledgers document the various changes made during production and offer previously unavailable information and part numbers. Particular attention has been focused on utilizing the original American Flyer part numbers. Whenever possible the correct part numbers are used in the exploded views and parts lists as well as in our parts catalog listings.

How To Use These Exploded Views and Parts Lists

Once you have determined the type and model number of your steam or diesel engine, ( For instructions on identifying your specific locomotive model CLICK HERE ) review the annotated list of models and exploded views to select the appropriate one for your locomotive. 

By consulting this diagram and examining the loco you are repairing you can identify the part (s) needed to complete the repair. Each part is identified on the diagram by a circled number, which is keyed to the parts list associated with that exploded view.  Scroll down the page to view the parts listing for that specific view.

HOW TO ORDER PARTS FROM LIST

Each parts list is comprised of four columns: 

• Diagram # - The key number from the exploded view.
• Order Button- Click on this button to add part to your order. 
  ( BLUE button = In stock for immediate shipment, 
  RED button = Currently backordered and will be shipped when available, 
  N/A = This part is not available to order from us. )
• Part # -The Original American Flyer Part Number ( N/A means part is not available from us.  See our book for these part numbers).
• Description: It is important to note that where various model numbers used different parts the diagram number will refer to several different part numbers listed sequentially below each other. Information as to which part number was used with which model is provided in the description column.

Having identified the first part you need: 

1. Click on the order button to select that part. This will take you to the shopping cart screen, which displays part information and allows you to entry the quantity you need to order. 
2. Type in the quantity needed, click add to order.  
3. A confirmation screen will display. If the information is correct, click continue order.  This will bring you back to the exploded view 
4. Select the next part to order.

FOR ASSISTANCE CALL: 1-860-223-0600

Note that the parts listing provided on this website only include part numbers that you can order from us.  Parts currently in stock are indicated by a blue add to order button, parts temporarily out of stock are indicated by a red add to order button.  If a part shown on the parts diagram is not available from us, we indicate this in the parts listing by the words "Not Available" next to the key number for that part. 

However, our newly published book containing these new parts diagrams and parts lists includes all know part numbers in the parts listings, including those parts which are not available from us.  If you are interested in this  more complete and comprehensive version of the information provided on our website order our 145 page book:

American Flyer Factory Parts Department
Comprehensive Exploded Views and Parts Lists
Volume I: Steam & Diesel Locomotives
 (2001 CHD , Inc.)  CLICK HERE TO ORDER

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Identifying Your American Flyer Locomotive

American Flyer S-Gauge Locomotives were produced in two styles, Steam and Diesel. Two other motorized vehicles were also produced, a Handcar and a Track Maintenance car. 

To begin identifying your locomotive select a style:
  Steam, Diesel or Handcar.

LINKS TO DIAGRAMS & PARTS LISTS FOR STEAM LOCOS

JUMP TO STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TYPES: 

I 280 Series I 290 Series I 300 Series I 310 Series I

I 320 Series I 330 Series I 340 Series I 350 Series I 

I Old Timer I Docksider I Casey Jones I 

Identifying Steam Locomotive Types

American Flyer Steam Locomotives were produced in 12 types. The individual type can be identified by the number printed on the body of the locomotive below the cab windows. If the locomotive number cannot be read, its wheel arrangement may also loosely identify the locomotive. 
( For instructions for identification by wheel arrangement Click Here)

Note that some types or production variations are not included in these Exploded Views & Parts Lists. The A.C. Gilbert Company did not establish it's Authorized Service Station system until 1948; two years after it began producing American Flyer S-Gauge trains. As a result, exploded views and parts lists for the early production variations of the 310 Series K-5 Pacific, 320 Series Hudson, 330 Series Northern, & 340 Series 0-8-0 Switcher are not to our knowledge available. Also no views are available for the 21000 Series 0-6-0 Switcher.

While many parts on these locomotives are the same as those used in the later production variants, significant differences do exist and care should be taken when ordering parts for these units. Particularly different on these locomotives is the Smoke Unit located in the coal tender. We recommend that you contact a Train Repairman or Train Collector in your area to have these locomotives repaired.

Select Parts Diagrams and Parts Lists for 
Steam Locomotives by Model Number

Eleven types of  Locomotive Series are listed below. For each type a list of the locomotive model numbers found in that type are listed. Use the link following the list of model numbers to select for the Exploded View Diagram & Parts List that is correct for those specific models of that type of locomotive.
Note that the numbers shown in parentheses Do Not appear on the locomotive.

280 Series 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive (Plastic Body)

#s 282, 283, 285, 287, 289, 21084 & 21085  CLICK HERE

290 Series 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive (Cast Metal Body)

With Link & Pin Style Coupler #s 290, 292 & 295 CLICK HERE

With Knuckle Style Coupler #s 293, 296, 21095 & 21099 CLICK HERE

300 Series 4-4-2 Atlantic Locomotive

Metal Body With Removable Boiler Front 
Model #s 300, 300AC, 302 & 302AC CLICK HERE 

Metal or Plastic Body With Solid Boiler Front Model # s 299, 300,
 300AC, 301, 302, 302AC, 303, 307 & 308 CLICK HERE 

Plastic Body With 5-Digit Number Model#s 21100, 21105, 
21106, 21107, 21160 & 21161 CLICK HERE 

310 Series 4-6-2 Pennsylvania K-5 Pacific Locomotive

#s 310 & 312( w/Smoke Unit in the Tender) Sorry No Information Available

#s312, 312AC, 313, 314AW, 315, 316 & 21115  CLICK HERE 

320 Series 4-6-4 New York Central Hudson Locomotive

#s320, 321 & 322(w/Smoke Unit in the Tender) Sorry No Information Available

Model #s 322, 322AC, 324AC, 325AC, 
                 K325, 326, 21129 & 21130    CLICK HERE 

330 Series 4-8-4 Union Pacific Northern Locomotive

# 332( w/Smoke Unit in the Tender) Sorry No Information Available

Model #s332(AC or DC Motor)*, 332AC, 332DC, 
               334DC, K335, 336, 21139 & 21140 CLICK HERE

* The DC Motor has a permanent field magnet in the motor assembly and will attract small iron or steel objects like paper clips. To test: Turn the Locomotive upside-down and remove the trailing wheel assembly from the locomotive chassis, exposing the motor. With the motor NOT RUNNING place a small screwdriver or other small steel object near the metal parts of the motor. If a magnetic pull is felt this is a DC powered unit.

340 Series 0-8-0 Nickel Plate Switcher Locomotive

# 342( w/Smoke Unit in the Tender) Sorry No Information Available

#s342(AC or DC Motor)*, 342AC, 342DC, 343 & 21145 CLICK HERE

With Cab-Mounted Reverse Unit** #s 343 & 346 CLICK HERE

* The DC Motor has a permanent field magnet in the motor assembly and will attract small iron or steel objects like paper clips. To test: Turn the Locomotive upside-down and remove the trailing wheel assembly from the locomotive chassis, exposing the motor. With the motor NOT RUNNING place a small screwdriver or other small steel object near the metal parts of the motor. If a magnetic pull is felt this is a DC powered unit.

** #343 locomotives with the Cab-Mounted Reverse Unit have a plastic curtain covering the rear of the locomotive cab. Standard Model #343 locomotives do not have the plastic curtain.

350 Series 4-6-2 Streamlined (Bullet Nose) Pacific Locomotive

#s350, 353, 354 & 356 CLICK HERE

"Old Timer" Series 4-4-0 American Locomotive

#s (210)88 "FRANKLIN" & (21089) "WASHINGTON" CLICK HERE

"Docksider" Series 0-6-0 "Tank" Switcher Locomotive

#s 21155, 21156 & 21158 CLICK HERE

"Casey Jones" Series 4-4-0 American Locomotive

#s L2001, L2002, 21165, 21166 & 21168 CLICK HERE

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Identifying Steam Locomotives 
by Wheel Arrangement

If the model numbers on your locomotive are not readable or have been removed, worn off, or covered, you can still identify it by the arrangement of its wheels. Steam Locomotive types have traditionally been identified by the number and types of wheels they carry.

A set of numbers separated by dashes tells how many of each type of wheel a locomotive has. The first number represents the wheels in the Lead or Pilot Truck at the front of the locomotive. The middle number represents the large Driving Wheels in the middle of the locomotive. The last number represents the wheels in the Trailer Truck under the rear of the locomotive.

EXAMPLE: A locomotive with 4 wheels in the pilot truck, 6 driving wheels, and 2 wheels in the trailer truck would be identified as a 4-6-2 Locomotive.

EXAMPLE: A locomotive with no pilot truck, 8 driving wheels and no trailer truck would be identified as an 0-8-0 Locomotive.

Care should be taken when using this method, as pilot and trailer trucks are often the first parts to be removed & lost by youthful mechanics seeking to improve the high-speed characteristics of their trains. A large empty space or obviously amputated parts at the front or rear of a locomotive is a sure sign of a missing pilot or trailer truck. American Flyer used ONLY 4-Wheel pilot trucks on its Steam locomotives. 4-wheel trailer trucks were only used on the #320 series NYC 4-6-4 Hudsons and #330 series UP 4-8-4 Northerns.

Below is a list of American Flyer Locomotive wheel arrangements. Select Wheel Arrangement AND Description that matches your locomotive to find the correct series type link to the exploded view.

LINKS TO VIEWS & PARTS LISTS FOR STEAM LOCOS

0-6-0 With No Tender Type = Docksider

0-6-0 With Slant Tender Type = 21000 Sorry No Information Available

0-8-0   = 340

4-4-0 With Funnel Type Smokestack Type = OldTimer

4-4-0 With Straight Smokestack Type = Casey Jones

4-4-2 Type = 300

4-6-2 With Plastic Body Type = 280

4-6-2 With Tank in front of Smokestack Type = 290

4-6-2 With Removable Boiler Front Type = 310

4-6-2 With Bullet Nose Type = 350

4-6-4 Type = 320

4-8-4 Type = 330

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LINKS TO DIAGRAMS & PARTS LISTS FOR DIESEL LOCOS

JUMP TO DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE TYPES: 

I 360 Series I 400 Series I 499 Series I 370 Series I

I Baldwin Switcher Series  I  EMD F-9 Series I

Identifying Diesel Locomotive Types

American Flyer made 5 types of Diesel Locomotives. The model number printed on the locomotive body can be used to identify the type. The exception to this is the GM GP-7 series, which in most cases carries the model number on lighted number boards at the front and rear of the body.

Not included in the Exploded Views & Parts Lists are the Extremely Rare "Comet", "Rocket", "Silver Flash" & 5-Digit "Santa-Fe" Alco PB add-on units.

For each type series a list of the locomotive model numbers found in that type are listed. Use the link following the list of model numbers to select for the Exploded View Diagram & Parts List that is correct for those specific models of that type of locomotive.
Note that the numbers shown in parentheses Do Not appear on the locomotive. 
Paired or triple-set locomotives are represented by two or three numbers separated by slash marks where the first number is the motorized locomotive and the following number or numbers is the non-powered portion of the set.

360 Series Alco PA/PB Streamlined Locomotive

#s 360/361** & 360/364** CLICK HERE

400 Series Alco PA Streamlined Locomotive

PA ONLY With Single Motor: CLICK HERE

#s (405)* "Silver Streak", 466, 472**, 479, 481, 497, 21551, 21561, 21920 & 21927

PA Sets With Twin Motor: CLICK HERE

PA/PB Pair # 477/478

PA/PA Pair- #s 474/475, 490/492, 494/495, 21920/21920-1, 21922/21922-1, 21925/21925-1

PA/PB/PA Triple-Set- #s 470/471/473**, 484/485/486, 490/491/493,

21910/21910-1/21910-2

*All Chrome Silver Locomotive No Number, "Silver Streak" on orange decal strips.

** All Chrome Silver or Silver w/Red Nose Locomotive, Number on Yellow Decal Squares on sides, "Santa Fe" Printed on Sides, Yellow "Santa Fe" or "Chief" Decal on Nose. Locomotives with Link & Pin Coupler & Fibre Drawbar are 360 Series, Locomotives with Knuckle Couplers & Single Motor are #472, Locomotives With Twin Motors are #470/471/473 set.

499 Series GE EP-5 Electric Locomotive

#s 499 & 21573 CLICK HERE

370 Series GM GP-7 Switcher Locomotive

With Link Coupler Bars # 370 CLICK HERE

With Knuckle Couplers #s 371, 372, 375 (GM Demo. Colors), (21)234 & 21831 CLICK HERE

Power & Dummy Pairs #s 375/374 (Texas & Pacific) 
& 377/378 CLICK HERE

"Baldwin" Series Switcher Locomotive

Single Locomotive #s 355, 21801, 21812 & 21813 CLICK HERE

Power & Dummy Pairs #s 21801/21801-1 & 
21918/21918-1 CLICK HERE

EMD F-9 Series Streamlined Locomotive

Single Locomotive #s L2004, 21205 & 21210 CLICK HERE

Power & Dummy Pairs- Model #s 21205/21205-1, 21206/21206-1, 21207/21207-1, 21215/21215-1 & 21215/21216 CLICK HERE

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Motorized Units

American Flyer manufactured two self-propelled cars. The first was a Handcar with two men, the second was a Track Maintenance Car.

The 740 Series Handcar came in three models, the plain #740, the #740A with a notch on one end of the chassis where a drawbar could be mounted to pull 3 tipple cars, and the #742 which mounted a push-rod activated reverse mechanism. 
No numbers are printed on the Handcar:
Model #'s 740,740A,742  CLICK HERE

The #23743 Track Maintenance Car has a yellow body with molded plastic handrails at both ends. The number is printed on the side of the car. To our knowledge A.C. Gilbert provided no Parts List or Exploded View Diagrams of this unit.

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What Is Not In This Book

This information covers American Flyer locomotives and powered units produced by the A.C. Gilbert Company from 1948 to 1967. Painstaking research has been done to make this information as accurate and comprehensive as possible. However no diagrams and parts lists are available for locomotives produced by the A. C. Gilbert Company prior to the establishment of its Authorized Service Station System in 1948. Therefore no parts listings and exploded views are available for the following Steam Engine models: Smoke in tender models 312, 321, 322,332 , 342 ;also models 310, 320, 21004, 21005. Diesels not included in the Exploded Views & Parts Lists are the Extremely Rare "Comet", "Rocket", "Silver Flash" & 5-Digit "Santa-Fe" Alco PB add-on units. Also, no information exists for the 23743 track maintenance car.

Also, it is important to note that not all parts used in the construction of American Flyer trains are still available. The parts listings associated with the exploded views show part numbers and quick links for ordering all parts available from www.TrainRepairParts.com . Beginning with the purchase of the entire A.C. Gilbert factory repair parts inventory in 1968, Hobby Surplus Sales has maintained the most comprehensive supply of original parts direct from the A.C. Gilbert factory as well as reproduction parts obtained from manufactures throughout the world. This listing is continuously updated on the Internet at www.TrainRepairParts.com .

Note that the parts listing provided on this website only include part numbers that you can order from us.  Parts currently in stock are indicated by a blue add to order button, parts temporarily out of stock are indicated by a red add to order button.  If a part shown on the parts diagram is not available from us, we indicate this in the parts listing by the words "Not Available" next to the key number for that part. 

However, our newly published book containing these new parts diagrams and parts lists includes all know part numbers in the parts listings, including those parts which are not available from us.  If you are interested in this  more complete and comprehensive version of the information provided on our website order our 145 page book:

American Flyer Factory Parts Department
Comprehensive Exploded Views and Parts Lists
Volume I: Steam & Diesel Locomotives
 (2001 CHD , Inc.)  CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Finally, while the exploded view diagrams show on this website do provide a visual reference for the correct assembly it is beyond the information provided here to give repair instructions or guidance. Several books and manuals containing train repair instructions, tips and hints as well as reprints of original American Flyer consumer information and service station instructions have been published over the years.

CLICK HERE for information about Service manuals.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks go to the countless American Flyer collectors, operators, and parts dealers who through their association with Hobby Surplus Sales over the years have provided the support, encouragement, and much vital information to make this information possible. If the reader has comments, additions, or corrections to this information please contact us by email.

Without Eric Hyland's initiative, tireless efforts, painstaking research, and careful attention to detail this  would not be the valuable addition to the body of American Flyer repair knowledge that it is. His encyclopedic knowledge of the intricacies involved in the production, operation, and repair of American Flyer trains is evident in extensively edited, compiled and corrected diagrams and parts lists that comprise the body of this section of our website.

Most importantly it is Vincent Amato's original purchase of the A.C. Gilbert parts department, his foresight to preserve the original factory documentation, and his tenacious efforts to unravel the mysteries of American Flyer parts over the past three decades that makes this information possible. His initial attempts to organize and catalog the hundreds of thousands of repair parts he removed from the A.C. Gilbert factory grew into a never ending research project into the minutia and obscure methodology used by the Gilbert Factory. As a result, many previously unknown part numbers were correctly identified, and errors in previous published American Flyer repair information were corrected and this information.

American Flyer and A.C. Gilbert are registered trademarks of Lionel Trains. This website and the newly published book containing this information is neither authorized nor approved by Lionel.

American Flyer Factory Parts Department
Comprehensive Exploded Views and Parts Lists
Volume I: Steam & Diesel Locomotives
 (2001 CHD , Inc.)  CLICK HERE TO ORDER

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