While growing up in Woodhaven in the borough of Queens in New York City in the 1950's, I had Gilbert American Flyer trains, while all of my neighbors had Lionel. I particularly liked my American Flyer S gauge trains for several reasons: The steam locos seemed more to scale (3/16") and better proportioned than many of the Lionel engines, The puffing smoke and "choo-choo" sounds were very realistic for the day, and I can still smell that wonderful pine-scented smoke fluid! The tubular two-rail track had a "T" rail shape, and in conjunction with the AF rubber roadbed, looked pretty realistic. I especially remember the terminal station and its accompanying train shed with platforms. The oil drum loader was one of my favorite accessories, along with the operating mail car. I had two favorite sets: the 5 car A-B-A North Coast Limited set and a work train with all-diecast frame cars, pulled by a Nickle Plate Road 0-8-0 switcher. Two other steam locos were the K5 and the diecast Atlantic with metal tender. Another favorite was the hand car set with three mine dump cars. I also had the operating AF semaphore with relays built into the base, and along with two track trips, could control two different trains on the same track. Another favorite accessory was the black bridge with the bridge tender's shack on the top. The New Haven style passenger cars were also nice and I had a set in red. I also had a green heavyweight set pulled by a Hudson. I had great fun with my Gilbert Flyer in my youth. Alas, in 1958, upon turning sixteen, I sold my trains and got into a new hobby: a reel to reel stereo tape recorder! Ah, memories! 
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