Not long ago on the Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown: Egypt Live, the host Josh Gates had the excitement of opening a sarcophagus containing a 2,500 year old mummy. It reminded me of the archaeological dig I was on for 5 weeks in Israel while I was in Seminary. There is an unmatched excitement to revealing something that has been hidden from sight for the first time in centuries.
Collecting trains can be a bit like that. You never know what you might find in an old cardboard box tucked away in a dark attic, basement or closet. Recently this box came into my possession.
While the set number has faded away the label is recognizable as coming from the prewar era. Open the box and the excitement continues.
More boxes!
And these boxes still had the numbers of their contents stamped on them.
And the best discovery of all was finding the engine, tender, and cars in the boxes.
With a little research in the American Flyer catalogs it was possible to discover more information about this set. This is Set No.5, Northwestern Passenger from 1938.
Automatic Couplers
This is my kind of archaeology.
Have a Great Tinplate Weekend
Northwoods Flyer
Greg
