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Hi Everyone...
I am looking for something that I hope you guys can help me with, but I also thought this might be a good place for a few comments & questions...
 
I consider myself very fortunate in recently being able to order the American Flyer Red 4689 Presidential loco from Phil at JR Junction. Phil sure has a way of making this stuff fun, thank you for the terrific sale Phil! I've been dazzled by this loco ever since it hit the catalog!
 
Also just a couple comments I hope come across as beng constructive...if there was ever one thing I can't begin to understand, it's the tiny photo's MTH/Lionel use to market their products. I'm talking of their online advertising...If I manufactured something as absolutely gorgeous as these sets, I would put out the biggest, brightest boldest photo you'd ever set eye's on of the product! Actually I'd have a dozen photo's. I'd plaster it everywhere... I do realize it's in their catalogs, but a "real photo" would go an awful long way helping to advertise (In my humble opinion). The catalogs online load very slow for me so accessing them isn't much of an option. The "stock photo" of the Std Gauge presidential set on my monitor shows up about 1/2" tall by 6" wide. I just find it unusual that such a cool thing as the old tinplate sets isn't promoted better is all. Am I the only one who thinks like this?   
 
Also, I am curious, I know MTH or Lionel would never provide production numbers and this matters to me little other than getting my hopes up for finding a set of the cars, but does anyone even have a clue as to how many of these sets would have been manufactured? A hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand? Any way of knowing if there is any hope they'll make another round of them in the future? So far I have not been able to find the cars. Anyone have any suggestions towards that end? Perhaps I might get lucky and find a set at a show some day, although most shows are a minimum of a few hours away & I usually don't get to them unfortunately.
 
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the help...
Last edited by mtj54
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I think I better play the lottery this weekend. Had some great luck today. I have searched high and low for a set of the cars, preferring to purchase them from a forum sponsor, but they are pretty much impossible to find sponsor or not. Well, ten minutes ago I found a set. I used a different search engine that I normally use, and I found a set listed on "The Western Depot" website. I called immediately, got hold of Robert, and a nicer person you'll never talk with. And not only that, but Robert not being one to take advantage, even offered me free shipping on the set. That's no small thing this day and age. 

 

So a huge thank you to Robert at The Western Depot...you made my day! 

Jim,

Thanks for posting those! I'll be staring at them till the boxes get here :-)  Actually, it was one of your photo's that tipped the scale for me on the red Presidential loco....you had posted a photo somewhere of your 4689 sitting in front of your white station. Once I saw that I knew there was no going back! Absolutely gorgeous!

Jim...

I took one look at that gorgeous red color in the photo's you posted & all the writing in the world wouldn't of mattered because I was looking at nothing but the color red at that point :-)

 

Terry, it truly is a beautiful set. This is by far the nicest set I've ever been fortunate enough to purchase. No blue Comets or State sets in my collection although real soon I'll have to set my next goal & those would sure be a great way to go. I've been thinking of this set since they came out a couple years ago and it looks like I'm getting in at just the right time. Can't even fully explain why but that 1928 American Flyer catalog cover was always my favorite. Took me several years just to figure out the red set was only on the catalog, not ever made...

 

Thanks guys...very cool.

Last edited by mtj54
I'm glad you found the passenger set Mark!  You will have a beautiful set when your boxes arrive.
 
 
 
 
Originally Posted by mtj54:

I think I better play the lottery this weekend. Had some great luck today. I have searched high and low for a set of the cars, preferring to purchase them from a forum sponsor, but they are pretty much impossible to find sponsor or not. Well, ten minutes ago I found a set. I used a different search engine that I normally use, and I found a set listed on "The Western Depot" website. I called immediately, got hold of Robert, and a nicer person you'll never talk with. And not only that, but Robert not being one to take advantage, even offered me free shipping on the set. That's no small thing this day and age. 

 

So a huge thank you to Robert at The Western Depot...you made my day! 

 

Last edited by JR Junction Train & Hobby

Hey Phil...

If Terry keeps posting photo's like that I'm going to have to put you on speed dial :-)

 

Actually now all I need to do is figure out a way to sneak a 10 foot long standard gauge train into the house :-)

 

Hmm...wall of trains, I don't have one of those......yet...you ever notice there are far too many toys and far to little time to enjoy them all...and maybe not quite enough funds also! Love the picture Terry...I'm rooting for you right now more than me, looks like you have just enough room for that Mayflower set...

Forgotten Branch...I can help you out with those numbers.

The 4 car passenger set numbers are 11-40072

The loco I purchased was the Traditional version # 11-2031-0

The proto-sound 3 version number would be 11-2031-1

Chris, great video's! Love the freight cars behind the Presidential loco...

American Flyer Red Presidential Locomotive

Long as I'm posting....found something else kind of interesting awhile back...neat Flyer brochure...

flyer1

Attachments

Images (2)
  • American Flyer Red Presidential Locomotive
  • American Flyer Brochure

Thank you very much for the stock numbers & additional information.  This is an example of why I enjoy collecting trains so much...  The general feeling of camaraderie ( SP? ) and willingness of collectors to share their knowledge with each other.  Nobody can ever have ALL the answers by themselves.  But by sharing information & experience,  the community of collectors provides one another with endless possibilities for learning.  Once again...  I Thank You. 

Red President's Special.

I am a recent forum member and a Standard gauge enthusiast. I read this thread from 2015 of how a search and collaborative effort of fellow members enabled a member to secure the MTH Red President’s Special set. I am in that exact situation now. Hoping that someone may have some leads and strategies to procure one knowing that its is harder today than it was a few years ago. Any advice will help.

I am also looking for 1. The Flying Colonel 2. The Red Comet Cars and 3. The Legionnaire Special.
Much thanks for your support.

Ash Rajan
973-718-1275

Hello Ash, and welcome to a very exclusive club...  And I understand your frustration.  There don't seem to be as many of us standard gauge followers today, as there were just a short ten years ago.  Which is why I believe most of the beautiful standard gauge trains being re-issued over the last few years have all been short-runs in terms of number produced.  With a shrinking number of standard gauge collectors in the market place, the manufacturers are worried about getting stuck with un-sold inventory if they make too many units.  As for myself...  I never did manage to acquire that Red Presidents Special you were admiring.  However, several years ago, I did stumble across a nice Flying Colonial in a small out of the way train store while on vacation.  The place was called "The Holly Beach Train Store" located in wildwood NJ.  I walked in the door on a whim, not really expecting to see any standard gauge.  And the owner had this elegant set on the wall as a display piece with a sale price of $ 1399.00.  ( including all the individual boxes, paperwork, and the master carton used for shipping .  I thought about that for maybe two minutes, before asking if he'd take a check with my TCA number, and he said yes !   It's been up on my own wall ever since.  Of course, now that I'm getting ready to retire, I may be willing to consider letting some of my more recent acquisitions find a new home.         

Forgotten Branch, your kind and sensitive reply is well taken. I could use some of that practical wisdom. If you have an opportunity for us to speak on the phone if the rules allow I would really appreciate it. I am very interested in your generous notion of maybe open to a few pieces from your collection. I am a young hobbyist. I am fair and not a re-seller. This hobby needs more people like me to keep it alive for along time. I am getting my son into it as well. My cell # is 973-718-1275 and my email address is ashrajan5124@gmail.com

Forgotten-Branch posted:

Hello Ash, and welcome to a very exclusive club...  And I understand your frustration.  There don't seem to be as many of us standard gauge followers today, as there were just a short ten years ago.  Which is why I believe most of the beautiful standard gauge trains being re-issued over the last few years have all been short-runs in terms of number produced.  With a shrinking number of standard gauge collectors in the market place, the manufacturers are worried about getting stuck with un-sold inventory if they make too many units.  As for myself...  I never did manage to acquire that Red Presidents Special you were admiring.  However, several years ago, I did stumble across a nice Flying Colonial in a small out of the way train store while on vacation.  The place was called "The Holly Beach Train Store" located in wildwood NJ.  I walked in the door on a whim, not really expecting to see any standard gauge.  And the owner had this elegant set on the wall as a display piece with a sale price of $ 1399.00.  ( including all the individual boxes, paperwork, and the master carton used for shipping&nbsp.  I thought about that for maybe two minutes, before asking if he'd take a check with my TCA number, and he said yes !   It's been up on my own wall ever since.  Of course, now that I'm getting ready to retire, I may be willing to consider letting some of my more recent acquisitions find a new home.         

Forgotten Branch, your kind and sensitive reply is well taken. I could use some of that practical wisdom. If you have an opportunity for us to speak on the phone if the rules allow I would really appreciate it. I am very interested in your generous notion of maybe open to a few pieces from your collection. I am a young hobbyist. I am fair and not a re-seller. This hobby needs more people like me to keep it alive for along time. I am getting my son into it as well. My cell # is 973-718-1275 and my email address is ashrajan5124@gmail.com

Forgotten-Branch posted:

Hello Ash, and welcome to a very exclusive club...  And I understand your frustration.  There don't seem to be as many of us standard gauge followers today, as there were just a short ten years ago.  Which is why I believe most of the beautiful standard gauge trains being re-issued over the last few years have all been short-runs in terms of number produced.  With a shrinking number of standard gauge collectors in the market place, the manufacturers are worried about getting stuck with un-sold inventory if they make too many units.  As for myself...  I never did manage to acquire that Red Presidents Special you were admiring.  However, several years ago, I did stumble across a nice Flying Colonial in a small out of the way train store while on vacation.  The place was called "The Holly Beach Train Store" located in wildwood NJ.  I walked in the door on a whim, not really expecting to see any standard gauge.  And the owner had this elegant set on the wall as a display piece with a sale price of $ 1399.00.  ( including all the individual boxes, paperwork, and the master carton used for shipping&nbsp.  I thought about that for maybe two minutes, before asking if he'd take a check with my TCA number, and he said yes !   It's been up on my own wall ever since.  Of course, now that I'm getting ready to retire, I may be willing to consider letting some of my more recent acquisitions find a new home.         

Hi Forgotten-Branch!

I am also very into std gauge trains and would be interested to hear bout any items you plan on selling.  Please contact me at michaelcoreyduke@gmail.com

Thanks.

Dear fellow members,  For the benefit of anyone who's trying to contact me...  I would like to apologize.  Please be aware that I am the Forgotten Branch line for a reason.  I am one of those crazy old timers who doesn't own a smart phone, doesn't own a computer, does not text, and doesn't have internet access in his house.  As technology goes, I prefer my 80 - 100 year old trains.  The phone in our house still has a rotary dial. ( Believe it or not, the wife & I are happy with that. )  As for cell phones, the company I work for has rather extreme penalties for any driver who gets caught using one while on duty in our vehicles. Which is where I can be found between 9-Am & 6-Pm every day.  ( we have our own version of On-Star in our vehicles, so we are never out of touch with our dispatchers   Which is why I never bothered to get a cell phone.  My on-line access is limited to using one of the 2 courtesy PC's in our company's break room, which allows us to check our E-Mail during lunch, or at the end of the day.  But they usually have a waiting line ( like today ).  So there's no guarantee I 'll actually get to use one any given day.  That said, the best way to reach me is call me up on my Land-Line and talk to me the old fashioned way at (908) 769-6421.   We do have an answering machine, and it gives you 2 minutes worth of cassette tape for each message.    Depending on how many packages I need to deliver on any given day, I usually park my big brown truck in the yard between 6:00  &  6:30, and make it home sometime between 7:30  & 8:00-ish.   I apologize to anyone thinks I'm ignoring them.  Please,  That's not what I'm doing...   I just don't have the same connectivity that some of you have...  So please be patient with me.         

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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