The American Flyer 102 - Central Station. This station was first cataloged in 1928, which lists the station as having orange chimneys and an orange base.
The Central Station was carried through into Gilbert production, with the base and chimneys being painted red in the Gilbert years.
There are 3 variations for the early Central Station with orange base and chimneys. I am not sure of the dates of these variations.
The first variation has Central Station plates on the front of the roof and on the sides of the roof. I believe this is the earliest variation, as going to a single Central Station plate would be less expensive. This variation has a smooth enamel roof. I am not sure, but given the scarcity of the 3 plate version, I suspect this version to be from 1928 only.
Another variation of the orange base / orange chimney version has a green crackle paint roof surface. This variation is also uncommon. I have no idea of when the crackle paint roof version was made.
I don't have a photo of the smooth green roof with a single Central Station plate and orange base and chimneys, but as it is similar enough to the above photos, I don't see it as vital. Maybe someone else can post a photo of this version.
The next photo shows the red base / red chimney variation
Although this next one is the 110 Union Station (and mine is a reproduction), I thought I would include it in this heading because it was only cataloged in 1928 and really does not fit with any other Flyer stations. It is massive.
It even looks cool lighted up, as there are 4 interior lights in the building and 1 in the clocktower.
NWL
