American Flyer - Prewar Tunnel Variation Guide

Unfortunately, my knowledge of tunnels from the teens, is essentially non-existent.  I simply have not observed any tunnels from the teens that I could verify the dates of.  The tin tunnel pictured above, is shown in the 1910 catalog.  The 1914 catalog does not show its tunnel in great detail, but again that should be a German manufactured tunnel.

The 1916 catalog appears to show the first composition style tunnels and lists the following tunnels:

80 - 6.5 inches long

81 - 8.5 inches long

82 - 11 inches long

83 - 14 inches long

84 - 16 inches long

The 1917 Dealer's Price List indicates the following tunnels:

81 - 8.5 inch straight tunnel

82 - 11 inch straight tunnel

83 - inch straight tunnel

84A - 16 inch straight tunnel

84B - 16 inch curved tunnel

85 - 19 inch straight tunnel

The 1919 catalog lists only the

82 - 10 inches long

83 - 14.5 inches long

I would suspect that these tunnels likely look similar to the tunnels from the early 1920s, but like I said, I have never observed one that I could verify the date of.

The following tunnel is a #82 tunnel that came with a boxed #19 set from 1921.  Side A

Side B

This is tunnel #83, which came with a boxed 1921 set.  Side A

Side B

The 1921 foldout lists tunnels

81 - 8 inches long

82 - 10 inches long

83 - 15 inches long

84 - 18 inches long

NWL

So here are a few early miscellaneous items

A boxed 82 Tunnel.  This is not mine and I thought I had a picture of the tunnel itself, but could not find it.  So here is a picture of the box.  Finding boxed O gauge tunnels is rare, but I have seen a few.

This next tunnel measures 9.5 inches long.  I suspect it would be a #81 tunnel, as the tunnel portals seem to bow outward on each end.  Side A

Side B

A 12.5 inch tunnel.  Can't really say what number this would be, but suspect somewhere between 82 and 83.  Side A

Side B

Next up is a 14 inch long tunnel.  Suspect this is an 83 tunnel.  Side A

Side B

NWL

This next tunnel is one of my favorites.  I have noted that this tunnel in particular is always hand decorated and each one seems to vary in decorating.  So here are several examples of Tunnel 85, a 2 piece composite tunnel that was packaged individually and also included in boxed set #1228.

This tunnel is most interesting also due to the fact that each side is different.

The first variation came to me as an individually boxed item and this particular one has the best decorating that I have observed.

As the following examples show, not all of the #85 tunnels are decorated so nicely as the above example

Another variation

Another variation

Lastly, an end view of the 85 tunnel.  The tunnel is held together with 2 metal clips, which often go missing.

NWL

I guess one thing I should add, is that there apparently were several different suppliers of tunnels to American Flyer over the years.  I think this is mentioned in either the Greenberg's guide, or more likely in the American Flyer Collector Club's magazine "The Collector".  I suspect the different suppliers account for the different look of the tunnels over the years.  I know that the 81, 82, 83, and 84 tunnels feature a relatively distinctive look and are somewhat lighter in construction as compared to the later tunnels, which will be featured in the upcoming posts.  

NWL

The 1922 catalog lists only an 82 tunnel at 10 inches, but if one reads through the set descriptions, for sets showing tunnels, a 15 inch tunnel is listed in set 1228, a 9.5 inch tunnel in set 1221 and also in set 19

However, the 1922 Dealer's price list indicates the following tunnels:

81 - 8 inch tunnel

82 - 10 inch tunnel

83 - 15 inch tunnel

84 - 18 inch tunnel

85 - Special Art tunnel

The 1923 catalog again only lists the 82 tunnel, but in reading through the descriptions Tunnel 83 / 14 inches is listed with set 1228 and a 9.5 inch tunnel is listed with sets 19 and 1221.

The 1923 Dealer's price list indicates the following tunnels:

81 - 8 inch tunnel

82 - 10 inch tunnel

83 - 14 inch tunnel

83-S - 16 inch tunnel

84 - 18 inch tunnel

The 1924 catalog again only lists the 82 tunnel, but in reading through the descriptions Tunnel 83 / 14 inches is listed with set 1228 and a 9.5 inch tunnel is listed with sets 19 and 1221.

The 1924 foldout shows a 2 piece 85 tunnel with set 1228 (and I have acquired a boxed set 1228 with the 2 piece tunnel)

The 1924 Dealer's price list indicates the following tunnels:

81 - 8 inch tunnel

82 - 10 inch tunnel

83 - 14 inch tunnel

83-S - 16 inch tunnel

84 - 18 inch tunnel

NWL

American Flyer either started using a new supplier in 1925, or their supplier changed its manufacturing style.  The 1925 and 1926 catalogs list the same tunnels, in 2 separate columns.

The first column is the newer style tunnels and describes the tunnels as "Hand Moulded Plaster Cement"

4255 - an 18 inch long tunnel for standard gauge

4256 - a 22 inch long tunnel for standard gauge

251 - an 8.5 inch tunnel for O gauge

252 - a 10 inch long tunnel for O gauge

253 - a 14.5 inch long tunnel for O gauge

254 - a 17 inch long tunnel for O gauge

The second column appears to be the older style tunnels, as described in my previous posts.  I base this on the tunnel numbers, but they tunnels are described as "Moulded Papier Mache" and are listed as

81 - 9 inches

82 - 10 inches

83 - 14.75 inches

84 - 18 inches

86 - 16.5 inches

 The 1925-1926 Dealer's price lists further notes the older tunnels to be "Type A" and the newer tunnels to be "Type K"

So here are some pictures of the 4255 Tunnel.  I will say that I cannot date these tunnels to a specific year, but I suspect that the second version (with the vegetation) would be the earliest version and the one below (with the box) is a later version.

Below is another 4255 variation, this one with vegetation (applied sponges)

I have not observed a 4256 tunnel, but suspect it looks similar, but longer.

As far as the other new tunnels for 1925-1926, my observations are that these tunnels are a little bit more crude in their paint and moulding than the later tunnels.  For instance, note that the roads on these tunnels are more of a line of paint than a moulded roadway.  Therefore, I suspect that the following is a 252 tunnel from the 1925-1926 era, as it measures 10 inches long.  Side A

Side B

NWL

1927 was the 20th Anniversary of American Flyer, but represented less than half of the variations of prewar tunnels.  I should note that I am only covering prewar tunnels through 1937, as that is the era I collect.

In 1927 American Flyer still listed the 4255 and 4256 tunnels for standard gauge, but their O gauge offerings changed to 

241 - 8 inch tunnel

242 - 10 inch tunnel

243 - 14 inch tunnel

244 - 16 inch tunnel

The tunnels still looked somewhat crude and I should note that the 1925 through 1928 tunnels all feature what I would consider more of a flat, non-glossy paint.

The tunnel below is a 243 tunnel that came in a boxed 1927 Bluebird set that I purchased from the original owner's estate, Side A

Side B

End

I have just discovered that this tunnel is the 244 16 inch tunnel from 1927.  There is a photo of Billy's layout at the beginning of the 1927 catalog that shows a large tunnel with the road and building orientation similar to this tunnel.

I don't have any other Tunnels that I can verify to be from 1927. 

NWL

1928 represents another change for the tunnels.  For the first time American Flyer devotes a whole page in the catalog to tunnels and they also start naming the tunnels.  They also show artwork for each of the tunnels. 

The catalog lists the standard gauge tunnels as:

4254 - Allegheny - 19.5 inches, as pictured below

The other standard gauge offering was the 4257 - Cascade - 23 inches, which features 2 telegraph poles mounted on the top.  Side A

Side B

End view

One notable feature of the 1928 only Cascade tunnel is this bridge railing

The bridge railing can be dated to 1928 only, due to the observation of an original boxed 4257 tunnel and the fact that the Cascade tunnel features a new number and glossy paint for 1929.

The 1928 catalog also lists the following O gauge tunnels

251 - Hudson - 8 inches

252 - Hoosac - 11 inches

253 - Moffat - 15 inches

Below is a Moffat tunnel that is from 1928, Note that the building is on the opposite end from the Moffat tunnel of 1929 (which has a label inside).  This tunnel is only 15 inches long and that is the length described in the 1928 catalog, with the 1927 large tunnel being 16 inches long and the 1929 Moffat tunnel being 16 inches long.  

Side A

Side B

Note the 2 roads painted on the sides of the tunnel do not meet.  

NWL

The 1929 catalog again devotes a whole page to tunnels, but there are some things to note.  First, the artwork is simply re-used from the 1928 catalog, but the descriptions and tunnel numbers change.

The standard gauge tunnels are now numbered 4266 - Alleghany - 16 inches, and no I did not spell Alleghany incorrect, it is spelled that way in the catalog.

These tunnels are the same design as the 1928 tunnels, but feature glossy paint.  In 1929, the tunnels feature labels on their inside.  The tunnel labels appear for a short time only and I will detail that further later.

Here is an Allegheny tunnel label

And photos of a 4266 Tunnel (note this tunnel does not have a label inside of it), side A

Side B

At some point, the Allegheny tunnel also gets a plate above the opening of the portal on one side.  The above tunnel does not have the plate on it, but the 4267 - Cascade - 23 inch tunnel below has it.

The descriptions of the O gauge tunnels differs slightly in 1929.  Again, the numbers change slightly, but only 3 tunnels are shown in the catalog (again, it appears to be somewhat of stock artwork first used in the 1928 catalog).  The catalog lists the following tunnels and notes:

261 - Hudson - 8 inches long (as Illustrated)

Side A

side b

end

262 - Blue Ridge - 10 inches long (Not illustrated) 

I don't have a photo of a Blue Ridge tunnel with a label inside, so I will post the Blue Ridge tunnel later.

263 - Hoosac - 12 inches

264 - Moffat - 16 inches

NWL

OK, I mentioned there was a way to date the tunnel labels.  Here it is:

The 261 Hudson tunnel

The 261 Hudson tunnel was cataloged only in 1929.  Therefore, these labels were used in at least 1929.  I cannot verify any other years, but can say, that I have never observed any labels with tunnel names that do not appear in the 1929 catalog.  

The 1930 catalog again shows the same artwork that was used in the 1928 and 1929 catalogs, but again the descriptions change, at least for the O gauge tunnels.

I correct that, whoever mis-spelled Alleghany in the 1929 catalog, appears to have corrected their spelling for the 1930 catalog.  LOL!

Again the 4266 Allegheny and 4267 Cascade tunnels are shown.

The O gauge tunnels for 1930 include:

260 - Washington - 6.5 inches.  (Not Illustrated)

This tunnel is listed as being part of the Queen City windup set and I found my first one in a Nation Wide Lines boxed set that essentially is the same as the Queen City set.

Note, this tunnel does not have a house/building moulded into the side of it and it is the first tunnel that came without the house/building.

The 262 - Blue Ridge - 10 inch tunnel is listed, Side A

Side B

The 263 Hoosac and 264 Moffat tunnels are also listed.

Not listed with a separate sale description, but shown and described with "The Clipper" set is an 8.5 inch long tunnel.  Here is the one that came with my boxed Clipper set

NWL

The 1931 catalog changes the artwork, so that only 1 O gauge tunnel is illustrated and 1 standard gauge tunnel is illustrated.

The catalog lists the same numbers as 1930

Standard gauge tunnels 4266 and 4267

O gauge tunnels 260, 262, 263, and 264.

The description of the tunnel with the Clipper set is 8 inches and the description for the tunnel with the Railroader set is #261 - 8 inches.  Although from the description it sounds like they are using the 261 Hudson tunnel from 1929, my original Railroader set came with a tunnel that is identical to the tunnel with my Clipper set

The Dealer's price list further lists an "Express" tunnel that is 10 inches long (Note it is the same length as the 262 Blue Ridge tunnel).  The notable difference between the Express and Blue Ridge tunnels is the price, with the Express tunnel having a suggested retail price of $0.55 and the Blue Ridge tunnel having a suggested retail price of $1.00.

So what is the "Express" tunnel?  My best guess is that it is the following tunnel, which is illustrated with the Empire City and Skylark windup sets.  The tunnel pictured below came with a boxed Nation Wide Lines set that is identical to a Skylark set.

Until I purchased my boxed set, I would have never guessed that this was a Flyer tunnel, but in comparing it to various Flyer artwork images, I concluded that it is Flyer.  Additionally, I will add that I only noted the listing for the Express tunnel in the Dealer's price list while writing this post.

The above tunnel features very cheap / thin construction as compared to the more expensive tunnels, but 1931 was the middle of the depression, so American Flyer had to find some way to make the lower end sets more affordable.

NWL

So this is where Flyer and tunnels can be confusing.

The 1932 catalog shows the same artwork as the 1931 catalog, but again the descriptions are different.

The standard gauge tunnels are again the 4266 and 4267 tunnels.

But the O gauge tunnels have slightly different descriptions

261 - Jefferson - 8.5 inches.  So this appears to confirm that the tunnel shown in the Clipper and Railroader sets, is not the 261 Hudson tunnel, as although it has the same number, it has a different name.

The 262, 263, and 264 tunnels feature the same descriptions.

The dealer's price list now includes the Jefferson tunnel, but no longer includes the "Express" tunnel.  I note that the Skylark set artwork appears to still show the Express tunnel, but the Empire City artwork now shows a more conventional tunnel similar to the Jefferson tunnel.

The 1933 catalog shows similar artwork and descriptions to the 1933 catalog, with the exception that the Skylark and Empire City sets are no longer cataloged.  A new Warrior windup set is cataloged, which shows a more conventional tunnel, no length listed.

1934 brings new / upgraded tunnel options.  

First, I will note that the 4266 Allegheny tunnel is no longer listed.  The 4267 tunnel is still listed, but no name is associated with it.

A new 4268 standard gauge tunnel is listed, with the prominent mention that it is a lighted tunnel.

The 4268 tunnel is simply the 4266 Allegheny tunnel with lights installed on one end.

For the O gauge line, a similar development, the 261, 262, and 263 tunnels are still listed, again no names listed in the catalog and a new 245 tunnel is listed.

The 245 tunnel is simply the 264 Moffat tunnel with lights installed.

They look a bit better when lighted up

NWL

The 1935 catalog now shows only a single tunnel image and now only lists 3 tunnels

O gauge listings include:

261 - 8.5 inch tunnel

247 - 11 inch tunnel

I was able to identify the 247 tunnel simply due to acquiring one with a price tag on the inside that listed the number.

Note that this tunnel does not have a building moulded into the side.

Both of the above tunnels being listed as Non-lighted tunnels.

A single lighted tunnel is listed as

246 - 15.5 inches and it is noted that it works with either standard gauge or O gauge.  

First, I would note that although it is listed for either standard or O gauge, this tunnel does not have the clearance for some of the earlier Wide Gauge locomotives with pantographs on the top.

Again, it looks better lighted

NWL

The 1936 catalog only lists 2 tunnels,

The 247, which is shown above and the 248 - 15 inch long tunnel

The 248 tunnel was difficult to initially identify, but I finally realized that this odd tunnel I purchased many years ago was 15 inches long and matched the characteristics of the 247 tunnel.

NWL

Finally, 1937, the last year the company was owned by WO Coleman.

In 1937, only a single tunnel is listed.

The 242 is described as being 10.5 inches long. Like the 248 tunnel, I realized that due to the characteristics of the tunnel and the length of the tunnel that it is a 242 tunnel

NWL