American Flyer U.S.M. 37 Division Box Car

Harry,

It came in 1959 set 20525 the Defender. The boxcar is accompanied by a yellow rocket launching car and the combo was assigned # 25056. The boxcar actually plugs into the rocket launch flatcar for operation via the track trip. It is possible the pair may have been sold separately as closeouts although not listed in succeeding catalogs.

Rich

 Why would they have a box load / unloading mechanism ? Doyle's book dose  not mention the box ejection part. The car is mint, other then the  lead wire from the car is missing.  Harry 

The pair of cars is as Rich described. They plug together so the rocket can be launched. None of the Gilbert reference books such as Doyle describe the operating mechanism in the box car. The 1959 catalog has an illustration of the boxcar with the unloading mechanism. It shows the painted man pushing the standard Gilbert aluminum barrels out the door. The action boxcar will work without the rocket launcher attached since the pickup shoe and metal return wheels are on the boxcar.

Thank you, Tom.

      My car has the painted man, but only one truck has the steel wheels. The other truck has only plastic wheels, and neither truck is a slide bar pick up shoe truck. The car appears mint, no marks as having been dis-assembled at any time or truck changed. Very confusing. I will throw it on eBay and see what happens.  Harry 

Harry,

The sliding pickup shoe is present on the flatcar only. Both cars must be connected in order to utilize the action features.

Rich

Thanks Rich. I do not have a 20525 set in my collection to look at. I did not realize the sliding pickup is only on the rocket launcher car.

Thanks guys. Whole thing makes sense as far as operation. Harry 

You should know that the load for this car is not standard Flyer barrels.  It has smaller barrels than the barrel loader.  In fact looking at mine, I see nothing that size on any other accessory or car.