I have a sense-memory of that wonderful Gilbert smoke filling our basement when two steam locos were running! :-)
Hello AF Friends,
Being a mostly Gilbert American Flyer collector with a significant amount of Lionel AF production and a modest amount of S-Helper Service and American Models locomotives and rolling stock, I was not was sure where I should post this reply about my interesting and latest find. I finally posted it in the “Buy anything cool lately-Tinplate Edition” topic in the O gauge topics because I didn’t see a comparable topic in the S Gauge list.
My S Gauge stuff mostly Gilbert Postwar, is all conventional AC power, all have big AF compatible couplers, large flanged wheels and operate on “tinplate” track. I do have some prewar AF and a small collection of Marx trains, so I hoped my post seemed OK over there. At least three people have agreed.
Still thinking this story might resonate even more with S Gauge and Flyer enthusiasts, I decided to go ahead and post a modified version in this topic.
Last month we ventured up to Tacoma, WA to visit my sister and her family and to see a concert with them. I noticed that the Great Train Show was scheduled to be a few miles south of Tacoma that same weekend. The one scheduled for Portland, OR had been cancelled, and I hadn’t been to a train show or club meeting in nearly two years. So my adult nephew and I decided to take it in.
The show had a bit fewer vendors than in the pre-COVID days, but those there were well stocked, the attendance was good while we were there, including some train club friends I had not seen in quite some time. Several vendors had some AF and other S gauge on their tables, and there were a number of operating layouts, and quite a few families with kids to enjoy them.
To bring this to the point, I had seen some good stuff at reasonable prices, but had not made a purchase when we decided to revisit some vendors on our way out. In so doing, I picked up a like new AF Rerailer in its box, an old book about AF HO Gauge of which I have a few pieces, and I am acquainted with its author, Gary Klein, who also lives here in Oregon.
Finally, I had seen this item of rolling stock on David Danske’s table at a very reasonable price and since it was still there when we went back by, I bought it :
I had spent some time and money online during “lockdown” adding to my collection of AF and Gilbert tribute and anniversary cars, and this S-Helper boxcar commemorating the S Gaugian fit right into the collection. I was a subscriber to the S Gaugian for over 40 years until, as you all know, it’s founder, editor and publisher, Don Heimburger, semi-retired and ended its production in 2019.
This car also immediately reminded me of a long ago Father’s Day when my then 5 year old son Chris, now 49, and I travelled five hours to Yakima, WA for a one day S gauge event put on by the Inland Empire S Gaugers. I have met Don at a few conventions and S gauge events over the years and have had a couple of my comments appear in the magazine. Memory fades, but if Don was there in Yakima, we would have met him at that long ago event. What I do know is that Chris actually won the drawing for a subscription to the S Gaugian that Don had donated. Since I was already a subscriber, I was told it could be added to my subscription term, and after I promised to get Chris something else in return, Chris agreed.
We also met Maury Romer, the keynote speaker and former key Gilbert AF executive, and had a nice lunch sharing a table with two S Gauge icons: Ernie Horr and Jess Bennett.
Now imagine my surprise and delight when I started to examine my purchase at home and found this written one side of the box:
I can’t say who it is that Don Heimburger signed this for although it might have been Don Thompson who, of course, was one of the founders of S-Helper Service that produced the car.
I am in S gauge because my Dad chose an AF Atlantic set for “my” Christmas present the year I was born. He officially turned over the modest collection consisting of three AF sets and three additional Pullman cars to me a few Christmases later when he knew I would take good care of them. The S Gaugian was instrumental in keeping me interested in, and informed about, my primary hobby throughout it’s publication.
So while it may not be strictly Gilbert, regardless, for my first in-person toy train purchase in over two years, I think it’s pretty cool.
Thanks for the memories!
Alan
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