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Model Railroads/Questions Answered by Expert Jerry Loman
| Subject | Date Asked |
| old cast iron wind-up or clockwork train | 2/10/2012 |
| Q: I recently aquired this train. it was in a display case. no marks accept the FBS on the side and i ... A: From the picture the cars appear as though they were from a European set. These early sets looked ... | |
| old cast iron wind-up or clockwork train | 2/10/2012 |
| Q: I recently aquired this train. it was in a display case. no marks accept the FBS on the side and i ... A: Your loco was originally made by the Ives corp. It has been repainted and the bell is also a ... | |
| Your request for photo | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: Jerry, I have 5 photos of the American Flyer cast iron electric. You requested that I send a photo ... A: David, You should be able to attach a picture or image from a digital camera or a saved picture in ... | |
| Cast iron engine | 12/2/2011 |
| Q: I saw the wind up cast iron Haffner from a question in 2009. At first look, I was very excited, ... A: David, Sounds like you have one of the early American Flyer cast iron steam engines that had a very ... | |
| Wind-up Train from 1950-1953 | 11/18/2011 |
| Q: Jerry: I was give for Christmas in 1950 or 1951, or 1952 a windup train. I was given a Lionel ... A: If your wind up train was manufactured in 1950 -52 it was most likely a Marx train. Marx had the ... | |
| Marx Union Station # 1430 | 8/21/2011 |
| Q: I recently acquired the Marx Union Station # 1430 and have been doing some research. One web site ... A: Dave, I do not have any specific information on the clock for this station. I have seen this station ... | |
| American flyer train | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: My mother in law found a train set in her now passed away mother and father's house and we are ... A: The set with the original box has a value of $200-250. the set comes up for sale on eBay auctions ... | |
| AF 13 engine value | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: I have a wind-up steam engine 0-4-0 with A.F.13 on each side of the cab. I would guess American ... A: Norm, American Flyer made wind up trains for 30 years and the number 13 was one of their most ... | |
| Identify my Clockworks Locomotive? | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm trying to identify my clockworks locomotive. I have no idea what it is. Have smaller 4 wheeled ... A: Ken, Your engine is from circa 1909-1910. It is an American Flyer and it was made by John Hafner and ... | |
| Identify my Clockworks Locomotive? | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: I'm trying to identify my clockworks locomotive. I have no idea what it is. Have smaller 4 wheeled ... A: Ken, Your engine was made by the "The Ives Manufacturing Company" in 1906-1907. It was catalogued as ... | |
| bottom of tin litho marx, Why green when all others are black | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: Ive had many of marx trains, but never one with olive green bottoms. Its a 999 engine, rock island ... A: Most of the Marx cars with the green bottoms that I have seen were made post war in an effort to use ... | |
| Mechainical Windup Train | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: I was given a Windup train set in 1948 or 1949. I have no idea who made it but I am trying to find ... A: Steven, American Flyer, Hafner, Lionel and Marx all offered wind up trains prior to the end of the ... | |
| Train | 1/27/2011 |
| Q: Looking for a approx age on this train I found and any other info on it Thanks a bunch A: Your train engine was manufactured by William Hafner. Hafner patented and manufactured the first ... | |
| Lionel wind up train | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: Jerry, in cleaning out my sisters house, I came upon some Lionel wind up trains. There are 2 red ... A: Tom, Just recently sold one of those little red Lionel wind up engines on ebay. $50 for just the ... | |
| A.F. Train Set | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: I have received an A.F. train set for Christmas and am trying to establish its provenance. The ... A: Your set was a mixed set of items that were previously marketed in sets where the same color cars ... | |
| Manufactured by? | 12/25/2010 |
| Q: I found this at a flea market. Cast iron, key wind engine and 4 tin cars. Might you know the ... A: Your train set is from the 1920's and is a very valuable set. It was manufactured by Marklin of ... | |
| AF 12 Wind Up Info | 12/5/2010 |
| Q: We have a AF 12 locomotive, AF Line coal car, AF passenger car 1107, AF Line U.S. Mail Express ... A: Jim, The 1107, 1108 series of passenger/baggage cars were produced by American flyer starting in ... | |
| engine | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a Lionel 1055 Texas special I received as a kid. I just have had it out once in 30 some years ... A: Here is a couple of things you can try. You may have oil on the wheel rims of the loco. You can use ... | |
| Wind-up "Toy for the Boy" train 1918? | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: I have inherited, in the original box, an American Flyer wind-up train set. Called "The Toy for ... A: Marie, Your set is from the early 20's and was very popular. The number 13 engine with it's unlucky ... | |
| old train set | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: I have come across a american flyer electric 4 pc.set engine #1684 2-passenger cars #1631 and what ... A: Jim, You have a UP streamliner set catalogued in 1936. The current value on this set with good ... | |
| Lional Train set | 9/18/2010 |
| Q: I was cleaning out my basement and found an old train set.It was made by Lionel. The engine is ... A: Brian, Sounds like you have a mixed set of both Marx and Lionel. the Lionel 64 series box cars can ... | |
| Lional Train set | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: I was cleaning out my basement and found an old train set.It was made by Lionel. The engine is ... A: Brian, The 666 engine was made by Marx in the 40's and 50's They were made in a die cast metal. ... | |
| cast iron A.F #1 | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I have an american Flyer cast Iron wind up engine that I think is a #14 type but it actually does ... A: The number 1 engine was not a catalogued variation. This variant shows up routinely on ebay and at ... | |
| hafner windup | 8/4/2010 |
| Q: i would like to know what my train is worth, the locomotive says 1010, it has 3 cars and a few ... A: The Hafner 1010 streamliner was made in countless variations over several years from 1937 - 1951. ... | |
| Help ID this unmarked wind-up loco | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: Loman, I found this site by Googling 'help identify wind-up locomotive'. I just obtained this at a ... A: Norm, Your engine is a Lionel 1500 series loco. This engine is from 1936-37. The value in the ... | |
| track layout | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I got my father's (1950s)Marx 1095 santa fe train set. I want to set it up but don't know the ... A: LC, Marx train sets came in many configurations. The basic layout was 4 radius sections that ... | |
| train | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I have this locomotive and whole set for long time and i do not know nothing about it besides us ... A: Sebastion, Your engine is a Bing Number 1 gage engine. These were made by Gebruder Bing In ... | |
| cast iron floor train | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering if you may be able to idenify this train. i would like to know who made it how old ... A: Dan, I got a notice that this answer was not received. So here it is again. The tender does add ... | |
| lionel tracks | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: my husband has a beautiful Lionel train set that was given to him from his dad and is over 40 yrs ... A: Lori, You are correct the tracks with NY are made in New York. Sounds like you have O gage and not ... | |
| lionel tracks | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: my husband has a beautiful Lionel train set that was given to him from his dad and is over 40 yrs ... A: Lori, I am going to assume that the set is O gage. All the O gage Lionel track is now made in China. ... | |
| train set | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: i have a marx mickey mouse meteor wind up engine with four cars.it is in very good condition. ... A: Jessica, Your Marx Meteor Disney set is very desirable. Sets in good condition routinely sell for ... | |
| hafner wind up train | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: i have this hafner clockwork train and i was wondering if you could tell me what its value is and ... A: Your engine appears to be in average condition. If the wind up motor is still running the current ... | |
| repro Ives tenders | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: Can you tell me who has repro Ives tenders available for the circa 1912 floor trains? Thanks, Rick ... A: Rick, I do not know of anyone making the repro tender for the floor trains. Rulon Taylor, now ... | |
| American Flyer | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a engine marked A.F.10 wind up works well coal car 120 in good shape, 1107 passener car ... A: Denny, The American Flyer set as pictured is from the late teens. The Pennsylvania road name on the ... | |
| Old Train | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I'm helping to clean out my mother in-laws house and we came upon this wind up train. It is ... A: Chris, You have a Hafner streamliner deluxe set. The set with the extra car was a popular set in the ... | |
| Joy Lines Wind Up | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a Joy Lines Wind Up Set that I am trying to get an app. value on. The engine is in good ... A: The coal tender with no lettering is a Marx Joy Line tender and would go with the green 357 ... | |
| Joy Lines Wind Up | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a Joy Lines Wind Up Set that I am trying to get an app. value on. The engine is in good ... A: You have a mixed consist of 357 coaches. This is common to find a different darker colored coach ... | |
| Joy Lines Wind Up | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a Joy Lines Wind Up Set that I am trying to get an app. value on. The engine is in good ... A: The engine with the green wheels Is made by Ives around 1918. The wheels would have had no paint or ... | |
| Train identification | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently inherited several model trains from my father. I have attached a picture of one of them. ... A: The tank car pictured was manufactured by Marx in the late 40"S and 50"S The cars are very common ... | |
| ID of AF Wind Up Train Set | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I have I believe an AF engine and set that I am trying to identify. The following might serve as a ... A: Don, You have a American Flyer 515 limited set made in the 30's these were produced in high numbers ... | |
| Electric Train | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a Louis Marx Train that my Grandma and Grandpa Gave me when I was about 6 years old, around ... A: John, The track can be found at most flea markets with a little searching. An easier way would be to ... | |
| cast iron train | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a cast iron train with the markings M R USA on the sides.the No. is 666. It looks like it ... A: Beth, Your engine is a Marx engine from the 1950's. Marx was located in Chicago and was very ... | |
| suspending a train board from the ceiling to raise and lower | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: has anyone successfully managed to suspend their train board from the ceiling? being able to lower ... A: Colin, You have definitely peeked my interest on this one. I had made an early attempt at raising ... | |
| American Flyer Lines toy train set | 9/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a American Flyer windup train set consisting of track, two passenger cars, one Mail car, coal ... A: Ken, Without a pic I can only tell you that the cars were made over several decades and the mixed ... | |
| American Flyer Lines toy train set | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a American Flyer windup train set consisting of track, two passenger cars, one Mail car, coal ... A: Kenneth, Can you add a picture of the set? It would be helpful to see what variants you have in the ... | |
| American Flyer Cast Iron Engine | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to identify my cast iron wind up engine. There is no manufacturer marking but the ... A: Gary, What you have is a Hafner number 110 engine. The look is similar to some of the American flyer ... | |
| American Flyer Sets | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I have what looks like a complete set of an American Flyer cast iron wind up with empire express ... A: The cast iron AF engine looks like a Number 10 wind up. These typically came with a number 120 ... | |
| American Flyer Sets | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: I have what looks like a complete set of an American Flyer cast iron wind up with empire express ... A: In your description you say it has a cast iron wind up engine and you go on to say it has a red tin ... | |
| Oiling an engine? | 6/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a little Hornby wind up train set bought for my own children 30 years ago. I would like to ... A: Jane, If your engine has been maintained in a box and kept from rusting you can use 3 in one oil or ... | |
| Wind up train (Hafner?) | 6/3/2009 |
| Q: I found a old train set in attic of grandfather. It's got three passenger cars that say overland ... A: Darrin, Looks like you have found a Hafner set from the mid 20's. Was there a box with the items ... | |
| American Flyer wind-up A.F. 1 | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: I have an American Flyer A.F. 1 locomotive, car 1107 , car Overland Flyer, and track. the Train ... A: Karen, Thanks for sending the pic. The AF number 1 engine you show is from 1917-1918. the B&O 1107 ... | |
| American Flyer wind-up A.F. 1 | 5/11/2009 |
| Q: I have an American Flyer A.F. 1 locomotive, car 1107 , car Overland Flyer, and track. the Train ... A: Karen, I would need a picture of the set to provide a time frame for your set. The 1107 passenger ... | |
| windup train | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: Jerry, A friend found this among is father's effects. Is it a Hafner? and what era? A: Steve, Your engine is an early Marx. This engine was originally developed by Girrard toys in ... | |
| af #10 wheel | 3/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a cast american flyer wind up engine that belonged to my great uncle. It is missing 1 cast ... A: Larry, You can get excellent cast replacement wheels from trickel cast parts. Make sure you tell ... | |
| Prewar American Flyer Set | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: My grandmother told me this was a custom built American Flyer set. I have been told this may be a ... A: John, I do not recognize this particular layout but it is made in the style that the American Flyer ... | |
| The Joy Line Company Windup Train | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: I received from my father (born in Hazelton PA in 1929)a train set that includes a locomotive that ... A: Joseph, Please post a picture of the set so I can determine the age of your set and check to see ... | |
| Identifying Trains | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: Here is the picture of the trains. I do have individual pictures also if they would help in the ... A: Nancy, The top left pic shows a Lionel O-27 box car. The value is at $15. The next item on the left ... | |
| 1976 Lionel | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: My husband has had The Big 027 Lionel Train Set (1976)since he was a small child. We are trying to ... A: The easiest way to determine fair market value is to look up the items you have on eBay. Search by ... | |
| Identifying Train Cars | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to identify several trains that my father and grandfather had. Is there a good website ... A: Please submit a picture of the lot so I can confirm what models you have. I will do my best to offer ... | |
| Tracks. | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: How can I tell which tracks that I have. Ho, O, N, or lmnop? I have a Marx set that is about 35+ ... A: Your Marx big rail set came with O gage track. The easiest way to determine the selling points of ... | |
| Lionel wind up train set | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a Lionel mechanical train set that I have had since a child. It is missing the wind up key. ... A: I was able to locate an original key from a long out of stock supplier. It is in good condition and ... | |
| AF No. 14 wind up loco | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I have an American Flyer set #2 with box. It has a wind up loco which I believe is No.14 (only A.F. ... A: Alan, Judging by the cars you have it is a 1928 set. The orange roof 1107 Revere car was catalogued ... | |
| AF No. 14 wind up loco | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I have an American Flyer set #2 with box. It has a wind up loco which I believe is No.14 (only A.F. ... A: Alan, The engine was catalogued as a number 13 and a number 14. See my other response in the follow ... | |
| Lionel 675 Prairies locomotive | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: I'm working on a small story on antique toys. Could you please tell me what a Lionel 675 Prairies ... A: Linda, The Lionel number 675 was made from 1945-1969 and with roughly 7 variants being available. An ... | |
| Replacement Wheels | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: Need replacement wheels for a American Flyer windup--marked AF-13 on cab--where might I find a ... A: Lee, The wheels can be purchased from Eric Trickel toy train parts. He makes a very nice set of ... | |
| Engine/motor make? | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I have another who-dunnit? I have a motor/wheel assembly (working) that I am trying to figure out ... A: Jim, I have not been able to confirm who the maker is on this motor. The wheels are unique and the ... | |
| Sloped or 'Banked' 3-rail Track | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I am new to the hobby.. but I have some older 0 gauge track that I am trying to identify (it's not ... A: Tim, Thanks for responding with the nice picture. Your track is an American flyer track section. ... | |
| Sloped or 'Banked' 3-rail Track | 11/15/2008 |
| Q: I am new to the hobby.. but I have some older 0 gauge track that I am trying to identify (it's not ... A: Tim, Most manufacturers used the slope methodology for their track. Begining with Ives and American ... | |
| ~100 year old German made electric train | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: and thanks ahead of time for your fine voluntary service (I do the same in the Astronomy section). ... A: Tom, Great description. You have a Bing 20TH century Limited set. These were made specifically for ... | |
| Marline Stream Line Electric Train | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: My uncle has been collecting toy trains for years, and we are currently in the process of cataloging ... A: I am not familiar with this set number. Numbers are put on by the manufacturer for many reasons. ... | |
| American Flyer wind up loco | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: Have some more info on my friend's loco Which I wrote to you about in an earlier question. I was ... A: Jerry, You have a number 14 engine made by American Flyer between the years 1925 and 1932. The brake ... | |
| Cast iron wind-up loco | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: A friend came to me with a small cast iron loco with spring work drive and large windup key on side ... A: Jerry, Sounds like from your description your friend has an American Flyer wind up engine. The ... | |
| o gauge track | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: how should i clean old o gauge track sections. i purchased several pieces that are dirty with some ... A: You had not indicated whether it was wind up track or electric track. Either way you do not want to ... | |
| Lionel 027 train set | 8/3/2008 |
| Q: I have been trying to sell my train on eBay but I've had no luck. Can you tell where else I may try ... A: T.C. In any sale the item description along with accurate detail on condition is a big factor in ... | |
| AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN | 6/8/2008 |
| Q: Jerry Hi. I need your help, Im trying to ID a American Flyer train. I would like to send you a ... A: Ken, You can describe the AF engine by descriptive terms like if it is made of cast iron or pressed ... | |
Model Railroads
Jerry Loman
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Any questions on American manufacturers of wind up cast iron floor trains, track trains and their litho tin cars and accessories. This would include manufacturers of the following; American Flyer,Hafner,Ives,Lionel,Marx,Dorfan and AMRR. I can identify variants in casting methodology and have experience in determining almost all manufacturing dates within catalogued identifiers. I have extensive experience in the litho tin variants of passenger and freight cars that go with the wind up sets and also many of the early electric train sets. I do not have extensive or specific experience on variations of European wind up toy trains but can help with most general questions on european cast iron wind up trains.
Experience
35 years of collecting specifically cast iron wind up trains. I have repaired and restored during this same period having made many of my own tooling to support manfacturing restoration parts and accessories. I have identified 5 toy train engines and cars that had not previousely been published in any referance or collector book.
Organizations
TCA
Publications
TCA ETrain magazine. This is an online publication of general toy train interest.
Education/Credentials
I have a high school education with some college credits.
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