Medium and Large American Flyer Passenger Stations 1921-1939

1921-1924

The first of the medium sized stations was #100 which was initially offered in 1921 and was cataloged through 1924.

1921 Catalog Illustration




The station consisted of lithographed sides and a painted roof. The operator bay window was a separate piece of lithography that was tabbed to the sides of the station and to the base.


1923 Catalog Illustration






1924 - Possible introduction of stations #97-99.


I don’t have a catalog for 1924 but part of the illustration on the front of a 1924 supplement American Flyer shows a station which matches the configuration of the 97-99 Series.


Catalog Illustration





1925


In 1925 American Flyer dropped the #100 station and replaced it with #101.

Catalog Illustration




The main difference between the two stations was the elimination of the separate sheet metal sides for the operator bay window, removing the Tudor style trim above the brick station lithography, which reduces the overall station height, and changing the roof style from gabled to hip. 




It is worth noting the #100 station had the same flat face lithography as #101 - which means American Flyer printed, cut and bent station litho front pieces to form the bay window and then tabbed it over the flat litho printing.

The side lithography was very elaborate and the patrons were illustrated as formally dressed members of society.





The 1925 catalog also provides a listing and an illustration of the #97-99 station.





All three stations have the same basic side lithography and all of them (as well as all of the stations derived from them) have the lithography No. 97 Station on the ends.
The differences between 97,98, and #99 stations had to do with the windows and lights. 

The basic station was #97 - no cut out windows and no lights.
#98 came with isinglass windows and three lights - two outside and one inside
#99 was the stripped down version of $98 - isinglass windows and an interior light

AF #97




Station end lithography




1926

 Based on the catalog it appears there were no changes in the station offerings. The catalog illustration was the same as the 1925 image.  Given that American Flyer appears to have used roof colors as another way to differentiate station type at this time (see the discussion on the small American Flyer stations) since the roof of the #99 red and those examples of the other two which I've seen over the years have all been green.

AF #99




1927

American Flyer dropped stations 97-99 and replaced them with station #105 which is sort of an amalgam of stations #97-99.  It has the red roof and two exterior lights but the windows are unpunched and there is no interior lamp.

Catalog Illustration



AF #105




1928

   This was a big year for changes in the American Flyer Station lineup.
   1. Station #101 was dropped.
   2. Station #105 was dropped and replaced with station #107
   3. American Flyer introduced a large station #102 and an immense station #116
   4. All of the Station acquired station names - #107 became the Terminal Station, #102 became the Central Station, and #116 became the Union Station and, as noted in the post on the small passenger stations, #96 became Flossmoor and #104 became Kenilworth

 1928 Catalog Illustration






 The 1928 offering for #107 had isinglass windows, two exterior lights, an embossed station base, and a dormer with a brass plate stating "Terminal Station."

AF#107



The large #102 came with a dormer with isinglass insert, two exterior lights, one interior light, operating brass doors, embossed base, and a brass nameplate suspended from the roof.

AF#102



#116, the immense Union Station was the only station which was not made of lithographed metal.  Its base was plywood, the building was white pine framework covered with painted composition board. The windows were isinglass with painted sashes, the fittings were brass castings, there were 4 lights inside the main station and a 5th in the clock tower and there were three etched nameplates on the front and either side of the building. The base was 18" x 30" and the tower was 17.5" high.  This station was a one year offering and I've only seen two of these.  The station is, as you might expect, very popular with dedicated Flyer collectors. Given the demand it is not surprising to learn that very nice reproductions have been offered for sale over the years.

1929

#107 was now offered with two exterior lights and one interior light

Interlude

As with all things Flyer there were situations where leftover parts had to be used up and the stations were no exceptions.  This station is an amalgam of  a #105 station base, unpunched #97 ends and sides, #107 roof treatment and a #102 nameplate.



1930 -1939

1933 #107 was dropped from the catalog

1939

#102 made it all the way to the end of the Chicago Flyer period and made it through the first two years of the A.C. Gilbert Flyer takeover 

1940

 #102 dropped