HabiScapes,
LLC Missoula, Montana Master Gardeners Grizzly Bear Habitat Biologist |
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Ponds,
Waterfalls, Creeks & "Pondless" Waterfalls |
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Fighting algae?
We can transform your pond into an extremely low-maintenance, NO algae pondless. |
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American Flyer Trains
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So what do we do in our spare time?! ....
Vintage American Flyer trains & accessories! For you ladies, whose brothers would not let you get near their toy trains...Sue is "The Train Nut". These photos are of her train layout and collection. For many, Christmas as a child in the 50's was the American Flyer train going around the tree, chugging and smoking as it went. That whiff of cedar smoke is still a reminder of Christmas past to those "kids" yet today. The A.C. Gilbert Company went out of business in 1967 and with it closed an era in classic, toy making in the United States. The story of A.C. Gilbert and American Flyer is fascinating and will be included after the gallery of some of the classic trains and accessories. From Olympic athlete to owner of one of the largest toy manufacturing companies, the story of A.C. Gilbert and his ingenuity will amaze you. For now, enjoy the photos of these 50+ year old toy trains that still chug and smoke on our train layout here in Missoula, Montana...all year long. By the way, the official terminology for the chugging sound really is "choo-choo" and is a result of a specific unit installed in those locomotives! |
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| Sue's humble beginnings. Her first train layout with an American Flyer 322 smoke & choo-choo engine. | Sue decides that her American Flyer train layout was not big enough. Layout in, Gordon's pool table out. |
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| That should be plenty big now. | Nope, still not big enough, we're movin' up! Sue ponders the design of the "upper deck"! |
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| The "upper deck" complete...for now. A 21088 Franklin pulls custom circus cars. They are all modified original American Flyer cars. | Getting too close to the cave is not a good idea, especially if it hasn't fed recently. |
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| Here is Sue's "Monster Train Layout" ready for Christmas 2005. | Sue's American Flyer layout from an angle where Gordon's pool table once was. |
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| Sue teaching our granddaughter Brayden bad habits; with engineers hat. | Dinner can wait, trains come first. Yes, Bray can run all the trains, accessories, and transformers. |
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| Gordon remembers fondly the days when a pool table stood here instead! | Sue's collection of American Flyer has now oozed off the layout and shelves, and now line the ceiling! |
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| Aunt Sue introduces American Flyer to our unsuspecting nephew, Trent. | Trent experiences his first American Flyer overload. |
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are some original American Flyer engines, cars, and accessories,
plus some other goodies. All AF items had a number that represented
which one it was. |
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| A 312 & 322 with smoke units in the tender (car behind the engine), 1946.These engines can smoke while in neutral. See the smoke rings? | The fun 21088 Franklin unaltered as it was made in 1959-60. |
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| The 21139, what a brute. 4-8-4 (count the 3 sets of wheels front to back) and the large motor. | Another 4-8-4 brute, the 332 customized. |
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| The 21139 next to the much smaller 342 0-8-0 switcher. | The dinker, 21158 Docksider. No smoke, no choo-choo, no reverse, just cute...and strong! |
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| The coveted Baker's Chocolate car ... or is it?! | A fun operating car ... the lumber unloading car. Is this Moe or Joe? |
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| 977 "operating" Caboose. Rubber or metal man hangs off the back until engine starts, then he slides in, least he loose his head! | Gordon's favorite, the 740 Hand Car. He loves to see these two guys feverishly work the little car, especially with an engine bearing down on them. |
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| Sue's favorite, the 779 Oil Drum Loader (1955-56). He picks
up the oil drums then drives over and drops them in the waiting train car. No breaks, no benefits, no pension, just loves his job. |
Sue's 2nd favorite, the 787 Log Loader. He picks up the logs, climbs up toward you and drops them in the next waiting car. Must be the oil drum loaders brother, their mother dresses them alike. |
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| You know they've had too much to drink at the Moose Bar & Grill and need to be assisted out, when they swear they saw a gorilla flyfishing in the pond out front! | The Baggage Smasher works tirelessly, but never seems to get caught up. |
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| Removing another derailed Lionel! | |
| More American Flyer to come!!! | |
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| American
Flyer Trains - our other passion  |
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© HabiScapes, LLC. All rights reserved. |
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