Passenger Cars - 400 Series

All of these cars are made of pressed steel.  There were at least five different paint schemes.

Except for the whistling baggage car, these cars are relatively light weight - 10 oz. - and roll easily.  By comparison, the diecast cars 521 and 524 weigh 1 lb. 14 oz., or three times as much.

490 Whistling Baggage Car

Note whistle ports in open door on left.
Hole in roof is for lubricating the whistle mechanism.

Mechanism as acquired.  (L to R) whistle, reverser, DC relay.
The reverser could not be restored and was replaced with a spare.

Mechanism after replacing reverser and rewiring

Bottom of motor extends through floor.  Single contact on right.

By the way, all of these blue cars were repainted.   Before...

And after.

492 Mail Pickup Car

With the #684 Mail Track Set

The mechanism is essentially the same as the 718/918.

494 Baggage Car

These are fairly common, in a variety of paint schemes.  Cataloged as 494R (red), etc.

494R with white doors and belly pan

495 Coach

These are very common, and were made in all paint schemes.  Design is based on commuter equipment for the New Haven; the prototype series became known as "American Flyer" cars!

Unlighted 495R with white belly pan. 

Unlighted cars have a solid pan.

Lighted version: 495BL.

Lighted cars have an open pan; single contact with wire to light socket.   Note Fahnstock clip.

496L Pullman Car

The final two lightweight cars were Pullman designs with more detail, six-wheel trucks, and window shades.  Introduced in the 1941 catalog; available in red, dark green, or tuscan.

The 496 presumably represents a Pullman section sleeper.

496TL

497L Pullman Observation