Running a 1948 American Flyer 350 Royal Blue 09-08-2023

This video features an early version 1948 American Flyer 350 Royal Blue locomotive and tender pulling a set of link coupler streamline passenger cars. The observation car is a 963 that I converted by installing a link coupler truck on the front end.
This locomotive has the separate trailing truck and drawbar. The tender shell has the indented sides.
This locomotive is not in the best condition. It has rusty handrails and linkages, some missing paint, rust on the tender sides and top. The boiler shell was missing one third of it's paint. The chassis is in good shape and it runs well.
I masked off the side skirts and sides of cabs to preserve the script and original numbers. I blended two different colors of blue spray paint to match the original paint as best as I could. It turned a basic parts locomotive into an acceptable runner for the layout.
Thank you for watching.

[@johnfroio4910]

It’s looks great!!

[@ronalddevine9587]

Very nice. I love your layout, great blending of 0 and S gauge.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you very much.

[@daveclarklumber]

Beautiful consist. Love the SP&S boxcars in the foreground!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you. I was running all the SP&S the other day. Just changed it out for the Royal Blue.

[@monstersbrandsparkplugz7151]

That layout looks like it came right out off the American Flyer 1957 catalog front cover. I can’t tell you how much your channel means to my dad and I. Dad will text me or I will him “He’s got a new video out!” Thanks and keep up the outstanding work.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

That's great that you both enjoy the layout and videos. My interest in trains is so deeply connected with my dad and familiy when I was growing up. Now it's something I share with my brother.
Thank you for watching and your comments.

[@olhemi1]

Nice, 🙂☕👍

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you.

[@stevesoscaletrainchannel.1901]

That is a very classy train.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you. The post war Royal Blue is an odity. It was the 1948 catalog lost leader. AF did not make any blue coaches post war. I think the chrome strealiners are the best option to run with it.

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Nice and Sweeeet

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you.

[@flyerjunction]

Your royal blue looks better than mine! I would like to paint mine to look more like the prototype. Yours is a good runner too. Those passenger cars really make the whole train stand out.
Beautiful shots at the wayside station. The reflection of water on the railing of the silver tower is very cool. I have never seen that before.
Thank you for sharing.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Thank you. I think the chrome streamliners are a hit with this engine.

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

I looked at the video again. I think what you are seeing on the water tower railing is light cast off from the rotating beacon.

[@flyerjunction]

@@willamettevalleyAFtrains Very interesting.During the outro, On the silver water tower, the red railing on top looks as if light is reflected off of water and is hitting that railing.

[@johnfroio4910]

Looks like those folks sitting on the bench missed their train!

[@willamettevalleyAFtrains]

Yep. The were looking at the wrong set of tracks ha ha