I never quite understood why there is electricity coming out of that tree . . . 
Good looking engine, though!
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It’s quite simple Palallin… you see, that tree is in fact a radio tower, disguised as a tree! Very sneaky.
…ok, probably not very likely for a 1950s Gilbert product, but you try coming up with a better reason! Cell towers disguised as trees are real, if admittedly a more recent phenomenon.
-El
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It’s a Kilowatt Fir, native to the upper lower central Midwest…
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It may also be a Verizon pine, commonly found in the eastern West Coast. 
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You guys are a hoot!
Or maybe it is a newly developed Christmas tree, grown on a secret Gilbert farm (they did make Christmas lights, after all). The tree has the lights grown organically in it, eliminating the need for extension cords and replacement bulbs. The development might not have worked out since all the lights were green, brown, or silver, and it lacked a certain Christmas charm?
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That’s my favorite theory so far! On that note, now if I ever rebuild one of those I want to make the logos into Christmas trees!
Somewhere in the depths of my memory I seem to remember a story that Gilbert
had originally intended to have all of the PAs relate to some actual railroad. I also seem to remember that the Silver Flash with its lightening bolts or vibrating wiggles was going to represent a railroad in Maine. That may have something to do with the pine tree being on the nose of the engine. Since the white pine is one of the symbols for Maine it almost sounds plausible. The story could be apocryphal since I can’t seem to find it in any of my resources.
Edit: The Maine Central perhaps?
Here is the 474-475 Rocket
(The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad had “Rockets”. Wrong color scheme however.)
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
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That livery is actually based on an early Southern Railroad diesel livery for the 474 and 475 (I believe there is also a very scarce 476 B-unit).
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I have never heard about this alternate livery. Do you have a photo or know where I might see a photo of it? It sounds very interesting,
Northwoods Flyer,
Greg
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https://images.app.goo.gl/3xk57j76C1FkRu5B7
Here it is. Flyer took some creative license on it, but overall its pretty close. Personally I think its prettier than the more common green tuxedo. I don’t know that any SRR PA’s wore it though.
All of the unlicensed Flyer PA’s did indeed have prototypical basis as you said, Greg. The 405 Silver Streak was (very loosely) CB&Q, the 466 Comet was Missouri Pacific, the 474 Rocket was SRR, and the 479 Silver Flash was actually the Boston & Maine.
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Thanks for the photos.
Here is the 477- 478 Also in the Silver Flash (Boston and Maine) livery.
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
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It’s worth pointing out that, iirc, the B&M and Maine central once shared some joint ownership or shared management- I forget what the exact arrangement was. But as a result, the railroads shared similar, sometimes identical liveries, and provided joint passenger train services.
In this case, the Silver Flash is a dead ringer for a livery worn by Boston & Maine and Maine Central E-7s, with the key differences being the herald on the nose and the lettering on the side. MEC units had the ‘pine tree’ herald, B&M units had the ‘minuteman’.
-El
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Thanks for all the valuable research and info, El!
I look at that Maine Central drawing and can’t help but see the '50s written all over it in the shape of the sweeping curves (especially the reverse curve behind the cab) and the lightning zig-zag of the stripe (which no doubt inspired the Flash).
I still think Gilbert must have been playing Frankenstein with those pine trees, however
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Do I spy some Gilbert HO up there Chuck?
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Yes you did that is the only Gilbert ho I have.
Chuck
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That Gilbert HO set was cataloged for three years. In 1955 and 1956 it was Set HO-320 and in 1957 it was Set 30320
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Thanks for the great information and photos El. Its nice to know that my memory isn’t completely foggy. I enjoy finding out how our toy trains paralleled what was going on in the world around them.
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
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Lets stick with the colorful diesels for at least a little while longer.
American Flyer Lines #374 and #375 GP7 diesels in Texas and Pacific livery.
Enjoying the World’s Greatest Hobby
Northwoods Flyer
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Hi, I’m new here. I have a question about the Baldwin, I have the same model from 195? , I just recently resurrected my fathers old AF trains, the memories 
anyway do you know if the spring shoes on the trucks do anything electrical? The front truck on mine I think is broken from the connection inside where the wire comes from the light socket and then to the motor? If you know what I’m talking about?
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