I picked up an oval set of 4-rail track. Don’t know anything about it and can’t find the manufacturer on any of the pieces. They are mounted on wood in 3-section increments. The other odd thing is they are all “monza” banked. Even the straights! The extra rail is between the center rail and the outside rail. Any information would be greatly appreciated!
You have American Flyer pre war track. The extra rail was for the pick up shoe for the on board whistle. They also had super elevation for high speed train operation
Could you post a oicture?
As Major states the 4 rail track was designed to activate the whistle in the tender of the Hudson and the Hiawatha. If my memory serves me correctly the track was only available in 1936. The reason that Flyer came up with this track is because of the patent that Lionel held for a whistle mounted in their tender. The base of the track is actually masonite.
It comes in straight and curved track and also half curve and half straight. I have a full box of the straights which have a label identifying them as #601. I’m going to guess that the curves are #602. The half curve and half straight pieces that I have are the only ones that I have ever seen. I’ don’t know what the numbers are for those pieces but I’m going to guess #603 and #604
This is not the best photo, but it does show that the track is super-e
Let me make a few corrections and additions here.
This will teach me not to quote facts from memory. After I posted the information above I went to my catalogs to check things out. It turns out that in 1936 there were a number of sets that came with the track activated whistle that was housed in a tender or passenger car. It was included in the Union Pacific Streamliner, the Zephyr, the Hiawatha, and the Hudson. Each of the sets that included these engines came with what was called the new 40" Diameter High Speed Model Track.
Page 20 of the 1936 catalog describes the new track and shows pictures. However the track that is shown
I too have examples of the half sections of the 4 rail whistle track.
I also have examples of the 3 rail track mounted on the masonite. The 3 rail track on masonite was only cataloged in 1936 as separate sale track, as the catalog states that it did not come with the sets.
The reason that 1936 was the only year with whistles in the cars is because of a patent infringement of the Lionel whistle, which Flyer lost the case.
NWL
I own a Flyer, City of Denver and a Hiawatha that have the car with a whistle in it, If anyone wants to part with that track I would sure like to have it. I have use old Lionel track for the slider shoe un-coupler to activate the whistle but that is not entirely satisfactory.
Watch ebay for it, as the 4 rail track comes up every so often. I will caution you that it can be pricey, depending on condition.
NWL