HO scale A.C. Gilbert 4-6-4 Steam Engine

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I got this engine as a kid in the late 1950’s It sat for years and I recently took it apart, cleaned and lubricated it and have it running again. Any idea if it has any value? I know Gilbert only made HO for a short period of time. I have a DCC Santa Fe layout so I am thinking of selling it but I honestly don’t know if it is worth anything.

Marty Collins

mcollins1967@cox.net

2

Search the HO scale area of e-Bay and see if any are offered there and what the bids are like. Probably not much.

3

Here is one on ebay which sold for 59 dollars.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-C-Gilbert-HO-200-1938-New-York-Central-4-6-4-All-Die-Cast-First-HO-Hudson-/261136331359?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3cccf0325f&nma=true&si=BNhcPAiFJphe65oTTVNguXcJ%2FHc%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

4

Thanks to cacole and Soo fan for the input,

Marty

5

A.C. Gilbert had HO scale trains including a version of the 4-6-4 Hudson as early as 1938. I have some recollection that the earliest Gilbert HO was intended to be run on 6 volt DC rather than today’s 12 volt – in fact I seem to remember being told that back when automobile batteries were often a primary power source for HO trains, the auto batteries back then were also 6 volt.

I have not fully explored it but this website has information on Gilbert HO

http://www.gilbertho.org/nf/sets_year.htm

http://www.gilbertho.org/

Dave Nelson

6

Pre-war Gilbert HO was 6V, when they did it again in the 50’s it was standard 12V stuff. I have the little 4 wheel diesel switcher that was part of the line then, as well as a few freight cars.

Until the recent Rapido release, the HO scale passenger cars were the only non-brass replicas of the New Haven “American Flyer” coaches available - in fact they are called such because of the Flyer models of them.

–Randy