Prewar AF 571 4-8-4 questions

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Just today my 571 arrived. I purchased it with three cars that came with it… they are the die cast Texaco tanker, the die cast Virginia hopper and a die cast caboose (no die cast cattle car sadly)… this “set” all came from the same owner and I’m puzzled a bit. It is numbered 571 which is not listed in the only catalog I have although the Doyle book does list it. I did read some information in an older thread that seems a little helpful except for a few things. First, I do not have a reversing lever?? There is a small hole about toothpick sized in the boiler casting above a coil and relay… it does not look like a reversing unit, unless this is what they looked like in this engine? I’m not familiar with it. In my yellow 1940 catalog it lists a 534 remote directional control locomotive with the diecast cars… My cars and engine are in great shape and look consistent with a grouping that has been together… can anyone shed some light on this engine? Is it truly a 571 which is the same as a 572 except for years and is that how the reversing unit was set up in this engine? Or is this a remote directional control engine?

Also everything is in fine shape except the tender base. It is warped and some castings broken. It seems like it was permanently attached to the tender shell by peened over posts. I’m betting this tender bottom is the same as an S gauge except for the trucks. Has anyone dealt with replacing or repairing this tender? The upper shell is in super nice shape and the trucks are great too. Just the tender floor…

Thanks!

2

I cannot address most of your concerns but the tender bottom is the same as early post war and repro’s have been available as the early frames as subject to zinc pest.

3

The fact that there is no reverse lever would indicate that it has “Directional Remote Contol” as stated in the 1941 catalog. You should have no problem using an S-Gauge tender frame and swapping trucks as they are the exact same thing.

Trevor

4

Yes, it sure looks to be the “DRC” engine. I just took it apart and serviced it… seems the little toothpick hole is to engage the relay that sequences the reversing unit. This is the first time I’ve encountered one of these engines and oddly enough it will sequence with the whistle control on my ZW’s…

My 1940 Catalog shows the 571 as a regular engine NOT the “DRC” would this be correct in 1941 as a “DRC 571” I’m still puzzled? It seems to me looking in the Doyle catalog of AF that the DRC engines are a bit pricey and that the DRC number was “534”…

Hoping more experts can weigh in on this.

Thanks

5

Here is a picture of the chassis to confirm it being DRC