Stats:

Cataloged: 1952, 1953

Pacific type steam locomotive: Wheel arrangement 4-6-2

Prototype: USRA Pacific—curiously, none were owned by the Chicago North Western

Road Name: Chicago North Western

Materials and Features: Boiler Shell is one-piece plastic with a link coupler. The tender is a one-piece molded plastic shell with a sheet metal chassis, and it comes equipped with a black weight.

The tenders do have weights inside but you would have to take it apart to see – and they are often red, black or other colors.

The locomotive is equipped with smoke and choo-choo, and later units are equipped with Pull-Mor wheels.

History

The C&NW number 282 is the first in a series using this boiler shell. It is well-proportioned in appearance and operates reliably. This version in the series has a link coupler and a sheet metal tender. Units produced in the second year had the injection molded plastic tender and Pull-Mor drive wheels.

In 1952, it came with one cataloged set: a freight set.

In 1953, it came with two cataloged sets: one passenger and one freight.

Other numbers on this same locomotive body include 283, 285, 287 and 289. The 285 is equipped with the air chime whistle, whereas the 287 is a low-end version that lacks smoke and choo-choo. The 289 is an uncataloged version that lacks smoke and choo-choo, but it did come equipped with the whistle.

Gilbert provided service and parts information in Form 1815.

More Information

The American Flyer Locomotive 282 lettered for the Chicago North Western made its debut in 1952 with a sheet metal tender and link coupler with black weight. This was Gilbert’s first steam locomotive with a plastic boiler. With the 4-6-2 wheel configuration and simplified valve gear it was designed to provide a more impressive presence than the smaller Atlantic locomotives but could be cost competitive. The 282 is part of a series of numbers and features that continued in the American Flyer S gauge product line until the end of operations in 1966.

American Flyer Locomotive 282 Chicago North Western

For features, the American Flyer 282 Pacific type locomotive included a Lucite headlight lens, smoke and choo-choo effects, and remote control reverse (reverse unit mounted in the tender). The locomotive appeared during the transition time for couplers and change to plastic molded parts from formed sheet metal.

The 282 was one of the first plastic boiler steam locomotives offered by Gilbert American Flyer. The 282 was a link couple locomotive and was only offered in 1952 and 1953. Earlier versions came with a sheet metal tender, while later ones have a plastic tender. Other than simplified valve gear, the 282 was full featured with smoke and choo-choo, and headlight. This locomotive came into the American Flyer product line during the change over from link coupler to knuckle coupler, the addition of Pull-Mor power traction tires on the drivers and the change from sheet metal tenders to plastic tenders. The result is several variations with combinations of older and newer features.

The 1953 production moved to a plastic molded tender body and late production includes examples with knuckle coupler trucks instead of the earlier link couplers. Other variations include tenders with coal pushers, marker lights and traction or “pull-mor” tires on the drivers. Some of these variations in the American Flyer 282 are evidence of the changes occurring in the product line in general during 1952 and 1953 (last year of 282 production).

Cataloged Sets

1952

4904T American Flyer Three Car Freight

• American Flyer Locomotive 282 and Tender, 639 Box Car, 640 Hopper Car, 638 Caboose
• 75 Watt Transformer, 12 Curve Track, 2 Straight Track, 706 Remote Control Uncoupler, 690 Track Terminal, Smoke Capsule and Funnel, Illustrated Train Book

1953

5322T “The Mountaineer” 6 Unit Steam Type Passenger Train

• American Flyer Locomotive 282 “Pacific” type 4-6-2 Locomotive with Red Glowing Smoke, Choo-Choo sound and remote control.
• No. 40 3-piece Smoke set, with Funnel, Capsule and Brush.
• No. 651R Red Express and Baggage Car
• (2) No. 655R Red Coaches
• No. 652R Pullman, illuminated, with 6-wheel trucks.
• 12 sections No. 702 Two Rail “T” formed Flat Top Curved Track
• 2 Sections No. 700 Two Rail “T” formed Flat Top Straight Track
• 14 No. 693 Track Locks
• No. 706 Remote Control Electric Car Uncoupler
• No. 690 Lock-on Track Terminal
• No. 2 Underwriters’ Approved 75 –watt Transformer. Illustrated Train Book
• List of Authorized Service Stations

5323T “The Mountaineer” 8 Unit Steam Type Freight Train

• American Flyer Locomotive 282 “Pacific” with remote control, Red Glowing Smoke and Choo-Choo sounds
• American Flyer Locomotive 282 “Pacific” Tender (pictured with the plastic body version)
• No. 40 3-piece Smoke Set, with Funnel, Capsule and Brush.
• No. 642 Box Car (pictured with the Seaboard version).
• No. 625 Oil Tank Car (pictured with the Gulf version).
• No. 640 Hopper Car (pictured with the Wabash version).
• No. 623 Refrigerator Car (pictured with the Illinois Central version).
• No. 623 Green Gondola
• No. 630 Illuminated Caboose
• 12 Sections No. 702 Two Rail “T” formed Flat Top Curved Track
• 2 Sections No. 700 Two Rail “T” formed Flat Top Straight Track
• 14 No. 693 Track Locks
• No. 706 Remote Control Electric Car Uncoupler
• No. 690 Lock-on Track Terminal.
• No. 2 Underwriters’ Approved 75 Watt Transformer.
• Illustrated Train Book – List of Authorized Service Stations.

Additional Locomotives with this same style:

283, 285, 287, 289, 21084, 21085. Features and road names changed over time.

The red glowing smoke is a red plastic tube in the smoke stack that picks up light from the headlight and lends a “red glow”. The Choo-Choo sound is from the smoke piston as it draws in air then blows it out over the smoke chamber.