Electricity finally came to American Flyer rails in 1918. Ives had gone the third rail route in 1910 and Lionel had followed in 1915. The first Flyer electrically powered steam locomotives used the shell of the large #15 clockwork engine. This style of engine lasted through 1924. From 1924 to 1930 electrified steam disappeared from Flyer rails and all of their electric trains were pulled by electric outline locomotives.
According to the Greenberg guide the choice of an electrically powered steam outline engine was a good business move because there was less competition. Lionel didn't offer one and because of World War I none of the German firms who had been providing steam outline electric trains were exporting trains to the U.S. As for price- the difference between the clockwork and the electric steam engines was substantial. The 1922 catalog indicates that, for the engine only, the clockwork #15 was $2.25 whereas the electric version (without headlight) was $4.00. The steam engine with a working headlight was $4.50.
Greenberg indicates there is some doubt concerning the actual catalog number for these first engines. The guide indicates the engine without the headlight is #1094 and the engine with a working "headlight" is #1216.
The treatment of the working headlight is definitely unique to American Flyer. The headlight was referred to as a "protected headlight" ...and it certainly was. They took the clockwork boiler casting and left the cast iron representation of a headlight mounted on the top of the boiler. Then they hollowed out the boiler front and installed a stamped steel reflector and a bulb that occupied the entire boiler front area.
The engines came in a number of different sets which varied in terms of number and types of cars. One #1216 headed up a 4 car passenger set.
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