All Aboard!A Vintage Train Story

A Bargain from the Auction Block

I love a good bargain, and some of my best finds have come from the unpredictable world of auctions. While the patter of an auctioneer always gets my heart racing, it’s late-afternoon auctions—when most of the crowd has gone home—that offer the real thrill. Back in 2016, I was the winning bidder on a box of pre-war American Flyer train cars for a mere $35! My husband, Brian, never knew what crazy thing I would bring home from an auction. He was relieved that this purchase didn’t require a rental truck! Loving trains, he was delighted with my purchase, and after some research, we realized we had a significant portion of the 1939 American Flyer O Gauge Mountain Red Ball Double Header Set. We were thrilled to have so many of the cars, but the set was missing its two double-header engines. We only really needed to find one to complete our photo shoot. We found the engine at a local antique shop for… well, let’s just say it cost a lot more than $35!

The Ingenious Tanker Trap

With the full set now in hand, it was time to get to work. During the early days of AzarÉl Greetings, our photography studio was our narrow deck railing. To give the train a fittingly vintage feel, I covered the railing with burlap. I also needed to lure some feathered models for the shoot! Since the birds were already used to feeding on our deck, they felt right at home. Luring them to the coal tender was a no-brainer: I just filled it with black oil sunflower seeds. The tanker car, however, proved to be a real challenge. The wind from a bird’s wings would blow a seed right off the top! After a lot of head-scratching, I came up with a simple (even maybe brilliant?) solution: I created a tiny pocket from tin foil, taped it to the back of the car, and filled it with food. The bulging pocket was out of sight from the camera, but not from the hungry birds!

Capturing the Crew

Photographing the whole train took about a week, from May 9th to 16th, 2016. I shot two cars at a time, making sure to capture the correct angles for linking them together later. After taking between 1,000 and 2,000 photos, the real work began: sifting through every shot to find the perfect passengers. It was delightful to find five totally different species of birds had chosen to ride the rails.

All Aboard the American Flyers

According to Brian (my husband), most of the birds in this photo have jobs on the railroad. The Blue Jay is the boss, with his claw on the cowcatcher, overseeing the entire operation with a steely-eyed gaze. The daring Tufted Titmouse is the fireman, crossing between cars like a hero in an action movie. The Cardinal is an oil baron, keeping a close eye on his valuable shipment, while the Chickadee, with his endless energy, is the flagman, hopping off the train with his lantern to keep the crew safe. No, I didn’t forget the Nuthatch by the box car. He’s a hobo, intensely watching the Blue Jay, waiting for just the right moment to sneak onto the train for a free ride. After all, it was the late ’30s!

A Unique Piece of Art

Bringing this whimsical image to life was a true labor of love. The final giclée canvas print, aptly named “American Flyers” in honor of the train brand and its feathered passengers, is a beautiful and unique piece of art. Printed by Brian on quality canvas with pigmented inks, it’s designed to last without fading, even in sun-splashed areas. This conversation starter is a perfect addition to a model train room, a fireplace mantel, or even above sliding doors. You can find this unique 8” x 40” print at our shows or online at AzarElGreetings.com.

P.S. For all you miniature railroad fans out there, we’ve got a little something extra for you! Below is a photo of page 18 from the 1939 American Flyer catalog, which details our very own train set. To see this train set in action, we’ve also included a link to a YouTube video of the Mountain Red Ball Double Header Set on the tracks.

For those of you squinting to read the catalog page, here’s what it says:

Here’s a thrilling train that personifies power and strength. The two locomotives (of the 2-4-2 and 2-4-4 type) with their tenders measure 32”.

Synchronized action is achieved by placing the motive power in the head engine, where a sturdy remote control electric motor moves four drive wheels and realistic eccentric arm double action piston rods. The head engine is die cast and has a beaming electric head light. The rear engine also has a headlight which lights up its mate ahead in a spectacular fashion. The viidly colored, brass trimmed freight cars are 9 ½” long and have automatic couplers which allow coupling anywhere on the tracks – But that’s not all – an electrically controlled uncoupling device on one of the track sections permits electrical uncoupling. Few trains give as spectacular performance as this impressive double header.