Lionel American Flyer reproduction 755 station and 789 baggage smasher

SOME OF THE FINEST American Flyer accessories that the A.C. Gilbert Co. developed in the late prewar and postwar eras fit as nicely on O gauge layouts as they always have on S gauge railroads.

For that reason, many of you should consider one or both of the animated Flyer stations being reissued by Lionel.

The no. 755 talking station stands out as one of the landmark accessories created by Gilbert. It began life as the no. 597 “a-Koostikin” talking passenger and freight station in 1939. Cataloged through 1942, it returned to the revamped Flyer line in 1948 as the no. 755 and remained a fixture for the next two years.

Lionel has brought back this illuminated classic as the no. 49812. The gray-painted sheet-metal base, red- and white-painted embossed sheet-metal structure, and green plastic “window” inserts look identical to the Gilbert original. So do the green crackle-painted sheet-metal roof with a red chimney and two signs identifying the station as “Mystic.”

Inside, however, the new item represents a different station in life. Its prewar and postwar ancestors played a disk on which station announcements had been recorded.

Youngsters could hear the same trains arriving and departing time after time.

The reissue uses digital technology to enable operators to create and play their own announcements. The microphone packed with the 49812 is easily wired and lets you record and play anything desired, from station warnings to Elvis impersonations.

Keep in mind that you have only 40 seconds at your disposal. You can replay the same message or record over what you’ve said.

Installing the reissued talking station was a breeze. I used a conventional Lionel transformer, but the instructions explain how to use the 49812 with track power and either a traditional lockon or a FasTrack Accessory Power Wire.

Kids of every age will love this reincarnation of Gilbert’s no. 755. They can tailor the announcements to fit the era and region being modeled or rely on the public address function to practice Karaoke.
If you’d rather let someone else do the work, then you may prefer the no. 49813, a reissue of the no. 789 American Flyer station and baggage smasher from 1956-57. This animated plastic structure, though originally intended for S gauge, also looks pretty neat in an O gauge setting.

The unpainted light gray base, white building, green roof, and red chimney scarcely depart from the Gilbert original. Unlike the postwar version, the reissue is illuminated. Switching power on triggers the light inside the station and starts a miniature baggage handler pushing a hand truck stacked with suitcases.

He goes from one end of his track to the other before turning around and returning on his short journey.

The animation is simple yet interesting. I was still watching intently as “Billy,” to use the moniker that Gilbert gave the figure, completed his 100th trip. At that point, my fellow CTT editors switched off the accessory and carried me away.

Once again, I relied on a conventional Lionel transformer as a separate accessory power supply to provide the juice needed to operate the “baggage smasher.” You may elect to use track power via a lockon or FasTrack Accessory Power Wire, an insulated track section, or TrainMaster Command Control.

So if there’s room on your layout for another station, consider adding one of these clever Flyer reissues from Lionel. The sounds and the sights will keep you entertained for hours.