Shop American Flyer diesel locomotives and engines for sale, from vintage Gilbert S Gauge favorites to later Lionel American Flyer diesels. Explore changing pre-owned and collectible inventory for classic layouts, modern S Gauge railroads, and American Flyer collections.
Browse more American Flyer S Gauge Trains, explore AF Postwar Diesel Engines, or compare S Gauge Diesel Locomotives and all S Model Trains across manufacturers.
American Flyer diesel locomotives span far more than one period of S Gauge railroading. Vintage A.C. Gilbert engines established the familiar American Flyer diesel tradition, while later American Flyer production under Lionel brought new road names, locomotive designs, operating features, and eventually modern diesel power to the line.
That makes this an all-era place to shop American Flyer diesel engines. Depending on available inventory, you may find older collectible locomotives, later Lionel American Flyer releases, powered and non-powered units, or modern S Gauge diesels equipped with electronic sound and command-control features.
The American Flyer name continued well beyond the original Gilbert years, and its diesel roster grew with it. Lionel revisited traditional American Flyer locomotive styles while also introducing diesels representing generations of prototype power that Gilbert never modeled.
Later American Flyer production expanded beyond the classic Gilbert diesel roster with locomotives such as the EMD GP20 and SD9. These models gave S Gauge operators additional road-switcher choices in numerous railroad paint schemes and are an important part of the American Flyer diesel story outside the Postwar era.
Large GE road power brought a very different look to American Flyer. Lionel produced U33C locomotives in S Gauge and later offered U36C models, bringing six-axle GE diesels and a wide variety of road names into the American Flyer lineup.
The SD70ACe marked a major move into contemporary S Scale diesel power. Lionel offered these large modern locomotives in numerous railroad schemes, including distinctive heritage paint schemes, with advanced sound and command-control features on equipped versions.
The GE ES44AC pushed American Flyer diesel modeling even further into modern railroading. Lionel introduced the ES44AC into its American Flyer line in the 2010s and produced a broad selection of railroad and heritage schemes, giving S Gauge operators contemporary locomotives that look dramatically different from the diesels of the Gilbert era.
Not every American Flyer diesel was designed with exactly the same modeling approach. Lionel has offered both Traditional S-Gauge equipment and more scale-oriented S Scale locomotives, allowing operators to choose between the familiar American Flyer style and models built with greater attention to prototype dimensions and detail.
This is also why shoppers may encounter American Flyer S Gauge diesel locomotives and American Flyer S Scale diesel locomotives used to describe somewhat different types of equipment. Both belong to the larger American Flyer S Gauge railroad, but dimensions, wheel options, minimum curves, electronics, and other specifications can vary considerably by model.
Operating features also changed as American Flyer moved through different generations. Older diesels may use straightforward conventional transformer control, while later Lionel American Flyer engines can include electronic sound, FlyerChief remote control, or LEGACY command-control features. Always check the specifications of the individual locomotive before choosing a control system.
For a vintage railroad, model number, production period, road name, condition, and originality may be the biggest considerations. For a newer S Gauge layout, minimum curve requirements, control system, sound, powered versus non-powered operation, and the locomotive's proportions may matter more.
American Flyer has offered both powered locomotives and non-powered companion units. A non-powered diesel may look nearly identical to a powered engine, so checking the model number and product description is important when buying individual units or assembling a multi-unit consist.
Pre-owned inventory can span decades of American Flyer production, which is part of what makes this category interesting to shop. One group of arrivals might include an older collectible engine, while another could bring a Lionel American Flyer GP20, SD9, U33C, SD70ACe, ES44AC, or other later S Gauge diesel back onto the market.
Trainz buys qualifying collections that can include vintage and modern American Flyer diesel locomotives, train sets, rolling stock, track, accessories, and parts. Collections can include A.C. Gilbert equipment, later Lionel American Flyer trains, or a mixture of S Gauge eras. Learn more through Sell My Trains – How It Works.
A.C. Gilbert produced classic American Flyer diesels, while Lionel later continued and greatly expanded the American Flyer S Gauge diesel line.
Most American Flyer diesels shoppers encounter are S Gauge, although specifications and modeling proportions vary by model and production era.
S Gauge refers to the track gauge, while S Scale refers to 1:64 scale. Lionel has offered both traditional American Flyer-style S Gauge equipment and more scale-oriented S Scale models.
Lionel American Flyer diesels have included PA locomotives, GP7s, GP20s, SD9s, U33Cs, U36Cs, SD70ACes, ES44ACs, and other models.
Yes. Under Lionel, American Flyer expanded into modern diesels including the SD70ACe and ES44AC.
No. American Flyer has offered powered locomotives as well as non-powered or dummy units designed to run with powered diesels.
Some later models do. Depending on the locomotive, features may include conventional control, FlyerChief, LEGACY, electronic sound, or other Lionel electronics.
It depends on the locomotive. Track compatibility, minimum curve requirements, power, and control needs should be checked for the specific model.
Value varies with the model, production era, road name, rarity, condition, originality, operating features, and whether the locomotive is powered or non-powered.
Trainz carries changing inventory of vintage, used, collectible, and later Lionel American Flyer diesel locomotives as equipment becomes available.
Explore trains across scales and manufacturers in Model Trains, or shop more diesel power in All Diesel Locomotives.
