Even if you're not a tinplate fan, it's hard to deny that our Tinplate Traditions 4696 steamer is drop-dead gorgeous. Our die-cast model replicates American Flyer's® top-of-the-line Wide Gauge (Standard Gauge) steam locomotive, cataloged from 1931 to 1935. Known among collectors as the "Brass Piper," the 4696 was distinguished from its competition by a large number of added-on brass details, and brass piping that included elaborate cooling coils under each running board. The 4696 also sported additional drive rod parts that represented steam locomotive valve gear — a detail unheard on most other tinplate steamers. In many ways, the 4696 was a forerunner of what would become American Flyer's claim to fame after it was acquired by A.C. Gilbert a few years later: more realism and more prototypical proportions than competitive Lionel® models.