Model Train Journal

Anybody recognise this kit?

It looks to be 17/64 scale, tin plated steel, wood, cast frame in clean white metal of an almost pewter hardness. Trucks are interesting with brass springplanks and journal covers. They are not marked Auel so that initial guess on my part is not valid.

I confess my ignorance of a lot of the earliest stuff is pretty high.

Interesting parts.....curious as to how the cupola gets assembled and fitted, and where that bundle of wood fits.

Going to build it?

Those trucks sure look like Auel trucks, there is lettering on the side frames, but I can't tell from the pictures what it says. Not sure on the caboose, maybe shopcraft or something like that? It doesn't look like one of the other more common sources that I can think of off the top of my head.

Are yours not marked in the same place?

I suppose with that brass bottom plank, maybe they are early KTM or something?

Dennis Holler wrote:Those trucks sure look like Auel trucks..........that brass bottom plank, maybe they are early KTM or something?

Perhaps a marriage of inconvenience of the two?

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

Dennis Holler wrote:Those trucks sure look like Auel trucks..........that brass bottom plank, maybe they are early KTM or something?

Perhaps a marriage of inconvenience of the two?

Very well could be!!

The trucks are not Auels, although they are large enough to have me believe they are 17/64" and are at least as nice if not nicer. All the markings are prototypical ones, not as Carl did his with his name. The planks and covers are very uniform and show no signs of hand fettling, but are uniform enough to have me fairly certain they were manufactured for these trucks.

Another clue is the age. This kit comes from quite literally a time capsule of equipment and parts from one of the prewar/wartime guys in the old Rochester club, all boxed away not to see light of day until passed on to me.

sarge wrote:......a time capsule of equipment .......

And w/o any documentation which is really unfortunate then.

None about each model, but a fair amount regarding the owner. It's an interesting capsule of history. To be honest I'd like to find someone interested in keeping the lot together and displaying it. Sounds right up Carey's alley but haven't seen him here lately...

sarge wrote:None about each model, but a fair amount regarding the owner. It's an interesting capsule of history. To be honest I'd like to find someone interested in keeping the lot together and displaying it. Sounds right up Carey's alley but haven't seen him here lately...

Carey's absence is also unfortunate. Message sent 2 U.

I don't think those trucks are Auel - he marked seemingly every one of his castings. I suspect they're a foreign reproduction/copy of Auel trucks. I know there were also suspiciously similar 6-wheel trucks to Auel's, but I don't recall the company. I don't really recognize the kit either, it could be foreign.

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

sarge wrote:None about each model, but a fair amount regarding the owner. It's an interesting capsule of history. To be honest I'd like to find someone interested in keeping the lot together and displaying it. Sounds right up Carey's alley but haven't seen him here lately...

Carey's absence is also unfortunate. Message sent 2 U.

Carey is fine, I have a scheduled visit next Tuesday to umm pick up some gems…

sarge wrote:The trucks are not Auels, although they are large enough to have me believe they are 17/64" and are at least as nice if not nicer. All the markings are prototypical ones, not as Carl did his with his name. The planks and covers are very uniform and show no signs of hand fettling, but are uniform enough to have me fairly certain they were manufactured for these trucks.

Another clue is the age. This kit comes from quite literally a time capsule of equipment and parts from one of the prewar/wartime guys in the old Rochester club, all boxed away not to see light of day until passed on to me.

Early KTM and maybe Athearn used similar planks after the cast ones umm failed