Any ideas about what brand this is?

looks like an all nation 4-4-0 . you should be able to get gears from BTS as he bought the line from babbit who bought it from bill pope. unfortunately he has had some health issues and not selling anything as of yet from the last time i looked at his website. you might also try nwsl if you can't get them from bts.

Varney, General Models, or All-Nation frame/mechanism.  They are basically all the same just produced at different times with identical tooling.

The cab & smoke box are Kemtron/PSC.  The boiler looks to be scratch built.  It would be easier to verify with a photo of the interior or underside of the boiler.

I believe most of these 4-4-0s were set up for the motor to be mounted in the tender with a drive shaft connecting it to the gearbox on the rear driver.  Bob Turner is the master of this design.

Yep, Babbit was producing these kits but I believe they sold the line to B.T.S. and they may be able to help you with the parts you need.  They were using NWSL gearboxes the last time I checked.

Bottom line, you have a nice little model there with a lot of potential.  Take your time and get it right and you'll have a great running loco.  The basics are there already.

Good luck and let us know how all this progresses.

Jay

Upon further review, I'd say that's the original boiler worked down (all the detail removed).

Domes, stack, headlight, etc, are probably Kemtron/PSC.

Jay

Upon further, further review,

I may have a set of rods if B.T.S. doesn't.  If they don't please give the the center to center length between the drivers and I'll check my inventory.

Jay

Thanks for the replies. Yes, it looks like the boiler is the original with the detail removed, and the motor was originally intended to be mounted in the tender. There is probably enough room to mount it in the boiler, but I'll work that out later.

I'll measure the centres for a rod length tomorrow, it'd be good to have the right rod! I'm sure progress will be very slow, but I'll post pics as I do stuff.

Thanks.

Here is the original version, exactly the way it arrived here a quarter century ago.  I loctited the drivers and lent it to the Museum for a month or so - they loved it!  Original tender drive works really well.  Someday I shall repaint and re-decal.

I had an AN version I built from a new kit I bought years ago.   I have sold it off when I went to Pennsy.    It was a good runner and had the tender drive.     There was a big lead weight in cab.    And there was a universal between the tender and cab that was jointed in the right place.    

The wheels and tender look very AN but the AN cab did not have any rivet detail.   

It looks like they were replacing all the rods    The AN rods were cruder than the finished ones on this model.   If it rolls smoothly with all connected and has no binds, I would stick with whatever they did.

It also looks like new cyclinders.   

prrjim,

Yeah, the rods are fine on one side but look at the other side.

Grantham,

I should have been more clear.  The cab & smoke box (probably the smoke box front also) are Kemtron/PSC castings for their Wabash Mogul.

Jay

I saw that the rods on one side were crude, but if the right size and quartered, just finish them off.    It seems that might be easier than trying to make new rods.

I agree.  Just get some good Swiss needle files.

I think I would ditch that smokebox, and start with something with fewer buttons. And lower the cylinder saddle just a tad.

Grantham,

Haven't seen any post on the rod dimensions but I was digging through the "Side Rod" box and found these.  I believe these are originals.  I wouldn't depend on the dimples for your length.  I would double, or even triple, check the dimensions and then bore them from the rear.

Jay

Jay C, I just measured them and it's almost spot on 2 1/8", those rods would indeed be just about perfect! I'll send you a PM.

Edit: Newbie to the forums, I can't work out how to send a PM! I'd love to buy these rods from you, Is there a way to contact you?

Thanks!

Grantham,

Just shoot me your address and I'll mail them to you.

My email address is, criswell@pacbell.net

Jay

Thanks, have sent an email.

Got it.

Your side rods are on their way to the Southern Hemisphere.

Postage was cheap.

Jay

You are a true gentleman, Jay!

Shhh!  You'll ruin my rep.