Need help to identify this trolley.

It looks like a Walthers Chicago, North Shore, & Milwaukee coach kit that has seen some rough service. They can be built up into almost brass-rivalling cars with a lot of effort. BTW, my 1948 Walthers catalog shows that kit so it has been available for a long time.

EDIT: Pittman/Bowser offered (Bowser may still) offered a vertical-motored drive (both two & three-rail) for their Brill semiconvertable that would work in this application although the trucks would be wrong for NS car. Note that salvaging a drive from an MTH or Lionel (depending on what control system you use) car is another option.

PRRMP54: Thank you for identifying what I have. I have several of the Bowser Brill Trolleys, some that I have had for over 40 years, I have four running with TMCC on my layout.

Looking through my spare parts I found a power truck, an unpowered truck and a third rail power pickup. I think that this is what was installed previously as the mounting holes line up.

After I clean up the body and the powered truck my current plan is to install the Bowser parts and also TMCC. I would like to have headlights, but pictures on the internet show some with no lights on the front and some with a light on the lower section of the door on the front.

@PRRMP54 posted:

It looks like a Walthers Chicago, North Shore, & Milwaukee coach kit that has seen some rough service. They can be built up into almost brass-rivalling cars with a lot of effort. BTW, my 1948 Walthers catalog shows that kit so it has been available for a long time.

EDIT: Pittman/Bowser offered (Bowser may still) offered a vertical-motored drive (both two & three-rail) for their Brill semiconvertable that would work in this application although the trucks would be wrong for NS car. Note that salvaging a drive from an MTH or Lionel (depending on what control system you use) car is another option.

Yup !

@PRRMP54 posted:

It looks like a Walthers Chicago, North Shore, & Milwaukee coach kit that has seen some rough service.

Yup.  And not all that bad - so many are out there that had the sides nailed on. This one looks like you could strip it down and make it look good. Add some underbody parts, steps, roof bits, and a drive, and it'll roll another 50 years.

@David Nissen posted:

PRRMP54: Thank you for identifying what I have. I have several of the Bowser Brill Trolleys, some that I have had for over 40 years, I have four running with TMCC on my layout.

Looking through my spare parts I found a power truck, an unpowered truck and a third rail power pickup. I think that this is what was installed previously as the mounting holes line up.

After I clean up the body and the powered truck my current plan is to install the Bowser parts and also TMCC. I would like to have headlights, but pictures on the internet show some with no lights on the front and some with a light on the lower section of the door on the front.

Those are really the wrong trucks but will suffice until you find (if you so desire) the proper ones with around a 6' 6" wheelbase. The ones shown are for a city car.

Work Has begun. I have unbolted the ends and unsoldered the sides. The base is not much to look at so I probably make a new base. the sides have a stiffening piece soldered to the top of the sides but it is not straight so it will probably come off. The sides and ends look to be in good shape.

Steps look like they will be a good 3D printing project. Trolley poles will need to be purchased or maybe another project.

Its actually an Interurban. not a trolley car. You should be able to find most of the detail parts, on line including, the proper side frames  Great find

@mwb posted:

Yup.  And not all that bad - so many are out there that had the sides nailed on. This one looks like you could strip it down and make it look good. Add some underbody parts, steps, roof bits, and a drive, and it'll roll another 50 years.

Yeah, those little nails,  who ever thought that was a good idea?

@David Nissen posted:

Work Has begun. I have unbolted the ends and unsoldered the sides. The base is not much to look at so I probably make a new base. the sides have a stiffening piece soldered to the top of the sides but it is not straight so it will probably come off. The sides and ends look to be in good shape.

Steps look like they will be a good 3D printing project. Trolley poles will need to be purchased or maybe another project.

Toss the base into the waste can; not original to these kits. Wood was the norm.  You could go with wood or styrene to isolate electrical issues.  Make sure you account for the steps in the creation of a replacement floor.

Proper steps you might be able to get from Q-Car along with all the rest of the missing details and underbody, and correct couplers. Poles are available - check out Jason's Brass poles. You can get them in kit form from PSC if you like pain and suffering.  

Drive is a different problem - 2 rail - either Q-Car from whom you might also get it with proper sideframes.  Other options might include Dylan Lambert's drive which might also be available 2 or 3 rail.

@Dave Koehler posted:

Yeah, those little nails,  who ever thought that was a good idea?

That was once the standard for Walthers kits as well as others that produced metal sides for cars with wood interior framing. They did not have the luxury of all of the choices of adhesives that we do today.

@mwb posted:

That was once the standard for Walthers kits as well as others that produced metal sides for cars with wood interior framing. They did not have the luxury of all of the choices of adhesives that we do today.

I figured it was the lack of adhesives. when I built my first  HO inturban lit we had walthers goo