who built this

I can't help with who built it, but it looks like the engines you see on the Panama Canal that pull the ships through the locks. It's cool looking anyway.

Thought that was just on eBay and in a discussion here a week or 3 back?

it was and now I own it am trying to find more info.  I made an offer and they accepted

Excellent.  It was tempting yet another item that would have had no real reason for as well and I've already saturated that department,

Good pictures indicate it to be very solidly built - drive parts are from??

USH gearboxes mated with delrin chain drive and small open frame motor.  really runs smoothe and creeps