I bought this off the local market for $2 Australian dollars. Have checked the internet but no definite results. The no. On the base(20735] comes up as a castle class, but I don't think this is correct.
I find it rather odd to identify this chassis. A 2-6-2 of that era would put it down to either a 3MT Tank or a Large Prairie... Although... ...the 3MT tank had angle cylinders, whereas you chassis has straight up and down/vertical cylinders, nor did it come out with that motion bracket. ...the Large Prairie didn't have the motion bracket as on your chassis, it had two solid metal rods to as the motion supports. That particular motion bracket didn't appear to around 1974 on the Hornby models and was only found on the Ivatt Class 2 (2-6-0)... When you look at that cast chassis and the wheels sets, they are typical of the early Triang models from 1955 to 1972/3. Something that throws me is the diameter of the driving wheels. The diameter is far too large for a 3MT or a Large Prairie of that era and the wheels are too close together... One other thing it could possibly be is a cut down/modified 4-6-2 chassis to fit an Airfix (ex Dapol) Large Prairie kit... Cheers, Gary.
I'm with Brian on this, looks like a Dublo GWR Chassis, where the rear half of the front bogie has been cut away. Paul
Thanks everyone for your feedback, looks like I have a Frankenstein. I have order some new brushes, so I can see if it's a runner. Where too from here. Any ideas?
Definitely a Dublo (or possibly Wrenn) Castle chassis. Someone has modified the rear to accept a front pony truck from a Dublo or Wrenn 2-6-4T. Rather than the rear half of the front bogie having been cut away, as Paul suggested, I think they have replaced the four wheeled bogie of the Castle with another front pony truck from a Dublo or Wrenn 2-6-4T. In fitting the pony to the rear, whoever did it has removed the cab steps (which were attached to the chassis rather than the body) and the rear body mounting screws, so you would have your work cut out for you if you want to turn it back into a Castle. It's worth more than $2.00 for the wheels and motor though........
Of course you're right. The Wrenn versions were Ringfield powered. Only the early Dublo Castles had the half inch motor.
Just caught up with this thread : a dublo chassis A graham farish oo guage large prairie sat on top , at a scale 35 mph ish would look the part imo
Sorry to resurrect this thread but I took a punt on eBay for a chassis - for the motor , a chassis not unsimilar to yours , and no one else did and took delivery of a redesigned Hornby dublo / wrenn castle chassis - runs just fine
Hi Bob, no need to be sorry, doesn't bother me how old it is, I'm a lot older What do you think the chassis was converted to be? Jim
Hi Jim Short answer-not a clue but "those of you with a delicate disposition look the other way " Ive been looking at it more closely and think its been re-wheeled , but they are h/d wrenn wheels , the connecting rods look to be triang/hornby , the isolating bushes for two rail are on the wrong side, the pick ups are not original , the motor and chassis block are castle either h/d or wrenn . I'm stumped , any suggestions gratefully received Bob
I did have one to which the larger diameter A4 wheels had been fitted to, supposedly nearer the correct size. Probably best to treat it as doner for other locos, motor is probably a Wrenn, pickups not original, maybe because the insulated side was changed, who knows, a good motor holds most of the value. Jim
Hi Jim A bit more investigating The leading and trailing wheels are nickle plated 2 rail h/d / wrenn , the centre wheels are mazak 3 rail h/d , all being duchess/A4/4mt size . The motor is an early "A" ringfield motor with the non-adjustable bearing in the cab . The connecting rod , screw and spacers are triang/trianghornby possibly/probably from a B12/Hall/A3 derivative chassis held in place with a standard 12ba screw . I bought it for the motor , which will only fit h/d wrenn castle , but would consider making (new body) another class locomotive . The deciding factor would be that huge motor sticking in the cab and making it fit .......................... Bob
Well Bob, it would look okay next to a Dublo or Wrenn original where the motor filled the cab, forget trying to make it look like a Tri-ang loco let alone a current model Jim