What is this little thing?

[RW&C]

Found this on eBay and loved the design, but I have no idea what it is. The model is by Atlas, no markings that I can see. The Atlas web site has nothing about it. Anyone know what this is?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ATLAS-LOCOMOTIV...el_RR_Trains&hash=item53e55d4492#ht_500wt_838

 

[bnsf971]

It's a Roco model of a Davenport switcher. They were made back in the 1970's. They are not considered very good runners.

http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/davenport.html

 

[RW&C]

Thanks! I particularly like this bit of the review:

To remove the shell, simply unscrew the big ugly screw on top of the shell.

Three pole, four wheel pickup... wow.

 

[CBCNSfan]

Thanks! I particularly like this bit of the review:

Three pole, four wheel pickup... wow.

Yep! they sure don't build them like that nowadays.

Cheers
Willis

 

[Larry]

About 10 years ago I bought 4 of those from a guy from Canada that was vacationing here for the winter. I never did get them to run. Back then I wasn't doing repairs & was always afraid to tare into them. I finally gave them to a friend from Utah. he never got them running either.
They always had grounding problems on the frames I was told.

 

[RW&C]

Wow. Some companies mess up once or twice in a run like this and make one that works, but naught for four?

Does anyone make a decent model of one of these? Also, does anyone have one of these they'd like to unload cheaply? It's been far too long since I swore at a useless mechanism.

 

[RW&C]

Update: It sold for almost thirty bucks, plus shipping.

Someone was saying something about ebay bidders being nuts...