In the 1950's, 60's and 70's All-Nation manufactured or supplied kits and parts to a large segment of the 'O' Scale
model railroading hobby. Over time, All-Nation added to its line by acquiring inventories, parts, tooling and dies
of several other prominent 'O' scale 2-rail model manufacturers and suppliers that went bankrupt. All-Nation
Manufacturing was owned by Jim Wilson from 1950 until 1959, with production based at the All-Nation Model & Coin Shop
originally located at 182 North LaSalle St. in Chicago, IL. The hobby shop itself dated back
to the 1920's and was once one of the country's finest hobby shops with an extensive line of model railroads in all gauges,
as well as model ships and model airplanes.
The 'O' scale All-Nation line developed and evolved with the purchase of several scale model kit manufacturers whose
products had been carried in the hobby shop. In the early 1950's, under Jim Wilson, All-Nation acquired
General Models Corp., Atwater models and parts of Scale Model Railways to add to their
manufacturing line. General Models Corp., under Joseph R. Matthews, had been selling an extensive line of 'O'
scale wood and metal freight car kits and developed an EMD switcher in 1948. Atwater, under Frank
Libuse, Jr., had developed an 'O' scale F style diesel in 1947. General Models eventually acquired Atwater.
All-Nation also offered steam engine kits in the form of a ten wheeler Atlantic whose heritage can be traced to
prewar Varney offerings and a 4-8-2 Mountain. The Atwater/General Models diesels
that ended up carrying the All-Nation name were not All-Nation's creations. All-Nation bought the bankrupt General
Models Corp. (GMC) in the early 1950's. Atwater Models came with that acquisition, having been a part of GMC. The
4-6-0 was orignally maketed by Varney about 1946/47, then sold to GMC Models who added other wheel arrangements.
All-Nation picked up this tooling at the General Models Corp. bankruptcy sale in 1950. Cars from Scale Model Railways,
the predecessor of Scale-Craft, previously owned and operated by Bill Lenoir and Jack
Ferris also became part of All-Nation. This acquisition consisted of dies for a cast aluminum C&O hopper, a cast
aluminum C&O caboose, a cast aluminum box car, a cast aluminum reefer, a straight side sill flatcar, and an 8-wheel
depressed center flatcar. These cars were considered to be state of the art in scale models for the 1930's, with the
exception of a few minor flaws. All-Nation models were not super-detailed kits but they were fully accurate to the
prototypes they represented.
Atwater was the company that produced the dies in the late 1940's for the F units that became part of
the All-Nation Line via the General Models acquisition. These diesels were well ahead of their time and many 'O' Scale
modelers still run them on their model railroads today. Atwater Models developed the F-3 tooling and released the product
in 1947. The F-3 loco bodies were made using pressure die-cast zinc alloy that included lots of detail. It came in 5
tongue-and-groove pieces. Literature proclaimed that the kit could be assembled with just a screw driver, as all holes
were pre-drilled. The engines featured operating headlights, Mars light, number boards, and marker lights. Die-cast
trucks with self-aligning replaceable bronze axle bearings in the truck journals were also featured. The engines included
a Miller Laboratories permanent magnet motor for 2 rail DC operation, with the ability to utilize a rectifier for AC
operation, and a wire addition to facilitate 3 rail operation. They used a hand reverse. The original Atwater-developed
under-floor power trucks did not function consistently. General Models had been buying up other 'O'
scale lines in the period 1946 to 1949 and subsequently acquired the Atwater tooling. General Models Corp. developed a
more efficient power truck for the F-3. This product was later marketed for many years by All-Nation with the addition
of a constant torque transmission. It was offered as a #1000 unpowered A unit for $39.95, a #1015 single motored A unit
for $60.45, a #1001 unpowered B unit for $35.50, a #1017 single motored B unit for $56.50,
and a #1919 double motored B unit for $67.50. 100's of the F-3's with 'Atwater' engraved in the dies were
sold by General Models before they altered the dies to reflect their ownership. GMC later created the F-7 variation before
going bankrupt in late 1950. The F-7 was similar to the older F-3, the differences being that the F-7 had two side windows
instead of three, and a continuos grill strip. The trucks were attached to the body casting by plastic forms which were
screwed to the body casting. The motor was center mounted on metal girders. The power truck was driven by a metallic
flexible shaft to
the gear boxes. Brass bushings were used as bearings for the axles. The lower headlight could be left blank or drilled out.
All-Nation offered the F-7 as either powered or dummy unpowered A or B units - $44.95 for a #8000 dummy A unit,
$65.50 for a #8015 powered A unit, $41.45 for a #8001 dummy B unit, $61.50 for a #8017 single motored B unit and $73.50 for a
#8019 dual motored B unit. A units could not be dual motored as the nose compartment housed the headlight and there was not
enough room for a second motor. All-Nation made improvements to the original design by implementing a wheel equalization
system that distributed the loco's weight across all trucks over an uneven track all wheels would remain in full contact
with the rails. Truck assembly was now performed using clips so nuts and bolts were eliminated. Both the F-7 and F-3 were
available with either tinplate or scale wheels.
General Models Corp. had introduced their 'O' scale EMD 1,000 horsepower diesel yard switcher engine in 1948 and produced
it until Dec. 11, 1950 when the company went into bankruptcy and All-Nation Hobby Shop of Chicago purchased their assets.
All-Nation manufactured their 4-6-0, 4-6-2, 4-8-2, and 4-4-2
steamers into the late 1960's, and they also continued to make the popular F-3's, F-7's, along with the EMD switcher as
well. The diesel engine was produced until 1982 by All-Nation when the shop was finally closed.
Thomas Industries made a pickup slide for the 'O' gauge 1000 HP EMD diesel
switcher manufactured by General Models Corp. The switcher did not bear any General Models Corp. markings, but the
Thomas Industries name was embossed on the slide, which has confused collectors as to who made this diesel locomotive.
It is believed however that the Thomas pickup slide appears only on models made by General Models Corp. from 1948 to
1950. The switcher was 11⅛" long, 3⅝" high and 2 9/16" wide. It weighed 4½ lbs. It was offered with
either 4 or 8 wheel powered drive. The superstructure, truck side frames and accessory detail were all
die-cast in Zamac #3. It featured a turned brass bell, plastic headlight lenses, turned handrail stanchions, preformed
grab irons, handrails, stacks, horn, front and rear bulkheads and pilots. Kit versions were offered for 2-rail ($32) or
3-rail ($41). A custom assembled ready-to-run version cost $80, and a dummy unpowered unit was $10.95. Over time,
All-Nation made modifications to the GMC EMD switcher by changing the permag vertical motor configuration to a horizontal
implementation and by converting the worm drive to a chain drive system. The early All-Nation switchers kept the straight cut
brass gears in the worm drive system initailly used by GMC, but later versions were fitted with constant torque helical style
angled gears, prior to the sprocket and chain conversion.
The 'old faithful' of the All-Nation line was the 4-6-0 (ten wheeler) loco. The kit was offered in many different
configurations, including as complete with mechanism, boiler, cab and tender, or in separate sections, in AC or DC, for
2-rail or 3-rail operation. The running locomotive required a minimum 32" track radius. It was 11⅙" long, 3⅞"
high, 2 11/16" wide and weighed 5½ lbs. The complete 2-rail kit was $56.25, while the 3-rail kit sold for $60.50. The 4-6-2
Pacific by All-Nation was also offered in 2-rail or 3-rail, for AC or DC operation, and in either complete kit, as a
separate mechanism, or boiler & cab assembly only, or tender only. It required minimum radius curves of
36", weighed 6½ lbs., was 12¾" long, almost 4" high, and 2 11/16" wide. Drawbar pull was 20.8 ounces. The complete
2-rail kit was $69.50 while the 3-rail kit was $73.75.
All-Nation 'O' scale Kit-built 40' Wood Side Reefers
All-Nation freight car construction was the same as its predecessor, General Models Corp., using
wood bodies and brass or cast details. They did modify the roofs to use 2 pieces as opposed to the GMC 4-part roof.
They also updated the reefer parts to include door hardware and changed the side ladders from 6 to 7 rung versions to be
more to scale. The parts for the All-Nation freight car kits were sourced from various jobbers and suppliers. Truck
patterns for the CB&Q caboose were modeled by Hank Balinski. The boiler for the 2-6-2 Prairie locomotive was machined by
Cary Models. Original art work and paint colors for the models were provided by the railroads themselves.
In 1959 Jim Wilson and his wife Leighia retired, selling the hobby side of the business to long time employee Bob Colson.
Colson had started working there around 1946 when he returned home from military service during World War II. However,
Wilson continued to handle all the box label printing for All-Nation Lines. Initially Colson intended only to sell off
the remaining stock but hobby shop owners around the country convinced Colson
to restart manufacturing of the line which included the F units, diesel switcher, Varney derived steamers
and many freight car kits. Colson produced the line through the early 1970's with many additions and improvements including
newer motors, a more powerful transmission unit, and a new ball joint coupling. Bob Colson, along with his wife
Marsha and their sons Terrell and Bob Jr. ran the business until 1972. The hobby shop on LaSalle St. was closed and the
business was relocated in 1961 to 220 West Madison Street in Chicago. In 1965 the hobby shop and the manufacturing business
were incorporated separately. The manufacturing side of the business, now called All-Nation Line Co., was relocated into
larger quarters at 1020 Busse Hwy. in Park Ridge, IL. a suburb of Chicago.
All-Nation 'O' scale Kit-built 36' Wood Side Reefers
During the 1960's Bob Colson’s All-Nation took over production of Model Structures’ extensive bridge,
trestle, and tunnel portal line. This was a large library of plans and kits for all gauges. It included timber trestles
for straights and curves, deck spans, riveted spans, Howe Truss Timber spans, single and double track through spans, and
plate girder spans all modeled from various prototype rail roads that provided the data and drawings. Also during the
1960's All-Nation issued their Budd Rail Diesel (RDC) cars for 'O' scale. This kit came as an upainted powered unit for
$24.95 or as an unpainted dummy unit for $6.50. 4-wheel RDC trucks were sold separately for $3.25. This was the first RDC
car made for scale model operations in kit form, although it was really a 'shorty', not true scale in length. The body was
made of polystyrine and the underbody detail was plastic. It was 14" long and could navigate 15" radius curves. It included
all finished parts, die cast side frames and passenger silhouettes.
The All-Nation 2-rail 'O' gauge 4-8-2 Mountain locomotive was 26½" long (as long as 3 box cars), 2¾" wide, and
4⅛" high. It weighed 8½ pounds without the tender and had drawbar pull of 27.2 ounces, at average speed of 75
MPH (12 volts). It could navigate 48" radius curves with ease. It featured sprung pilot truck, sprung drivers, working
headlight, a Pittman Permag DC motor, 70" drivers, and a Pearce Tool lost wax gear box with ball
bearings on the worm shaft. Superstructure details included a die-cast cross compound compressor, headlight with lucite lens,
smoke deflector, window sills, bell, whistle, pop valve, generator, marker lights, air tank, Elesco Feed Water Heater,
hot water pump, cold water pump, injector, power reverse, smoke box front, and firebox backhead. The complete kit #17 sold
for $99.50 ($80 without the tender). It required the modeler to do the filing, drilling, tapping, soldering and riveting.
It was made up of bronze boiler castings. The tender kit #20 was the long distance type and sold for $22.45. It was
11¼" long and 3¾" high, and cast in bronze in separate pieces for the sides, back, front, top and underframe.
The tender truck side frames were the buckeye 6-wheel type, also cast in bronze. For those who did not want to assemble the
loco themselves, a custom assembled version was available from All-Nation for $240. It came built-up, spray painted,
and ready to run with all details included in the kit. Any road name lettering or numbering could be specified.
The 10th edition of All-Nation's 'O' gauge catalog was
issued in 1965 and was packed with every possible locomotive, piece of rolling stock, scenery, scratch-building tools and
parts, tools and books. It showed not only the All-Nation line but also trains and parts from Wagner, Holgate & Reynolds,
Tenshodo, La Belle Woodworking, GarGraves, Tru-Scale, Suydam, Lobaugh, Central Locomotive Works,
and Kemtron. The catalog was 104 pages. The All-Nation Hobby Shop also carried products from
Boxcar Ken, Roundhouse Products, Pittman, Plasticville,
Max Gray, Morris, Ken Kidder Traction Models, Walthers, Pacific Fast Mail, Model Rectifier,
Permacraft, Unimat, Cliff Line, Champ Decals, Miller-Atlas, Star Models, Northeastern Scale Models, Crag Distributors,
Moody and many others. In 1956 and again in 1962, the All-Nation Line was recognized by the National Model Railroad
Association (NMRA) Inc. for its consistent adherence to the standards established by that organization for 1:48 scale.
Bob Colson was inducted into the 'O' Scale Hall of Fame in 2001. He had been a charter member in the NMRA and had attended
the meetings held in Milwaukee, WI in the 1930's that led to its formation.
All-Nation 'O' scale 2-rail Kit-built 40' Steel Box Cars
The 'O' scale freight car kit line was expanded with the acquisition of the Zimmer kit line.
All-Nation 40' Steel box cars came in kits of super-detailed, formed, stamped and embossed metal sides, ends and roof,
showing rivet details. The roof, floor and underpieces were milled basswood. Running boards were embossed aluminum.
Included were stamped metal ladders, cross braces, stamped roof end platforms, formed roof ribs, formed channel underframe,
stamped metal dreadnaught car ends, formed grab irons, hand holds, a pressure molded plastic AB brake set, formed metal door
slides, stamped Ajax brake wheel and housing, die-cast coupler pockets, placard boards, machined bolster mounting block,
stamped brake platform, and a stamped roof walk support. Kits did not include trucks or paints and sold for $5.95.
Four kinds of trucks were offered separately. These were either Bettendorf or Andrews in scale or tinplate, for $1.45
each.
All-Nation 'O' scale 2-rail Kit-built 40' Steel Box Cars
The 1965 catalog also announced the new low priced American Standard 4-4-0 loco kit #21 in 1:48 'O' scale for 2-rail.
It came in a complete kit with tender, cast bronze boiler with cast-in boiler bands, stamped brass cab, and a DC motor.
The motor was mounted in the tender and was connected to the loco via a flexible drive shaft extending from the front of
the coal bunker that was linked to an enclosed gear box at the backhead using a ball-joint. By slight modification the
loco could be made into several different types of 4-4-0's by modelers. The kit included drawings for 3 different
types of 4-4-0 configurations. A detailed backhead and a weight to increase tractive effort were also included.
Literature stated that the loco could pull about 15 cars, and could navigate minimum 24" radius track. The kit
was priced at $47.50. Factory assembled, ready-to-run versions were also offered
as well as a kit without motor and gearing for modelers who wanted to install their own powertrain.
All-Nation did offer 'O' scale passenger cars that they acquired from the purchase of the JC Models of Mattituck,
Long Island, NY Passenger Car line. The six cars could be
acquired as kits without trucks and paint or as fully built up ready-to-run. The cars were a #5000 65' steel heavyweight
baggage coach combine for $8.95, a #5005 62' coach for $8.95, a #5010 60' baggage mail car for $8.95, a #5015 60' baggage
car for $8.95, a #5020 70' coach for $8.95, and a #5025 80' dining car for $8.95.
These cars were made of .010 inch thick sheet metal sides and ends with embossed window sashes, rivets,
belt rail and recessed doors. The roof and floor of each car, as well as detail such as battery boxes, air reservoirs,
cross and main beams, and tool boxes were milled from clear wood. The roofs featured clerestory windows.
Nylon couplers were included in each kit. Power trucks could be mounted on the cars for creation of a suburban type train.
In later years, All-Nation re-issued Walthers 'O' scale pullman standard heavyweight passenger
car 80' kits.
In June of 1972 Bill Pope Sr. purchased All-Nation Line Manufacturing Company, as Bob Colson's health began to deteriorate
and the amount of energy required to operate both the hobby shop and the manufacturing business was too much for Bob.
Mr. Pope was also a member of the 'O Scale Hall of Fame' having been inducted in 2004. In early 1973 a new facility for
manufacturing was set up at 23 West 54th Street in Wheaton, Il. The company's motto was, "Where you find the very best..."
Bob Colson Jr. continued to run the retail store in Chicago until 1978, although the decision to close was made in
September 1977 after the store leases on Madison were cancelled. The whole city block where the store was located was
targeted to be demolished for inner city redevelopment. The All-Nation Hobby Shop was one of the last
businesses to close down. Bill Pope continued to run the manufacturing line until his death, but not before he had sold
off the steam line of kits in 1990. Afterward, it is believed that the remaining tooling for the diesels and freight kits
sat unused for many years in Bill Pope's son Dan's barn. Towards the end, Bill Pope added some former
Walthers freight and passenger car kits, as well as former Chester Industrial Arts 60' shorty
streamlined car kits of the 1950's. Chester also made full length, low cost 'O' scale streamlined car kits during that
era.
The All-Nation line consisted of the following 'O' scale kits.
Locomotives:
#1 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler loco & tender, #5 4-4-2 Atlantic locomotive & tender, #10 4-6-2 Pacific loco & Tender,
#17 4-8-2 Mountain Loco & Tender, #21 American Standard 4-4-0 locomotive & tender,
#3652 Gas Electric Doodlebug, #41 1000 HP EMD Diesel Switcher, #11001 2-6-2 Prairie locomotive & tender,
#1015 F-3 Diesel Loco, #8015 EMD F-7 Diesel Loco
40' Wood Reefers:
The refrigerator cars with #5400 series numbers were former Walthers kits that were acquired by All-Nation in 1990.
#3500 Undecorated Kit, #3560 P.F.E. (U.P. & S.P. heralds) Pacific Fruit Express, #3561 Western Fruit Express,
#3563 Dry Ice, #3564 Rath's Blackhawk Ham, #3565 Morrell's Pride,
#3566 Fruit Growers Express, #3567 Burlington, #3568 Santa Fe El Capitan,
#3569 Green Bay & Western Line, #3570 Canadian National, #3571 Armour,
#3572 Oscar Mayer URTX, #3573 Rath's Blackhawk RPRX, #3574 Morrell MRX, #3587 Edelwiess Brew,
#5414 American Refrigerator Transit, #5417 Grand Union Food Markets, #5420 Santa Fe Chief,
#5422 Northern Pacific, #5423 Pacific Fruit Express PFE, #5425 Northwestern Refrigerator Line,
#5426 Swift Refrigerator Line, #5427 Lackawana, #5428 Fruit Growers Express,
#5429 Western Fruit Express, #5430 Cudahy Old Dutch Cleanser,
#7370 SLRX, #7380 Chicago & Northwestern (green & yellow), #7390 Northern Pacific
36' Wood Reefers:
#3500A Unlettered, #3580 Ralston-Purina,
#3581 Wilson & Co., #3582 Swift, #3583 Blatz Beer,
#3584 Schlitz, #3585 Budweiser, #3586 Miller High Life,
#7350 SLRX St. Louis Refrigerator Co. (white sides, truss rods), #7360 SLRX (white sides center sill)
50' Wood Reefers:
#3616 Pacific Fruit Express PFE
40' Composite Reefers:
All-Nation utilized the same silk-screened sides for the 40' composite refrigerator cars as they did for the 40' wood
body reefrigerator cars.
#3900 Undecorated, #3960 PFE Pacific Fruit Express, #3961 Western Fruit Express,
#3964 Rath's Blackhawk Ham, #3965 Morrell's Pride,
#3967 Burlington Express (yellow), #3968 Santa Fe AT&SF El Capitan
All-Nation 'O' scale Kit-built Cabooses
Miscellaneous Freight:
#3610 46' 70 Ton Fish Belly side flat car, #3611 45' Drop Center Flat Car,
#3612 34' Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Wood Caboose, #3614 45' cast aluminum Fishbelly Straight Side flat car,
#3620 Chesapeake & Ohio Steel Caboose, #3630 C. N. & W. Bay Window Caboose, #3900 40' Unpainted Composite Reefer,
#3950 ACl 36' Wood body Watermelon Car (ventilated box car),
#7000 Chesapeake & Ohio Die-Cast Metal off-set 2-bay 50 Ton Hopper Car,
#7100 ACL Prototype 40' Solid Bottom Composite Gondola,
#7300 40' AAR Wood Stock Car, #7600 41' Flat Car
40' Steel Box Cars:
All-Nation issued their 40' Steel box cars in a multitude of road names and colors. Both Athearn and
Lobaugh also produced similar box car kits, that are often confused as All-Nation kits,
especially since various parts, such as car ends, doors, underframes and other parts from those brands can be easily
interchanged. There are many ways to discern the difference between these cars and the manufacturers. One unique identifier
of the All-Nation 40' Steel box car is the scalloped cut on the right hand side of the box car under the lower door guide. It
is a vertical cut, as opposed to being at an angle, like the Athearn and Lobaugh models.
#3600 Undecorated, #3621 Union Pacific 'Road of the Streamliners', #3622 B&O (Tuscan Red),
#3623 Gulf, Mobile & Ohio 'The Rebel Route',
#3625 CB&Q Burlington, #3628 Chesapeake & Ohio (Tuscan red), #3633 Roberval-Saguenay, #3634 SOO Line, #3635 Monon CIL,
#3636 E. J. & E. Chicago Outer Belt, #3637 M. & St. L. (green),
#3638 Illinois Terminal, #3639 West Indies Fruit,
#3640 no road name (dimensional data only), #3641 Buffalo Creek,
#3642 Duluth So. Shore & Atlantic, #3643 Frisco, #3644 C&IM Chicago & Illinois Midland (green),
#3645 Great Northern (Tuscan red), #3646 Northern Pacific (green),
#3647 New Haven (orange w/white & black lettering), #3648 Maine Central (Pine Tree),
#3649 Pennsylvania RR 'Don't Stand Me Still', #3650 Rutland,
#3651 Union Pacific (yellow & black), #3652 C&NW,
#3653 Southern Pacific, #3654 Cotton Belt, #3655 Western Maryland,
#3656 Boston & Maine, #3657 State Of Maine,
#3658 Baltimore & Ohio Box Car (billboard letters), #3659 Reading,
#3660 Elgin, Joliet & Eastern RY , #3661 Rio Grande,
#3662 M. St. L. (Tuscan red), #3663 Burlington Everywhere West (Tuscan red),
#3665 A.T.S.F. (red), #3666 New York Central (jade green), #3667 Northern Pacific,
#3668 Union Pacific (Tuscan), #3669 Milwaukee Road (Tuscan red),
#3670 Rock Island (Tuscan red), #3671 Chicago & Eastern Illinois (Tuscan red),
#3672 Illinois Central IC Main Line of America (Tuscan Red), #3673 CNW Chicago NorthWestern (Tuscan red),
#3674 Erie-Lackawanna, #6200 Limited Run Great Northern (green sides),
#6201 Erie-Lackawanna, #6202 Bessemer & Lake Erie (orange),
#6203 Santa Fe (Tuscan), #6204 Port Huron & Detroit, #6251 Nickel Plate Road,
#6600 Chesapeake & Ohio, #6601 Southern Railway, #6602 Norfolk & Western,
#6603 Canadian National, #6604 L&N, #6605 Canadian Pacific,
#6606 Great Northern, #6607 Union Pacific (Tuscan red),
#6608 Akron, Canton & Youngstown (ACY), #6609 Nickel Plate,
#6610 Central of Georgia, #6611 SL-SF Frisco Fast Freight, #6612 Lehigh Valley, #6613 DL&W Lackawanna,
#6614 MOPAC Missouri Pacific 'Route of the Eagles', #6615 Lake Superior & Ishpeming LS&I,
#6616 Seaboard Coast Line, #6617 Grand Trunk Western,
#6618 Illinois Central (orange), #6619 Penn. Central (jade green), #6620 Burlington Northern (green),
#6621 Erie (Tuscan red), #6622 Wabash, #6623 D&RGW Rio Grande Cookie box (white), #6624 Norfolk & Western (black),
#6625 Canadian Pacific, #6626 Canadian Pacific, #6627 Canadian Pacific, #7490 Southern, #8746 GM&O
40' Wood Sheathed Box Cars:
#3700 Undecorated, #3701 Great Northern,
#3702 Northern Pacific, #7400 Northern Pacific (truss rods),
#7410 Northern Pacific, #7420 Great Northern, #7430 Great Northern, #7440 T. H. & B.,
#7450 ATSF ARA Bulb Braced single sheathed, #7460 ATSF Sectional Panel Sheathed Box Car, #7490 Southern RR (Tuscan red)
Passenger Cars:
#5000 65' Combine car, #5005 62' Coach, #5010 60' baggage mail car, #5015 60' Baggage car, #5020 70' Passenger coach,
#5025 80' Dining car, #9102 Pullman Standard Heavyweight 80' 12-1 Sleeper Kit (reissue of
Walthers Kit) #9177 70' Coach/Sleeper with Monitor Roof.
Outside Braced 40' 40 Ton Single Sheathed Wood Box Cars:
#6500 Unpainted, #6501 Wabash,
#6502 Seaboard, #6503 Milwaukee Road C M St.P & P,
#6504 Boston & Maine, #6505 SL & SF Frisco, #6510 Rock Island (42' double door)
All-Nation 'O' Scale 40' Double Door Automobile Cars
Double Door Auto Cars:
#3675 Unmarked Steel Auto car, #3676 Baltimore & Ohio 40' Steel Double door box car,
#3677 Seaboard Air Line 'Route of Courteous Service' 40' Steel Double door box car,
#3678 Atlantic Coast Line 40' Steel Double door box car, #3679 Canadian National 40' Steel Automobile car,
#3680 Great Northern 40' Steel Auto car, #3681 NYC 40' Steel Automobile car, #3682 Unlettered 40' Steel Double door box car,
#7000 Undecorated 50' Z Braced door-and-a-half Auto Car, #7470 Santa Fe 40' Sectional Panel Sheathed Auto car,
#7480 Denver & Rio Grande Western Double Sheathed 40' 12' door Auto car, #7490 Southern double sheathed 12' door Auto car,
#7510 D&RGW 50' Double Wood Sheathed Auto car, #7520 D&RGW 50' Wood Sheathed Automobile car
All-Nation 'O' Scale 50' Double Door Automobile Cars
Tank Cars:
All-Nation versions of former Scale-Craft/Thomas Industries 8,000 Gallon Tank Car kits
#7700 Unmarked Riveted, single dome, #7701 Welded, single dome
The steam line of kits was initially acquired by George Sennhauser of Babbitt, MN who created the
Babbit Railway Models name and reintroduced the line. Sennhauser continued to refine the products greatly. In 1993 the
company was sold again, this time to Boyce Yates in Kentucky who renamed the line Babbitt Loco works. Yates continued the
line under the Babbitt name for several years. Babbitt Railway
Supply Company was located at 715 Barger St in Mayfield KY. The line consisted of the 4-6-0, 4-4-0, 4-6-2, 4-4-2, 2-6-0,
and 4-8-2, all using 70" drivers, cast bronze boilers, NWSL gearing, three different cast aluminum or sheet brass tenders,
and brass and white metal details. Babbit Models was the last supplier of these 6 former All-Nation Steam loco kits and
detail parts through the late 90's. Many 2 rail O Scalers considered these loco kits as top of the line.
As of June 2010 Bill Wade of Bill's Train Shop (BTS) in West Virginia
http://www.btsrr.com/ owned
the All-Nation/Babbitt line of locomotives and parts supplies. Plans were being developed to reintroduce the line with new
castings (likely urethane resin). Original un-built All-Nation kits frequently show up on eBay or in other on-line auctions
or at swap meets, and remain popular with scale model builders and 2-rail operators. Finished kits that have been modified with
readily available detail parts for those who wish to make sure that every single brake line and small part is located on their
model often outshine many of the intricately detailed brass imports of current times.
