Some time back I managed to retrieve most of the N-scale trolley section of John Kreider's inactive Father Nature website (1999-2006). A simplified and cleaned-up version is presented below as an informational record. Unfortunately a few of the old images were not available when I saved the page. More recently, I was able to acquire the actual display case (shown above) that Father Nature used at train shows to showcase samples of train and trolley body shells. I have photographed some of the unpainted shells from it to replace the images missing from the old website. While some of the trolley shells were somewhat crudely cast, they were remarkable for their time and included North American streetcars rather than just larger interurbans. They were one-piece shells, not requiring craftsman-level assembly like the Western Railcraft kits. Most Father Nature trolley shells were oversize in order to fit the available power chassis of that time. Other comments of mine are below in square brackets. - R. D. Kerr
Because cleaning the flash out of the trolley windows is so time-consuming, if you are willing to do this yourself, you can buy any of the trolley shells for $10.95 each. You must specify this discounted price on your order sheet.
Click on the images below for a bigger picture and to see additional shell information. [Sorry, not available]
TROL-1 N-SCALE Connecticut Co. series 3001. Shell fits Bachmann Brill chassis. [shell marked "FN CT3001" on underside of roof] |
TROL-2 N-SCALE Connecticut Co. series 3000. Shell can be powered with Bachmann Brill chassis. [shell marked "CT3000"] |
TROL-3 N-SCALE TMER&L Co. series 500 Milwaukee city car, which ran on Route 19. Shell can be powered with Bachmann PCC chassis. [shell marked "TMERL MILW"] |
SHL-132 N-SCALE Interurban Trolley (NCAT). Shell can be powered with Atlas RS-1 or F7 chassis. Based on Lake Shore prototype. Jim Brewer donated his brass master to NCAT. Castings were produced from that master with NCAT permission. [unmarked] |
TROL-4 N-SCALE Connecticut Co. series 1900. Shell can be powered with Bachmann PCC chassis. [shell marked "CT 1900 FN"] |
TROL-5 N-SCALE Connecticut Co. series 1800. Shell can be powered with Bachmann PCC chassis. [shell marked "FN CT1800"] |
TROL-6 N-SCALE Connecticut Co. 1919. Shell can be powered with "stretched" Bachmann Brill chassis. [shell is unmarked] |
TROL-7 N-SCALE Connecticut Co. four wheel "bobber" [Birney]. Shell can be powered with the small mechanism for 4 wheel trolleys. [unmarked] |
TROL-8 N-SCALE TMER&L Co. Duplex trolley. Shell is powered with half a Bachmann Brill chassis. |
TROL-9 N-SCALE TMER&L Co. series 500. Shell can be powered with a Tomix 2620 chassis. [shell marked "TMERL"] |
TROL-10 N-SCALE Mason-built Racine city car. Shell can be powered with Bachmann Brill chassis. [shell marked "RACINE MASON"] |
TROL-12 N-SCALE TMER&L Co. Milwaukee city car, Route 23. Shell can be powered with Bachmann Brill chassis. [shell marked "MILW RT23 TMERL TTCO"] |
TROL-13 N-SCALE Maintenance of Way Sweeper. Can be equipped with rotary brooms. Shell can be powered with Bachmann Brill chassis. |
[The Father Nature display case of sample body shells included this built-up "Trolley Water Car" or sprinkler.] |
The masters for these trolleys were made by Jim Brewer. There are color photos on our webpage of each of these models. We also have the chassis at discount prices which you can easily use to power each. The chassis are specified below. Trimming these shells is tedious and very time consuming. If you are willing to do this for yourself, we can sell to you untrimmed, unassembled, and undec trolley shells (listed below) for $10.95 each.
CAT. NO. | DESCRIPTION (NO./PKG.) | PRICE/PKG. |
TROL-1 | Connecticut Co. series 3001. Fits the Bachmann Brill chassis | $14.95 |
TROL-2 | Connecticut Co. series 3000. Fits the Bachmann Brill chassis | $14.95 |
TROL-3 | TMER&L Co. Milwaukee city car, series 500 which ran on Route 19. Fits the Bachmann PCC chassis. |
$14.95 |
SHL-132 | Interurban trolley (NCAT). Fits the Atlas RS-1 | $14.95 |
44004 | ATLAS RS-1, JERSEY CENTRAL #1201 (RS-1 chassis fits the interurban shell) |
$62.00 |
TROL-4 | Connecticut Co. series 1900 trolley. Fits the Bachmann PCC | $14.95 |
TROL-5 | Connecticut Co. series 1800. Fits the Bachmann PCC. | $14.95 |
TROL-6 | Connecticut Co. series 1919. Fits a “stretched” Bachmann chassis | $14.95 |
TROL-7 | Connecticut Co. four wheel “Bobber” trolley. Fits Bachmann Brill chassis.[?] | $14.95 |
TROL-8 | TMER&L Co. Duplex trolley [articulated]. Fits a "half" Bachmann Brill chassis | $14.95 |
TROL-9 | TMER&L Co. series 500 trolley. Fits Tomix 2620 Tomy chassis | $14.95 |
TROL-10 | Mason [Wason?]-built Racine city car. Fits the Bachmann Brill chassis | $14.95 |
TROL-11 | Connecticut Co. Series 3001. Fits the Bachmann Brill chassis [Dupl. TROL-1?] | $14.95 |
TROL-12 | TMER&L Milwaukee city car, route 23. Fits the Bachmann Brill chassis | $14.95 |
Brill chassis (Bachmann) for any of above shells | $20.00 |